Brambleheart #2 Page 3

  Char was doing his own exploring and started digging in the sand some distance off. “Look!” Lily pointed. “Char’s feeling better. He’s finding his own way out by digging a tunnel!”

  They watched as Char got deeper and deeper into the sand, until only his rear half was showing. He snorted as the sand flew behind him, his wings shaking and fluttering. Suddenly the hillside of sand collapsed around him, and the dragon was left buried, with only his thrashing, wiggling tail exposed. In a moment his head popped out of the loose sand, and he snorted a puff of smoke.

  Laughing, Lily raced over and began pulling on Char’s tail, while Basil and Twig dug out the sand around him.

  “You’re no help,” Twig said. “We can’t spend all day rescuing you!”

  Lily surveyed the plant life that dotted the bottom and slopes of the pit. She thought of the crow’s nest of the Captive. “Should be easy to fashion a rope,” she said. “If I can find the right materials. There’s not much to work with, but I can do it.”

  She got to work. Using twigs and various vines she gleaned from around the pit, she made a rope long enough to reach the top of the sloping walls. One end she tied into a loop.

  “If we give each other a boost, we can maybe lasso that sturdy-looking shrub up there.” She pointed to the north edge of the pit. “Then we just pull ourselves out, paw over paw.”

  “What about Char?” Twig asked.

  Lily thought for a moment. “We boost him up first. He’s the first one out.”

  “Okay. Let’s try it.”

  Basil crouched down, and Twig climbed on his back. Then Lily, with the lasso at the ready, scrambled up onto Twig’s shoulders. With many attempts, she was able to hook the end of the rope around a strong-enough branch of the shrub high above.

  “Great!” she squeaked. “Now let’s get Char out of here first.”

  “Come on, Char,” Twig coaxed. “Climb onto my back.”

  Char clambered up Basil’s furry back and then Twig’s legs. With wings fluttering, he made it onto Lily’s back.

  “Hey! Hurry up!” Basil cried out. “I’m getting crushed down here!”

  With a flurry of wing beats and a giant push by Lily, Char scrambled over the edge of the dune pit and onto the rim.

  “Hurrah for that!” Lily called. “Now my turn.”

  Paw over paw she pulled herself up.

  Basil came next. He was weak from days of no nutrition. It was a struggle, but at last he lay gasping at the top of the dune.

  Finally it was Twig’s turn. With the combined efforts of Lily and Basil pulling on the rope, he was at the rim of the pit in no time.

  Panting heavily, they surveyed the scene around them. They could finally get a good look at their surroundings for the first time. All the sandy dunes were part of an island, surrounded by sea. The birds that swooped and soared above their heads were seabirds, gulls and terns and sandpipers, calling to one another, agitated by the intruders below.

  The birds were strange, with unusual colors and patterns and calls. He wondered what other creatures were on the island.

  And were they friend, or foe?

  chapter 7

  Strange Berries and Bugs

  I think we’d better look for cover, someplace where we aren’t exposed to . . . well, to anything,” Twig said. “Someplace safe.”

  “Safe? From what?” Basil asked, looking furtively around.

  “Safe from predators, of course,” said Lily. “As far as we know, we’re moving targets. Let’s get off these exposed dunes.”

  Twig scanned the area and pointed off in the distance. “See the green areas over there? Looks like lots of plants are growing there. And I’m betting there may be the possibility of fresh water, too.”

  Basil was still looking nervously at the sky. “Yeah . . . let’s get out of here. I didn’t survive a sinking ship just to end up in the claws of some hawk!”

  They left their high perch on top of the dune and traveled along its ridge to an area of undergrowth and shrubby vegetation. There were small trees and bushes, and small herbs and flowering plants.

  Few of the plants looked familiar. Some had odd-shaped leaves, or thick, prickly skin. None of the trees grew tall, but were bent and curved and stunted from the ocean wind. But Twig was relieved to find that they provided dense cover. He kept his eye open for good spots to spend the night.

