Free Rescue Princesses #5: The Snow Jewel by Paula Harrison Page A

thing wobble. Freya slid forward. She grabbed ahold of the sides, desperately trying to keep her balance. But the sled tipped over, sending her flying.
    She landed with a gasp in the middle of a deep snowdrift. The sled landed nextto her as she lay still, feeling the snow seeping down her neck.
    “Oh, no! Are you OK?” Clarabel ran toward her.
    Freya sat up and rubbed the snow away from her mouth. She felt a little dizzy, but not really hurt. “Yes, I’m all right,” she said. “It was pretty funny, actually. For a second I felt like I was flying!”
    Lulu pulled the sled upright and looked underneath. Then she scooped some snow out of a hollow. “There’s a hole here. It’s probably a rabbit’s burrow. The sled runner must have gotten caught in it, and that’s why the sled tipped over.”
    “The poor rabbits!” Freya got up and peered into the hollow. “I hope I didn’t frighten them by sledding into their hole like that!”
    Emily laughed. “I’m sure you didn’t.”
    Lulu looked at Freya, who was covered in snow from head to foot. “I bet the rabbits are safe, deep down in their burrow. You look like you need the Rescue Princesses’ help more than they do!” Then she stopped suddenly and clapped her hand over her mouth.
    Emily and Clarabel glanced at each other, as if they didn’t know what to do.
    “Lulu! You weren’t supposed to say that!” exclaimed Jaminta.
    “Oops! I forgot!” Lulu’s eyes grew wider.
    “What’s the matter?” asked Freya, seeing their startled looks. “Who are the Rescue Princesses?”

Emily pushed her red curls behind her ear and nudged Lulu. “I think we should tell her. It would be nice to have another princess to help us.”
    Lulu frowned. “But she has to love animals.”
    “And she has to keep it all a secret,” added Jaminta.
    “I’m good at keeping secrets,” said Freya, shaking the snow off her braids.
    “Do you really think we should tell?” said Jaminta doubtfully. “The Rescue Princesses might not work very well with five people.”
    “We could make it work if we all help each other,” said Clarabel, and Emily nodded in agreement.
    Freya watched them, a bubbly feeling rising inside her. The Rescue Princesses! It sounded so exciting! But what was it all about?
    Lulu gave Freya a solemn look. “The four of us are the Rescue Princesses, and we’ll tell you all about it if you’re sure you really like animals.”
    “I do! I love them!” said Freya, her eyes lighting up.
    “Can you prove it?” said Jaminta. “I mean, have you ever taken care of any animals?”
    “Yes!” Freya beamed. “I’ve got some living in my bedroom right now! Come on, I’ll show you.”
    The princesses followed Freya back toward the castle. The snow crunched beneath their boots and the sled skimmed along behind them. When they reached the castle door, they shook the snow off their coats and went inside.
    In the Great Hall, the kings and queens were sitting in front of a crackling fire, sipping cups of coffee. There were golden streamers hanging from the ceiling and fairy lights twinkling at the windows. Freya had helped her dad with the decorations. She loved to see the castle looking so beautiful.
    “My room’s up here,” she said, leading the princesses up the wooden staircase.
    “What kind of animals do you have?” asked Emily.
    Freya opened her bedroom door. “Come and see!”
    “Where are they?” asked Lulu, gazing eagerly around the room. “Oh, look!”
    The girls rushed over to a small box padded with woolly sweaters. Inside the box was a mother cat lying down with six sleepy kittens. They had their eyes shut tight as they snuggled together for warmth. Five of the kittens had beautiful black fur, the same as their mother’s. The sixth kitten had white patches on its face and tummy, and four white paws. It opened its bright blue eyes and stared at the princesses.
    “I made the box really comfy for them,” said Freya happily. “I think they like