Fira and the Full Moon Read Online Free PDF

first?”
    Helios said, “Knock, snock. Let’s just go in. I’m sure Fira will be glad to see us. Are my wings straight?”
    Fira opened the door. “I was just on my way out,” she told them.
    “We need to say something first,” said Sparkle. She stepped in front of the others.

    Fira glanced at the moon. Time was running out. “I know you feel bad about everything that happened,” she said to the triplets. She tried not to sound impatient. “You’ve told me already. But I really need to go. The miners need me.”
    “We know. We want you to take us with you,” Sparkle said. “We can help.”
    “Yes!” said Helios. “You didn’t give us an assignment for tonight. All the other light-talent fairies have one.”
    “You don’t trust us,” added Glory, “because we made such a mess of things.” She jumped up and down and hit her head against the doorframe. “Ouch! But we have lots of light energy. We can really help…if you’ll let us.”
    Fira stared at the triplets. For a moment, she thought maybe they could help her with the mining trip. But then she remembered everything that had happened. Of course they were too young and too inexperienced to go.
    “The best way for you to help is to stay in your room,” she told them.
    “Don’t go anywhere. Don’t do anything. Don’t even talk to anyone.”
    Without another word, she darted out the window. As she flew, she could hear the triplets.
    “This is all your fault, Glory.”
    “No, it’s not. It’s your fault, Sparkle. You’re always so bossy.”
    “What about Helios? He never pays attention. Stop looking in that mirror, Helios!”
    But soon their voices faded away. Fira flew on, alone.

T HE N EVER M INE WAS DEEP in the woods. The entrance was a cave in a small clearing.
    Fira flew there quickly. She soared through the night in the light of the full moon.
    Outside the mine, Precious, Orren, and the other miners waited. One mouse stood ready, a mining cart harnessed to his back. The cart was empty. But the miners hoped to fill it with Never iron, pewter, and other metals. Another mouse carried sacks filled with axes, shovels, and picks.
    Fira landed next to Orren. “I’m here,” she said, “ready to light the tunnel.”
    Just then, a large cloud covered the moon. The woods darkened, and Fira shivered.
    “All right, Fira. It’s time to go,” Orren said in his gloomy voice. “Everyone, form a line. Fira, you should go first.”
    One by one, the fairies, sparrow men, and mice entered the tunnel. Fira brightened her glow. The tunnel was wide, but its ceiling was low, so the fairies had to walk instead of flying.
    By the light of her own glow, Fira could see bits of wood shoring up the cave ceiling. Clouds of dust danced around her feet. The miners plodded through the tunnel with heavy steps.
    “We’ll need to go far into the cave,” Precious said from behind Fira. “All the ore has been mined near the front.”
    Still, the mining expedition continued at the same slow pace. The fairies crept like snails through the tunnel. Bit by bit, the path narrowed. It dipped deep underground. It twisted and turned, splitting in two again and again.
    “Left,” Orren directed Fira. “Now right. Take that tunnel. The one with the steep stairs.”
    This is more complicated than any maze, Fira thought . I’m glad Orren knows the way!
    Not one glimmer of light seeped into the mine from outside now. The air felt cool.
    They went farther and farther into the tunnel. Water dripped from the walls. Fira hugged herself for warmth and turned up her glow.
    Her step was slowing. Her bones felt weary. She was glad when Orren said, “Stop. I have to check the map.”
    She rested a moment, directing her glow so that Orren could read. “We’re almost there,” he said. “Crystal Cave is just ahead. Past there, we should find new ore.”
    Orren squinted. “Can you glow a bit more brightly?” he asked Fira.
    “Everyone needs to be able to see.”
    Fira