Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison

Author:Megan Morrison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2015-05-26T16:00:00+00:00

THEY traveled four days with Greve, and made enough deliveries to clear a great deal of space in the wagon. It grew colder each day as they moved farther north, and Prince Frog didn’t seem to like it. He stayed burrowed under the woolly blankets and rarely appeared, even to pounce on spiders.

“We might get to Shagbark before nightfall,” Jack told Rapunzel. They were sitting together in the back of the wagon as they traveled. The tip of Jack’s nose was ruddy with cold, and his breath clouded in the air as he spoke. He unrolled the map so that they could trace how far they had come. “Tomorrow midday, at the latest.”

“And then we’re nearly to Independence, and the First Wood.”

“Nearly.”

Rapunzel’s heart fluttered. Soon, she could go home.

Night fell before they reached Shagbark, and they pitched camp in a moonlit valley. In the morning, light filtered into the tent. Rapunzel pushed herself up to sit and saw that Jack had gone out already. She buckled her boots, grabbed Prince Frog, and pushed open the tent flap. One shock of cold air was enough to send her scuttling for her cloak, and then she marched out into the frosty morning — and stopped short.

Overnight, the world had exploded into color. Rapunzel stood agape, staring at trees the likes of which she had never seen. Their leaves were wide and bright — oranges, yellows, and reds as vivid as flames, each color crisp against the cold blue sky. The trees blanketed the hills that surrounded them, and Rapunzel turned in circles, awestruck. It was like the world had caught fire.

Jack crunched up to her through some fallen leaves and stood beside her to admire the long, bright valley.

“I wish the trees near my tower looked like this,” Rapunzel murmured. “They’re always dark green.”

“So don’t go back,” said Jack. “Stay here, if you like it better.”

Rapunzel marveled at the view. It was the first time she had ever believed that there might be any place she could like better.

Greve folded his tent and limped toward the wagon.

“We ought to pack up,” said Jack, and threw open the tent.

They had just finished packing when a loud crash sounded from Greve’s big wagon. Both Rapunzel and Jack whirled toward it. Greve stood in the wagon bed, pinned against the remaining crates by a large plank of wood that looked as big as the wagon bottom. They dashed over to him. Jack leapt into the wagon. The plank was taller than he was, and when he pulled it toward him, it nearly sent him over backward. Rapunzel climbed up and helped him steady it; it was much heavier than it looked.

“We’ll need to lift it,” said Greve, rubbing his right thumb, which looked purple. “I want it secured on top before it rains.”

Rapunzel realized that the heavy wooden plank was meant to cover the top of the wagon. It had been standing on its side between the crates and the wagon wall. She hadn’t noticed it before.

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