Chloe the Kitten Read Free Page B

Morris cried. “A rainbow! A rainbow!”
    Sure enough, a rainbow of sparkling light arched across the sky in front of them. Chloe flapped her glittery wings with all her might until she landed on the very top of the rainbow.
    â€œHold tight, Morris! We’re going for a ride!” she called over her shoulder.
    â€œWheeeeeeeee!” Morris squealed as they started to slide down the rainbow.
    Faster and faster they slid. Chloe’s whiskers tingled as the air whistled through them. Finally, they landed with a soft bump on the far side of Heather Hill, right at the mouth of Crystal Cave.
    The warm colors of the crystals in the cave shimmered across Chloe’s fur like fairy lights. For a moment, she almost forgot what she was looking for. The rainbow ride had been so much fun and Crystal Cave was so pretty—it couldn’t possibly be home to anything scary. Could it?

    Suddenly, a very deep voice boomed out from the depths of the cave. “Who’s there?”
    Chloe fell back in fright.
    â€œWhat do you want?” the voice rang out again.
    Chloe crouched down. She was terrified.
    On her back, Morris gave a small squeal and cowered into her trembling fur.
    A dark shadow loomed out of the cave. Chloe could hardly bear to look. Were the Pollen Puppies right? Could this be the hiding place of a large and scary lion?

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
    Crystal Cave
    â€œWell?” the voice boomed again. “I said, who’s there?”
    Chloe blinked against the dazzling light. “Oh!” she cried. “You’re—”
    â€œI’m what?” the figure boomed.
    â€œYou’re not a lion!”
    â€œOf course I’m not a lion!”
    Chloe laughed with relief as the figure emerged. Now that he was standing in the sunlight, she could see he wasn’t anything like a lion. He was a Bark Badger. From his broad black-and-white shoulders sprouted a pair of delicate, graying wings. The stocky creature shuffled forward and frowned down at them.
    â€œWell,” he said, “what do you little ’uns want? Apart from telling me that I’m not a lion!”
    Chloe opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She might not have been face-to-face with a lion, but she was still a little scared.
    Bark Badgers were very kind fairy animals, but they were also very big and strong. Their nimble paws carved the most beautiful patterns into the tree barks of Misty Wood, and they took their job very seriously indeed. Unlike the cheeky Pollen Puppies, they had no time for jokes or tricks.
    Gathering all her courage, Chloe raised her head and began to speak. “I’m helping this little Moss Mouse,” she said with a trembling voice. “He’s lost and I’m trying to find his home. He says it’s near the lions, but I have no idea where the lions live. The Pollen Puppies suggested I try looking here.”
    â€œHmm.” The Bark Badger stroked his whiskery chin thoughtfully. “Lions, you say?”

    Chloe nodded.
    â€œI have lived in Misty Wood forever and a day, and I have never known there to be lions here,” the Bark Badger said.
    â€œOh, bother and broomsticks,” Chloe said with a sad little sigh. “Will I ever get Morris home?”
    The Bark Badger’s wise black eyes began to twinkle. “I can see you are a very helpful and caring kitten,” he said. “So I will give you some advice. Are you listening carefully?”
    Chloe leaned forward. “Oh yes,” she said eagerly.
    â€œThere is a place in Misty Wood that is very dark and very quiet,” the Bark Badger whispered in her ear. “No birds sing. No squirrels scamper. Everything is silent and still. It is in the Heart of Misty Wood, and few have ever been there.” He tapped the side of his nose knowingly with a long, pointy claw. “If there are lions in Misty Wood, that is where they will be hiding.”
    Chloe gave a small meow of fear. “Really,