“What are you, the L.A. version of the White Rabbit?” Keelie had spent her fifteen years living here with no wildlife interaction, and all of a sudden she was talking to coyotes and trees.

Someone shouted out her name. Keelie looked up the street in the direction of her house. Laurie was running toward her. Keelie turned back to the talking coyote, but he had disappeared. Just like Knot. She rubbed her temple with her left hand as she examined the parchment still clutched in her right.

She was still stunned at the revelation that Mom had used magic to block her memory. This thought was disturbing on so many levels. It would take Keelie a long, long time to sort through it. Had Mom used magic books? Since Mom was half fae, she could have—but then why keep her father out of her life, if magic wasn’t objectionable?

Keelie lifted the parchment up to the sunlight, trying to figure out what it was.

Laurie finally reached her. “I checked through the house for you. It’s so creepy and empty. It got really cold, like something was watching me, and Sean is going nuts. He’s stalking the neighborhood like an escapee from the Lord of the Rings funny farm. Somebody is going to call the police.”

Keelie held up her hands. “Stop talking. Where is Sean now, and where’s Risa?”

“He said to pick him up at the end of the street. Risa is sitting in the car and refuses to get out. She’s saying something about dark fairy magic. She looks sick, kind of green around the gills.”

“Elves don’t have gills, sprites do,” Keelie said absently, putting the parchment into her pocket. “Let’s go rescue Sean and Risa. Elves can’t tolerate urban environments for long.”

“What were you doing down here at the park?” Laurie asked. “Remember when we used to play here, and bring books and picnics?”

“Yeah, it was fun. That tree just talked to me.” Keelie motioned with her head in the direction of the tree.

Understanding lit up Laurie’s face. “Ah!” Then her forehead furrowed. “Did it talk to you when we were little?”

“Apparently, but I didn’t remember until just now.” Keelie didn’t want to go into the whole Mom-using-magic thing.

Knot came dashing up to Keelie. He’d returned to his normal size, but his eyes were dilated, his fur mussed, and he meowed angrily.

Laurie’s eyebrows rose. “What’s wrong with him? He’s acting weird even for Knot.”

This wasn’t weird. This was agitated. Keelie wondered if it was really Peascod that Knot had chased away from the house. “Kitty, you need a cup of catnip tea. The good stuff that makes you drool in the corner.”

The temperature in the park had suddenly dropped several degrees, and a cold wind kicked up. Maybe Risa’s claim about dark fairy magic wasn’t too far off the mark.

Laurie was trying to act calm and collected like she wasn’t concerned about anything, but Keelie knew her friend was worried. Truth be told, Keelie was, too. The trip to the old house had revealed more questions than answers.

“Storm must be blowing in. Let’s go and get a latte at the mall. I think I could use a coffee,” Keelie suggested.

“Sounds good to me.” Laurie turned and walked down the street, back to the car. Knot surveyed the terrain like a tiger scrutinizing his territory for enemies.

Keelie looked in the same direction, and swore she saw a skinny, ugly dog watching her from the bushes. It seemed to be the coyote. A flash of dull gold fur disappeared into the greenery. Knot growled.

“Come on. I’ll buy you a tall cream.”

Knot swiveled his head up to stare at Keelie. He blinked and his eyes dilated. All of a sudden, he reached out, wrapped his paws around her ankle, and bit her. His fangs sank deep into her skin.

“Ow! Let go, you crazy cat.”

He did, and ran after Laurie like a spineless wuss not brave enough to face the consequences of his insane action, which was an angry Keelie.

“You have cat litter for brain cells.” She loped after him. “Get back here, you psycho horror-movie excuse for a cat. A coyote would make a better guardian than you.”

There was a tingle in the air, followed by a zingy harp sound. Keelie spun around, expecting to see an elf girl playing a harp. No one was there. Nothing. Still, there was a feeling of magic in the air, and suddenly she wanted to leave.

Two ladies in jogging suits watched with baffled expressions as she hobbled to the car. Knot was nowhere in sight. Laurie was waiting for her. She put on her sunglasses, shaking her head, and opened the car door.

Just then Sean rounded Mr. Heildelman’s bushes and came to Keelie’s side. He clasped her upper arm as he scanned the street. “Are you okay? Did you see anything strange?”

“Nothing’s normal anymore, but I’m fine, thanks.” Keelie forced a smile. “We’re going to grab a coffee at the mall.” She looked at her old house once more. “Did you lock everything up?”

“Yes. Are you sure you’re done here?”

Keelie bit her lip, then released it. Mom had always told her not to bite her lip. “I’m done.”

