Linda Chapman - The Icicle Imps

Sophie took the leather journal out of her pocket. Over the years, all the different Guardians of the Gateway had kept notes about the shadow creatures they’d met, to help future Guardians. There were also clues to help each Guardian find the hidden gems. Each time a new Guardian took over, the gems magically shifted their hiding places. Then the old clues would fade and new clues would form.

Sophie and Sam turned over the yellowing pages. “Here, look at these Snow Goblins,” Sam pointed out.

Sophie stared at the drawing of the squat goblin; it had spiky icy hair and big hands. She read a couple of faded words. “Brings snow wherever it goes. Hibernates in summer. Never seen between May and September. It can’t be that then,” she said, pointing at the words.

“There’s another note here. Ice in summer? See page 65,” Sam noticed.

Page 65 showed a tiny creature with big eyes, long white fur and a bushy tail. It looked a bit like a cross between a fluffy snowball and a chipmunk.

“It looks just like what I saw at my window!” hissed Sophie.

Sam read out the title. “Icicle Imps.”

There were only a few notes alongside the drawing. “An Icicle Imp will bring freezing temperatures,” read Sophie. There was an arrow pointing to its pointed ears and the words: excellent hearing. Another two arrows pointed to the imp’s mouth and large dark eyes. BEWARE! read the label.

“Well, they don’t exactly look frightening,” commented Sam. “I reckon even I could fight one of those.”

Sophie gasped as the tingling rushed through her again. “My Guardian powers!” Hearing a squeaking noise above them, she looked up and saw a white fluffy creature sitting on the shed roof! “Sam!” she exclaimed. “It’s an Icicle Imp!”

The Icicle Imp streaked across the lawn towards the fence that circled the Shadow Woods. Sophie didn’t stop to think twice. “After it!”

She and Sam charged after the ball of fluff. It dived under the fence and into the trees. Sophie could run incredibly fast with her Guardian powers, but she didn’t want to leave Sam behind. Once they’d scrambled over the fence, she grabbed his hand and pulled him along as she raced after the flash of white, ducking under tree branches, leaping over roots.

The Icicle Imp finally stopped in a clearing and faced them, standing up on its hind legs. “Ha!” it declared in a high voice. “You have fallen into our trap, Guardian!”

Sophie bit back a smile. The little creature was about as scary as a kitten. “And what trap would that be?”

“Behold!” the Icicle Imp cried dramatically, sweeping one of his little arms around.

Icicle Imps popped into view on every branch around the clearing. There must have been about a hundred of them. But even so, Sophie couldn’t feel scared. What were they going to do? Cuddle her to death? “Hey, Sam,” she whispered, nudging him. “What did the Guardian say to the Icicle Imp?”

“What?”

She grinned. “S’nice to meet you!”

Sam snickered.

The leader of the Icicle Imps narrowed its eyes. “Guardian, it is time for you to be afraid,” it squeaked. “Be very afraid.”

There was a pause.

The leader looked at Sophie expectantly.

She cleared her throat. “Um, sorry,” she said, spreading her hands. “But I’m kind of having problems with your general scariness. You’re just so… so cute!”

“Cute?” the leader spat. He drew himself up to his full height of fifteen centimetres. “I warn you, we strike terror into the hearts of those who know us, Guardian!”

Sophie suppressed a laugh. “Yeah, if you’re a dormouse, maybe!”

“Um, Soph,” Sam said uneasily, as the Icicle Imps started to jump off the branches and move in around them. “They’re getting quite close to us.”

“So?” Sophie replied. “What are they going to do? Nibble us?”

As she spoke, each of the Icicle Imps drew back their lips, and a set of pointed fangs popped out of their gums – fangs that reached down their fluffy chins and looked as sharp as carving knives!

“Oh,” said Sophie slowly.

“Attack!” squeaked the Icicle Imp leader.

“Run!” yelled Sam.

The Icicle Imps leapt at Sam and Sophie from all directions. “OW!” Sophie yelled as one bit her hand and another sank its fangs into her leg. It felt like someone had just stabbed her with two knitting needles. “Get off me!” she cried, grabbing the imp and throwing it into the trees. Ten more imps attacked her. She kicked out at them, but although her kicks sent several of the imps flying through the air, more of them jumped at her head.

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