Daisy Meadows - Amelia Sparklepaw’s Party Problem

Gobbler swallowed and gazed up at her with his huge blue-green eyes. “Eeeep!” he squeaked. “Eep, eep, eeeeeeeep!”

“You want more to eat, don’t you?” said Grizelda as Gobbler munched greedily. Grizelda laughed. “You’ll soon have as much as you want!” She stood, holding a glass jar up to the light.

Inside it was a tuft of fur. The strands were gleaming and golden...

It was all Jess and Lily could do to stop themselves from gasping out loud.

Inside the jar was some of Goldie’s fur!

Grizelda made a mark on a piece of parchment that lay beside her. She tucked the jar into her pocket and patted Gobbler roughly on the head.

Lily noticed that his blue fur stood on end as the witch touched him. Maybe he doesn’t like Grizelda, she thought. Maybe he just likes the food she gives him.

“Ha ha, little Gobbler!” cackled Grizelda. “I just need to collect one more ingredient and I’ll be ready to make my new potion. Then Friendship Forest will be mine!”

Jess, Lily, and Amelia crept out of the room. As they became visible again, they stared at one another in horror.

“So that’s why Grizelda kidnapped Goldie,” said Jess. “She needed some of her fur to make a potion!”

“I wonder what the potion’s for?” said Lily as she cuddled the trembling Amelia.

“It can’t be anything good,” said Jess. “Whatever Grizelda has planned, we’ve got to stop her!”

“We’ve got to find Goldie,” said Jess, “and we’ve got to stop Grizelda from finding that last ingredient. Then she won’t be able to make her potion.”

“But how can we?” Lily said gloomily. “We don’t know what the ingredient is.”

Amelia was stroking her whiskers thoughtfully. “I know!” she said. “If we turn invisible again, we can get close enough to read Grizelda’s list.”

Lily shook her head. “It’s too risky,” she said. “We were lucky Grizelda didn’t hear us before—or bump into us. If only she would leave the room...”

Jess grinned. “Screechy peaches!” she said. “Lily, you hide near the door, while Amelia and I make one of the peaches screech. Grizelda’s sure to come and investigate the noise. Then you can run in and read the list!”

Lily nodded nervously. Then she crouched behind a stack of broken broomsticks, while Jess and Amelia hurried along the hallway.

“This is far enough,” said Jess. She held Amelia’s paw as the kitten jangled her hiding hollyhock. Once they were invisible, Jess tapped one of the screechy peaches growing on the wall.

Screeeeeeeech!

“I hope this works,” said Amelia.

Back by the room, Lily jumped as the door flew open and Grizelda burst out, rushing off in the direction of the noise. Gobbler scampered after her.

Lily’s heart raced as she dashed inside. She unrolled the parchment and desperately read Grizelda’s scratchy writing. The only ingredient that wasn’t crossed off was something called a shower flower.

The noise of the screechy peach was dying away, so she darted back out, just in time. Grizelda and Gobbler were already coming back down the hallway.

Lily hid until the witch was safely in the room, then ran to Jess and Amelia, who were becoming visible again.

“Did you find out what the last ingredient was?” asked Jess.

“Yes, it’s a shower flower, whatever that is,” Lily said. “Do you know where they grow, Amelia?”

The kitten shook her fluffy head. “I’ve never heard of them. Maybe the Muddlepups have them in their garden?”

They followed the hallway, away from Grizelda’s room.

“We have to stop Grizelda from getting that ingredient,” said Jess.

“And we have to find Goldie!” said Lily.

Suddenly, Amelia stopped outside a door. She sniffed, her whiskers twitching.

“I can smell something... Rose petals, violet dew, honeyberries, and mint... it’s the perfume I gave Goldie for her birthday!” she cried.

Amelia pushed open the door and dashed inside. Lily and Jess darted after her. Inside, her paws tied up with thick green vines, was Goldie!

“I knew you’d come,” Goldie cried. “You’re so brave. And Amelia, too!”

“I’m so glad we’ve found you!” said Jess. “How did Grizelda catch you?”

“I heard an animal crying in the forest,” Goldie explained. “It sounded hurt, so I went to find it. But it was just one of Grizelda’s tricks.”

“We’ll get you out,” promised Jess.

The girls tried to undo the vines, but the knots were too tough.

“They won’t budge,” said Lily. “Grizelda must have used magic to make them extra strong.” She heard a pattering sound. “Someone’s coming!”

“Grizelda!” whispered Amelia.

“No, her footsteps go click clack ,” Lily said. “It’s someone else.”

Amelia hid behind her as the footsteps came closer. Then around the bend, padding on his fluffy blue paws, came Gobbler!

The girls froze, waiting for Gobbler to rush off to Grizelda. But he scampered toward Jess instead.

“Eeeeep!” he squeaked, and started nibbling her shoelaces.

Jess smiled. “He’s more interested in eating than helping Grizelda.”

Amelia crept out from behind Lily. “He’s sort of sweet,” she said, “but very greedy!”

Gobbler saw the kitten, and his long tail waved and twirled.

“I think he likes you, Amelia,” said Lily.

The kitten padded closer to Gobbler. His tail twirled even more wildly.

“I’ve got an idea,” Amelia said. She patted the thick vines wrapped around Goldie’s paws. “Look, Gobbler, these are tastier than shoelaces.”

“Eep, eep, eeeeeeeeeeep!” Gobbler squeaked. His tail thumped the floor with excitement.

“Perfect, Amelia!” said Lily. “Gobbler can chomp Goldie free!”

Jess picked up the wriggly creature so he could eat the vines around Goldie’s front paws. “Oh,” she said. “Amelia, his fur is almost as soft as yours!”

Bits of vine fell from Gobbler’s mouth as he munched through them. He was halfway through the last one when the girls heard click, clack, click, clack ...

Lily’s eyes widened. “Those are definitely Grizelda’s footsteps!”

“Run! Hide!” whispered Goldie.

“We’re not going without you,” Jess said fiercely.

As Gobbler chomped through the last vine, it fell away and Goldie was free!

Clickclackclickclack ...

“Grizelda’s running!” Jess gasped, putting Gobbler down.

“Quick!” Amelia cried. “This way!”