Sean pulled Keelie into a hug, surprising her. “I’m going to keep you safe,” he whispered.

Keelie’s legs became boneless. She pulled away from Sean and they grinned at each other. His eyes were bright.

Laurie gave a thumbs-up. From inside the car, Risa scowled and punched the back seat with closed fists.

Sean opened the passenger-side door. “Milady.” Knot jumped in, his big orange butt taking up the entire seat.

Laurie shook her head. “You two, let’s get going. I need a coffee.” She climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Move over.” Sean leaned down and glowered at Knot.

“Knot, you can sit with me, my love,” Risa said.

Knot scooted over and Keelie sat down next to him. He narrowed his green eyes as he looked her up and down, as if he was thinking that maybe she should ride on the hood.

As Sean walked around the front of the BMW, Laurie gazed down at Knot. “Is Keelie mean to you?”

Risa tipped forward, her hands on the back of the seat. “She’s mean to him. She calls him Snotball.”

Knot placed his paw on Laurie’s leg as if confirming that what Risa said was true: Yes, she’s so mean to me. You should try living with her.

Sean got into the back and closed the door. Keelie pulled the seat belt around her body. “He bit me.”

“It was a love bite. Cats bite you as a token of their affection.” Laurie cranked the car.

“You can forget the milk.” Keelie glared down at the cat, who looked ahead.

Risa patted Knot on the head. “I’ll buy you some cream.”

Keelie snorted. “Let’s go get that coffee.”

In the mall parking lot, Laurie held her designer bag open. “Knot can ride inside like those little yappy dogs do.”

“How are you going to keep him inside the bag?” Keelie asked. “We can’t handcuff or tape him down.”

Glaring at Keelie, Knot sank his claws deeper into the seat upholstery, refusing to be manhandled into the pocketbook.

Risa leaned over and scratched him under the chin. “If the kitty gets into the bag, then he gets his milk-milk.”

“Milk-milk?” Keelie nearly gagged.

Sean was out of the car. “Ladies, we need to make this a short trip. Last night, I told Lady Keliatiel and Sir Davey I’d make sure you got home safe and sound.”

With a nod to Sean, Knot stepped into Laurie’s bag with his tail held high. He stuck his furry head out and blinked his eyes at Keelie.

Laurie lifted the pocketbook and gave it to Keelie, her face red from straining. “See, no prob, but you can carry your cat.”

“Let me,” Sean reached for the bag, but Knot growled in protest.

“No, he’ll bite you,” Keelie took the bag from Laurie.

Knot purred. Keelie wondered if he was kneading his paws like a superhappy kitten. What was he doing to Laurie’s stuff? She wouldn’t think about that.

At the mall, once her refuge of happiness and retail adventures, Keelie shuddered at the alien artificiality of the stores. Laurie chattered on and on about which stores had the best sales. “We need to find La Jolie Rouge.”

Knot traveled contentedly in the bag like a pampered lap dog. The bag straps dug into Keelie’s shoulder, and she was sure that she’d have rub on some Achy Bones Salve once she was back from this shopping trip.

Inside Starbucks, Laurie continued to prattle as they waited in line to get their coffee. Keelie was so tired that she couldn’t focus on Laurie’s words. Of course, Laurie was talking non-stop and Keelie had had an emotional afternoon.

She definitely needed a coffee to help her reenergize. Maybe six shots of espresso would do the trick. It had to have been going back to the house. Who wouldn’t be wiped after an emotional experience like that?

A huge bump appeared on the side of the bag and then rolled around, accompanied by loud purring. It made the buckles and pockets pop and rattle. Knot must be doing somersaults inside. Two girls behind Keelie stared at the bag strangely. She grinned.

A pop hit jingled from inside the bag.

“Keelie, hand me my phone, would you?” Laurie was almost at the counter.

Keelie stared at the heaving bag. She was already limping. What would happen if she stuck her hand in there? She’d return to the redwoods in an ambulance, thanks to Knot her so-called guardian. “Why don’t you let your voicemail catch that?”

The phone abruptly stopped ringing. “Meow?”

Luckily, Laurie didn’t hear that, thank the tree rings. Keelie wondered who Knot was talking to.

The Starbucks barista was a bored, purple-haired girl. She acted like she didn’t want to be there.

“We’d like two coffees,” Laurie told her.

The top of the purse opened and Laurie’s Vera Bradley wallet poked out. Keelie took it. “Do you want a shot in your cream?” she whispered into the bag.

