Zosia lived by the forest and the river. The cottage smelled of bread and dried herbs. Her grandmother talked about the leshy and the russets. She also talked about the secret fern flower. At night, skylights sometimes twinkled, like little stars. One evening sparks flashed behind the barn. Zosia came out in wooden clogs, very quietly. A homely man jumped out of the cooker, all dusty. - Don't go alone - he wheezed - the forest is listening. Zosia grabbed a linen handkerchief and a whistle. She had received the whistle from her grandfather for the Kupala Night. Behind the barn, the lights formed a path. The path led under the ferns to a clearing. The forest was quiet and a little chilly. The stream purred and the wind rustled between the branches. Then someone whispered Zosia's name, just outside. A twig snapped and the fern glowed gold. Someone's green eyes looked out from the bushes. Domowik whispered very quietly: - Leszy is watching. Zosia raised her whistle to her lips and....