Then there was silence.

  Florence’s dad stepped forward. ‘I FORT THAT MIGHT GRAB YOUR ATTENTION,’ he said, putting his paws on his hips. ‘I FINK WE NEED AN EMERGENCY PIT MEETING. EVERYONE IN THE PARTY PIT RIGHT NOW. WE GOT SOME ISSUES WE NEED TO ADDRESS!’

  CHAPTER 8

  GLITTERY AND FLOUNCY HORRORS

  ‘IS EVERYONE ’ERE?’ called Laurence.

  The yetis muttered amongst themselves as the last few sat down. Clemence squeezed in next to Amelia, Florence, Grimaldi and a grumpy Tangine. Squashy was snoring quietly on Amelia’s lap, clearly still tired from all the partying.

  Laurence cleared his throat. The room fell silent.

  ‘NOW WE’RE ALL ’ERE, PLEASE LISTEN CAREFULLY.’ All eyes were on Florence’s dad. ‘AS SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE, THERE ’AVE BEEN REPORTS OF MISSING ITEMS THIS WEEKEND,’ said Laurence, looking serious. ‘AT FIRST, WE FORT THEY WERE JUST LOST. BUT NOW SO MANY FINGS ARE MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARING, I BELIEVE THESE ITEMS MAY ’AVE BEEN . . .  STOLEN.’

  The room filled with shocked gasps, resulting in gasp-induced coughs and at least three cough-induced farts.

  ‘NOW, THE MAIN THING IS NOT TO PANIC,’ Laurence continued. ‘BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WILL NEED TO SEARCH EVERYONE’S PITS. I’M NOT SAYING ANY OF YOU ARE TO BLAME, BUT PERHAPS THERE’S BEEN A MIX-UP SOMEWHERE . . .’

  ‘They’re certainly not searching my pit,’ said Tangine, folding his arms. ‘No way.’

  ‘I DON’T FINK YOU GET A CHOICE,’ said Florence.

  ‘But my room is a mess AGAIN and I don’t know why. I haven’t even had a chance to fold my collection of sparkly pants in rainbow order,’ said Tangine.

  ‘EVERYONE GO BACK TO YOUR PITS. I’LL BE SEARCHING EACH PIT IN TURN OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS, SO PLEASE BE PATIENT WHILST I GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MYSTERY!’ Laurence announced.

  The old yetis groaned and began to shuffle out of the party pit.

  ‘GUESS THAT’S ME BIRFNIGHT CELEBRATIONS DONE THEN,’ said Clemence sadly.

  Back in their pit, Florence began doing extra fast ‘stress-ups’, Grimaldi sat hugging his scythe, and Amelia watched Squashy sniffing around the walls. Tangine returned to his own pit to refold his sparkly pants in rainbow order and tidy up the mysterious mess (again). Everyone was very upset by this latest turn of events.

  ‘What if Florence’s dad doesn’t find the missing things?’ said Grimaldi. ‘What if there is a thief around here? What if they think I stole them?!’

  ‘DON’T BE SILLY,’ said Florence. ‘NOBODY WILL FINK THAT.’

  In an attempt to distract everyone and lighten the mood, Amelia pulled out the strange map she’d found in Tangine’s bedroom.

  ‘Guys! Look what I found. It fell out from behind a picture in Tangine’s room. I knocked it off the wall by accident after I looked under Tangine’s bed. It’s some kind of old map!’

  ‘Ooo, there’s an X on it. Maybe it’s a treasure map!’ said Grimaldi.

  ‘DONT BE DAFT, GRIMALDI,’ laughed Florence, studying the raggedy, glitter-stained map. ‘ALTHOUGH WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, AMELIA, IS WHAT YOU WERE DOING UNDER TANGINE’S BED?! YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT GLITTERY AND FLOUNCY HORRORS YOU MIGHT FIND UNDER THERE.’

  Amelia giggled and smiled at Florence, feeling relieved that things seemed much better between them after yesternight’s argument.

  ‘IT MIGHT NOT SHOW HIDDEN TREASURE BUT I FINK THAT’S AN OLD MAP OF THE PITS!’ said Florence. ‘WE SHOULD COME BACK TO THE YETI MOUNTAIN NEXT WEEKEND AND SEE WHERE IT LEADS! IT CAN BE LIKE A SECRET MISSION!’