The girls waiting for their coffees stared wide-eyed. Keelie grinned at them. “Just kidding.”

Laurie took her wallet. “What do you guys want?” she asked Sean and Risa, who seemed confused by the menu.

“What do you suggest?” Sean asked.

“Coffee is good.” Laurie didn’t sound sarcastic.

“I’ll have green tea,” said Risa. “What is venti?”

“Big.” The bored barista swiped Laurie’s debit card down the register’s side.

Keelie placed the bag on a nearby chair. “I’ll have a venti latte with six shots, and an espresso con panna.”

The purple-haired girl’s eyes widened. “Six shots?”

Laurie’s mouth dropped open, but she recovered. “That’s what I heard, too.”

“Okay.” The purple-haired girl shook her head as she rang up the order.

They got their drinks and went to the atrium by the food court. Keelie sat down near a small, flowering pear tree and felt a smidge better. She took the lid off the espresso con panna (a shot of strong espresso poured over a mound of whipped cream) and put the little cup on the floor under the table. Knot squeezed himself out of the bag and dropped to the floor.

Risa and Laurie scooted their chairs close so that their legs hid the slurping feline.

Keelie stuck her head under the table. “Behave yourself.”

He blinked, his eyes round and sweetly innocent, like an animated cartoon. Keelie didn’t believe him for a second. “I’ll be watching.”

Knot went back to lapping his supercharged whipped cream with a loud licky-lick sound.

Keelie drank her rocket-fuel latte, hoping the caffeine would infuse her with more energy. Instead, she was beginning to feel more drained. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. She had to keep her act together. Sean opened the lid of his coffee and sniffed the steam that floated out.

“This is the energy nectar you are always praising. Starbucks. It has an elvish name.” He held his cup up and then took a sip.

“You can’t tell me you haven’t had coffee before,” Keelie said, disbelieving.

“I didn’t say that. It’s just that I prefer tea. However, this was a trip for me to find out more about you. I was curious. And I wanted to drink coffee like you,” he said.

Keelie smiled into her coffee. “You are so sweet.”

Women of all ages shot admiring glances Sean’s way. Sean noticed, then looked at Keelie and rolled his eyes. She laughed. She did wonder if people thought that Sean and Risa were a couple, because they looked more like a matched pair than she and Sean did. Jealousy stung her heart with short little jabs. It was still like having a nest of bees inside her whenever she thought about them together. Of course, Sean was eighty years old, a fact she tried hard to forget. He’d probably had lots of relationships, but she wasn’t ready to know the truth. One day they would have that conversation, but until then, until she was ready, she could pretend he was her age.

Laurie stared at the purple-haired barista. “That girl needs an attitude adjustment. She needs to read the manual on customer service.”

A branch from the pear tree beside Keelie tapped her on the shoulder.

Hey, you. What are you?

Keelie closed her eyes. She just wished she could get a break from trees.

I’m a tree shepherdess.

I’ve never heard of one of those. Are you from the nursery?

No. I’m from the Dread Forest.

But you’re human. You grew up in a forest? I’ve never met a human who grew up in a forest. I would love to see a forest. I hate being stuck in this pot all the time. The people that take care of us aren’t very nice. They forget about me. Sometimes I get so thirsty that my leaves fall off.

I didn’t grow up in a forest. I grew up in Los Angeles, but I live in the Dread Forest.

The tree bent down closer to Keelie and sniffed.

Laurie’s eyes widened in surprise. She obviously could see the tree bending and moving around. Sean arched an eyebrow.

Risa’s eyes were riveted on Knot. “Is that eye shadow on your toes?”

Will you stop it? People are going to notice. Keelie looked around, but only a couple of children were pointing at the swaying tree.

The tree sniffed again. I smell magic on you. Can you make my pot bigger?

Trees can’t smell magic.

I can. He seemed offended. Sometimes I smell a different kind of magic on some humans who come in here. And I smell it on the gobblers, but your magic is different. You have fairy magic. The tree’s voice was accusing, as if having fairy magic was a bad thing. Guess it depended on what kind of fairy.

Gobblers? What are gobblers?

They’re the ugly fairies, and they’re not friends of the trees. You’re not a gobbler, are you? They like to steal sap.

Keelie had no idea what a gobbler was. She felt sorry for this tree with his tight-fitting planter.

Suddenly a horrendous smell filled the air. Keelie recognized it, and jumped up as Knot vaulted onto the planter’s edge and made an experimental dig with one paw.

There’s a fair-fair-fairy. The tree swooned, and fell over with a loud crash. Everyone in the food court leaped up and looked toward them.

