Island of Magical Creatures

by Tracey West

  “Treeleaf,” Adora repeated.

  The deer closed his eyes, and his body glowed with a soft light. His fur turned from brown to pink. Then orange. Then yellow. Then green. Then blue. Then purple, and finally back to brown.

  “Wow, that was beautiful!” Adora remarked.

  Swift Wind snorted. “Big deal. I’ve got rainbow wings! All the colors, all the time.”

  Treeleaf rejoined the other animals, and nobody else stepped forward.

  “Thank you, Twinkles,” Adora said. “Now maybe we can—”

  Twinkles interrupted her.

  “He says there’s one more,” Swift Wind said.

  The animals parted a little bit as a sloth slowly crawled up to the princesses.

  “What is that?” Adora asked.

  “It’s a sloth,” Swift Wind replied, and then he listened to the hedgehog. “His name is Felix.”

  “What does he do, besides being totally adorable?” Mermista wanted to know.

  Twinkles chattered again.

  “Twinkles says, ‘Wait for it,’ ” Swift Wind replied.

  So they waited, their eyes on the sloth. Then Felix slowly began to float up off the ground. When he was about a foot in the air, he stopped and hovered there.

  Twinkles squeaked.

  “That roughly translates to ‘ta-da’!” Swift Wind said.

  “He can fly!” Frosta exclaimed.

  “That’s not flying,” Swift Wind pointed out. “He’s not even moving. He’s just floating there.”

  “But he’s above the ground,” Perfuma pointed out. “Isn’t that the same as flying?”

  “Absolutely not!” Swift Wind snorted. “Flying is soaring through the air on majestic wings.” He flapped his own wings for emphasis.

  “Swift Wind is right,” Adora said, and Swift Wind beamed at her. “He is the only creature on Etheria that can fly. Well, except I guess for birds. And what are those bugs with the orange wings?”

  “Butterflies,” Bow answered.

  “Right, butterflies!” Adora said. “They fly. And so do those black-and-yellow things that sting you …”

  “I know I’m not the only flying animal on Etheria,” Swift Wind interrupted her, and he sounded annoyed. “But I am the only magical flying animal.”

  You blew it again, Adora, she scolded herself. Why do I always say the wrong thing to Swift Wind?

  “Flying. Floating. Whatever,” Mermista said. “This furry guy is pretty cute.”

  Felix very slowly broke into a smile.

  “Twinkles says that all of the other animals have powers, too,” Swift Wind reported. “But these are some of the strongest ones.”

  “These are awesome!” Frosta cried. “I want Tajana to be my magical creature sidekick. We could go on super-secret spy missions together.”

  Twinkles chattered to Swift Wind.

  “Twinkles wants you to know that not all of the animals have such strong powers,” Swift Wind translated. “Most of them are like the skunk or the sloth. Or that bunny.”

  He nodded toward a cute little rabbit who hopped forward. He burped, and rainbow-colored bubbles streamed from his mouth.

  “Most are quite helpless and vulnerable, which is why they need protection,” Swift Wind added.

  Glimmer leaned toward Adora. “This isn’t exactly what we were expecting, but I definitely think there are some useful powers here,” she said. “Although none of them are as amazing as Swift Wind, right?”

  Adora wasn’t listening. She was staring at Treeleaf, who kept changing from one color to the next.

  Twinkles clapped his two front feet together and squeaked.

  “He is calling a meeting of the Animal Council tonight,” Swift Wind said. “He welcomes us to enjoy the island while we wait for them to come to a decision. The animals would like to get the chance to know you better before they decide. If you ask me, though, they’re just being difficult.”

  “No, it’s okay,” Adora said. “It will be dark soon, and we need to stay on the island tonight anyway.”

  “It’s a plan, then,” Glimmer agreed. “I just wonder if the animals will decide to help us …”

  Adora and Swift Wind took in the scene as the others started to get to know the animals.

  Frosta had taught Tajana, the white fox, how to play hide-and-seek. She chased the playful fox, who kept appearing and disappearing.

  Mermista was chilling on a hammock strung between two trees, with Felix the sloth floating in the air next to her.

  Perfuma and the skunk, whose name was Lily, were walking around the edge of the woods, sniffing the colorful flowers.