  ‘Oooh, I’d definitely be up for that,’ said Grimaldi. ‘As long as there’s no danger involved.’

  Amelia shuffled awkwardly. ‘Well, I can’t actually,’ she said. ‘Some of the Pumpkineers are having a petrifying picnic next weekend and I already said I’d go with them.’

  ‘OH,’ Florence grunted.

  ‘Hey, and isn’t it the pumpkin patch party tonight?’ said Grimaldi.

  ‘Oh, yeah,’ said Amelia quietly, wishing Grimaldi would stop speaking. It was starting to look like she’d jumped the gun about things being better . . . She looked at Florence, but the yeti was staring at the floor. ‘Um, Florence? Do you mind if I ask your dad to call my mum so she can come and pick me up?’

  Florence frowned. ‘MY DAD SAID WE ’AVE TO STAY IN OUR PITS SO ’E CAN INVESTIGATE THE DISAPPEARING ITEMS.’

  ‘But I need to ask him now, otherwise I won’t get to the pumpkin patch party in time,’ said Amelia. ‘I’m sure your dad won’t mind, will he?’

  ‘LOOK, I KNOW YOU’D RATHER GO BACK AND HANG OUT WIV YOUR NEW PUMPKIN MATES THAN STAY ’ERE,’ said Florence looking sad. ‘BUT DAD TOLD US TO STAY PUT.’

  ‘That’s not true, Florence,’ said Amelia, feeling a bit shocked. ‘And that’s not a very nice thing to say.’

  ‘WELL, ’OW AM I MEANT TO COMPETE WIV YOUR NEW FRIENDS WHO LOVE PUMPKINS AS MUCH AS YOU?’ said Florence.

  ‘Almost as much . . .’ Grimaldi corrected her. Florence and Amelia both frowned at him.

  ‘I’m just saying!’ squeaked Grimaldi.

  ‘It’s not a competition, Florence,’ said Amelia. ‘You don’t have to be jealous.’

  ‘JEALOUS?!’ bellowed Florence. ‘I’M NOT JEALOUS! YOU’RE THE ONE DITCHING US FOR YOUR NEW FRIENDS!’

  ‘I’m not ditching anyone!’ Amelia said hotly. She felt her cheeks flush and suddenly she lost her temper. ‘But if you’re going to be so grumpy about it, then maybe I WOULD rather hang out with my new friends !’

  Florence looked shocked. Amelia felt shocked. Grimaldi gulped.

  ‘Florence . . . I didn’t mean . . .’ Amelia started, but Florence interrupted.

  ‘FINE,’ she said coldly. ‘I’LL ASK DAD TO CALL YOUR MUM RIGHT NOW.’

  But as Florence reached for the door handle, the pit door burst open. Florence’s dad was on the other side, looking flustered, and he was holding a sparkly tiara.

  ‘Isn’t that Margot’s tiara? The one that went missing?!’ gasped Amelia.

  ‘IT IS,’ said Laurence.

  ‘WHERE WAS IT?’ asked Florence.

  ‘THAT’S THE FING . . .’ said Laurence, looking concerned. ‘I FOUND IT UNDER TANGINE’S BED . . .’

  CHAPTER 9

  YELLOW DOESN’T SUIT YOU

  ‘I’M SURE THERE’S A PERFECTLY GOOD EXPLANATION FOR ALL OF THIS. BUT WE NEED TO SPEAK TO TANGINE . . .’ said Laurence. ‘DO YOU KNOW WHERE ’E IS?’

  ‘He went back to his pit to tidy it up,’ said Amelia. ‘It keeps getting mysteriously messy.’

  ‘WELL, FIRSTLY, THERE’S BEEN NO TIDYING IN THAT PIT OF ’IS,’ said Laurence. ‘SECONDLY, TANGINE’S NOT THERE, SO I FORT I MIGHT FIND ’IM IN ’ERE.’

  ‘NO, ’E’S NOT ’ERE,’ said Florence.

  ‘Maybe he went to the toilet?’ suggested Grimaldi.

