Free Secret Rescuers by Paula Harrison

Chapter One
The Snow White Foal
    Maya leaned over the side of the boat and let her fingers trail through the cool water. It was wonderful to sail along with the breeze tickling her cheek and ruffling her long black hair. She loved watching the ducks swim and seeing the rabbits scampering along the sandy bank. The river ran all the way through the Emerald Plain and there was so much wildlife to see!
    Sometimes, if she was really lucky, Maya would catch sight of a magical creature.
     
    There were lots of amazing magical animals in the Kingdom of Arramia, like giant eagles with golden feathers, star wolves that sang, and even sky unicorns!
    The river sparkled in the sunshine. Two planets, one green and one purple, hung in the cloudless sky.
    Leaning out a bit further, Maya watched the six boats following theirs down the river.

    Each one had a large white sail and a cabin painted in bright red, blue and green. Maya and her family were part of Mr Inigo’s Amazing Travelling Troupe. They sailed up and down the kingdom’s lakes and rivers, stopping in every town to put on a show. Right now they were on their way to the town of Blyford on the shores of Misty Lake.
    Maya smiled to herself. She couldn’t wait for the next show. She was going to perform a new dance in the turquoise dress she was wearing.
     
    She’d been practising for weeks!
    “Maya, don’t lean out too far,” said her mum. “You don’t want to fall in with that nice dress on!”
    Maya moved back a little and smoothed the folds of the turquoise dress. It was made of a silky material that shimmered in the light. “Are we close to Misty Lake yet?”
    “It’s not far now,” her mum replied. “I expect we’ll look for a place to camp soon.”
    Her dad came out of the cabin and took hold of the main rope to pull in the sail. Then he fetched a small silver trumpet and blew a single note. On the next boat, Maya’s three older brothers took down their sail. Then they each blew a note on their own silver trumpet. This was how they sent messages down the line of boats. Soon all the sails were in and the boats slowed down a little.
    “There’s Misty Lake – just beyond the bridge.” Her dad pointed to a wooden bridgenot far downstream. A mass of glittering water lay just beyond it.
    “I can see it!” Maya made a graceful jump, raising her arms as if they were wings. Then she twirled around. They were moves from her new dance.
    “Maya!” Her mum laughed. “Remember, no dancing on the boat. There isn’t room!”
    “Sorry, I forgot!” Maya stopped herself halfway through the spin.
    The boat sailed around a bend in the river and a towering hill came into view. There was a pale shape standing at the top, which made Maya catch her breath.
    It was a sky unicorn.
    As Maya watched, more unicorns trotted over the brow of the hill, their snowy manes flowing in the breeze. With their white coats, golden horns and brightly coloured tails, they looked like the most beautiful creatures in the whole kingdom!
    Maya had seen sky unicorns before, but never so many together. There must have been at least twenty of them! The tallest one at the front lifted his head and his golden horn gleamed in the sunlight. Maya had heard stories about how sky unicorns could gallop into the air and race right through the clouds, but she’d never seen them do it. She watched them eagerly, but the magical animals showed no sign of leaving the hill.
    “They’re amazing, aren’t they?” said her dad. “Now, where did I put the spare mooring rope?”
    “I wish they’d fly,” sighed Maya. “If I could gallop through the sky I’d do it all the time.”
    “Perhaps there’s a foal,” said her mum. “Unicorns will often stay on the ground if there’s a foal because the little ones can’t fly until they’re older. Now, I’d better help your dad find that rope.” She hurried away.
    The sky unicorns walked slowly down the hill to the river, close to Maya’s boat. A little