  Glimmer was using Bow’s tracker pad to time the speed of Mehira the mountain lion.

  And Bow had created a target out of some driftwood and was taking turns shooting at it with Winda the porcupine.

  “This is actually pretty incredible,” Swift Wind told Adora. “I mean, some of their powers might be a little weird, and they’re obviously not as good as mine. But these are definitely not ordinary creatures. I’m not alone!”

  “Is that what it felt like after I transformed you?” Adora asked. “Like you were all alone in the world?”

  “Well, at first none of the other horses would even talk to me,” he said. “That hurt. But then I joined the Rebellion, and I felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself, you know? So then I didn’t feel so alone.”

  He’s opening up to me, Adora realized, and she planned her next words carefully. “I understand,” she said. “And I know what happened to you was an accident, Swift Wind, but I’m really glad you’re part of the Rebellion. We wouldn’t—”

  Treeleaf approached them, and she stopped. The deer’s fur was a beautiful, deep purple color. He nodded with his head toward the woods.

  “You want me to follow you?” Adora asked.

  Treeleaf nodded.

  “Okay,” Adora said, and she walked toward him.

  “I’m pretty sure he wants us to follow him,” Swift Wind said, trotting after them. “I mean, I don’t speak deer, but that’s what it felt like to me.”

  He followed Adora and Treeleaf into the woods. The air felt cool under the canopy of the green trees, and leaves crunched underneath their feet. Birds darted between the tree branches. A turtle ambled across the path. More bunnies munched on plants, burping rainbow bubbles. Squirrels and chipmunks scampered up the tree trunks as they walked by.

  “There are animals all over this island,” Adora remarked.

  Swift Wind stopped. “Hmm. I wonder if those are ordinary squirrels, or if they have powers?” he asked. “I could talk to them and find out. Adora, what do you think?”

  But Adora, transfixed by the deer, wasn’t listening. Swift Wind snorted and continued on behind them. Nearby, two of the squirrels ran down the tree trunk. One of them picked up a rock ten times her size and held it over her head while the other squirrel gathered the nuts hidden underneath.

  “Hey, where are we going?” Swift Wind asked Adora. “I mean, I don’t speak deer but I could try.”

  Treeleaf was silent. Adora shrugged, and they all kept walking. They came to a bubbling brook. A family of ducks was floating downstream, quacking to each other.

  Quack! Quack! Quack!

  Adora’s eyes lit up. “That sounds like … quack!” she cried. “These must be ducks, right? ‘Does a duck quack?’ I get it now!”

  Swift Wind grinned. “I knew you would.”

  Treeleaf gracefully leapt and landed on a rock in the middle of the brook. Then he jumped to the other side.

  “No problem for me, either,” Swift Wind said. “I can do this!”

  He took off, flapping his wings. But as he soared above the brook, his head bumped into an overhanging tree branch. He tumbled down and landed in the water with a splash.

  “That tree branch came out of nowhere!” he sputtered. Then he climbed up onto the banks. “Need help, Adora? I can fly over there and get you.”

  “Better not,” A
dora replied. “I’ve got it.”

  She imitated Treeleaf, jumping to the rock in the middle of the brook, and then taking one more jump onto the forest floor.

  “Thanks, Treeleaf,” Adora said, patting the deer’s head.

  “Treeleaf, Treeleaf, Treeleaf,” Swift Wind muttered under his breath.

  “Did you say something?” Adora asked.

  “Uh, just, ‘Treeleaf, lead the way’!” Swift Wind replied.

  They continued on a mossy path that led to a cave carved out of a low boulder. Treeleaf motioned for them to follow him inside.

  “It could be a trap,” Swift Wind warned.

  “Treeleaf wouldn’t do that,” Adora said, and she followed him inside.

  It was dark in the cave, but her sword began to glow right away, lighting up the space. On the walls she could see more paintings like the ones in the ruins outside Bright Moon.

  These paintings showed First Ones interacting with the animals of the island. The images reminded Adora of her friends and the animals they had connected with. One woman was racing a mountain lion, and another one was having target practice with a porcupine, just like Bow and Winda.