  Many of the plants were covered in berries. Lily discovered some blue berries growing in clusters on a low shrub. “I’m tempted to eat these,” she said. “They look a little like the blueberries we’re used to, but . . .” She hesitated. “What do you think?”

  Twig and Basil examined the fruit. Twig took a small bite out of a berry. “Tastes the same as blueberries back home!” He nibbled some more. “Tart, but delicious!” And with that, they ate berry after berry. It was the first real food Basil had eaten in days, and he devoured them. He was beginning to look like himself again.

  Twig poked his whiskers into a low shrub. It was thick with rose blossoms and small red fruits.

  “And over here!” he shouted. “I know rose hips when I see them.” He chewed through the tough skin. “Yep! Just like the kind my mom used to make into pies.”

  Lily noticed a little plant that grew low to the ground in dense patches. It was brilliant green and unlike anything she had seen before. She sniffed it, and then nibbled one end. It was salty and delicious. “Tastes good!” she said. “And sort of crunchy!”

  They soon found several different kinds of nutty-tasting seeds, as well as low-hanging plums and a variety of berries. Everyone was excited to find foods that were edible; now they knew they wouldn’t starve.

  Even better, they noticed Char pouncing on several bugs he saw darting about. The dragon was looking better than he had in weeks.

  The warm sun, the fresh ocean air, a good night’s sleep, and now the discovery of delicious food brightened everyone’s spirits. Even Basil laughed a little as they watched Char chase a yellow butterfly.

  They trekked lower and deeper into the dense underbrush. The air didn’t stir. The ridges of dunes muffled the sound of the pounding surf, and after that they heard only the chirping of birds and the drone of insects.

  The bird sounds grew louder, and the vegetation grew thicker and greener. Soon they discovered a quiet pool of water, clean and fresh after the heavy rainstorm the night before. They drank greedily.

  “Ah . . . tastes so good.” Twig sighed. He looked around. “Maybe this is a good place to spend the night, maybe set up a temporary home until we figure out where we go next.”

  Lily agreed. “Food, water, shelter. Everything we need.”

  “Yeah, for us and who else?” Basil interjected. “If it’s a good place for us to be, it’s a good place for anything else. Ever think about that? Who knows what’s out there, ready to pounce on us?”

  “Any other suggestions?” Twig asked.

  “Well . . .” Basil hesitated. “At least let’s have shifts. Two of us sleep while the other keeps guard. Then we change places. At least until we know what it’s like around here.”

  “Good plan, Basil,” replied Lily. “Let’s find a place to spend the night. We’ll find some dry grasses and make sleeping places, gather some berries and things to have them on hand. Then we’ll figure out who’s on what guard shift. Okay?”

  “Okay!” Twig agreed. The three of them set off to gather things to make camp. It felt good to have something constructive to do. Twig was very happy that his two friends were with him. It would have been tough by himself.

  The only thing that darkened Twig’s mood was the fact that they didn’t seem to be any closer to finding Char’s home. There were no signs of dragons . . . although Twig wasn’t sure what signs to look for! Tracks? Or burned places? He looked at Char for indications that he somehow recognized where he was. But nothing happened.

  If this wasn’t Char’s home, then they were shipwrecked.

  chapter 8

  Surprise
at the Campsite

  The campsite became home right away. They chose an enclosed, protected nook that was tucked under a low-hanging evergreen, near a freshwater lagoon. Old pine needles formed a kind of screen on three sides. Made with dried grasses and sweet-scented leaves of bayberry and juniper, the beds were soft and comfortable. Lily found an oyster shell and dragged it over to the site, and they filled it with the seeds, berries, and other fruits they gathered. Twig was delighted to discover sassafras trees growing nearby.

  Basil was back to normal. Fresh food, and being back on dry land, had restored his health. Lily kept busy, picking berries and keeping Char company, but Twig noticed she was looking pensive and distracted at times. “I think we should have a meeting,” he declared. “And decide what we’re doing next.”

