Dark Tree Shining by Paula Harrison

Author:Paula Harrison [Harrison, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780857635129
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Published: 2015-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

Claudia pulled Laney to the ground as streams of electricity rippled through the air. The Greytails swooped out of the way before shooting lightning back.

Laney’s head pulsed with the crackling of the bolts. She hadn’t known Tom could make lightning. Usually you didn’t learn that until you were an adult and she knew Tom was only seventeen.

“Stop! Everyone stop!” Fletcher stepped in front of Stingwood. “We’re not here to spoil anything or get in your way, we just—”

“But you are in my way and now you must move.” Stingwood pointed his walking stick at Fletcher for a moment. Then his stony face softened as he gazed back through the invisible wall. “I’m so close now,” he muttered. “So close to making Avalon a place of unrivalled natural beauty.”

“Did you use anything special to make it?” said Fletcher. “I mean—”

“It’s all special!” Stingwood growled. “Imagine a place with no humans, no chemicals in the air, no poisoned water … all of it perfect without a single blemish.” He glared at Laney and Claudia, his eyes wild. “And then you stroll up with Mist trash and a Filthy Tail to infect the place. It’s an abomination! Get them out of here!” He advanced on the girls.

Fletcher stood his ground but Stingwood knocked him aside as if he was swatting a fly. The Thorn boy fell to the earth, groaning.

“Fletcher!” Laney cried, crawling towards him.

“Picking on your own tribe now, Stingwood?” yelled Tom, flying straight at him. “That shows how low you’ve sunk.”

“Stay out of this forest, Greytails,” roared Stingwood. “Your kind doesn’t belong here.” He shot more lightning at them.

Laney reached Fletcher and fear twisted inside her when she saw how still and pale he was. She took hold of his arm and he groaned again.

Stingwood advanced, letting loose great volleys of lightning. Tom and Charlie shot back, firing short bursts from their fingertips but Stingwood’s bolts were stronger and the Greytails fell back. Stingwood’s lightning intensified and he fired without stopping, his mouth twisting horribly.

Lightning flew over Laney’s head as she crouched low by Fletcher. Tom and Charlie’s attack bolts were stuttering now. Laney let go of Fletcher’s arm and clasped her hands together, willing her Mist power to work – wishing for water to burst from the earth and wash Stingwood away. None came.

“Get out of here, Tom!” Claudia yelled. “Just go!”

Stingwood spun round and threw lightning at her. Laney watched her dodge behind a tree. Her heart pounded. She and Claudia could transform and fly away but they couldn’t leave Fletcher.

Charlie cried out as a lightning bolt hit his leg. The barrage of spells ceased. Laney looked up hopefully, but she could see from Stingwood’s face that he was preparing for an all-out attack.

She pointed all her fingers at the sky the way the older Mist faeries did. Let it rain. Bring the storm. Her hands throbbed painfully. But Stingwood saw what she was doing and crossed to her in a few strides.

“The Mists had better stay out of my forest too,” he roared.

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