  “I see,” Adora said. “There used to be people on this island.”

  Treeleaf nodded.

  Swift Wind interjected. “Twinkles told me that the very first animals here lived with people, and they were all friends,” he said. “Then the people left, and the animals were very sad. The animals have been waiting for people to return for a very long time.”

  “Then maybe the animals will vote to come with us,” Adora went on. “Although I guess the First Ones must have had a good reason for keeping them safe here. Maybe we can ask Twinkles.”

  “You mean maybe I should ask Twinkles,” Swift Wind said.

  “Right,” Adora said.

  Treeleaf moved over to a picture on the wall and stopped. There was a picture of a deer running through the forest and a woman with long hair flowing behind her.

  Adora smiled. “That could be you and me,” she said, and Treeleaf nodded.

  “Oh, please,” Swift Wind said, rolling his eyes. “Is that really why we came all this way?”

  “Whatever your council decides, we’ll accept it,” Adora told Treeleaf. “And even if you decide to stay here, we’ll come back and visit. You shouldn’t be alone forever.”

  “Okay, it’s going to be dark soon,” Swift Wind piped up. “We’d better get back.”

  Treeleaf lowered his head and nudged Adora with his antlers. She stroked the fur on his head.

  Swift Wind snorted. “Fine. I’ll find my own way back. I’m sure you’ll be fine with your new friend, Treeleaf.” Then he turned and left the cave.

  “What’s the matter with him?” Adora wondered out loud, and then it hit her: He was jealous!

  She shook her head. Swift Wind could be so confusing! She’d been trying so hard to make a connection with him, and he hadn’t even noticed. But the minute Treeleaf had shown up, he was jealous.

  He is being so silly! Adora thought with a sigh. Doesn’t he realize that I think he’s awesome? That there’s no better companion for She-Ra?

  Adora and Treeleaf left the cave and made their way through the woods as the setting sun cast an orange glow on the forest floor. Twinkles and Swift Wind were waiting for them when they got back. If Swift Wind was embarrassed by his jealous behavior in the forest, he wasn’t showing it, Adora observed.

  “Twinkles says that we should enjoy the feast they have prepared for us while they have their council,” Swift Wind reported.

  Twinkles nodded, and then he and all the animals disappeared into the forest.

  “Okay, where’s the feast?” Glimmer asked.

  Perfuma pointed to a long, flat rock. “I think this must be it.”

  They gathered around the rock, which was strewn with leaves, flowers, nuts, and berries.

  “That looks delicious!” Perfuma remarked.

  “That is literally rabbit food,” Mermista replied.

  “Well, it was nice of them to do this for us,” Frosta remarked.

  “We’ve still got some rations,” Adora said. “I’ll get a fire going. We should eat and then set up for the night.”

  “How long do you think their meeting will take?” Frosta asked.

  “Probably not too long,” Glimmer guessed.

  But the sun set, and the animals didn’t return. The group talked around the fire for a while, chatting about the island. Then everyone started to yawn.

  “Aren’t they done yet?” Frosta asked sleepily, leaning against Glimmer’s shoulder.

  “I’m sure they’ll be done soon,” Adora replied, her eyes drooping.

  A thought crossed her mind that they should have someone keep watch, but she was sure they would all stay awake until the animals finished with their meeting. But the animals still didn’t return, and one by one the rebels fell asleep. Only Swift Wind and Adora remained awake, but then Swift Wind started to snore, and Adora soon drifted off.

  She dreamed of running through the woods with Treeleaf, with her hair down and flowing behind her. They emerged from the forest into a beautiful clearing and a sunny blue sky overhead. Swift Wind flew across the sky, and Adora stopped and waved to him. Then she glanced back into the woods and saw two eyes shining there, one blue and one yellow …

  “Adora, wake up!”

  Her eyes opened to see Swift Wind bending over her. The sun was slowly rising, and Twinkles was next to him, riding on Mehira’s back.

  “Twinkles says that intruders are coming to the island!” Swift Wind said. “And they’re not princesses.”

  Adora bolted upright. “Catra!”

  “Everyone, wake up!” Adora yelled.

  Frosta jumped up. “What is it?”

  Perfuma sat up, stretching. Mermista yawned. Bow started shaking Glimmer awake.

