Azura flew down next to Elina's home Peony just as Elina came out.
'Azura!' Elina gushed, then laughed `You are here!'
'Yes!' laughed Azura, `I am. Would you mind if we had tea? There is something I would like to ask you!'
`Of course Azura, come in. This is Peony'
Azura and Elina sat down with Elina's puffball Bibble.
`So Azura, you said that there was something you needed to ask me. Is everything ok?'
`Yes, my dear. The Enchantress has asked all the Guardians to choose an apprentice to learn the flight of spring and one day become the new guardians of Fairytopia! I was wondering if you would be interested in being mine?'
`Interested? Azura I would be honoured!'
`Well my dear I had best be off but thank you and thank you Peony, I shall see you at the Crystal Palace in two days.
The morning of the apprentices first day of classes arrived and the girls and gentlemen were all waiting for the guardians to arrive.
Azura flew first followed by the other guardians.
'Welcome apprentices to your first day of classes' Azura smiled warmly to all the apprentices but then frowned and became slightly worried as she couldn't see Elina or Bibble and she knew Elina would never be late to something like this.
Azura whispered to Topaz her best friend and fellow guardian. `I will be back I just need to check on something, can you continue?
'Of course, Azura, just don't be too long.'
Azura flew to Elina's quarters and knocked but she wasn't there, Azura went around to all the places she could think Elina to be but she wasn't there. The last place Azura thought to look was the forest, as she came upon the entrance to the forest she became frightened for Elina and worried.
She had been searching the forest for quite a while and was beginning to think she was acting crazy and that Elina was at class with the rest of the apprentices when she ran into Bibble.
`Bibble what's wrong!'
Bibble who was completely out of breath took a second to answer.
`Azurapoof, Elinapoof!'
Bibble took off in the other direction and Azura followed him. The further Azura followed Bibble into the Forest the more anxious she became to finding her and making sure she was safe. Bibble suddenly stopped and Azura nearly ran into him.
`Bibble? Why did we stop?'
Bibble turned around with tears rolling down his chubby cheeks.
`Oh Bibble, what's the matter?' Azura soothed.
`Elinapoof' Bibble cried and pointed down.
Azura gasped, flew to the ground and knelt before Elina. Elina was lying unconscious in front of her, letting out low rasping breaths.