To Mowgli—the gray-and-white scrabbler.

  GROSSET & DUNLAP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

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  Text copyright © 2008, 2014 Sue Bentley. Illustrations copyright © 2008 Angela Swan. Cover illustration copyright © 2008 Andrew Farley. All rights reserved. First printed in Great Britain in 2008 by Penguin Books Ltd. First published in the United States in 2014 by Grosset & Dunlap, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

  ISBN 978-0-698-17176-3

  Version_1

  Contents

  Dedication

  Copyright

  Title Page

  *Prologue*

  Chapter *ONE*

  Chapter *TWO*

  Chapter *THREE*

  Chapter *FOUr *

  Chapter *FIVE*

  Chapter *SIX*

  Chapter *SEVEN*

  Chapter *EIGHT*

  *About the Author*

  *Prologue*

  The young white lion brushed against the tall grass as he padded down into the valley. Flame lifted his head, enjoying the smells of red soil and hot, dusty air. It felt good to be home.

  Suddenly a terrifying roar rang out.

  “Ebony!”

  As a powerful dark shape rose up from the shadow of some thorn trees, Flame froze. He should have known it wasn’t safe to come back. He needed to find somewhere to hide from his uncle.

  A bright flash lit up the valley, and a shower of silver sparkles fell where the young white lion had stood. In its place now crouched a tiny, fluffy chocolate-brown kitten. Flame’s kitten heart beat fast as he lowered himself onto his belly and crawled behind a fallen tree.

  A huge paw, almost as big as Flame was now, reached out of nowhere and scooped up the kitten.

  Flame bit back a whine of terror as he was dragged deeper into the tangle of branches. Uncle Ebony had found him! He was finished.

  But a kindly face with a scarred muzzle looked down at him. “Prince Flame. I am glad to see you, but you have returned at a dangerous time,” the old gray lion rumbled.

  “Cirrus!” Flame mewed in relief. “I had hoped that my uncle would be ready to give back the throne he stole from me.”

  Cirrus shook his head sadly. “He will never do that. Ebony wants to rule forever. He has sent many spies to look for you.”

  Flame’s emerald eyes flashed with anger. “Then I will fight him now!”

  “Bravely said,” Cirrus said, smiling and showing his worn teeth. “But he is too strong for you. Use this disguise and go back to the other world to hide. Return when you are stronger and wiser and then save this land from Ebony’s evil rule.”

  Over by the thorn trees, the huge black lion lifted his head and turned toward where Cirrus and Flame were hiding.

  “Flame! Come out. Let us finish this!” Ebony roared. Bunching his muscles he bounded forward, his mighty paws thudding against the dry earth.

  “Go now, Flame. Save yourself,” Cirrus urged.

  Silver sparks ignited in the tiny kitten’s fluffy chocolate-brown fur. Flame whined softly as he felt the power building inside him. He felt himself falling. Falling . . .

  Chapter

  * ONE *

  Orla Newton’s dad flapped the newspaper in the air like a fan, so that it ruffled Orla’s short hair.

  “Da-ad! Don’t! This movie’s just getting to the good part! The aliens are about to take over the earth!” Orla complained, glued to the TV screen.

  “Judging by all the sci-fi films you watch, they’ve already taken over your body!” Mr. Newton joked, plonking the paper in her lap.

  “Ha-ha, very funny!” Orla said, making a face as she reluctantly pressed PAUSE on the DVD remote.

  She looked down at the article her dad had circled with a black felt-tip pen. “‘Wildlife-photography competition for local children up to ten years old. Grand prize of a top-of-the-line digital camera and lots of prizes for runners up,’” Orla read aloud.

  At the mention of a brand-new camera, she felt a flicker of interest.

  Mr. Newton grinned at the look on his daughter’s face. “Aha! I thought that would get your attention. Are you interested in it, then?”

  Orla shrugged. “There’s no point. My old camera’s useless.”

  “No problem. I’ll lend you mine,” her dad said. “And I can give you a few tips on taking good pictures.”

  “Really?” Orla felt herself starting to warm to the idea.

  “You’re going on a school trip to Borton Pits Nature Reserve on Friday, aren’t you? Sounds like the perfect place to get some photos,” Mr. Newton said enthusiastically.

  “I suppose I could—”

  “Guess what? I’ve been picked for the county cross-country team!” an excited voice interrupted.

  Orla turned around to see her sister, Grace, come bouncing into the living room, her blond ponytail flying out behind her.

  At twelve, Grace was two years older than Orla. She practically lived at the after-school recreation center. Orla had been to it once, but they only seemed interested in kids who were really good at sports, so she hadn’t bothered going again.

  “That’s wonderful news! Well done, sweetheart.” Mr. Newton came over to give Grace a hug.

  “Yeah. It’s great,” Orla said quietly.

  Grace pirouetted across the room to the cabinet that held the silver trophies she’d already won for tennis and swimming. Straightening her shoulders, she bent her neck and smiled proudly as if an invisible judge was looping a medal on a ribbon over her head.

