Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX As they cantered into the village, Phoebe felt like a superhero, swooping in and coming to the villagers' rescue. However, she quickly discovered that cleaning up after a flood was not exciting in the least. The first thing that hit her was the smell coming from the piles of rotting seaweed. The doors of buildings were thrown open as people wearing welly boots shovelled it out of their houses and swept away the remaining water. There were piles of debris everywhere; soggy bedding, clothes and rugs were all tangled up with seaweed and shells and items that had been swept into the surrounding fields by the flood.

The villagers were very pleased to have the girls' help. Lily and Feather set to work immediately, using Feather's magic to help retrieve the heaviest items that had floated away. The other girls grabbed brooms and started to sweep out the water, while their unicorns picked things up with their teeth and hung them out to dry. Clearing up was very dull and Phoebe soon got bored.

"I wish I'd discovered my magic," Shimmer said with a sigh as they paused to watch Feather, who was using hers to carry a cart back from the fields. Phoebe couldn't have agreed more. Doing magic and being applauded would be much more fun than sweeping and wringing the water out of wet clothes. "How about we go to that ruined cottage on the cliff path over there? I can see some things that need retrieving and at least we'll get away from the smell for a while." "OK," said Shimmer eagerly. Phoebe vaulted on to his back and they cantered across the grass. The cottage roof had fallen in a while ago and moss clung to its stone walls. Clearly, no one had lived in it for quite some time and as Phoebe and Shimmer got closer they saw that the walls were just an empty shell. The grass surrounding it was scattered with objects that had been swept there by the flood water– buckets, flowerpots, baskets… Phoebe jumped off Shimmer and started collecting any objects she could carry. As she got close to the gaping doorway, something moved in

the shadows inside the ruin. She gasped and jumped as a seagull flew up into the air with a loud cry. Phoebe took a trembling breath. It was just a bird. She picked up some more flowerpots and returned to Shimmer. He was holding a spade in his teeth. "Let's take this stuff back to the village," she said. "This cottage feels creepy." When they got back, Zara came riding up on Moonbeam. "Guess what? I've been talking to some of the villagers and a few of them mentioned seeing a stranger hanging around the village in last few days. They all remembered him for his clothes– he was dressed in a black suit with long coat tails and a tall hat. He sounds suspicious, doesn't he?" "Ooh, yes. He could be the culprit who caused the purple tornadoes and he might be responsible for the floods," said Shimmer. Moonbeam nodded. "It feels like someone has been doing dark magic around here. The air is thicker– heavier," she said uneasily. "I feel it too!" said Phoebe. She couldn't

actually feel anything different about the air but it was great that Moonbeam was adding to the drama and tension. "We mustn't jump to conclusions," said Zara quickly. "We need evidence, we can't just go on vague feelings but the sighting of this man is definitely a possible clue. The villagers I spoke to said he was seen hanging around the beach and walking near the old ruined cottage." "We've just been there," said Phoebe "Did you see anything?" Zara asked eagerly. "Well, it did feel creepy and I saw something move in the shadows," said Phoebe. Shimmer nodded. "It made Phoebe jump a metre high!" Seeing the look of enthusiasm on Zara's face, Phoebe couldn't resist adding to her story. "It might have been a person. In fact, I really think it might have been a man!" Zara gasped. "We need to investigate this. Come on!" Moonbeam whinnied and set off for the cottage. As Shimmer followed them, Phoebe felt a flutter of guilt. She hadn't really seen a man. She

knew it had been just a bird. She hadn't thought Zara would be quite so excited. Zara and Moonbeam went into the ruins of the cottage. "Wait, Shimmer!" Phoebe said as he went to follow them. "Do you think I should tell Zara I was making that stuff about a man up?" she whispered. Shimmer looked surprised. "No. Why?" "Well, there wasn't one really, and now Zara thinks there was and—"