* * * The Emerald Queen - Page 2

Suddenly, without  warning, Maddie and Wolfinna found themselves tumbling down into the white crystal tunnel. They landed in a heap on the pile of shiny fallen crystals. They got up, looked around, and saw the pile of their four friends' clothing heaped on the ground. Maddie saw a bit of black cloth peaking out of the clothing pile. Being very clever, she walked over and pulled out the four black headbands the girls must have been wearing when they started their adventure. 

Silently, the two of them walked down the crystal tunnel into the blue-green Rainbow cavern. When Maddie and Wolfinna saw the beautiful glowing colors of Rainbow, they understood how their friends could have gotten distracted and lost. Maddie tried to gently touch an amazing sparkling pink rose which caused a dozen colorful butterflies to fly upward in a beautiful tinkling whirl.

The sound emanating from their delicate fluttering wings was beautiful and charming. Maddie smiled with wonder.

Wolfinna, understanding the peril they both faced, warned her friend. 

"Maddie, don't touch, take, or eat anything here. Be careful," she warned with a stern shake of her finger. Maddie looked unconvinced, so she repeated herself.

"Remember, do not touch, or take, or eat anything from this fairy-tale world. It's the first rule in this type of situation."

Maddie nodded. They needed to find their friends quickly and not get lost in the charm and mysterious beauty of this Jewel World. Maddie tucked the four head sashes carefully into her yellow bag, next to the four silver spinning stars.

As they walked further and further down the mossy pathways, they came to the stream where the girls had collected shells, and to the riverbank where the girls had eaten their special feast. And there they saw Kicker, Katya, Merkeeta and JenJen holding hands and praying as they willed themselves to return home. 

"Hey guys, we're here," Wolfinna said as they approached. The four girls jumped up to greet them. They all started talking at once. 

"Watch out." "We're trapped." "Don't let yourself feel anything." The Emerald Queen won't help us." "We don't know what to do."