  Orla bit back a grin. Grace was such a drama queen! She couldn’t help feeling a tiny stir of jealousy, though. It didn’t seem fair that her sister was great at every sport she took part in, while Orla wasn’t any good.

  “Dad? Did you mean it about lending me your camera?” Orla asked on impulse.

  “You bet. I’ll go and get it right now,” Mr. Newton said, smiling as he went into the hall.

  “Why do you need to borrow Dad’s camera?” Grace asked, frowning.

  Orla explained about the wildlife-photography competition.

  “Huh! You’d better take care of Dad’s camera better than you did his fancy sunglasses,” Grace said with a chuckle.

  Orla felt herself blushing. “I didn’t mean to sit on them. It was an accident.”

  “Yeah, like when you dropped that cake Mom had just made for Gran’s birthday!” Grace reminded her gleefully.

  “That wasn’t my fault. I tripped over your sports bag that you left lying around!” Orla shot back.

  “Are you two arguing again?” their mom asked, popping her head around the door.

  “No, Mom!” Orla and Grace chorused.

  “Hmm.” Mrs. Newton didn’t look convinced. “I’m about to make supper. Anyone want to give me a hand?”

  “Sorry, I can’t. Dad’s going to show me how to use his camera,” Orla said quickly. “But Grace will help, won’t you?”

  “I don’t mind,” Grace said sweetly, but as their mom withdrew her head, she turned and stuck out her tongue at Orla. “I don’t know why you’re bothering with this competition! You never stick with anything—except for watching those pathetic movies about bug-eyed aliens!”

  “So? They’re really good. And I will stick with this. Just watch me!” Orla shot back at her. How hard could it be to point a camera at some silly old birds and butterflies, after all?

  On Friday morning, Orla stood in a muddy clearing in Borton Pits while Miss Bussell divided the class into groups. Two classroom monitors, wearing green jackets, stood nearby.

  “I hope we’re not going to be in Bossy Bussell’s group,” Joe Manners commented. Joe lived two streets away from Orla and was her best friend in class.

  Orla grinned. Miss Bussell was really nice, but she didn’t put up with any nonsense—especially from Joe.

  One of the monitors came over to Orla’s group. “Hi! I’m Emma. I’ll be showing you around,” she said, smiling.

  “Great!” Joe said, looking relieved.

  “I hope you’ve all remembered to bring your cameras,” Emma said, as the group moved off. “You’ll want to get a head start on taking photos, with your whole school taking part in this local photography competition. I expect there’ll be lots of fantastic entries.”

  As Orla fished around in her school bag for her camera, she noticed Joe stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Where’s your camera? Didn’t you bring it?” she asked him.

  Joe shrugged. “Yeah, but I ca n’t be bothered with this stupid contest. We’ve got no chance of winning with ten million other kids going in for it.”

  “Don’t be a wimp! My dad always says you have to be in it to win it!” Orla teased.

  “Who are you calling a wimp?” Joe said indignantly, but he took out his camera.

  Orla and Joe followed the others along treelined paths. Birdsong filled the air and blue and yellow wild flowers dotted the grass on either side. As they reached the lake, Emma paused and began pointing out interesting ducks and geese.

  Orla switched the camera on, trying to remember which setting to turn the dial to. Dad said to use “automatic focus,” she thought, but which one’s that?

  Suddenly there was a loud splashing noise. Two swans seemed to come running across the lake’s surface on their black webbed feet, their powerful wings flapping as they prepared for takeoff.

  “Wow! Look at that!” Joe said, aiming his camera.

  All around Orla there were flashes and faint clicks as the other kids took photos of the swans. Orla twiddled the dial in a panic. Just as the swans took off, she raised her camera and pressed the button.

  Nothing happened. She’d forgotten to take off the lens cap!

  “Wasn’t that fantastic? I think I got some great shots!” Joe said excitedly.

  “I didn’t! I missed the whole thing,” Orla said, exasperated. “That’s typical of me. I think I need some serious practice with this camera! I’m going over here by myself for a little while.”

  “Okay. See you later,” Joe said.

  Orla pushed through some trees and went down a bank. She found a quiet sunny spot ringed with tall reeds, away from the others. Not far away through the trees, she could hear Emma saying, “That duck with a wide bill is a shoveler, and those others . . .”

  Orla spotted a robin on a branch. She quickly aimed the camera and pressed the button, but just captured a blurry shot of the bush as the robin flew away. She had no better luck with a mallard, which decided to dive under just as she took its photograph.

  “This really isn’t going very well!” she grumbled.

  A handsome black-and-white duck came out of the reeds and began paddling about. Third time’s a charm, Orla thought, moving closer.

  Holding her breath, she crept slowly down the grassy slope toward the duck, but she wasn’t looking where she was going and her foot snagged on a bramble, catching Orla completely by surprise.

  “Oh!” Orla stumbled and the camera slipped from her fingers. It fell to the ground and bounced down the slope. She watched it in horror as it fell into the lake with a faint plopping sound.

