The Fog Boggarts

by Linda Chapman

  Linda Chapman & Lee Weatherly

  Sophie

  AND THE

  Shadow Woods

  The

  Fog Boggarts

  Illustrated by Katie Wood

  Dedication

  To Iola and Charlotte for all the wonderful suggestions you make about the shadow creatures.

  Thank you!

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  The Shadow Woods

  Chapter 1 - King Ug

  Chapter 2 - Going Exploring!

  Chapter 3 - Escape!

  Chapter 4 - Searching for the Gem

  Chapter 5 - Miss Waters

  Chapter 6 - What is Going On?

  Chapter 7 - Fog Boggart Attack!

  Chapter 8 - Run For Your Lives!

  Chapter 9 - In the Woods…

  The Shadow Files

  What’s next in store for Sophie?

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  The Shadow Woods...

  Very few people ever enter the Shadow Woods. The crooked trees press closely together, their branches reaching out like skeletons’ arms. Strange whispers echo through the quiet air, and eyes seem to watch from the shadows. Anyone who does go in soon leaves, their skin prickling with fear. For these woods are like no others. Hidden deep within them is a gateway to the Shadow Realm – a dark and chaotic world where all the mischief-making creatures like goblins, boggles and trolls live.

  Many hundreds of years ago, the Shadow Realm creatures could pass freely between our world and theirs, but they caused so much trouble that it was decided the gateway between the two worlds must be shut for good. Yet no one knew how to do this, until a locksmith with magical powers made an iron key and then slotted a gem from the Shadow Realm into its handle. The secret had been found! The locksmith forced as many shadow creatures as he could back into their own world and locked the gateway firmly behind them.

  From that day on, the locksmith became the Guardian of the Gateway, watching over the precious key and stopping the few shadow creatures left in this world from causing too much trouble. As he grew old he passed his powers on to his grandson, who in turn passed the powers on to his. For hundreds of years, the Guardianship has passed down from grandparent to grandchild, and the gate has always remained safely shut.

  But now for the first time, disaster looms. The shadow creatures have stolen the iron key! Luckily, there was no gem in its handle when it was taken, but there are six gems from the Shadow Realm hidden somewhere in our world. If the shadow creatures find any of them, they’ll be able to slot them into the key and open the gateway, letting hordes of villainous creatures loose to cause mayhem and trouble.

  Only one girl stands in their way… and her name is Sophie Smith.

  Chapter 1

  King Ug

  Ug, the King of the Ink Cap Goblins, sat on his tree-stump throne and held up a cracked looking glass. His reflection gazed back at him: small beetle-black eyes, a dome-shaped head that looked like a toadstool and a white crumbling body covered with black blotches.

  Ug smirked. “Oh, yes!” he crooned, tweaking a flake of skin off his chin. “I really am the most handsome creature in the whole of the Shadow Woods. And the bravest. When I open the gateway, all the other shadow creatures shall be proud to call me king. All I need is one little shadow gem.”

  He touched the iron key that hung around his neck on a rope and frowned. There had once been six hidden shadow gems but the new Guardian – a mere girl – had already found three of them. He had to find one of the others!

  Jumping off his throne, King Ug strode to the edge of the clearing. “Where are those useless servants of mine?” he muttered. “Have they done what I asked?” He opened his mouth to yell, but just then three other Ink Cap Goblins came running up. One had a knobbly nose like a potato, one had massive feet and one had particularly crumbly skin. Skidding to a stop in front of Ug, they all started to bow.

  “We’re back, oh Great King Ug,” panted Potato Nose, bobbing up and down.

  “We’re here!” exclaimed Flaky Face.

  “We’ve returned!” said Big Feet.

  Ug rolled his eyes. “I’m not blind. I can see that! So? Did you find the Fog Boggarts’s caves? Will they help us?”

  The goblins in front of him exchanged nervous looks.

  “We did find the caves…” Flaky Face began cautiously.

  “And we did speak to the Fog Boggarts,” put in Potato Nose.

