Free A Glittering Gallop by Sue Bentley Page A

hergrandmother’s endless garden. It was hard to stay grumpy on such a beautiful day. Bees flew back and forth over the colorful flower beds. There was a lovely smell of warm grass cuttings and by the time she reached the sturdy, wooden chicken house Zoe had cheered up quite a bit.
    She looked curiously at the bantams. They were about half the size of normal chickens. Some of them had bright, glossy feathers and delicate legs, and others were fat and fluffy and looked like they were wearing baggy, feathery trousers.
    A handsome black cockerel ran out toward the wire mesh of the outside run that surrounded the chicken house. His bright red crest was raised andthere was a fierce glint in his beady red eyes.
    “Hi, Cocky,” Zoe said.
    The cockerel snapped his beak and flexed his strong clawed feet.
    “Okay, I get the message!” Zoe backed away. She went around the chicken house and opened the nest box on the other side. “Wow! Look at these! I thought eggs were only white or brown!” The bantams’ eggs were all shades of pale green, blue, and gray. There were even pink ones with little brown freckles.
    Zoe filled the basket with eggs and then decided to take the long way back to the house, past the chickens and the greenhouse into the orchard.
    As Zoe wandered toward thegreenhouse she noticed that the door was open. Inside she glimpsed a jungle-like mass of plants with tomatoes, peppers, and lots of stuff she didn’t recognize.
    Suddenly, from among all the plants, there was a flash of bright white light. “What was that?” A little nervously, she crept inside.

    At first Zoe couldn’t see anything odd as she walked between the rows of plants and flowers, but just as she was about to turn back, she noticed something glowing faintly at the very back of the greenhouse.
    Zoe went forward slowly. As she got closer, she saw a big pile of old flowerpots in a corner, and on top of them there crouched what appeared to be a tiny kitten. In the light its fluffy coat seemed to sparkle all over. Zoe blinked hard. How did a kitten get in here?
    When Zoe looked again, the sparkles seemed to have faded. The kitten was really cute, with white fur and ginger and black markings and the brightest emerald eyes Zoe had ever seen.

    “What are you doing in Nana’s greenhouse?” Zoe said aloud.
    The kitten pricked up its tiny ears and looked straight at her. “I am hiding from my uncle, who wants to kill me,” it mewed.
    “Oh!” Zoe dropped the basket of eggs and her hands flew to her face in complete shock.

Zoe stared at the calico-colored kitten in utter amazement. “Did…did you just speak?” she stammered.
    The kitten nodded and lifted its tiny chin proudly. “Yes, I did. My name is Prince Flame, heir to the Lion Throne. What is yours?”
    “I’m…Zoe. I’m staying here with my nana,” Zoe answered, her mind whirling.

    She couldn’t believe this was happening, but her curiosity was beginning to get the better of her shock. Bending down, she made herself seem much smaller, so she didn’t frighten the little kitten away. “You’re a prince? And did you say that someone was trying to kill you?”
    “Yes. My uncle Ebony. He has stolen my throne and rules in my place. Oneday I will return and regain my throne,” Flame mewed, his bright emerald eyes glittering with anger.
    “But aren’t you much too small to rule anyone?” Zoe asked gently. Flame said nothing, but his calico fur began to sparkle all over. He jumped off the flowerpots, and Zoe was blinded by a bright silver flash.
    “Oh!” Zoe rubbed her eyes. When she looked again, she saw that the fluffy kitten had gone. In its place stood a magnificent young white lion.
    Zoe gulped. Eyeing the huge paws and sharp teeth, she began to back away slowly.
    “Do not be afraid. I will not harm you,” the lion rumbled in a deep, velvety roar. There was another flash of light,and Flame reappeared as a tiny calico kitten.
    “Wow! You really are a lion prince!” Zoe