  “Dad will go crazy!” she groaned. Her heart sank even more as she imagined Grace’s gloating face when she heard about the camera disaster.

  Suddenly there was a bright flash and a shower of silver sparks shot over Orla’s head into the lake. To her amazement, the camera slowly rose up out of the water, floated back through the air, and landed in her waiting hands!

  Chapter

  * TWO *

  Orla clutched the camera in numb fingers, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

  “I hope that I was in time to stop your little silver box from being damaged,” mewed a tiny voice.

  Orla whipped around in surprise. “Who’s there? Who said that?”

  “I did,” answered the same voice.

  Orla looked up the grassy slope and saw a tiny, fluffy chocolate-brown kitten with bright emerald eyes sitting on a nearby log. Its fur glittered in the sunlight, as if it was dotted with hundreds of tiny diamonds.

  Orla gazed at the kitten in complete amazement. “D-did you just answer me?”

  The kitten nodded. “My name is Prince Flame. What is yours?”

  “I-I’m Orla Newton,” Orla stammered.

  The kitten pricked its tiny brown ears. “I am pleased to meet you, Orla. I have come from far away.”

  “Wow! Are you from another galaxy?” Orla asked, excitedly thinking of all her sci-fi films. “I bet a horrible alien from the planet Zarg or somewhere is after you!”

  “I do not know of these aliens.” Flame’s brown whiskers began to tremble with fear. “But I am in danger. My uncle Ebony has sent spies to find me. He wants to keep the Lion Throne he stole from me.”

  Orla blinked at Flame. Now that the weird sparkles in his coat seemed to have died down, Flame certainly looked like an earth cat. In fact, with his fluffy, rich brown fur, huge green eyes, and alert pricked ears, Flame was the most gorgeous kitten she had ever seen.

  She felt a surge of protectiveness toward him. “Lion Throne? Don’t you mean Kitten Throne?” she asked gently.

  “I will show you!” Flame lifted his tiny head proudly, and there was another bright silver flash and a spray of sparks as he jumped off the log.

  “Oh!” Orla blinked, blinded for a moment. When she could see again, she saw that the tiny brown kitten had vanished, but in its place stood a magnificent young white lion. Tiny points of light glittered in its thick velvety fur like a million rainbows.

  “Flame?” Orla gasped, eyeing the lion’s huge teeth and sharp claws. She stepped back hastily.

  “Yes, Orla. It is me. Do not be afraid,” Flame answered in a deep, gentle growl.

  Before Orla could get used to the regal young lion, there was a final silver flash and the fluffy chocolate-brown kitten stood there in its place once more.

  “Wow! You really are a lion prince. That’s so cool!” Orla exclaimed.

  Flame blinked up at her again and she saw that his tiny kitten body was beginning to tremble with fear again. “I must find somewhere to hide. Will you help me, Orla?”

  Orla’s heart went out to Flame. As a young white lion he was scary and impressive, but as a kitten he was adorable. “Of course I will! I’ll take you home with me,” she said, bending down and picking him up.

  Flame began purring softly as she stroked his fluffy little head.

  There was a rustling sound behind Orla. Flame tensed against her as someone pushed through the trees.

  “I bet it’s only Joe. He’s my friend. He’s going to be so surprised when I tell him about you!” Orla said excitedly.

  “No! No one must know my secret,” Flame told her, his face serious. “You must promise me.”

  Orla felt disappointed that she couldn’t share her marvelous discovery with Joe, but if it helped keep Flame safe she was willing to agree. “All right. Cross my heart.”

  Seconds later, Joe appeared. “Did you manage to get your camera to work?” he said, and then his eyes widened as he saw Flame. “Where did you get that kitten from?”

  “I just found him. He told me he’s called Fla—” Orla stopped hastily, realizing that she was going to have to be a lot more careful about keeping Flame’s secret. “I mean I’ve decided to call him Flame,” she went on. “We’re miles away from any houses here, so he must be a stray. I’m taking him home to live with me.”

  Joe reached out to stroke Flame’s ears. “Aw, he’s really cute. I like his name. If your parents won’t let you keep Flame, I’ll take him.”

  “Sorry, no chance!” Orla held Flame close.

  Joe grinned. “Fair enough. Finders keepers.” He frowned suddenly. “You’ll never get Flame past Bossy Bussell. She has eyes in the back of her head.”

  Orla thought hard. “I’ll hide him in my school bag. He’s going to have to stay very still and quiet until school ends, aren’t you?” she said gently, looking meaningfully at Flame as she opened her bag.

  Flame gave a tiny nod. He jumped straight inside her bag and curled up next to her schoolbooks.

  “That’s one smart kitten,” Joe said admiringly. “It’s like he knew what you just said.”

  Orla bit back a grin. If only Joe knew!

  “Bye. Have a good weekend!” Orla called to Joe after school, as she left him at the end of her road.

  “We’re going off to visit my grandma as soon as I get home, so I’ll call for you before school on Monday,” he called back. “Take good care of Flame!”

 

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