The Lucky Snow Leopard Page 4

  But Mr Pinch was gazing out of the window. “Snow!” he said.

  “What?” said Zoe, puzzled. “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “No, look!” replied Mr Pinch, pointing outside. “Snow! It’s snowing!”

  “I can’t believe it. It’s a white Christmas!” cried Lucy as everyone rushed to the window. Mr Pinch was right – snow was swirling softly down, and there was already a glittery white layer covering the path.

  “It’s so pretty!” said Zoe.

  “I wonder what the animals will think?”said Mr Pinch.

  Suddenly, Zoe thought of Lila and Ali. They had come from one of the snowiest places in the world. Maybe the snow would remind them of their home! “Mum, can I go out for a little bit?” she asked.

  Lucy smiled. “Of course! We probably need a break before pudding, anyway. Make sure you wrap up, though, and don’t be too long.”

  Zoe flung her coat on over her new uniform and ran outside. She jumped around happily outside the cottage, kicking up little clouds of powdery snow with her boots. “I love walking in the snow, Meep,” she exclaimed. “It’s so pretty. And it makes such a nice, crunchy sound!”

  “But it’s so cold, Zoe!” squeaked a little voice behind her. Meep was perched on the front step of the cottage, looking very uncertainly at the snow. He dipped a little paw in it and shivered. “It looks like a nice, soft blanket … but it feels all wet!”

  “I’ll carry you, Meep,” said Zoe, scooping her friend up so that he could sit on her shoulders.

  Lots of the animals were unsure about the snow, too. The marmoset monkeys were huddled together under a big tree, and the giant tortoise, Charles, had pulled his wrinkly old head back into his shell so that it wouldn’t get cold. But some of them loved it! Bella the baby polar bear was rolling around in it, squealing gleefully. The cheeky chimpanzees were throwing snowballs at each other, and the hippos were sticking out their tongues and catching snowflakes. “It’s a bit like eating ice-cream straight from the sky!” giggled Zoe.

  When Zoe and Meep reached the snow leopards’ enclosure and went inside, they couldn’t see Lila or Ali – but there was a deep purring sound coming from the cave, and a high, happy squeak. “It sounds like they’re pleased about the snow, Meep!” said Zoe.

  Just then, Ali’s little face popped out of the cave, and he meowed excitedly. “OK, we’ll climb up!” replied Zoe, grinning at the eager cub. “What have you got to show us?”

  The cub just purred playfully and disappeared again. Zoe and Meep glanced at each other, puzzled, and climbed the rocky path up to the cave.

  Lila was curled up inside, with Ali sitting proudly next to her. And cuddled up between them, yawning sleepily, were three tiny, gorgeous snow leopard babies! They had little flat ears, and sweet pink paws.

  Zoe gasped. “This is what you wanted to show us. I can’t believe it, Ali. The babies have been born – on Christmas Day! And there are three of them! They’re so beautiful. Are they boys or girls?”

  Lila gave a deep, contented growl. “Wow,” breathed Zoe. “You’ve got three little sisters, Ali! Aren’t you lucky!”

  Ali swished his fluffy tail happily. Zoe felt a little tug on her sleeve and turned to see Meep looking puzzled. “What is it, Meep?” she whispered.

  “Why is Ali so happy about the babies?” chattered Meep. “He definitely didn’t want to be a big brother before!”

  Ali gave another happy meow. “The ball changed your mind?” repeated Zoe. “You mean the one we gave you as a present? But why?”

  “You were sad about the ball yesterday, Ali, because we couldn’t stay and play,” added Meep.

  Ali looked at his little sisters and purred softly. Zoe grinned. “Now it all makes sense,” she said. “Because now that the babies are here, it means you’ll always have someone to play with!”

  Zoe watched as Lila cleaned the babies’ little heads carefully with her tongue. Ali purred loudly as she leaned over and gave him a big lick too.

  “See, Ali,” said Zoe, smiling. “You’re still just as important to your mum, even now the babies are here.”

  “What are they going to be called?” chirped Meep.

  Lila looked at Ali and gave a gentle growl. Ali’s eyes opened very wide, and Zoe grinned. “Ali – you’re allowed to choose their names! You’re so lucky. What are you going to call them?”

