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Copyright © 2017 by Fabled Films LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Fabled Films LLC, 200 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003.
Published by Fabled Films LLC, New York
ISBN: 978-1-944020-06-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016961602
First Edition: May 2017
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Cover Designed by SJI Associates
Interior Book Design by Notion Studio
Typeset in Stemple Garamond, Mrs. Ant and Pacific Northwest
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From the paws of
Rumur Dowling
For Carol, Jessica, and Ideal
But not without Tracey and Sarah
Contents
Chapter One: Shooting Stars
Chapter Two: All Alone
Chapter Three: Midnight-Blue Capes
Chapter Four: The Fallen Star
Chapter Five: The Invasion
Chapter Six: The Ominous Aye-Aye
Chapter Seven: Something Fruity, Something Foul
Chapter Eight: The Pomelo Plague
Chapter Nine: Blue Flowers
Chapter Ten: Starspeak
Chapter Eleven: Thunk!
Chapter Twelve: “I… I…”
Chapter Thirteen: Pangolin Poof
Chapter Fourteen: Pat, Pat, Pat
Chapter Fifteen: The Starlit Cage
Chapter Sixteen: The Race
Chapter Seventeen: The Final Flower
Chapter Eighteen: The Captives
Chapter Nineteen: Aliens
Chapter Twenty: The Star Creatures, Illuminated
Chapter Twenty-One: Geyserrhea
Chapter Twenty-Two: Bismark’s Flight
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Real Aye-Aye Iris
Acknowledgements
About the Author
About the Illustrator
“Oh goodness, there goes another one! And another and another!” Tobin cried. The pangolin’s eyes grew wide as he pointed up into the night sky. His scales covered his body like the leaves of an artichoke, and now they quivered with excitement.
“I’ve never seen so many shooting stars!” He eagerly pointed them out to his friends, Bismark, a sugar glider, and Dawn, a red fox, who sat on either side of him. Perched on a low, sturdy branch of Bismark’s pomelo tree, they had a perfect view of the streaks of light darting across the sky.
“Ah, yes, the heavens are ablaze!” Bismark leaned in toward the fox. “Though nothing rivals the flame of our true love—isn’t that right, mon amour?” The sugar glider, who resembled a squirrel with his dark round eyes, long furry tail, and small limbs, gave the fox a quick wink.
“The sky does appear quite curious this evening,” Dawn replied, ignoring her small friend.
Following the fox’s gaze, Bismark and Tobin watched three more stars zip through the sky, tails of fire trailing in their wake. Each star briefly cast the shadowy treetops throughout the forest in a soft, blue, glittering light.
“Oh my,” Tobin said, clasping his claws together. “They just keep coming! Have you ever seen so many shooting stars at once?”
Dawn watched another set of stars flash through the night like a school of silver minnows swimming in a dark pond. Her eyes flared with their reflection. The sky was indeed fascinating tonight.
“It’s the most beautiful, brilliant sky I’ve ever seen!” Tobin added.
“Beautiful, yes, but brilliant? Not quite.” Bismark stood up on his short, scrawny legs. “For true brilliance, mi amigo, look no further than the star of the stars, the flame of the fire, the–”
“Bismark–” Dawn interrupted.
“–spectacle of the spectacular!” Bismark finished proudly, and flung out his arms so that his flaps, the stretchy skin connecting his four limbs, billowed in the breeze. Then, with a loud whoop, the glider launched from his perch, letting the warm nighttime air lift him. With the air ballooning beneath his flaps, he sailed to another branch of his pomelo tree with ease.
“And that, mes amis, is the true shooting star of the valley!” Bismark lowered his head with a bow.
Tobin clapped his long, taloned claws together and giggled with delight.
Dawn raised an eyebrow, but her lips curved into a small smile. Then she returned her gaze to the sky, just in time to watch another smattering of shooting stars crisscross above.
“Well then,” continued Bismark, lowering his arms and surveying