  Lily looked relieved. “Good idea, Twig.” She pulled some large leaves into a circle for their powwow.

  “Okay,” Twig began. “First of all, I think we . . .” He stopped. They heard a rustling in the underbrush behind them.

  Basil gulped. “Did you hear that?”

  Twig glanced around. “Yeah.”

  “Me too,” Lily whispered. “What was it?”

  The air was silent, except for a slight breeze whooshing through the bayberry branches.

  Twig listened for a moment, then continued. “Like I was saying, I think we should start to . . .”

  They heard the rustling again, closer this time.

  Lily pointed to a dark area of ferns and fallen pine needles. “There!”

  Several sets of eyes were peering at them from the shadows.

  “Run!” Twig shouted. “Char! Follow us!” The trio took off toward the lagoon, Char fluttering his wings alongside them. They slogged through the shallows, hopping from sand bar to sand bar, and along fallen branches, and sliding across patches of slippery rotting leaves.

  They heard splashing behind them as their pursuers chased them through the dark water. “Don’t look back!” Lily squeaked. “Just go!”

  They reached the opposite side of the shallow lagoon. A wild tangle of greenbrier vines faced them. Thick and nearly impenetrable, the vines were covered with sharp thorns. The thorns snagged and tore at them as they dug their way through the leafy tangle.

  Suddenly Char snorted in pain as one of his velvety wings was cut by a series of thorns. He stopped, gingerly fluttering the wounded wing.

  “Char!” Lily shouted, frozen in her tracks.

  Twig stopped and turned. Char was definitely wounded. But the ripping and tearing of vegetation behind them got louder. “Come on, Char!” he begged.

  Basil, panicked, pushed aside the stabbing briars and scrambled up a stunted pine.

  The three friends froze in terror as the loud crashing got closer.

  Suddenly the crashing stopped. Twig closed his eyes, preparing for the worst. He heard panting and snorting. He opened one eye.

  There, looking at them, were several baby dragons!

  chapter 9

  Toot Sweet!

  Wow!” Lily exclaimed.

  Basil remained clinging to his perch in the pine. “What a relief . . . I think!”

  Twig stood motionless, awed by the sight of three other baby dragons. They varied a little in color, but otherwise were identical to his beloved Char.

  Char gave a loud snort. His eyes turned golden yellow-orange as he galloped through the vines to the other dragons. They all fluttered wings in rapid beats, while dodging and dipping their long necks in greeting.

  One of the dragons stretched its neck and gave a tooting squawk. Suddenly the rest of the little group stretched out their necks. In a cacophony of toots, they trumpeted greetings, louder and louder, a frenzy of emotion and excitement.

  Char trembled a bit and stopped fluttering his wings. He hesitated, and then stretched out his neck, too. After a giant intake of air he gave a loud, squeaking squawk, like the sound of a rusty trumpet. The other dragons responded with another flurry of elated squawking.

  Twig laughed, delighted. “I think we’ve found Char’s home!”

  Lily clapped her paws, her whiskers twitching with pleasure and relief. “I think so, too! These must be Char’s brothers and sisters!”

  The dragons gathered around Twig and Lily and began sniffing and tasting them with snorts and licks. “Stop that!” Lily giggled, convulsing on the ground as the dragons continued to shower them with slurping pink tongues.

  Basil watched the scene from his perch on the pine branch. “Well, now what do we do?” he asked, finally dropping down from his hiding place. “We’ve found Char’s home. We’ve gotten him back to his family. How about us? What do we do? Where do we go now?”

  “I hope Char’s parents are this friendly,” warned Basil. They had all been pondering the kind of reaction they would receive from Char’s family. “I hope they know that it hasn’t been easy getting Char back here. I mean, throwing up over the side of a ship for three days wasn’t my idea of fun.”

  Twig giggled. “Maybe Char will tell them, in his own language. He talks now!”

  He looked nervously around. “And where are Mom and Dad?”

  Basil nodded. “Exactly. Maybe the the parents would eat us?”

