The Land of Snow

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The Land of Snow
Skye Waters

Join Ella and her husky puppy on magical adventures with the Starlight Snow Dogs!When Ella adopts an abandoned husky puppy Blue, she has no idea how special he is. But soon she finds out that Blue is part of a magical dogsled team, the Starlight Snowdogs!She has been specially chosen to guide their sled in times of trouble so when Blue responds to the call of the pack he and Ella go on a magical journey to the Arctic. Once there they must try to help out with the plight of polar bears who are struggling to survive on thinning ice.She also meets Saskia, an Inuit grandmother who reveals the ancient legends of the dogsled team’s ancestors and their magical secrets.Back home Ella learns how to train her wilful puppy and looks forward to their next snowbound adventure!

THE STARLIGHT SNOWDOGS

The

Land Of Snow

Skye Waters

For Pat White, Arctic Expert and Agent Extraordinaire

CONTENTS

Cover (#uda1575c2-9d57-5231-97dd-870fb0b7b38f)

Title Page (#u5638f5a6-af21-5c33-8f19-2b22dc23db84)

Dedication (#u872110f9-77cd-5076-a7e5-04858fc9d38c)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Copyright

About The Publisher

Chapter 1 (#u76e1130a-bcd9-5a3f-90bf-c16663441c91)

Ella Edwards was only half listening to her friend Isabel Masters as they walked home. They‧d been back at school for a week, but Ella wished it was still the holidays with long sunny days and no homework to spoil her fun. Ella craved adventure and the outdoors and hated being shut up in a stuffy classroom learning times tables and long multiplication.

“Mum said she‧d buy me a DVD this weekend for helping her out with my brothers,” said Isabel. “I might get the one about the talking cat who thinks he‧s a fireman. It‧s supposed to be really funny. The spy kids one looks good too.”

Suddenly Ella heard a loud cry. She glanced at Isabel, but she was still chatting away about films.

There it was again. Ella looked around, mystified. The street was empty. Where could it be coming from?

“Ella, what‧s up?” Isabel suddenly realised that she had been talking to herself.

“That noise,” said Ella. “It sounds like a dog howling.”

“I can‧t hear it.”

“It‧s really loud. It‧s coming from over there.”

Ella headed down the street towards the entrance to the Country Park, where the howling seemed to be coming from.

“What‧s so special about a dog howling?” asked Isabel, running to catch her up. “You get loads of dogs barking in the park.”

“This is different,” Ella insisted. She hurried across the car park and turned right at the gate. The path stretched before her downhill, with thick bushes on one side and open grassland on the other. In the distance, a lady was throwing a stick for her dogs.

“Ella, we‧re supposed to go straight home,” called Isabel.

“It‧s getting louder. You must be able to hear it now…” Ella ran down the path.

“I can‧t,” insisted Isabel, reluctantly following her.

The howling was ear-splitting and Ella slowed, staring intently at the thick branches and leathery green leaves of the bushes. Was there a dog stuck inside? She leant forward, then jumped back in surprise as a large brown cardboard box suddenly skidded from under the bush in front of her and stopped at her feet. There was a pause as if the box was gathering energy, then it rocked from side to side, barking loudly. Sinking on to her knees, Ella dropped her school bag on the floor and reached for the box, but Isabel got there first. Pushing in front of Ella she pulled open the cardboard lid, gasping in surprise at the cute black and white puppy squashed inside. Ella swallowed back her annoyance. She‧d found the box, but now Isabel was taking over. That was so like her! Isabel didn‧t mean to be unkind, but she was a little bossy sometimes.

“Oh! You poor thing.” Isabel gently grasped the puppy round its middle and lifted it out of the box.

“Yap!” The puppy wriggled free and jumped at Ella, licking her hands and face and making her giggle.

Gently, Ella scooped it up and the puppy relaxed into her arms with a contented sigh.

For a moment, Isabel was taken aback. Her face clouded and she looked quite hurt, then, shaking her head, she laughed.

“She likes you best.”

“He,” said Ella, cradling the puppy close to her. She had a strong feeling that the puppy liked her best too, but not wanting to upset her friend she moved slightly so the puppy could see Isabel as well. “He likes you too. He‧s watching you.”

The black and white puppy was soft and fluffy, with blue eyes, a long nose and enormous fox-like ears that were too big for his body. Fastened round his neck was a blue collar with a dog tag in the shape of a shiny silver snowflake dangling from it. Ella reached for the snowflake, thinking it might have the dog‧s name and the owner‧s telephone number engraved on it. But instead of writing, the tag was etched with miniature patterns, just like a real snowflake. It felt icy cold and as Ella touched it the snowflake seemed to spark with tiny electrical pulses that made her fingers tingle. Suddenly the puppy looked right at her. His eyes were the brightest blue she‧d ever seen. Impulsively she held him closer, loving the feel of his silky fur and his gorgeous puppy smell.

“That‧s pretty,” said Isabel, reaching out to touch the dog tag and squealing with delight when the puppy licked her finger.

Ella stroked the puppy‧s soft neck.

“He‧s so cute. How could anyone leave him in a box?”

“What are we going to do with him?” asked Isabel anxiously. “We can‧t leave him here, but Mum will have a fit if I take him home. I‧m not allowed pets. Mum says she‧s busy enough looking after Billy, Jack and me.”

“I‧ll have him,” blurted out Ella. She wanted the puppy more than anything else in the world.

“Will your mum let you?” Isabel sounded doubtful.

“She might,” said Ella. “She‧s in all day and we‧ve got other pets.”

Mrs Edwards ran an internet business selling greetings cards and worked from home, in a room she called her office. The family had an elderly cat called Spooks and four silky bantams — small fluffy hens that reminded Ella of teddy bears.

Cradling the puppy in the crook of her arm, Ella stood up. The puppy wriggled himself into a more comfortable position, then thumped his tail approvingly. Ella kissed the top of his head and the puppy licked her arm.

“I‧ll carry your bag,” offered Isabel, picking it up.

“Thanks. Can you manage the box too? We shouldn‧t leave it here to litter the park.”

Isabel flattened the box by standing on it so that it was easier to carry, then pushed it into a bin as they walked past. Ella looked around her, nervously scanning the area. What if someone tried to claim the puppy back? She hugged the puppy tighter, overwhelmingly desperate to keep him. The puppy had been abandoned, she reassured herself. Why else had he been left in a box under a bush?

It took them ages to get home. The puppy had fallen asleep in Ella‧s arms, so they had to 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.

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

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

“Ella! What were you doing in the park? You‧re supposed to come straight home.”

“I 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.

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

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

“I 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.

“Thanks, Mum.” If her arms hadn‧t been full of puppy, Ella would have hugged her.

“Come 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.

“I 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?”

“Blue.”

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

“Blue,” said Isabel, trying it out. “Like his eyes.”

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

“A 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.

“Ella? 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.

“I‧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?

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

Chapter 2 (#u76e1130a-bcd9-5a3f-90bf-c16663441c91)

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.

“I 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.

“Blue, quiet.”

“Wooo!” Throwing back his head, Blue howled and ran to the door.

“Ssssh,” said Ella. “Mum‧s still working.”

“Woof!” 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.

“Oh! 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.

“Blue, 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.