The Land of Snow. Skye Waters

walk very slowly so as not to disturb him. Isabel didn‧t complain once, even though she had the boring job of carrying their school bags. Despite Isabel sometimes being a bit bossy, Ella knew she was lucky to have such a good friend.

      Mum was watching from her office window and opened the front door before Ella could get her key out.

      â€œYou‧re late. I was beginning to worry—” she broke off, suddenly noticing the sleeping puppy. “Oh, how cute! Where did it come from?”

      â€œHe‧s been abandoned,” said Ella. “Someone left him in a cardboard box in the Country Park.”

      â€œElla! What were you doing in the park? You‧re supposed to come straight home.”

      â€œI heard the puppy barking,” said Ella. “He sounded upset. It‧s a good job we found him. He‧s far too small to be out on his own. Can I keep him? Please, Mum?”

      Ella had often asked if she could have a dog, but this time was different. She felt strangely drawn to the cuddly puppy sleepily snuffling in her arms. She couldn‧t explain it, but Ella knew they were meant to be together.

      â€œHe‧s very sweet.” Mum hesitated. “Come indoors while I think about it.”

      â€œPlease,” Ella wheedled. “I‧ve always wanted a dog and this one‧s special. Look how gorgeous he is.”

      â€œI don‧t know, Ella,” said Mum. “It‧s a big decision. I‧ll have to talk to your dad about it first. He likes dogs, but he‧s not keen on having one, in case it messes up his garden.”

      At least Mum hadn‧t said no. Now all Ella needed to do was to persuade Dad to let the puppy stay. She was sure that once Dad got to see him he‧d agree.

      â€œThanks, Mum.” If her arms hadn‧t been full of puppy, Ella would have hugged her.

      â€œCome on, Izzy. Let‧s make the puppy a bed and find him something to eat.”

      Isabel looked at her watch and pulled a sad face.

      â€œI wish I could, but I promised Mum I‧d help her with Billy and Jack. They‧re such a handful.” Gently she stroked the puppy‧s head. “What‧ll you call him if your dad says you can keep him?”

      â€œBlue.”

      Ella glanced at the puppy. The name had come out before she‧d even thought about it, but immediately she knew it was right.

      â€œBlue,” said Isabel, trying it out. “Like his eyes.”

      â€œBlue looks like a type of husky dog,” said Ella‧s mum thoughtfully. “Did you know they come from the Arctic?”

      â€œA husky!” exclaimed Ella. “Wow!”

      The snowflake on Blue‧s collar seemed to sparkle more brightly. Ella couldn‧t resist touching it, and there it was again. That feeling, like the snowflake was sparking with a strange sort of energy that made her fingers fizz. She closed her eyes and immediately saw a picture of six husky dogs pulling a sled across a snowy landscape. It was so real, Ella imagined herself riding with them, an Arctic wind whipping across her face, snow freezing on her eyelashes.

      â€œElla? I said, ring me when your dad gets in.”

      Isabel pulled on Ella‧s arm, tugging her out of her daydream. Shivers fizzled up and down her spine. That was amazing! Ella loved the magical white world with the sled pulled by snowdogs.

      â€œI‧ll ring you,” she agreed, going to the door with her friend.

      As Ella went indoors, Blue began to stir. Yawning daintily, he opened his eyes and stared up at her. His look was so intense it felt as if he were begging Ella to let him stay. But her dad was a keen gardener and every year his vegetables won prizes at the county show. Would Ella really be allowed to keep Blue?

      â€œI‧ll find a way,” she whispered. “I promise.”

       Chapter 2

      Ella had homework and knew she should start it. Getting it done would work in her favour when she asked Dad about keeping Blue. She dragged her school bag over to the kitchen table and pulled out her exercise book and pencil case. It was maths tonight. Ella grumbled under her breath as she read through the questions. Hadn‧t she worked hard enough at school? Blue gave a small bark.

      â€œI know,” said Ella. “I‧d much rather be playing with you too.”

      Blue climbed out of the cardboard-box bed Ella had made him earlier, pricking up his ears as if he was listening to something. He barked again, louder this time.

      â€œBlue, quiet.”

      â€œWooo!” Throwing back his head, Blue howled and ran to the door.

      â€œSsssh,” said Ella. “Mum‧s still working.”

      â€œWoof!” Blue‧s bark was surprisingly deep for a puppy as he frantically scratched at the door.

      Ella jumped up. Blue‧s howls really were too insistent to be ignored.

      â€œOh! Do you need to go out? Clever boy!”

      As soon as Ella opened the door, Blue raced outside. She followed, expecting him to stop on the grass, but instead Blue shot down the garden as if he was on an urgent mission. The silky bantams scattered, squawking indignantly, and Spooks quickly climbed on to the shed, moving much faster than he normally did.

      â€œBlue, wait!”

      Ella chased after him, past Dad‧s vegetable patch and on towards her den, an old brightly painted caravan at the bottom of the garden. Thinking the puppy would stop when he reached the fence, Ella slowed up. But Blue was getting faster.

      â€œBlue, stop!”

      Ella grew even more alarmed as Blue continued running towards the fence. He was going to hurt himself. Determined to stop him, she leapt forward, throwing herself at the dog and catching him round his tummy. With incredible strength Blue kept going, pulling Ella over and dragging her across the ground. Elbows and knees grazing the earth, Ella gritted her teeth and hung on tight. In the distance she was sure she could hear dogs howling. Blue seemed to answer them, his voice sounding urgent. The fence loomed closer and Ella closed her eyes, bracing herself for the crash. Suddenly her stomach dipped as if she were riding in a lift, cold air rushed at her face and her hair streamed out behind her in light brown ribbons. Opening her eyes, Ella gripped Blue in disbelief. They were flying! Ella stared at the houses and gardens growing smaller and smaller beneath her, until everything was so tiny it was like looking down at a map.

      The light was fading and the sky darkened, blotting out the shrinking landscape, as the air turned bitterly cold. Ella shivered, bewildered by the pitch-black sky. It was impossible to see where she was going. What was happening?

      She clutched Blue tighter as the rushing wind continued to hit her in the face. It was hard to breathe and impossible to call out for help. Ella wasn‧t even sure which way up they were!

      There was snow in the air. It swirled around Ella, engulfing her in an icy white sheet and wrenching Blue from her frozen fingers.

      â€œNo!” Ella screamed.

      There was nothing she could do to save Blue. She couldn‧t even save herself. The snowstorm was too sudden and too violent, tossing her around like a sock in a tumble dryer. The wind stung her eyes, making them water and freezing the tears as they ran down her cheeks. Ella screwed up her eyes and wrapped her arms round her body. She was terrified of falling out of the sky and felt awful for letting