FULL NOVELXO Chapter 13: Disaster
Hovering far above the Hills of Halle, Molly peered down through the dark swirling clouds. There was no movement below. There was no sign of anyone. King Simon and Hoddi had been dropped near the king’s palace, deciding to approach it under cover of darkness. Gliding cautiously to the ground, the huge red dragon landed without fuss at the foot of the largest hill. Molly was elated to set foot on sacred fairy ground once more.
The stone circle was cold, filled with the dark purple ashes of previous fires. Reaching into them, Molly dragged out a couple of the potion pots. The brilliant colors of the magical contents transfixed the Spungle fairy, as they always did. However, she saw right away that they were not pulsating which meant the fire must have gone out before the heat had activated them enough to release their magic.
Molly’s face grew grim. She had hoped that somehow she would have been able to use the new potions on her wings. She longed to be able to fly on her own again. Turning to Ran-Da, she shook her head. “No good,” she said sadly, turning away. “They are not ready.”
“We can light the fire again, Molly,” Ran-Da replied. “Then you can use the new potions to mend your wings.”
“I am afraid not,” answered the fairy. “We have no more magic embers to start the fire. They must have all gone out when my friends ran from Jar-Ed and his men.”
Molly sat for a moment, lost in thought as she pictured the panic and chaos there must have been when Jar-Ed and his armed men came upon the unsuspecting fairies she had left behind. “We must find them,” she finally said. “They may have taken refuge in some of the caves in the hills, if they had a chance. I see no sign of an attack here.”
Molly heard long ago about a cave within the biggest hill. The entrance was well hidden by the branches and leaves of a very old Mobi tree. She had never been there herself but remembered hearing it was difficult to find.
“Perhaps Jar-Ed and his men have not found the cave,” Molly said hopefully. “I must climb up the side of the hill since I cannot fly,” she told Ran-Da, peering upwards. “It will be difficult.”
“I can fly, Molly. I will be your wings until yours are healed and it will not be difficult at all.”
“I suppose you can, Ran-Da!” Brightening at his words, Molly realized she had almost forgotten the red dragon in her disappointment over the potions. “We can fly straight up the hillside. I know I can find the old Mobi tree because it is one of a kind and the only one with dark purple leaves.”
“We are off then, my friend. Up onto my back you go!” Ran-Da’s emerald green eyes glittered with excitement and Molly felt again the pull of the strange emotions.
Seconds later, the huge red dragon became airborne. He flew straight up, slowly at first, so Molly could look for the tree. The young fairy peered intently at the trees and bush that grew there, seeking the biggest one and any glimpse of purple through the greenery.
“There!” cried Ran-Da, a short time later. “Purple! Look, Molly!” The red dragon flew toward the very middle of the hill where he spied the vibrant color peeking out from the green. Molly held on tightly, her long red-gold hair streaming out behind her.
Without warning, a powerful wind began to howl around them, twisting the pair of them around uncontrollably. It caught hold of her and she screamed as she felt herself slip from the dragon’s back. The wind, taking her breath away, tossed her around like a rag doll. Molly managed to catch a brief glimpse of Ran-Da, his powerful wings fighting against the terrible force of the whirlwind. He was falling quickly, spiraling downwards through the sky.
Suddenly the forceful gust let go of Molly and she, too, began to fall. To her surprise, she landed right in the middle of the Mobi tree, her green cloak caught on one of its branches. Slowly, Molly moved her arms and legs, realizing she was not injured.
Carefully reaching out, she managed to loosen the cloak from the branch with one hand, wrapping her other arm tightly around the trunk. Cautiously she descended, using the branches as footholds until she was standing on firm ground once more.
The large purple leaves were spread out across the entire side of the hill. They completely hid the entrance to what must be the cave where she hoped her friends might have found refuge.
Ran-Da was nowhere to be seen. Had he been blown far away by the fierce winds? The sky was now empty, the mighty whirlwind having vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
“Ran-Da! Ran-Da! She cried out his name time and again. He did not reappear and Molly wondered if she would ever see him again. She realized sadly that her beautiful red dragon had disappeared almost as quickly as she had found him.