Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE Valentina shrieked like a banshee as the storm raccoon bounded towards her. They were smelly, mischievous creatures. She threw the carrot at it, tripped over a water bucket and sat down in a pile of straw. The raccoon caught the carrot, stuffed it in its mouth and then scampered to the water trough. It leaped on top and swished its tail, dark eyes gleaming cheekily. "I'll catch him," called Miki from Topaz dorm, hurrying to the trough with his best friend, Himmat. "Stand back, everyone."

"Don't hurt him," called Violet anxiously, joining them with Rosa. "Don't worry. Miki's brilliant with animals," said Himmat. Miki produced a biscuit from his pocket and held it out flat on his hand. The raccoon cocked his head, his blue and grey ringed tail swishing as his eyes went from Miki to the biscuit.

Speaking softly, Miki said, "Go on, take it. I'm not going to hurt you." The raccoon hesitated then slowly reached out a paw. "Don't feed it, dumbo. We'll never get rid of it if you do!" Valentina exclaimed as she struggled up from the straw. She grabbed a stripy rug hanging over a stable door and threw it over the raccoon. The startled creature let out an indignant squeak as the rug fell over it and it lost its balance, falling backwards into the water trough, showering the nearby pupils with multicoloured water. The raccoon leaped out of the trough, splashing even more water, and charged around the stable block. There was uproar as some of the students chased after it, while others tried to keep out of the way. The unicorns whinnied and Valentina screamed as the raccoon flew at her, using her head as a springboard to jump to the ladder that led up to the hayloft.

"It touched my hair! Its smelly feet were on me!" screamed Valentina. "Keep back," cried Violet anxiously. "You're scaring it!" She spread her arms wide to protect the raccoon, now scaling the ladder, with Miki climbing after it. The raccoon didn't stop until it reached the trapdoor to the hayloft. Miki waited a few rungs below, holding up the biscuit again. The raccoon peered down warily, chattering a warning each time Miki went to climb higher. Miki froze and for a long moment he and the raccoon stared at each other. Then the raccoon shook vigorously, water from its fur spraying Miki. Miki burst out laughing, his dark brown eyes sparkling. The raccoon made a squeaky noise that sounded as if he was laughing too. He came down the ladder and jumped on to Miki's shoulder, snatching the biscuit from him. Miki stood very still and the raccoon took a bite, his

sharp teeth crunching noisily on the biscuit. "I'm telling a teacher," said Valentina, hands on hips. "You shouldn't be feeding it, you stupid boy." The raccoon chattered at Miki. "Mm, I agree," said Miki, pretending to understand. He grinned at Valentina. "He says you're the stupid one and that if I hadn't given him something to eat, we'd never have caught him. Oh, and he also says you've got straw on your bum." There were shouts of laughter from everyone watching. Valentina's eyes narrowed and she turned round and marched back into Golden Briar's stable in a huff. "Whatever is going on?" a voice cut through the laughter. They all swung round to see Ms Rosemary, the Care of Unicorns teacher, and Ms Rivers, the strict new Geography and Culture teacher, standing in the stable entrance. "Miki, why have you got a storm raccoon?"

Ms Rosemary said in astonishment. "We've just found it in the stables," said Miki. Ms Rivers frowned. "Well, you shouldn't be feeding it a biscuit!" "See?" said Valentina, poking her head out of the stable. "I tried telling him that, but he wouldn't listen. Raccoons are pests. They shouldn't be encouraged, should they?" "It's not that," said Ms Rivers, going over and stroking the raccoon. "Biscuits are not good for storm raccoons' digestion. He'd be better with something less sweet." "Well done for catching him, dear," Ms Rosemary said to Miki. "Now, why don't you take him back to the outskirts of the woods in the grounds and release him there? I wonder what he's doing here in school. They hardly ever venture out of the trees." Miki set off with the raccoon. "Everyone else, back to grooming your