Free Christmas Fairy by Titania Woods Page B

‘Of course we’re not!’
    But the man had already pulled his cap back into place and stepped forward again, raising the axe. Its blade shone.

    ‘No! ’ Twink dived towards the axe as it swooshed downwards. Flinging her arms around its handle, she frantically pulled and tugged. The axe didn’t even slow down.
    Crack!
    The blade hit the trunk. The impact flung Twink off like a gnat, and she catapulted straight into the tree. Its branches burst past her in a prickly green explosion.
    ‘Oh!’ gasped Twink when she finally crashed to a halt. She was deep within the tree, with spiky branches every way she looked. Bruised and shaking, she started to take off to join Bimi again – but strain as she might, nothing happened.
    Why weren’t her wings working? Twisting around in a panic, Twink saw both wings beating furiously – but her rose-petal dress was caught on a branch! Twink grabbed at the pink material, yanking hard, and succeeded only in snagging it further.
    Crack! The axe hit the trunk again.
    ‘Aargh!’ Twink shrieked as the tree shuddered side- ways. Desperately, she gripped a nearby branch. She could hear Bimi screaming in the distance. Then the axe struck again and the tree fell, bouncing once on the ground.
    Twink’s eyes burned with tears. She bowed her cheek against the rough bark. That was that, then. The tree was dead, and nothing they could do now would save it. Oh, why hadn’t the human listened to them? And why had he killed it? Why ?
    Suddenly the world heaved upwards. Peering through the dense branches, Twink saw the man’s red jacket – and then the tree started to move. He was taking it away through the forest, with her in it!
    Twink’s wings went icy with terror as she remembered her mother’s words: And then they carry the trees away with them . ‘Stop!’ she shouted, tugging at the branch that caught her. ‘Oh, stop, stop!’
    ‘Twink, where are you?’ called Bimi’s voice, squeaky with fear. ‘Stop! You’ve got my best friend!’
    The tree paused for a moment. ‘Stupid moth!’ growled the man, flapping his hand about his face. ‘Get away from me, you daft thing.’
    Twink heard Bimi cry out, and her pulse raced like a galloping horse. ‘Leave Bimi alone!’ she screamed. ‘Don’t you dare hurt her!’
    The tree started moving again. Twink held back a sob. Why couldn’t she get free? She seized her dress with both hands, wrenching and twisting. All at once the petal fabric ripped, and Twink felt herself come loose. Finally!
    She started to jet out of the branches – and then screamed again, clutching at spruce needles as the tree shot up into the air. Twink’s stomach lurched as she was flung wildly from side to side; then the tree seemed to slide and bounce . . . and stopped.
    There was a slamming noise. Struggling free of the tree at last, Twink emerged from its branches – and stopped, hovering in bewilderment. Where was she? She was in a sort of large box with windows, with giant human-sized seats in it! The tree lay on its side, while the man sat with his back to her, fiddling with some sort of instrument.
    ‘A car,’ whispered Twink, remembering stories she had heard.
    Cold dread gripped her. Cars were notorious among fairies: they were huge, smoking monsters, to be avoided at all costs. And now she was in one – and even worse, she was with this mad human! Twink looked fearfully at the back of the man’s head, remembering how he had swiped at Bimi. She had to get out of here!
    She darted from window to window, searching for a way out – but there was none; the massive panes of glass were as smooth and unyielding as glaciers. Then she saw Bimi skimming up outside the car. To Twink’s immense relief, she didn’t look hurt.
    ‘Bimi!’ she called, beating on a window with her fists. ‘Bimi, I’m in here!’
    The blue-haired fairy’s eyes widened as she spotted Twink. She flitted up to the window, yelling something Twink couldn’t hear.
    ‘I can’t get