Night was falling over the village of Widuchowa when Michal once again looked up at the full moon shining in the sky. His sister, Ola, was sitting on an old wooden fence and bouncing her legs impatiently. - Do you think this is true? - She asked, looking towards the woods, where the night seemed even darker. - That there, under the aspens, the caves of ancient warriors could be found? Michael shrugged his shoulders, but his heart was beating faster. Ever since his great-grandmother had told them about Leshy, the Planetts and the russets, they had both been unable to think of anything else. The forest, which started just beyond the river, was a place where children were told not to go after dark. Recently, however, something strange had begun to happen in their village - animals were disappearing and people were whispering about strange footprints in the mud. - If we go now, we'll be back before dawn. No one will know,' whispered Michael, feeling excitement and slight anxiety. Ola jumped down to the ground and together they made their way through the fence, laughing in half-hearted voices. The river was cold and they reached for stones to cross it with dry feet. As they plunged into the forest, the noise of the trees grew louder and louder, and the moonlight barely broke through the branches. They walked cautiously, listening for snapping branches and sounds they could not identify. At one point they came upon a clearing, in the middle of which stood a trunk covered in fresh moss, and all around them grew ferns waving as if someone had just moved them. - Look! - whispered Ola, pointing to something on the ground. Between the leaves you could see small, shiny stones arranged in a circle. Michael crouched down and touched one of them. At the same moment, quiet laughter spread around them and the air thickened. A figure emerged from the nearby bushes - slightly taller than them, green-eyed, with hair tangled with leaves. On her shoulder she held an owl, which hooted quietly. The children froze, struggling to catch their breath, when the figure spoke in a voice reminiscent of rustling leaves: - Who dares to disturb the peace of the old forest? By what path have you come, and do you know who you have met here...? Ola and Michael stood motionless, feeling as if something extraordinary had just begun.