  “What?” Glimmer groaned.

  “Catra’s on her way,” Adora said. “At least, I think so. Twinkles, how many intruders are there? And is one of them a girl with eyes like a cat and claws?”

  Twinkles chattered away.

  “He says there are a dozen soldiers and six machine animals,” Swift Wind translated. “And there is a cat-eyed girl, with someone who looks like a crab.”

  “A scorpion actually. That’s Scorpia,” Adora said. “And the machine animals he’s talking about must be Horde robots. They look like spiders.”

  “Are they on the island yet?” Glimmer asked.

  Twinkles shook his head.

  “Then take us to the highest point on the island,” Adora said. “Somewhere we can see them but they can’t see us.”

  Twinkles and the mountain lion took off, but traveled slowly enough for the others to keep up. They stopped at the top of a tree-covered hill.

  “Stay behind the trees,” Adora warned. She pushed aside some leaves and looked out.

  Several Horde skiffs were flying above the lake, heading toward the island. The lead skiff held Catra and Scorpia. The rest held Horde soldiers in gray uniforms, their faces masked by helmets. Some of the skiffs towed platforms carrying robots—but not the spiderlike Horde robots that Adora knew. These robots looked like machine animals, just as Twinkles had reported. There was a lion, a bear, a horse, and an alligator.

  “What?” Adora muttered. She’d never seen robots like that in the Fright Zone before.

  But there was no time to ponder where they’d come from. Catra and her troops were advancing fast.

  “This is the Horde that I was telling you about,” Adora told Twinkles. “This is our fault. They followed us here. But we’ll protect you.”

  “That’s right!” Glimmer echoed.

  Twinkles didn’t reply. He tapped Mehira, and the mountain lion took off down the hill at super speed.

  “Where are they going?” Frosta wondered.

  “Probably getting the animals to safety,” Adora replied. “Swift Wind, can you go follow them? Make sure everyone’s okay?”


  Swift Wind nodded. “Got it!” he said, and he galloped off.

  Adora turned to her friends. “Look, we’re outnumbered, but we can do this.”

  She held up her sword. “For the honor of Grayskull!”

  Adora transformed into She-Ra. Then she charged down the hill, followed by Glimmer, Bow, Frosta, Perfuma, and Mermista.

  They broke through the tree line as the skiffs landed on shore. The rebels didn’t wait for the Horde to disembark. They launched into an attack.

  Mermista called up a powerful wave from the lake. Whoosh! It slammed into a skiff carrying two Horde soldiers, pulling them back into the lake.

  Wham! Frosta shot an ice blast at a Horde soldier, knocking him into the sand.

  Zap! Bow shot an electric arrow into a skiff, shorting it out. The Horde soldiers jumped out of their seats to escape the sizzling metal.

  Whap! Perfuma hit one of the soldiers with a whiplike vine. It wrapped around her and knocked her off the skiff.

  She-Ra and Glimmer charged at Catra and Scorpia. Glimmer lobbed sparkle bombs at them, and they dove off their skiffs. She-Ra ran to Catra and rested the tip of her sword on Catra’s chest.

  “How did you get in here?” She-Ra asked.

  Catra grinned. “I sent a spy bot ahead to follow you. That’s how I got the password to the gate.”

  “Spy bot?” She-Ra asked.

  Catra snapped her fingers and a tiny orb-shaped bot flew off the skiff and hovered next to her. Its eye, a camera lens, rotated back and forth.

  “That’s new,” She-Ra said. She nodded to the animal robots. “And so are they. And you somehow figured out how to attack the Moonstone of Bright Moon. Where is all this new technology coming from? Hordak?”

  “Let’s just say we’ve got a secret weapon now, Adora,” Catra said. Then she whistled.

  The lion robot came to life, its eyes glowing red. It leapt off the skiff and slammed into She-Ra, knocking her off Catra.

  “Good kitty!” Catra said.

  Grunting, She-Ra pushed off the heavy metal creature. The robot lion growled and pounced again.

  Adora dodged and swung her sword at the lion, but the robot leapt, and she missed it. Then … wham! Something smacked into the back of her knees, and she stumbled forward.