Basia and Tymek notice that the forest is growing unnaturally quiet. When a dark shape appears under a bush, their search takes a mysterious turn.
Basia and Tymek walked to Forest Kindergarten beside the small green woods, as they did every morning. Usually, the place was full of life. Birds hopped through the branches, squirrels chased one another up the trunks, and the woodpecker tapped out his busy little beat.
Basia loved those sounds. She liked the soft swish of leaves, the chatter of her friends, and even Mr. Martin's guitar drifting through the clearing before lessons began. But that morning, something felt wrong. The forest seemed to be holding its breath.
Basia stopped beside the swing. "Tymek," she whispered, "do you hear that?"
He listened. His eyes widened. There was no chirping. No tapping. Not even Mr. Martin's guitar.
"It's too quiet," Tymek said.
Then a dark shadow moved under the bushes near the path. Basia and Tymek froze. The shadow stayed still for one tiny second, as if it had heard them too. Basia leaned closer and whispered, "Maybe it took the sounds."
The bush rustled. Something shifted inside. Then a small, strange shape peeped out from the leaves...