The Land of Snow. Skye Waters

      CONTENTS

       Cover

       Title Page

       Dedication

      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

      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.

      â€œMum 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?

      â€œElla, what‧s up?” Isabel suddenly realised that she had been talking to herself.

      â€œThat noise,” said Ella. “It sounds like a dog howling.”

      â€œI can‧t hear it.”

      â€œIt‧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.

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

      â€œThis 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.

      â€œElla, we‧re supposed to go straight home,” called Isabel.

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

      â€œI 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.

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

      â€œYap!” 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.

      â€œShe likes you best.”

      â€œHe,” 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.

      â€œThat‧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.

      â€œHe‧s so cute. How could anyone leave him in a box?”

      â€œWhat 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.”

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

      â€œWill your mum let you?” Isabel sounded doubtful.

      â€œShe 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.

      â€œI‧ll carry your bag,” offered Isabel, picking it up.

      â€œThanks. 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