The Dragons' Call. Judy Hayman

the matter with her or Grandad. I want to see them again. I couldn’t bear it if...” Sobs overwhelmed her again.

      Alice put her wings round her. “Winter’s nearly over. I’m sure they’ll be OK. Des will sort things out, and he’ll come back and tell us. He might even bring them back with him! You really mustn’t worry!”

      But looking at her friend, she realised that would not be easy.

      Chapter 3

      Ollie in a Rage

      Emily slept badly that night, though she tried to keep still and quiet so she did not disturb Alice. She stopped crying, and concentrated instead on trying to pick up the ‘call’ from her Gran, like Gwen and George. It was not really successful, so she tried instead to send Gran a message of her own, with no real hope it would work, and then tried to think of suitable arguments to convince her parents that SHE should go to Wales with Des. Eventually she fell asleep from sheer exhaustion, and didn’t even wake when Alice tiptoed out for breakfast.

      Her wakening was sudden and caused by Ollie. He was rampaging round the cellar, yelling in fury, lashing his tail on the walls and sending spurts of flame to the ceiling. She staggered out, rubbing her eyes.

      “Good thing the ceiling’s stone down here,” Alice remarked, coming over to join her. “He’d have set the place alight if there was wood, like upstairs. Watch out, idiot!” she added to Ollie as a particularly fierce flare just missed her.

      “What’s the matter with him?”

      “Des set off to Wales last night. By himself. He said that would be quickest, so he didn’t even take your Mum. He’s arranged with the Dads to check out Huff range too. The grown-ups planned it all last night. That’s why they wouldn’t let Ollie in. He’s furious, as you can hear! Turns out Des hadn’t actually promised to take him travelling. That was just him boasting last night. Oh, GO AND HAVE YOUR TANTRUM SOMEWHERE ELSE!!” she shouted to Ollie, who was still rampaging around the cellar.

      “I’m going upstairs.” Emily set off for the flight of steps, trying to avoid Ollie as she went. Alice followed, and the two of them saw him disappear into the secret passage that led into the garden.

      “I hope he doesn’t go over the fence in a rage,” Alice remarked. “That really WOULD cause a row with Dad!”

      Emily had forgotten about Ollie. She was too eager to see her mother and hear about Des. She rushed into the kitchen to find her. Gwen made her sit down for a late breakfast while she told her what had been decided. “He set off soon after you went to bed,” she said, bringing a bowl of porridge and adding some honey as a special treat. “He didn’t take all his bundles, just some emergency rations, so he could travel light. He says he knows the quickest way.”

      At that moment, Oliver and Duncan came in. “You’ve been a long time. It’s light. I hope you weren’t seen!” said Ellen anxiously.

      “Where’ve you been?” asked Emily with her mouth full.

      “We’ve found a good Huffing spot a few miles away, up on the moor,” Oliver answered. “I went a bit of the way with Des last night, and we arranged that he should send a Huff early this morning, to let us know he was OK and check we could get messages through. It worked. We picked up his Huff, and he’s got a good long way. He’s heading south-west, and there are lots of hills and moors that way, so he reckons he can manage to travel by day and still avoid Humans. After that, he’ll reach the coast and fly out at sea to avoid being seen, until he gets to the wilds of Wales where your folks live. He’s done it before. He’ll come back the same way. Says it saves wasting time by hiding up during the day.”

      Emily beamed. “He’s brilliant!” she said.

      Gwen, who was looking happier this morning, chuckled. “So you always say! How does your wing feel after that flight, Duncan?”

      “I managed fine, didn’t I, Oliver? I reckon I could get myself home now, no bother.”

      “Not until we’ve heard from Des,” his wife said firmly.

      “And you need to be sure the snow has melted further north,” Maggie added, bringing hot nettle tea. “Harold says there’s still a lot lying, even here. It takes a long time for a big drift to disappear. We’re in no hurry to be rid of you!”

      “It will be quieter when we’ve gone!” said Duncan, hearing Tom cross the hall outside, yelling for Ollie, and Georgie and Lily scampering after him, shouting almost as loudly.

      “Och, I’ll miss the wee ones,” said Maggie fondly.

      “I’d miss Emily,” Alice added. “But we’ll be going back to the glen ourselves soon, won’t we? We’ll not be staying here as soon as it’s properly spring!” She looked anxiously at her father.

      “Nothing’s decided yet,” he said, getting up and firmly changing the subject. “Good thing we took a bag with us, Ellen. We found a heap of tatties that Humans have spilled by a track and brought some back.”

      “We left it outside – I’ll bring it in.” Duncan went out and reappeared with a bundle which he tumbled on the floor by the fire. “If these are OK we can bring some more tonight.”

      “I’ll roast some now,” said Maggie, picking them up to pierce with her talons before pushing them into the glowing embers of the fire, where they hissed and spat.

      “Lovely – all black and crunchy!” said Emily, who was looking at Alice’s worried face. She decided it was her turn to do some cheering-up, and finished her breakfast in a hurry.

      “Shall we go out and check that Ollie hasn’t done a flyer?” she whispered as they left the kitchen together.

      “I suppose we’d better,” Alice replied. “I can’t believe he spun us that tale last night! Let’s sneak round the back. He’s probably just sulking.”

      They made their way through the front door and round to the dilapidated outhouses round the back. There was no sign of Ollie, either outside or in the ruins. Emily wondered whether he had gone back through the passage to the cellar, and ran to check, but he was nowhere to be seen. When she came back outside, Alice pointed to a heap of half-melted snow.

      “He’s gone into the wood!” she said. “Look, you can see the print of where he took off over the fence. I daren’t shout for him in case the parents hear. I’m hoping he’ll calm down out there soon and come back before he’s missed.”

      “And before any Human sees him!” Emily added. She was worried, like Alice, but part of her wished she could go out too. Just one glimpse of their young Human friends would be wonderful!

      “Where’s Ollie?” Tom shouted, arriving round the corner, and was surprised when he was firmly shushed by both the girls. They explained what had happened, and Tom grinned appreciatively. “Wish he’d taken me!” he said.

      “OK, we’d ALL like to go out,” said Alice, rather to Emily’s surprise. “But just now the important thing is to make sure nobody else discovers he’s missing. We’d better all stay out here.”

      “We need to keep warm,” Tom said. “I’ll get the ball.” He disappeared into the passage and the girls looked at each other and sighed. “I suppose he’s got a point,” said Alice. “Running around will keep us warm.”

      Tom re-emerged, dribbling the football that the Humans had left for him, and the three of them passed it energetically between them, with powerful tail-swipes and the occasional header. The ball was starting to feel rather soft, perhaps because their spikes were sharp.

      Suddenly a particularly wild shot from Emily sent the ball flying over the fence. It disappeared into the undergrowth.

      “Oh, no!” said Emily. “I suppose I’d