Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE Diamond dorm chattered excitedly together as they finished breakfast. Even Freya, who was usually too busy with her inventions to join in, took part in the discussion. Only Ariana was quiet. She really wasn't keen on the expedition. Of course, if there was some reason the animals were leaving the woods then they needed to find out why, but surely a whole school trip needed more planning? Would the teachers be able to supervise them properly and keep them all safe? Finishing her breakfast, she told the others she would see them in the dorm and hurried

upstairs. If they were going out, she wanted to be properly prepared! "Ariana, you look like you're going away for a week!" said Violet, when Ariana met them all at the stables later on. Although she had been first to the dorm to get ready, she had been so busy packing stuff into a rucksack to take with her that she had been the last to get to the stables. "Have you got a spare unicorn hidden in there?" giggled Matilda. "It's important to be ready for anything," Ariana said defensively. "What have you got?" said Violet. "Rope, a torch, some sky berries, chocolate, a fishing net…" "A fishing net!" Matilda echoed. Rosa chuckled. "You really are Little Miss Organised, aren't you?"

Ariana hesitated but, to her surprise, Freya came to her defence. "Ariana's right– it is better to be prepared. We don't know what we'll find in the woods." "Excitement and danger, I hope!" said Rosa, her brown eyes shining with excitement. Ariana frowned as she went to Whisper's stable. When everyone was ready, Ms Rosemary and Ms Rivers put the students into groups. Ms Willow, the new school nurse, was there too,

giving out sandwiches for lunch, a whistle to call for help if they needed it and a small first aid kit. "Do be careful," she was telling the students. "I really don't think this trip is wise." She shot a cross look at Ms Rosemary and Ms Rivers. "It could be very dangerous in the woods. Do make sure you stay on the outskirts." "We'll be fine, Ms Willow," Violet said. "Don't worry." Ms Willow huffed, and hurried away. Ms Rosemary handed out a list of creatures that they were supposed to tick off if they saw them. Diamond dorm were the last group she came to. "Now, remember what Ms Nettles said at breakfast," she told them as she handed them their list. "Please do not go deep into the woods. I know you had a great adventure when you went to the Glittering Cavern a few weeks ago, but if you go off exploring on your own again, you could get hurt. The woods are dangerous.

Stay near the edges, do you understand?" "Yes, Ms Rosemary," said Rosa with a sigh. "We understand." Ariana remembered how excited Rosa had been leading their secret expedition to the Glittering Cavern last term. They'd been trying to find a model taken from the school's magic map that was needed for the map to work again. They'd found it and got back safely– but only just! "Time to go!" called Ms Rivers. She led the way on Lady, her unicorn, who had a stunning gold mane and gold and pink markings. The rest of the school followed behind, with teachers dotted at various intervals and Diamond dorm and Ms Rosemary bringing up the rear. "Please avoid the mud, Whisper," Ariana begged as they followed Matilda and Rosa towards the woods.

The other unicorns were splashing through the puddles on the ground. "We are probably going to get quite muddy, Ariana," said Whisper as he skirted around them. "Oh, I hope not!" said Ariana with a shudder. "Hey! Come and ride here with us, Ariana," Matilda called over her shoulder. "We're talking about that story we read in Unicorn Myths and Legends class," said Rosa. Pearl shifted to let Whisper trot up between her and Crystal. "About the unicorn and the Cyclops? I loved that story," said Ariana, forgetting about the mud as she eagerly joined in. "My favourite part was when the unicorn with the gold hooves—" Ariana broke off suddenly. Coming towards them was a long line of rabbits, their tails flashing white as they hopped along. "Where are they going?" she wondered aloud. Rosa frowned. "They look like they're