Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE The girls charged into the stable block. Rainbow's eyes brightened. "Sophia," he whickered. "You haven't run away! What made you change your mind?" "The lake!" Sophia gasped. "We need to go to the woods." "We'll explain as we go," said Ava hurriedly as she led Star to the door. In next to no time, Rainbow and Star were galloping across the grounds towards the woods, the girls each clutching a bucket to carry the frogs in. Rainbow's silky mane blew up in Sophia's face, tickling her nose. Sophia

laughed. She was on her way to save the lake and clear her name! "You said we'd have adventures, Rainbow! Well, I think this is our first one!" she cried. Rainbow neighed in delight. The gardens passed by in a blur. As they reached the woods, Rainbow slowed. The gloomy woods felt cold and strange hoots and screeches came from the shadows. Star's ears flickered nervously. "I'm scared.

I feel like something bad is going to happen." "We'll be fine. We just need to find the frogs and get out of here fast," said Ava. The unicorns cantered along the path, jumping the tree roots that seemed to want to trip them up. There was a howl in the trees. Both unicorns skittered nervously. Sophia patted Rainbow's neck. "I like it when you do that," said Rainbow. "It makes me feel braver." Sophia stroked Rainbow again and he whickered with delight. They reached the grove and pushed their way through the trees. They could hear the frogs croaking as they stepped into the clearing. Sophia blinked in the morning sunlight that streamed from the sky and danced across the surface of the pond. The frogs were everywhere, perched on lily pads, swimming in the water or lazily croaking to each other among the rushes.

She and Ava dismounted and carefully scooped up the frogs, placing them in the buckets along with some water. "We'll bring you back as soon as you've worked your magic on the lake," promised Ava. Sophia had just hooked a frog from a lily pad when she heard a twig snap behind her. "Who's there?" She spun round, her eyes searching the tree line. "I didn't hear anyone," said Rainbow. Sophia's eyes raked the woods. They were empty, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching. She carried on catching

frogs but every now and then she glanced round, just in case. "That should be enough," said Ava, when each bucket was half full of frogs. She and Sophia jumped back on their unicorns and set off back to the school. The woods seemed darker after the brightness of the clearing. Sophia couldn't wait to be out of them. The rustling bushes were making her nervous. She stared around. What was that? Sophia's heart drummed as she caught sight of a figure moving through the trees. Goosebumps prickled along Sophia's arms. The figure was dressed in dark clothes with a mask covering their face, just like the person she'd seen earlier tipping something into the lake! "Rainbow," she whispered. "Follow that figure!" Rainbow changed direction, plunging into the trees with Star following silently behind. The person hurried along an uphill path. At the

top, they momentarily disappeared from view. The unicorns sped up and found themselves on the brow of a grassy hill. The path went down a steep slope into a valley. The mysterious figure had disappeared. "They must be further down the hill!" said Rainbow. "We've got to catch them up!" said Sophia. "Come on!" "We need to be careful," Star called anxiously. "Remember the woods are dangerous." But Rainbow and Sophia were already cantering towards a heap of rust-coloured leaves at the bottom of the valley. Ava and Star raced after them. As they approached the pile, Sophia frowned. Something wasn't right. What was it? As Rainbow reached the leaves, she suddenly realised. "Rainbow, stop!" cried Sophia, as Ava and Star came racing up behind them. "How can