  “But they… um… they…” Big Feet looked anxious.

  Ug frowned. “They what?”

  The words came out of Big Feet in a rush.

  “They said they wouldn’t speak to servants and that they wanted to talk to you themselves! They’re coming here right now.”

  Ug’s white face went even paler. “What? The most dangerous shadow creatures in the woods – creatures who can open their mouths so wide they can swallow a person in one gulp – are coming here? To talk to me? Right now?”

  Big Feet nodded.

  “Ah – right,” said King Ug finally. He chewed his finger nervously, his black, beady eyes darting to the trees around them. “Well, that’s fine. Yes, indeed, looking forward to seeing them. Though maybe I’ll just – take a little stroll first…” He edged towards the trees, but it was too late. Thick grey fog was already creeping in on all sides, blocking his way.

  “Erp,” squeaked Ug. The other goblins gulped as the fog surrounded them. Before their eyes, a shiver ran through the white mist. Suddenly ten tall, thin creatures were standing there. Their skin was grey and their eyes were like large, dark holes in their long faces. Their mouths stretched almost from one ear to the other. Ug stood up straight and managed a sickly smile of greeting.

  One of the creatures stepped forwards, wearing a raggedy dress. Her voice was a sinister whisper. “King Ug, I am Spindle Fingers, Queen of the Fog Boggarts.”

  Ug inclined his head. “Greetings, Your Most Majestical Majesty.”

  Spindle Fingers bowed back, and then her eyes narrowed. “Your servants came to find us, King Ug. They told us you wanted our help with the little matter of finding a shadow gem. Is this true?”

  Ug attempted a confident chuckle. It sounded more like a nervous cough. “Oh, that. Well, only if it’s quite convenient. I mean…” He shuddered, catching sight of the queen’s gaping mouth. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Her dark gaze bored into him. “May I see the key?”

  Trying to hide his shaking fingers, Ug took the key from around his neck and held it out. A whisper ran round the circle of Fog Boggarts.

  “The key that can unlock the gateway,” Spindle Fingers breathed.

  Ug pointed to a hole in the handle. “But – but only if a shadow gem is fitted in here. Without a shadow gem it won’t work. And there are only three gems still hidden.”

  Queen Spindle Fingers’s eyes gleamed. “Ah, but the key glows when it is near a gem! We shall search all of the human world until we find where one is hidden.” Moving forwards, she whipped the key out of Ug’s hands. “We Fog Boggarts have many tricks up our sleeves we can use. If one way doesn’t work, there are others.”

  With a ripple, she changed to a human form, taking on the shape of a pretty woman with shoulder-length blonde hair.

  She simpered at the group. “Between this and our other powers, those pitiful humans won’t know what’s hit them! We shall find a gem, open the gateway and all shadow creatures will bow before the Fog Boggarts.”

  A hissing laugh ran round the group. Spindle Fingers smiled evilly, stroking the key, and then dissolved into the mist. One by one, the other Fog Boggarts followed after her, until none were left.

  There was
silence.

  “You idiots!” burst out King Ug, wheeling on the three Ink Cap Goblins. “You are my guards. You’re supposed to guard me! Now the Fog Boggarts have the key!”

  “Maybe they’ll bring it back with a gem,” said Flaky Face hopefully.

  Ug glared at him. “They most certainly will, because you will make sure of it.”

  Flaky Face’s mouth fell open. “Me?” he squeaked.

  “Yes, you! Follow them – don’t let that key out of your sight! When they find the gem, make sure they bring it here. And if they don’t, steal it!”

  “Steal it?” quavered Flaky Face. “From the Fog Boggarts?”

  The other two goblin servants sniggered.

  Ug turned on them. “I don’t know what you’re laughing at. You’re both going too!” He cuffed them around the ears. “Now follow that key and don’t come back without it!”

  Picking up some pine cones, he started throwing them at the trio. They ran from the clearing, howling as the hard missiles bounced off their soft white heads.

