Shadow and the children had walked for hours and soon it would be dark.

"I'm hungry," Jake said and clutched his empty stomach.

"Me too." Cathy couldn't remember when she'd last eaten.

Shadow surveyed the area. "We'll stop here for the night. Cathy, you will collect wood for the fire. Boy, you and I will forage for food."

Jake followed Shadow into the forest. When they'd vanished from sight, Cathy wove between the trees and tiptoed around toadstools, looking for branches large enough to keep them warm throughout the night. Occupied by her task, she didn't notice the cat stalking her from behind.

"Psst... Cathy. Over here."

Startled, Cathy dropped her bundle of wood and spun around.

"Lilybeth! What are you doing here?"

"Shush! Keep your voice down." She crept forward. "I'm making sure you and Jake are safe."

"Are you planning to take us back to prison?"

"No, of course not."

"So you say." Cathy wrung her hands.

"I know how it looks. And this must be confusing. But believe me, I'm on your side."

Cathy shook her head. "I don't trust anyone in this awful place. When I needed you to speak up on my behalf, you said nothing."

"I couldn't. King Julius wouldn't believe me."

"And you think I will?"

"I've never lied to you, Cathy, and you must listen to me." Lilybeth's ears twitched at the sound of Jake's chatter as he picked berries. "Shadow is not what he seems. You must keep your wits about you." And with a wave of her paw, Lilybeth vanished.

Jake stepped out from behind a tree with Shadow close behind.

"You alright?" Jake looked at the pile of branches at Cathy's feet.

Shadow tipped his head to the side as he waited for her to speak.

"I've got a splinter," she said and popped her finger into her mouth.

"Wimp," Jake muttered as he headed back to the camp.

"Would you like me to look?" Shadow said, striding towards her.

"No. It's fine." Cathy tucked her hands behind her back.

Shadow shrugged. "I'll help you with the wood." He bent down and gathered up the branches. "Let's go."

*

Cathy's tummy cramped, but as hungry as she felt, Jake's paltry offerings of a few floppy mushrooms and a handful of berries didn't impress her.

Her mouth watered at the thought of warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream, and she'd give anything for a jam doughnut.

And Cathy made a wish.

The fabric of Cathy's dress shimmered, and, in a sudden flash of light, a delicious-looking apple pie appeared. Wisps of sweet-smelling steam floated into the sky. Scoops of vanilla ice cream melted in a bowl, next to six doughnuts, and a glass of fizzy cream soda.

Jake gasped. "How did that happen?" He rubbed his eyes.

Surely, this was a mirage.

"It's my dress. It's magic."

Opposite Cathy, Shadow slouched against a tree, and he abruptly sat up. "You have a magic dress?"

"Yes. It was a gift from Hex."

"How does it work?" Jake asked.

Cathy smiled at her brother. "You make a wish."

"Will it work for me?"

"There's one way to find out," Shadow said. "Make a wish, Boy!"

Jake slid closer to Cathy and held the hem of her dress.

"I've never made a wish. What should I ask for?"

"What would you like? Name it. You can have anything," Cathy said.

"Anything?"

"Yes, whatever your heart desires."

"In that case, I wish for a cheese pizza, two portions of fries, a cola, and a stack of waffles with dollops and dollops of syrup."

With another flash of light, Jake's feast appeared.

"What about you, Shadow?" Cathy asked. "What would you like?"

"Hmm..." He tapped his cheek as he considered. "I know! I'll have sardines on toast, two smoked kippers, and a cup of tea."

Jake stop stuffing his face with pizza and frowned. "Ew... really? You can have anything you want, and you pick sardines?"

"I enjoy fish. It reminds me of home."

"Well, it's your wish and you may have whatever you like," Cathy said.

And that's what he got.