“Are you okay?” the woman behind the counter of the Chinese restaurant yelled.

“Fine,” Laurie said. “We’re okay. Is anybody a lawyer?”

Knot had landed on his feet and bolted toward an exit. Keelie rounded the overturned planter and looked down at the tree, its branches splayed out on the atrium’s tile floor.

Are you okay?

Silence.

Knot’s loud meow echoed down the hall.

“The milk must not have agreed with him. You know, he may be lactose-intolerant,” Laurie suggested.

A lactose-intolerant fairy. That figured.

“Knot, wait for me.” Risa pushed her chair backwards and raced after him.

People in the food court were looking, pointing, and whispering.

Sean stood up. “I’d better keep an eye on her. She’s not familiar with the ways of the human world, and she could get into trouble.”

Keelie wanted to protest, but she had to agree with Sean. Knot and Risa on the loose in L.A.? Not a good thing.

The people in the food court resumed eating, but they kept staring at Keelie as if she’d been the one causing all the problems. Or as if she was paid entertainment.

She should be used to it, after all the numerous jobs she’d had at the Wildewood Faire. She hadn’t been good at those, either, and people had stared after every disaster.

“Sit down, Keelie, people are looking.” Laurie tried to look nonchalant as she sipped her drink.

“I hope they get this poor tree a new planter. He’s outgrown this one,” Keelie said loudly. She yanked on its slim trunk and the crumbly earth ball held by its roots popped out. His branches drooped and several leaves skittered across the floor as if it was autumn. Some of the nearby people nodded sympathetically.

Keelie stared down at the root ball. If the tree had been watered regularly, it would have been impossible to pull out. And the root ball was big, too. The tree’s roots had been cramped, with no room to grow. It was like having a person’s feet crammed into too-small shoes. She had to do something.

As two big security guards rushed forward, Keelie pointed to the tree. “You really need to talk to the company that takes care of your plants. That tree could’ve collapsed on me. I could be suffering from a concussion, and you’re darn lucky I’m not.”

One of the beefy security guards, whose nameplate said “Dan,” looked uncomfortable. “Yes ma’am. Are you okay?”

“Who takes care of your trees?” Keelie demanded.

“We’re not sure.” The two guys exchanged I-dunno-do-you-know? looks.

The tree was beginning to come back to consciousness. Huh!

“I’m taking it with me as evidence,” Keelie said.

The other security guard, with “Don” on his name tag, scratched his head. “I don’t know if you can do that.”

“Do you have a larger container and fresh clean soil?” Keelie asked, using her best lawyer voice.

Laurie crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah, do you?”

Tweedle Dan and Tweedle Don shook their heads.

“I’m going to take this tree, and consider yourselves lucky I don’t sue the mall.” Keelie said.

“We need to talk to our boss,” Tweedle Don replied.

“Go talk to him,” Keelie said. “I need some answers.”

“Okay!” They both left.

Once the guards were out of sight, Keelie motioned to Laurie. “Come on, we’re getting out of here.” She grabbed the tree by its slender trunk. “Help me carry this.”

Laurie grabbed a leafy branch. “Is this like shoplifting, or more like a PETA rescue, only with trees?”

“We’ll figure it out later. Walk faster.” The two girls scooted through the mall and wrestled the tree up the escalator and out the front door. Few people gave them more than a glance.

“L.A. is so blasé about everything,” Keelie observed. “We could have been leading an elephant around in here and no one would notice.”

They found Sean, Risa, and Knot standing on a four-foot-square patch of grass in front of the mall. All three were avoiding a corner of the patch. Knot looked relieved to see them.

“Time to go,” Laurie said. Sean grabbed the tree trunk, freeing Laurie to search for her car keys.

They ran to the car, the branches sticking up over their heads as if they were smuggling giant broccoli. Knot was leading the way.

“I can’t believe we’re tree-napping. What if those two guards put two and two together and come after us?” Laurie asked.

“That’s why we need to get out of here,” Keelie replied. She had no idea what she was going to do with the pear tree. She needed to plant him somewhere safe, with lots of tree company.

When they reached the car, an out-of-breath Risa was holding her side. “I thought we were going shopping at La Jolie Rouge? Now you two are stealing a tree. We just left a forest filled with trees. We live in a forest. Can’t you get enough?”

Sean’s face was serious. “Come on. I’ve had enough of the mall.”

“Thank you.” Keelie’s eyes held Sean’s.

“We’ll talk about this later,” he said firmly.