  Marching back to his throne, Ug threw himself down. For a moment, he sat scowling, but then his face began to crease into a smile. If anyone could find a shadow gem, it surely had to be the Fog Boggarts. As Ug thought about the Fog Boggarts sneaking their way into the town of Upper Gately, his smile grew even wider. That pesky girl Guardian wouldn’t stand a chance against the Fog Boggarts. No, not a single chance…

  Chapter 2

  Going Exploring!

  Sophie and Sam stood in front of the kitchen window. A grey parrot was sitting on the curtain rail, watching them. “Hello, Nigel,” Sam said.

  The grey parrot cocked his head to one side. “Hello, Nigel.”

  “No, you should say hello to me – say ‘Hello, Sam’,” Sam told him. His spiky red hair stood almost straight up from his head. Nigel seemed to be eyeing it.

  “Strawberry jam!” he squawked, flapping his wings.

  Sophie and Sam giggled. Nigel the parrot was staying at Sophie’s house while his owner was on holiday. Sophie loved him – not only was he funny when he said things wrong, but he had also proved to be very useful the last time she and Sam had been fighting the shadow creatures.

  Just then, the kitchen door opened and Mrs B, the housekeeper, came in. Her cheeks were pink and her grey hair was escaping from its bun. Sophie’s parents were archaeologists, and often had to go abroad to work. When they were away from home like now, Sophie’s grandfather moved in, and he and Mrs B looked after Sophie and her twin brother, Anthony.

  “Hello, you two,” said Mrs B, putting her shopping down. “What are you doing?”

  “Just going out to play in the garden,” said Sophie quickly. She kept her expression innocent. It would never do for Mrs B to suspect what she and Sam were really hoping to do!

  “Okey-dokey.” Mrs B looked up at the parrot. “Now, I’ve got tea to get ready, so time to get back in your cage now, Nigel. Down you come!”

  “BUM!” shrieked Nigel, throwing his head back as he screeched the word.

  Sophie and Sam burst out laughing. Mrs B gave an embarrassed chuckle as Nigel flew down and landed on her shoulder. “Oh, Nigel, what are you like!”

  He rubbed his head against her cheek. “Bum!” he told her happily.

  Still giggling, Sophie and Sam went out of the back door. But their mood grew more serious as they gazed at the dark woods at the bottom of Sophie’s garden.

  “You’re really sure about this plan of going into the Shadow Woods to explore?” Sam questioned.

  Sophie nodded. “Yes! We haven’t seen any shadow creatures all week and I bet King Ug’s planning something. He’s not going to give up on finding the three remaining gems. If we go into the woods we might discover what he’s up to. Of course, you don’t have to come with me,” she teased as they reached the fence at the bottom of her garden. “You can stay here and help Mrs B and Nigel cook tea, and I’ll have an adventure on my own and—”

  Sam threw himself over the fence. “Last one into the woods is an Ink Cap Goblin!”

  Sophie scrambled after him. Grinning at each other, they ran into the darkness of the trees.

  Two weeks ago there was no way Sophie would have thought about exploring the Shadow Woods, but that was before she found out that she was the Guardian of the Gateway. Her grandfather, the old Guardian, had explained that she had to make sure the gateway was always kept locked. Unfortunately, on the day before Sophie had become Guardian, one of the shadow creatures, King Ug, had managed to steal the key and now he was trying to open the gateway himself. Sophie was determined to stop him and get the key back!

  The track twisted and turned. Brambles snagged at Sophie’s jeans and trainers and leaves caught in her long blonde ponytail. The branches were thick overhead and there wasn’t much light. Sam got out his new super-bright wind-up torch and turned it on. The beam dazzled out.

  “Don’t you think it was really clever of someone to invent a torch like this?” he said, examining it. “You just wind the handle and the battery recharges.” Sam loved science and was very brainy. “You see, winding the handle creates kinetic energy,” he said, as Sophie shook her head. “Which goes into the battery where it changes to electrical energy and…”

  Sophie held back a groan. “Too much info! I prefer this kind of energy!” Running forwards, she jumped into the air and kicked out with her feet, one after the other. Sophie was good at all sports, but particularly loved tae kwon do. One of the best things about being the Guardian was having a chance to use tae kwon do for real.