  “Don’t be silly, Basil,” Lily said. “Do you really think Char would let that happen?”

  “Who said Char was in charge?” Basil replied. “He’s only had you and Twig around. Who knows what his natural instincts are really like? I think it might be a good thing that there are no parents. Look, we’ve brought Char home. Now let’s figure out a plan to get us home!”

  Twig was silent but had to agree. Maybe it was time to head home. But how?

  Char squawked loudly. One of the baby dragons had stretched his neck and blown smoke. It rippled and coiled into the air like magic. Another of the dragons blew several puffs in the shape of rings, which expanded wider and wider as they rose into the air.

  Char seemed to study the other dragons as they puffed and snorted, and began mimicking them. He was learning to be a dragon. His nostrils flared as he puffed several smoky rings.

  Two of the dragons snorted and began fluttering their wings in rapid beats, faster and faster. The wings became a blur and suddenly created a humming, vibrating hum. The other dragon joined in, and then Char started his own wing-song.

  Whirrrrrr!

  Twig twitched his whiskers, enraptured. “Listen to that! It must mean they’re excited, or happy!”

  “It’s amazing!” Lily agreed.

  The wing vibrations continued. “Maybe they’re trying to call to their parents,” Basil suggested nervously.

  The three friends looked around, wary of what might be tromping through the underbrush at any minute.

  Basil continued, “I still say they may have lured us here, just to pounce on us.”

  “Basil, you’re crazy,” Twig replied. He looked at the wildly humming dragon wings. “They’re happy, they’re excited, they’re being baby dragons, that’s all.”

  Lily nodded in agreement. “But keep a sharp lookout, just in case,” she said.

  The wing vibrations stopped and the cluster of baby dragons began to sniff and explore, squawking to one another. It was as though they were becoming better acquainted with Char.

  Twig watched them for a moment. Then a worrying possibility crossed his mind. He turned to Lily and Basil. “Hey. I wonder . . . what if we’re not in the right place?”

  “What do you mean?” Basil asked.

  “I mean, what if this isn’t Char’s home? What if . . . ?”

  “What if what, Twig?”

  Twig gulped. “What if these baby dragons are just like Char? Orphans?”

  Basil considered this. “You’re thinking that maybe we just landed on an island with other baby dragons? That it’s just a coincidence?”

  “Well, yes. Maybe.”

  Lily’s whiskers drooped. “Then maybe they’re here in the same way that Char ended up near the Hill.”

  Twig nodded. “Y
ou know that big storm the other night? Well, what if there were other storms, just like that one? Or even worse? What if there was a storm big enough to blast eggs out of a dragon’s nest and wash them away?”

  “There’s no telling how many eggs could have ended up all over the place,” Lily added.

  “That means that Char’s parents could be anywhere,” said Basil. “They could be on this island, or . . . any island. They may not even be alive at all!”

  They all looked at the baby dragons, watching them snorting and puffing and fluttering. No one said it, but they were each thinking the same thought: Had they just inherited a whole new baby dragon family?

  chapter 10

  Show-offs

  The dragons spent the day comparing their flame-throwing abilities. With the food and fresh air, Char had regained all his strength. His fire-snorting nostrils were in fine form.

  With much aplomb, he showed off in front of his newfound siblings. He zapped a katydid on a distant tree limb. He made a target out of a knothole, hitting it perfectly each time. He brought down countless flying insects with his spewing flames.

  The other dragons were suitably impressed but had their own fire-breathing prowess to display.

  One dragon burned through a pine branch. Another fluttered briefly over a puddle and shot flames at the water; the water sizzled and boiled.

  Lily shaped the white sand into sloping piles and watched as the dragons shot fire at them. They soon turned them into glistening cones of hot glass, experimenting with other shapes and making interesting patterns with the molten glass.

  Lily delighted in making the dragons silly little hats and bows, which she wove from leaves and grasses and decorated with flowers and red berries. She enjoyed just sitting and watching the dragons for hours.