  Ali looked at his sisters, wrinkling his nose up as he thought. Then his ears pricked up and he meowed excitedly. “Those are lovely names, Ali!” Zoe exclaimed. “And they’re perfect for babies born on Christmas Day. Listen, Meep and I have to go and tell everyone the news. We’ll be back as soon as we can!”

  Zoe raced back to the cottage, shouting to all her animal friends as she passed them. “The snow leopard babies are here! Three girl cubs!”

  “Tell everyone!” added Meep, dashing along next to her.

  They burst into the cottage and made everyone jump. “Zoe, there you are! We’re just about to have pudding,” said Lucy, scooping trifle into bowls. “Come and sit down.”

  “I can’t! The snow leopard cubs have been born,” Zoe gasped, breathless from running so fast.

  Lucy dropped her spoon, and Great-Uncle Horace and Mr Pinch leaped up from the table. “I don’t believe it!” said Lucy, grabbing her coat and her special new vet bag. “Quick – we’d better run over there to check they’re OK.”

  They hurried back along the path, following the footprints Zoe and Meep had already made in the snow. Kiki flew ahead of them, squawking eagerly. By now the zoo was alive with excited roars, hoots, grunts and whinnies, and lots of the animals were chatting to their neighbours about the new arrivals. Zoe couldn’t wait to talk to them all about the cubs later.

  When they got back to the enclosure, Kiki was perched on the fence and Ali was waiting for them at the gate. Everyone climbed up to the cave and peeped inside. The babies had fallen asleep, cuddled up together in a fluffy heap, their little bellies marked with tiny dark spots, rising and falling. Lila was watching them proudly. “Oh, they’re beautiful,” whispered Lucy. “I wonder what we should call them.”

  “I’ve already thought of some names,” Zoe said quickly. “Snowy, Holly and Ivy!”

  “Excellent – Christmas names!” exclaimed Great-Uncle Horace.

  “I wonder if Lila will let me check them,” Lucy said hopefully.

  “I think she will,” said Zoe, glancing at Lila, and the big leopard gave a friendly purr. Very carefully, Lucy picked the first sleeping cub up. “It’s a girl!” She smiled. “She looks perfect. She’s so soft!”

  “Snow leopard cubs are always born with a full coat of their beautiful fur,” Great-Uncle Horace told Zoe. “They won’t open their eyes for the first week of their lives, just like a kitten. But when they do, I bet they’ll be a beautiful bright blue, just like their mother’s.”

  “And their big brother’s!” added Zoe, smiling over at Ali, who gave a happy meow.

  Zoe noticed Mr Pinch wiping his eyes and pulling a handkerchief out of his sleeve. “Are you all right, Mr Pinch?” she asked.

  Mr Pinch sneezed twice and blew his nose noisily. “I’m allergic to cats,” he explained. It sounded like he had a bad cold.

  Zoe held her breath, and waited for Mr Pinch to grumble and moan crossly. But instead, he reached out to give one of the little cubs a stroke. “They are rather sweet,” he said, smiling. “What a day! I suppose Christmas isn’t so bad after all,” he added quietly.

  “I think this has to be the best Christmas ever,” announced Great-Uncle Horace.

  Zoe picked Meep up and gave him a cuddle. “And living at Rescue Zoo makes me the luckiest girl ever!” she whispered. “I wonder what adventures will happen at the zoo next year?”

  Copyright

  With special thanks to Natalie Doherty

  For Louis x

  ZOE’S RESCUE ZOO: THE LUCKY SNOW LEOPARD

  First published in the UK in 2014 by Nosy Crow Ltd

  The Crow
’s Nest, 10a Lant Street

  London, SE1 1QR, UK

  This ebook edition first published 2014

  Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and / or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd

  Text © Hothouse Fiction, 2014

  Cover photography © Sophy Williams 2014

  The rights of Hothouse Fiction and Sophy Williams to be identified as the author and photographer of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

  All rights reserved

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictiously. Any resemblence to actual people, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN: 978 0 85763 378 1

  www.nosycrow.com