  But nobody had time to find out because an almighty RUMBLE echoed within the pit walls. Large chunks of the ceiling began to fall to the floor, narrowly missing Amelia and her friends. ‘What’s happening?! ’ she yelled, as she scooped Squashy up into her arms.

  ‘GET OUT OF THE PIT!’ shouted Laurence.

  Grimaldi appeared frozen to the spot, bracing his scythe tightly.

  Florence swiftly lifted the stunned Grimaldi up under one arm and the friends ran as fast as they could out of their pit. Then, what was once their sleeping quarters collapsed into a big pile of rubble with a loud

  CRAAAAAASH!

  The friends stood in shocked silence as clouds of dust slowly rose from the debris.

  ‘WHAT THE ACTUAL BATS?!’ Florence finally blurted out.

  Grimaldi awoke from his terrified trance and began to shake. ‘W . . . w . . . what happened?!’

  ‘WE ALMOST ENDED UP ON YOUR DAD’S DEATH LIST,’ said Florence.

  The dust made Squashy begin sneezing. Amelia hugged him to her chest. ‘It’s okay, Squashy. We’re safe.’

  ‘GRIEVING GOBLINS! IS EVERYONE OKAY?’ said Laurence. He put a hand on his forehead in despair. ‘I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT JUST ’APPENED.’

  By now, most of the ancient yetis had gathered in the tunnel, wondering what all the noise was.

  Laurence stood up straight and called out above the panicked chitter-chatter of the crowd.

  ‘EVERYONE TRY NOT TO PANIC –’

  But before he could finish, two unicorns burst through the main entrance to the pits. Amelia recognised them straight away.

  ‘Ricky? Graham?! ’ she cried as the unicorns marched in, wearing long trench coats with tiny notebooks in their top pockets.

  Amelia had first met Ricky and Graham when they were unicorn guards in Glitteropolis and then later as Rainbow Ranger club leaders.

  ‘Oh, hi Amelia!’ said Ricky. ‘You’re probably wondering why we’re here, right?’

  ‘YEAH. WHY ARE YOU ’ERE?’ asked Florence.

  ‘I CALLED THEM EARLIER,’ said Laurence. ‘TO ’ELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF ALL THE MISSING FINGS.’

  ‘We’re unicorn detectives now,’ said Ricky. ‘And we shall SOLVE your mystery!’

  ‘We like to broaden our horizons,’ said Graham.

  ‘We’re also thinking of opening a flower shop.’

  ‘But we’re still running the Rainbow Rangers and giving out hard-earned badges, don’t you worry about that!’ Ricky added. Then he saw the collapsed pit and gasped. ‘What happened ’ere then?’

  ‘I’M NOT ENTIRELY SURE. THE PIT JUST . . . COLLAPSED,’ said Laurence. ‘THESE PITS ARE MEANT TO BE THE STURDIEST AROUND. I DON’T UNDERSTAND!’

  ‘It’s a good job I recently took a Mountain Safety course then!’ said Ricky, whipping out a hard hat from his trench-coat pocket.

  ‘BUT YOU JUST SAID YOU’RE A DETECTIVE?’ said Florence.

  ‘I am . . . but I’m also a Mountain Safety Inspector. I’m a unicorn of many talents.’ Ricky winked.

  ‘He’s also been desperate to wear that hat,’ sighed Graham. ‘I told you Ricky, yellow doesn’t suit you.’

  ‘WELL, WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON ROUND ’ERE,’ said Laurence. ‘AS I MENTIONED TO YOU ON THE PHONE, FINGS JUST KEEP GOING MISSING. ALTHOUGH WE DID FIND MARGOT’S TIARA . . . IN TANGINE’S PIT.’

  ‘Can we speak to the young prince?’ asked Graham. ‘That would be the best way to kick off our investigation.’

  ‘WELL, THAT’S THE FING, I DON’T KNOW WHERE ’E IS,’ said Laurence.

  ‘Maybe he’s HIDING!’ said Margot, holding on to her tiara tightly. ‘He was particularly interested in my tiara when he first saw it. Seems a bit odd that it should go missing, then turn up in his room!’

  ‘WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING?’ said Florence with a frown.

