Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN The other unicorns charged after Crystal and thundered down the forest path. The enchanted animals chased them. Branches snagged on Ariana's clothes and dirt flew up in her face. "Faster," she urged, not caring when her hoodie ripped. Glancing behind, she could see the animals still pursuing them. The wolves' howls echoed towards her. "Hold tight," Whisper panted as he galloped towards a fallen tree that was lying across the path. Ariana leaned forward, sliding her hands up

Whisper's neck as he flew over it. He landed and then suddenly slammed on the brakes. They skidded along in the mud, stopping when they crashed into Matilda and Pearl. Ariana was catapulted over Whisper's head. For a second, she was flying towards a tree, but suddenly a huge bubble shimmered in the air around her. She bobbed in the air inside it, a few inches above the ground, and then she found herself floating back to Whisper. Once she was safely sitting on his back, the bubble popped.

"Eek!" Ariana almost wished she could have stayed in the bubble– she'd felt much safer inside it. Ahead of them was a muddy river. Crystal had stopped too late and skidded into it. She was thrashing around in the water, trying to find her feet and get out while Rosa clung to her back. Freya and Violet were at the edge of the river, up to their knees in mud, shouting encouragement. "We're trapped!" exclaimed Matilda to Ariana in alarm. Looking behind them, Ariana saw the animals racing along the track towards them, getting closer and closer, their teeth showing, their claws unsheathed. Crystal staggered out of the water, her sides heaving as she gasped for breath. She was safe, but Ariana knew there was no time for her to gather her magic power to transport them away in a snow twister.

"Whisper," said Ariana urgently. "Can you use your soothing magic?" "I might be able to calm some of them, but I don't think I'm strong enough to take them all on," said Whisper, trembling as he looked at the amber-eyed wolves leading the pack. Ariana leaned forward and hugged Whisper tightly. He was their only hope. The howling was filling her ears now, and her skin prickled with fear. "Please try. I know you can do it, Whisper." "I'll do my best," said Whisper. "Please stay by me– I feel braver when you're with me." Ariana stroked Whisper's neck. "I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together." She felt his muscles tense as he lowered his head, pawing the riverbank with one hoof before striking the ground with it. "Stop! We're your friends!" he called as the animals surged over the fallen log. A flurry of coloured sparkles exploded up from the ground and showered

down on the heads of the snarling creatures. Eyes flashed and glowed, then gradually the glow faded and they turned dreamy, their roars and growls softening at the same time. They slowed to a stop.

"I'm so tired!" Whisper gasped. "But you've done it," Ariana told him in delight. "Look, the animals are turning back to