Niki Maxwell

“outer walls”
― Joan Holub, Amphitrite the Bubbly

“near the place it had stood again. Her feelings were so mixed up! Once they arrived at her old home, she could scarcely bring herself to look. When she finally mustered up the courage to do so, she gasped. Her friends had tidied up the area around her hut and added decorations to make it cute! They’d tucked berries and cones around the outside of the hut and donated things to make it homier. There was a new rug woven from bark strips on the hut’s swept dirt floor, a shell vase with flowers on her table, pictures on the walls, and a new hammock and quilt. A dozen homemade candles sat here and there, bringing golden light. “Thanks, you guys!” said Echo. “It’s b-beautiful!” Overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, tears welled up in her eyes. The way she was feeling, she was going to need some of Hera’s shop’s tissues pretty soon. “That’s not all,” said Daphne. “Look!” She led Echo around to the back side of the stump.”
― Joan Holub, Echo the Copycat

“cat?”
― Rachel Renée Russell, Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess

“With the enchantments you say each morning, this sapling will grow extra fast,” said Daphne. “And till it's full grown, you can live with me or in your hut, whichever you choose.” “Thanks. You guys are the best!” Echo said, gazing around at everyone. “You’ve made this little hut so adorable! It’ll be the perfect home for me to watch over FirHeart Junior as he grows up.” Silently she vowed to watch over this sapling well. With her care it would grow strong and tall. Within a few years it would be big enough to build in. And build she would, creating another house high in its branches. And in the meantime she’d have her class with Hera, which she was sooo excited about. Things were really looking up! Daphne and the other nymphs hugged Echo and then eventually drifted away one by one. After they were gone, Echo kneeled before FirHeart Junior once more. With her hands gently cupping the sapling, she murmured her chant for the very first time to this new tree-to-be, solemnly and joyfully promising to guard it from this day forward:”
― Joan Holub, Echo the Copycat