  “Hi-YA!” she cried, pretending there was a shadow creature behind her.

  She stopped with a gasp as her toes started to tingle. Whenever she was near to a shadow creature, the Guardian magic made her super-strong and super-fast. It always started as a tingling feeling in her feet. Just like this!

  “What’s up?” said Sam, seeing her face.

  “There must be some shadow creatures nearby!” Sophie whispered. “I can feel my powers starting to work.” She raced along the path, jumping over tree roots and pushing aside branches.

  “Sophie! Wait!” Sam had to sprint to catch up with her. She could go much faster than him when her powers kicked in.

  Sophie slowed down a bit, but excitement was churning through her. Her Guardian powers always made her feel very brave. “What’s that noise?” she asked, hearing a low roaring sound through the trees.

  Sam frowned. “It almost sounds like a waterfall.”

  “It is a waterfall!” said Sophie in astonishment as they emerged through the trees. There was a craggy grey cliff, with water cascading over the top of it into a river below.

  “Weird!” said Sam, turning off his torch. “I didn’t even know there was a waterfall in these woods.”

  Sophie shook her head, lost for words. The exploring they had done in the Shadow Woods had made her realise they were very strange indeed – they never seemed quite the same from one day to the next. Suddenly she noticed something else.

  “Look!” She pointed to the base of the cliff where there were some shadowy caves, their entrances like dark doorways. “They look like just the sort of place a shadow creature might live. Come on, let’s go and check it out!”

  Sam stared uncertainly at the dark opening. “Or we could just walk on by. I bet it’s a quiet and polite shadow creature, staying out of trouble, doing its own thing…” His voice trailed off as Sophie strode off towards the caves, her blonde ponytail swinging. “Oh, why do I bother?” he said, rolling his eyes and hurrying after her.

  Sophie had reached the entrance to the first cave. As she stepped inside the dark, clammy space, she felt her Guardian powers whooshing through her with new force. “Sam, there must be a shadow creature really close by now!” As she spoke, a banner of fog swirled up in front of them. It formed into a column.

  Sam gave a yelp, and his torch slipped from his fingers and fell to the floor, rolling a few inches away. “What’s going on?” he cried. �
�Where did that fog come from?”

  “I don’t know,” said Sophie, watching the white mist warily. “But I don’t like it.”

  A shiver ran through the fog, and it suddenly became a tall, thin creature with grey skin, a large mouth and the longest, boniest fingers Sophie had ever seen.

  “Whoa!” Sam said, stumbling backwards.

  With a growl, the fog-thing charged straight at them!

  Sophie reacted with superspeed, grabbing Sam out of the way just in time. The creature shot past, swung round in the cave entrance and faced them again.

  “Leave us alone!” said Sophie fiercely, standing in front of Sam. “I’m Sophie Smith. I’m the Guardian!”

  “So?” the creature snarled. “Fog Boggarts are not scared of anyone!” It lunged at them again.

  Sophie spun round, her foot kicking out hard. She expected to feel the creature’s body, but her foot went straight through it. It was like kicking a ghost! The creature laughed as Sophie fell to the ground.

  “You cannot hurt a Fog Boggart, Guardian, but I can hurt you and your friend!”

  He lashed out at Sophie with his long bony fingers. She ducked to the ground, feeling the damp soil and leaves beneath her hands.

  “Leave her alone!” Sam was scrabbling about on the dark floor, looking for something to use as a weapon.

  Sophie rolled swiftly to one side, her heart pounding. How could she fight something like this? Before she could jump to her feet, the Fog Boggart was upon her. Its ghostly fingers clutched her arm, seeming to freeze her in place.

  As she watched in horror, its mouth drew closer, opening wider and wider…

  Chapter 3

  Escape!

  Didn’t you hear me? I said leave her alone!” yelled Sam. Finally, finding a branch on the floor, he grabbed it up and started for the Fog Boggart.