The Last Rainforest

Life is a Magic Thing

As Crysta giggled and Pips tried desperately to keep up with her, it was impossible to ignore the bounty of sights that the rainforest had to offer.

Some squirrel-like creatures were just awakening - a mother and her two babies with thick cream fur and red-tipped tails. They were nestled in the crook of a thick branch of a strong tree, and the mother yawned with what looked like a smile on her face. As she stretched out she noticed a colourfully-patterned caterpillar with yellow hairs gliding along a thinner branch above, which shook the collected raindrops of the leaves onto her and her family. This was an efficient way to wake her children up, as one suddenly jumped and squeaked in joy at the simple pleasure of fresh, cool water in the morning.

At that moment some butterflies flew past them, their wings flapping as they travelled over a stream further below. One was blue, one was grey and one was yellow, although the patterns on their wings incorporated many different colours. They drifted alongside some large birds that vaguely resembled ostriches - they looked entirely the same except they were blue and black, with a red and yellow neck as well as what looked like a black and purple fin sticking out of the top of their heads. They squawked as if having a conversation, and one went to nip a butterfly with its beak - most likely to eat it for breakfast.

Crysta and Pips zoomed along at the time and whirled around the two birds as they attempted to follow them. All that the birds achieved was making themselves dizzy and almost crash into the shallow water they were stood in.

"Hi Ock! Hi Rock!" exclaimed Crysta, giggling.

A power that the spirits had was that they could talk to the animals while other beings - such as humans - could not. This was essential to help them take care of the rainforest. However Ock and Rock just screeched back at them, flattening their beaks against their necks to allow their wide eyes to have a closer look at the fairies. Crysta just flew away and Pips followed, further disorientating the innocent birds.

Pips came across a small flying squirrel with brown fur, about to tuck into a juicy red berry. Just as the animal brought the fruit to his face and opened his mouth, Pips tapped him on the back. As the squirrel turned to look around at what had disturbed his feast, Pips - who seemed to be the master at zipping around unnoticed - darted to the front of him so he could not be seen, and simply took the berry. Pips readied himself for the moist delicacy in front of him, closed his eyes, bared his teeth, and Crysta slammed the red fruit into his face. The juice splattered everywhere yet most of it covered Pips. The berry slipped off his face and into the hands of a disheartened flying squirrel, whose smile was returned once again. Crysta floated just out of reach of Pips, pointing and laughing at his rage-filled expression - she always managed to get him back. This time though, she realised she'd gone too far and hastily made an escape.

In a chase again, the two spirits passed four strange bugs who were slurping and grunting as they devoured berry after berry. Crysta knocked them off their perches and they yelled in annoyance, but Crysta was so fast that by that point she couldn't hear their protests. As they realised this they buzzed off to follow her into the distance.

"Comin' through!"

"Watch out!"

"Here I come!"

They all shouted out cries of enjoyment at this thrilling feat until Pips came through, knocking them off balance. As they lost control they managed to each crash into a seperate hanging fruit, their legs waving about as they struggled to free themselves.

Meanwhile, Pips was still chasing Crysta; they had pretty much explored most of their area of the rainforest at this point. Crysta quickly dived under some short, leafy plants on the ground, and they both carefully manouvered their way around the stalks. Pips then decided that he should turn this thrill-ride into a race. He was now in the lead, lying back to tease Crysta. She scrunched up her face and stretched out her arms, desperately trying to make herself more streamlined and get in front. They tumbled down the waterfall again, weaving in and out of each other, and then they heard the voices of the insects whose early meal they had oh-so recently interrupted.

"There she goes."

"Come on, don't lose her."

They were planning to catch Crysta and not Pips. That was typical behaviour of that little gang. The fairies ducked through a hollow tree trunk as the bugs followed above. As they exited at the other end Pips stopped but Crysta kept going.

"WHOA!" yelled one of the bugs in awe and surprise.

"Okay," Crysta muttered to herself. This would show Pips - she was going to win.