10. THE FINSTERBUNS!

CHAPTER 10 THE FINSTERBUNS! The strange, small creatures charged forward. Drake squinted. They looked like rabbits, but different. Each one had leathery wings, sharp teeth, and antlers. Drake gasped. "The Finsterbuns look like dangerous mini-monsters!"

"They're more weird than dangerous," Oskar explained. "They live in Finster Hollow, on the other side of the village. We stay away from them. If you touch one, you'll sprout furry bunny ears and a fluffy tail! Old Man John touched one when he was a boy, and he still wears a hat all the time." Ana took a step back. "That is definitely weird!" Aaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeee! Hundreds of Finsterbuns — more than Drake could count — raced onto the field and quickly began munching on starflowers.

"Chee! Chee! Chee!" Wildroot chirped in alarm and jumped on Worm's neck. Seconds later, Drake heard Worm: Wildroot says that if the Finsterbuns are not stopped, they will eat all the starflowers. Drake remembered Wildroot saying that starflower nectar is what feeds the Flower Dragons' powers. Without the nectar, the dragons couldn't perform Bloom! "We have to stop the Finsterbuns from eating the starflowers!" Drake cried. "Worm, freeze them!"

Worm's eyes began to glow bright green. All the Finsterbuns stopped moving. Drake looked at Ana and Oskar. "Worm can't hold them like this for long. We need to find a way to get rid of them without hurting them." "Why did they come here in the first place?" Ana wondered. Just then, Brighteye flew over. "I have had another vision," she said. "The werewolf entered Finster Hollow earlier today, and the Finsterbuns fled. It is very close now. It will be here by nightfall." "Then we need to get these Finsterbuns out of here, fast!" Drake said. "The Flower Dragons need to feed on starflowers to get ready for the werewolf!"

Oskar's eyes lit up. "I know! The Finsterbuns are clearly hungry. We can lead them to the big field of chamomile flowers that's between here and the village. There is plenty of chamomile in the mountains, so the Finsterbuns can eat all they want." "I think the Finsterbuns might follow the Flower Dragons if they start dancing again," Ana suggested. "I know I couldn't take my eyes off them." Drake nodded. "It's worth a try." Brighteye fluttered her wings. "I will ask the Flower Dragons to follow Kepri," she said, and then she flew off. Ana jumped on Kepri's back. "Let's fly!"

Kepri flew to the group of frozen Finsterbuns. She streamed sunlight in front of them, and the Flower Dragons flocked to the light. Once again, they began to dance. "All right, Worm. Unfreeze the Finsterbuns!" Drake yelled. Worm's eyes stopped glowing. The weird creatures started moving again. They munched on the flowers.