still wasn’t sure about being in this land, but she could feel herself being drawn more and more into the story she was hearing.
The White Cat nodded. “All of a sudden. I found a note from her saying she’d decided to go home. The trouble is that means we are now one person short for the dance. I was just on my way to her house to try and persuade her to come back, but now the shoes have solved the problem. You can take Red Riding Hood’s place!”
Holly felt a rush of excitement. So to help him, all she had to do was dance with the characters from her favourite ballet? That sounded OK to her!
“I can’t wait to get back to the palace and introduce you to everyone,” continued the White Cat. “But I think we’d better just stop by at Red Riding Hood’s house on the way. I just want to check she’s all right. It’s not like her to let people down.” He pointed through the trees.
“Her house is just over there. We could go by magic, but it won’t take us long to walk and I love the woods in autumn. Oh, Holly!” He rubbed her cheek with the side of his head. “I’m really glad I was the one to meet you and that you are the new owner of the shoes!”
Holly stroked his fur. She was secretly beginning to feel quite glad she was the new owner of the shoes too!
They started walking along the path.
“So tell me about you,” the White Cat said curiously.
“I live with my aunt and uncle. My mum and dad are ballet dancers.” Holly quickly told the White Cat about her life.
“You must miss your mum a lot,” said the White Cat with concern.
Holly nodded.
“But I bet you have lots of friends,” he went on.
“Um, not really,” Holly admitted awkwardly.
“Why not?”
Holly shrugged.
The White Cat spun away, jumped into the air and touched his toes, before landing lightly. “Well, you’ve got me now!” He grabbed her hands and waltzed her down the path. Holly giggled. She didn’t think she ever wanted a friend other than her mum before, but the White Cat was so much fun.
“So, tell me something more about you,” he said eagerly. “What do you like? What don’t you like? What are you scared of?”
Holly blinked at all the questions. “Um, well, I like ballet. I don’t like school. What am I scared of? Not much really.” She thought for a moment. “I don’t like heights, I guess.”
“I don’t like water,” admitted the White Cat. “I’m so scared of it. My brother, Puss in Boots, calls me a scaredy cat!” He looked around. “I know, shall we play a game on the way? What do you play in your world?”
“Um … tag?” said Holly.
“OK, I’ll be it!” said the cat. “I’ll count to ten.”
Holly darted away through the trees to the left and scrambled up a bank.
“Wait!” the White Cat called in alarm. “I meant down the path, Holly! Not that way!”
But it was too late. As Holly reached the top of the bank, she realised that on the other side the bank fell steeply down into a swiftly-flowing river. In her surprise, she lost her balance. Her arms flailed and the next minute, she was rolling down the hill straight towards the water!
The cold water made Holly gasp as she splashed into the river. She tried to tread water, gulping a mouthful of air as the current started to tow her along.
“Help!”
The White Cat had reached the top of the bank. Holly could see he looked terrified, but he didn’t hesitate. He bounded down the bank on all fours and launched himself into the water, swimming like a tiger. Grabbing hold of the back of her leotard in his mouth, he pulled her swiftly back.
“You saved me!” cried Holly as he dragged her out on to the bank.
“Oh, my glimmering whiskers!” he gasped. “I thought you were going to drown!”
“You were so brave.” Holly put her arms round him in relief and hugged him hard.
“Thank you!”
The cat licked her face with his rough tongue. “You’re very wet. I hope Red Riding Hood has some clothes you can borrow. Come on!”
It only took them a few minutes to reach Red Riding Hood’s little wooden cottage, but when they got there they found, to their surprise, that it was all closed up.
“I wonder why she isn’t here?” said the White Cat looking puzzled.
“Maybe she called in on some friends on the way back,” Holly suggested. She was very cold and had started to shiver.
The White Cat noticed. “I’ll find her later. Right now, we’d better get back to the Royal Palace and get you some dry clothes. I’ll take us there by magic.” He held his long tail in his hand and swished it around in a circle on the ground. Then he pulled Holly into the circle. “Get ready!” he cried. His whiskers twitched. Silver sparkles flew off them and suddenly they were whizzing away!
His magic set them down in a large walled courtyard in front of a beautiful palace with pointed turrets and pearly white walls.
“Welcome to the Royal Palace!” declared the White Cat.
“Oh … wow!” Holly breathed, looking round.
There was a group of dancers talking near the front door, a band of musicians, and servants setting out tables in the afternoon sun.
“Wait here a minute.” The cat bounded energetically into the palace and reappeared a few seconds later with a long velvet cloak. He wrapped it around Holly. “There, that should warm you up!”
“Thanks,” she said gratefully, snuggling into it. She couldn’t stop staring at the dancers across the courtyard. They were all characters she knew from the ballet of Sleeping Beauty – the fairies, the bluebird, Puss in Boots, Bluebeard and the enchanted princess. A few of them had noticed her arrival and were pointing.
One of the
