The Enchanted Woods
Where's Sugar?

It was night in the Enchanted Woods. Sugar was in her hammock outside the hollow tree that was her house. She gently swung back and forth and listened to the crickets. Suddenly she heard," Woo, woo." The faerie sat straight up and saw something dark flying at her. It was Soot, the owl who ate faeries. Sugar gasped and dived for her wand, which was laying on a small branch. Before she could get it, Soot lifted her up in his talons and carried her to his tree. "Oh, no," thought Sugar. "I'm doomed. Good-bye, Enchanted Woods. Good-bye, Hope and Mistie and all my friends. I guess I'm going to be eaten now." It certainly didn't look too good for Sugar. Soot put her in a small cage and hooted. Sugar covered her ears and thought," Maybe Hope or Mistie or someone will come by. I should make some noise." She screamed and yelled and made a racket. Nobody came. But Soot flew away to get something else to eat. He saved faeries for dessert. Hope yawned. She couldn't sleep at all. Something was nagging at her. She got up from her bed of grass and went outside. The stars winked at her. "I'll go to Sugar's tree," Hope said to herself. "She got a sleeping drink from Marl. Maybe I can borrow some." She trotted off. When Hope reached Sugar's tree, she knocked with her horn. There was no answer. "Sugar!" Hope called softly into the hollow. She went around to the side and looked in Sugar's hammock. Nobody was there, but wasn't that Sugar's wand? She would never leave her wand. Suddenly Hope heard some faint screaming. The unicorn picked up Sugar's wand in her mouth and went to investigate. The sound was coming from Soot's tree. Hope knew he might get angry at her, but he wouldn't bother a unicorn too much. She peered into the hollow. To Hope's surprise, Sugar was in Soot's little cage. When the faerie saw her friend, she cried," Hope! I'm so glad to see you! You've got my wand! Throw it over please." Hope threw the wand and watched it land on the floor by the cage. Sugar reached out and picked it up. Almost immediately, the cage unlocked and Sugar was free! She ran to Hope and said," Thanks!" "Come on," Hope said. "Let's get you home." Hope and Sugar went to Sugar's tree and the faerie gave Hope some of her sleeping drink and a bowl full of honey. Hope drank the honey and said," Mmm. Thank you for the honey and the sleeping stuff." Sugar nodded. "Just take a little of the sleeping drink," she said. "It makes you sleepy. Marl said it was perfectly safe. It helps me when I can't sleep. And thank you for saving me from Soot." Hope laughed and said," You're very welcome. Good-night!" Then they both went back to their beds and slept.

Copyright 1997 by Chantessy