  ‘I’m not suggesting anything,’ said Margot. ‘It just seems . . . odd.’

  ‘Hey! Tangine would never take anything!’ cried Amelia. ‘Shouldn’t we be more concerned with trying to find him ? What if he’s in trouble?’

  ‘QUITE RIGHT!’ Laurence called out, smiling at Amelia. ‘LET’S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY. I’M SURE THERE’S A GOOD EXPLANATION FOR ALL OF THIS. AND THAT’S WHY THE UNICORN DETECTIVES ARE ’ERE. SO LET ’EM DO THEIR JOB AND ’OPEFULLY THEY’LL FIND TANGINE IN THE PROCESS.’

  CRASH!

  Yetis screamed and bellowed as another two pits collapsed at the same time.

  ‘What’s happening?! ’ cried Margot.

  Suddenly, cracks appeared in the walls all around the tunnel. A long CREEEEEEEEEEAAAAAK resonated through the mountain pits. Then there was silence.

  ‘Well, that didn’t sound good,’ said Graham.

  Ricky galloped over to the crack in the wall and pulled a tape measure out from his trench coat. He measured the length of the crack and began scribbling in his notepad and muttering calculations to himself. Then he trotted forwards to study another crack in the wall, taking more measurements and scribbling more notes. Finally he paused and straightened his hard hat before returning to the group of bewildered yetis.

  ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news,’ said Ricky. ‘I have only inspected a small portion of this mountain, but it’s already very clear that the Yeti Mountains Pits are NOT safe.’ He pointed at the cracks in the walls. ‘Who knows how many more pits could collapse? These are dangerous conditions to be living in.’ Ricky cleared his throat. ‘Therefore, it is my duty to close these mountain pits down!’

  ‘WHAT?!’ said Laurence.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Ricky. ‘It’s too much of a risk to stay here.’

  ‘BUT THIS ’AS BEEN THE ANCIENT YETIS’ ’OME SINCE THEY RETIRED,’ said Laurence. ‘’OW LONG DO WE ’AVE TO GET OUT?’

  Ricky looked at Graham awkwardly, then back at Laurence. ‘I’m afraid everyone will have to leave the Yeti Mountain Pits right now.’

  CHAPTER 10

  A THOUSAND MILES AWAY

  A few of the ancient yetis began wailing.

  ‘WHERE ARE ALL THE YETIS MEANT TO GO?!’ said Laurence. ‘THEY’RE ANCIENT. WE NEED TO FIND ’EM A NEW ’OME BEFORE SUNRISE UVVAWISE THEY WON’T ’AVE ANYWHERE TO SLEEP!’

  ‘Ricky,’ said Graham. ‘Where was that massive mountain we saw when we went travelling last year?’

  ‘Oh yeah, it was HUGE!’ said Ricky. ‘I think it was on that remote island about a thousand miles away. Only ghosts live there, but they’re a friendly, transparent bunch. I think it was called Ghouling Isle. Yeh, that’s right. Lovely place. Bit dead though.’

  ‘There you go!’ said Graham with a big smile. ‘Sounds like the perfect place to dig new pits. Plenty of room for new residents to roam on the island, and it was a MASSIVE mountain, so you could dig some proper penthouse suites!’

  ‘And y’never know,’ Ricky added. ‘You might get a free haunting while you’re at it.’ He paused. ‘You don’t look happy, Laurence.’

  Florence’s dad was frowning hard. ‘YOU’RE SUGGESTING WE MOVE A FOUSAND MILES AWAY?’

  ‘Well, I can’t think of anywhere nearer with a big enough mountain for all of you,’ said Graham sadly. ‘Can you?’

  Laurence’s expression fell. He looked at the group of yetis and let out a long sigh. ‘NO,’ he said. ‘I CAN’T . . .’

  ‘Nooooooooooo! ’ cried Margot. ‘I don’t want to leave Nocturnia!’

  ‘Agreed!’ yelled Derek. ‘THIS is our home!’

  Grand-yeti Clemence rushed over. ‘THERE MUST BE SUMFIN’ WE CAN DO, LAURENCE?’

