• I was nine when I first knew I could speak to animals. I spoke mainly with the little birds who sat on my window sill. They watched over me at school and no one gave me trouble. I had one close friend, Skye. She used to say ‘You’re singing on the wind while I carry the melody.’ She was so kind and understanding. She was close to me because she could control air. When I say control I mean she softly asked it if it would help her and it would. We were the sort of people who were known as weirdo’s but no one would even try to face up to us. I remembered one bully marching over to us but then Skye turned to them her blue eyes dared them to take another step. They had run off and she’d laughed tossing her curly blonde hair. I always smiled fondly at the memory. This is the story of how we stopped a tragedy and gained friends.
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    “Come on Serenity it’s time for school. You’re going to be late and you’ve got that trip!” My mum hollered up the stairs. She did this every morning. I had plenty of time and got dressed. I chatted with the little birds. They were tweeting nervously of danger. Puzzled I then took my bag and wandered down the stairs. “Quick. Quick.” Mum fussed. I ate my breakfast then kissed my mum. “Bye. I’ll see you after school.” I said waving as I walked down the path. I met Skye at the top of the road and we wandered to school. As we walked through the gate we both sensed something was different. I looked at her and her at me. We both continued warily and entered our class. The teacher was smiling and checking that everyone had returned their slips for the trip to the nature reserve today. Everyone was chatting and excitedly hurrying around. I uncomfortably shifted from one foot to the other and Skye bit her lip nervously. We boarded the coach and I felt an uneasy sensation in the pit of my stomach.
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    It didn’t take long to get there. I enjoyed the fact that we were in a perfect place for animals and wildlife. I breathed deeply the fresh earthy scent. Skye smiled as the wind ruffled her hair. We didn’t ignore the feeling, just pushed it to the back of our minds so we could enjoy the day. We sketched trees and I was distracted by a pair of squirrels chasing each other around. A smile played on my lips but I quickly turned it into a look of concentration when the head teacher looked over. I heard a mother bird scolding its babies when they tried to jump from the nest. A dormouse squeaked for his wife to hurry up. The squirrels were playing tag and one moaned that the other was cheating.
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    At lunch I told Skye what I’d heard and she laughed along with me finding the squirrels funniest as we could still see their silly game. “I don’t mean to be a killjoy but I can feel something’s going to happen. It’s on the wind.” Skye said her sweet face pinched with worry. “I know. The birds I spoke to this morning sang of danger.” I replied with a touch of anxiety in my voice.
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    We finished our lunch then carried on with the lesson. We prepared ourselves for danger. My normally very good drawings were messy and the teacher seemed disappointed. I could tell she’d expected more from me. But surely with imminent danger she could let me off just this once? Skye was so nervous I could feel the wind copying her mood and coming in short bursts of strong then weak wind. I placed a calming hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her and gentle the strange wind. She gave me a look that showed how tense she was. I gave her a look as if to say ‘well I don’t know what to do’. We’re only a pair of fifteen year old girls not military or spies.
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    We boarded the coach and I could see that Skye needed air so though I sat by the window I opened it. It cooled and calmed Skye but froze me and I wrapped my coat round me tightly. I looked out of the window at the trees rushing past prettily merging into a green blur. I looked at Skye who still looked worried but happier with the air washing over her. The coach was noisy and I tried to blot out the annoying buzz.
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    Suddenly the noise faded and all I could hear was the birds calling. “Get out.” “Get out.” “Don’t stay I the coach it will kill you.” Many called urgently. “Why what’ll happen?” I called knowing that with time this slow no one would ever hear me. “It is going to explode.” one called. “We smell the gases.” said another. “Quick, quick. There isn’t much time.” they called desperately.
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    Time sped up and looked quickly at Skye. “We have to get off the bus.” I told her. She looked bewildered but didn’t question that I might be wrong. “Say we can smell gas.” I whispered. Again she nodded. “Miss! Miss! I can smell gas.” I shouted. “So can I.” Skye added loudly. “I recognise it miss. We need to get off the coach.” I told her. The teacher looked terrified and ran to the front. The coach driver pulled over but looked suspiciously at us as we all jumped off the coach. “You’re to close. You’re to close.” warned the birds. “We need to get over here. Get down.” I ordered. As we got down I turned to Skye “Can you protect passing cars?” I asked her. “I’ll do my best.” she promised breathing deeply and concentrating.
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    There was a huge explosion and the coach went up in flames. Somehow it missed all passing cars. Hmmm. I wonder how that happened. I laughed softly. “Oh my goodness Skye, Serenity, you saved everyone’s lives.” the teacher exclaimed. “Bloody hell! I didn’t even notice!” the poor coach driver said his hand on his heart. Our form teacher was kissing her cross necklace and all the other students looked shaken but at least they were alive. “Thank you.” said a small voice behind me. I turned to see one of the ‘popular’ kids looking gratefully at me. I smiled. As did Skye. We saw that everyone was looking at us with respect and as though we were heaven sent.
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    When the police arrived they said that we were extremely lucky. At school we were given awards for our quick thinking. As we received the certificates me and Skye shared a knowing smile. I would love to see their faces if they knew the whole truth! It would seem it had taken a near death experience to make people want to know us. Suddenly we had friends and it would seem they had just been afraid of what their other friends might think. I stayed closest to Skye and we chatted normally with the other kids. But we shared our little secret. That was just a whisper on the wind.
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