Laurie pressed her key remote and the BMW doors clicked open. She tossed Keelie the keys. Knot hopped into the front seat, yowling loudly as if saying, “Hurry, hurry.” The tree was too big to fit into the back seat of the car with Risa and Sean, so it would have to ride in the trunk.

Keelie could see Tweedle Don and Tweedle Dan surveying the parking lot. They were scratching their heads and talking into their remote control walkie-talkies like they were calling for reinforcements.

Like Sean, Keelie’d had enough of the mall. “We need to go.”

The tree was fully conscious. What are you trying to do? Kill me? Take me back. I’m going to tell the gobblers about you.

Laurie pointed. “The security guards have found us.” She hopped into the car while Keelie cranked the engine. Sean lowered one of the back seats, then angled the tree in, so that the branches were in the back seat and the root ball was in the trunk. He slammed the trunk door closed, then he and Risa opened the back doors and fought the branches to find a seat.

Keelie pulled out of the parking space. Looking in the driver’s side mirror, she saw Tweedle Dan and Tweedle Don gesturing wildly at the BMW.

Oh, Great Sylvus, my planter is gone. My roots will wither away and die without soil. I’m going to die. The tree’s voice penetrated the cab of the car, but Keelie was the only one who could hear him. Lucky her.

You’re not going to die. Keelie tried to send soothing green thoughts to the tree, but they were rejected.

I’m going to die. I’m going to die.

We’re saving you. Keelie was getting irritated with this ungrateful tree.

The gobblers were right about fairies. They’re all bad. They’ll find you, and you’ll be sorry.

Keelie drove slowly through the crowded parking lot

“Hurry it up. Once we get on the expressway, they’ll lose us,” Laurie said. “Only you would come to L.A. and steal a tree.”

“I couldn’t leave him there with an overturned tiny planter. His root system didn’t have any room to grow,” Keelie insisted.

Risa leaned forward. “See, your friend agrees with me. You’re surrounded by trees. Why rescue this one?”

Keelie ignored her. She glanced into the rearview mirror.

Sean rested his head against the back of the seat and closed his eyes as if he was wishing himself anywhere but here.

As they drove past a huge SUV with tinted windows, Keelie felt a sudden wash of dark power come over her, similar to what she’d experienced in the redwoods. The sharp pain pierced her forehead. “Ow!”

“What’s wrong, Keelie?” Laurie asked. Knot hissed and scrambled into the back seat, climbing onto the car’s rear deck to look out the windshield. Sean’s eyes opened wide and he too turned to look back at the SUV.

Risa hugged herself. “I don’t feel well.”

Overcoming her pain, Keelie felt a primal urge to get out of the parking lot. “I think the quickest way out of here is to take the access road and then follow the state road to Baywood Academy.”

“We’re going back to that boring place?” Risa whined.

“I’m going to plant the tree there.”

Laurie rolled her eyes. “You need to turn right. “

“No I don’t,” Keelie answered.

“When we get to the red light, stay on the access road and merge onto the expressway. That’s the fastest route there.”

Keelie slammed on the brakes. “The expressway! I can’t drive on the expressway.” She was as panicked as the tree in the trunk.

I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die, the tree wailed in Keelie’s mind.

“Don’t slam on the brakes. Go. Go. Go.” Laurie motioned with her hands. Cars were honking behind them.

“We’ll just have to go a mile on the expressway, then you’ll take the exit. No big deal. That’ll take us to Baywood Academy. We can stop there and I can drive.”

I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die.

“Shut up,” Keelie shouted loudly.

“What?” Laurie looked at Keelie in shock.

Keelie pushed on the accelerator. “I’m talking to the tree.”

Somebody in a Jeep drove around them, giving them the finger as they passed.

“People in L.A. are so rude.” Keelie drove on. “Maybe we can find some planters at the school,

“What are we going to do? Repot the bush?” Risa didn’t seem concerned.

Sean didn’t say anything. He had his hand across his face now. He was pale and had dark circles under his eyes. He needed to get out of the city.

Laurie turned around and glared at Risa. “I can’t believe we stole a tree out of the mall. I’ll never be able to show my face there again. And they’re having a really great sale at American Eagle.”

I’m not a bush, I’m a tree. And I’m going to die if I have to live outside.

You will not. You’ll survive and thrive in the earth. Lots of sunshine.

You’d think the brat mall tree would be grateful at being saved from a lifetime of being inside the mall.

The tree started making weeping noises in her head, and Keelie felt a surge of sympathy for the little guy. It’ll be okay.

As she merged onto the expressway, she hoped she was right.