  Laurence sighed. ‘YOU ’EARD THE UNICORN DETECTIVES, IT’S NOT SAFE ’ERE NO MORE.’ He placed a paw gently on Clemence’s shoulder. ‘I CAN’T RISK YOU ALL GETTING SQUISHED IN ’ERE. SO, WE NEED TO FIND A MOUNTAIN BIG ENOUGH AND STURDY ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE TO MOVE TO. IT SOUNDS LIKE GHOULING ISLE IS OUR ONLY OPTION.’

  ‘BUT DAD,’ said Florence. ‘IF THE NEW PITS ARE A FOUSAND MILES AWAY ON A REMOTE ISLAND, ’OW ARE YOU MEANT TO GET THERE EVERY NIGHT TO LOOK AFTER EVERYONE?’

  Laurence stroked Florence’s head affectionately. ‘WE’LL ’AVE TO MOVE TO GHOULING ISLE TOO,’ he said sadly.

  ‘WHAT?’ Florence started, then gulped. ‘BUT I WON’T SEE MY FRIENDS IF WE MOVE THAT FAR AWAY!’

  ‘THEY CAN COME AND VISIT,’ said Laurence, giving Florence a big hug. ‘NOW I MUST GET YOU ALL OUT OF ’ERE IN CASE MORE PITS COLLAPSE.’

  Florence fell silent. Her dad stepped forward and spoke with deep regret.

  ‘EVERYONE PACK YOUR FINGS AND MEET OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAIN IN THE NEXT HOUR PLEASE.’

  Florence didn’t say anything. Amelia felt her heart drop into her stomach and her stomach drop into her toes.  Florence had to move a THOUSAND miles away ?

  Another loud groan resonated through the mountain and a huge crack stretched across the floor. The yetis screamed and clutched each other tightly.

  Then there was a huge CRAAAAAASH from further along the tunnel as more pits began to collapse, one after the other. It was as if a giant yeti was smashing its way through the walls.

  CRAAAAAASH!

  CRAAAAAAASH!

  ‘EVERYONE OUTSIDE! THERE’S NO TIME TO PACK YOUR FINGS!’ shouted Florence’s dad. ‘FLO, GET YOUR FRIENDS OUT!’

  CRAAAAAAASH!

  ‘’OLD ON TO YER KNICKERS!’ cried Clemence.

  ‘I have no knickers on!’ another yeti wept.

  Squashy squeaked in alarm and Amelia hugged him tightly to her chest.

  Panic scorched through Amelia’s veins like hot scream tea as the pits collapsed around them.  Tangine was still missing.

  Amelia ran up to Laurence and tugged at his jacket sleeve. ‘Mr Spudwick! Tangine’s still not here!’ she said urgently. ‘He’ll be in danger!’

  Laurence gave Amelia a determined look. ‘I’LL MAKE SURE WE FIND ’IM, DON’T WORRY,’ he said. ‘BUT YOU MUST GET SAFELY OUTSIDE FIRST.’

  ‘We can’t just leave him!’ said Amelia, almost in tears, as Grimaldi and Florence clutched hands behind her.

  ‘I’LL FIND ’IM, I PROMISE,’ Laurence reassured her. He put a paw on each of Amelia’s shoulders and looked at her with a kind but serious expression. ‘I KNOW THESE PITS BETTER THAN ANYONE . . . I DUG ’EM AFTER ALL. BUT I ’AVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE AND THAT INCLUDES YOU. I’LL GO FIND TANGINE AS SOON AS YER ALL OUTSIDE. YOU JUST GOTTA TRUST ME . . . CAN YOU DO THAT?’

  Amelia felt a lump in her throat, but eventually nodded.

  Laurence squeezed her shoulders. ‘NOW QUICKLY, OFF YOU GO!’

  Once Ricky and Graham had ushered the ancient yetis out and everyone was safely huddled outside, Laurence began a final head count.

  Amelia, Florence and Grimaldi watched in horror as the Yeti Mountain Pits literally began crumbling in front of them.

  ‘WHERE’S TANGINE?!’ said Florence, scanning the crowd.

  ‘Your dad said he’s going to find him,’ said Amelia shakily.

  ‘What if he’s stuck under a collapsed pit?!’ gasped Grimaldi.

 

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