Maks and his cat Łatka find a strange watch that flashes with light and sends them into a deep forest from long ago.
Maks was seven, and on rainy days he liked nothing better than visiting Grandma Zosia. Her house smelled of tea, warm bread, and old books.
That afternoon, Grandma lifted a tiny silver watch from a drawer and placed it in his palm. It was cold and smooth, with little scratches on the glass.
"You may play with it," she said, smiling in a strange way. "But be careful. It is an enchanted watch."
Maks frowned. "Enchanted?"
Before Grandma could answer, Łatka jumped onto the table and batted the watch with one paw. The little hands spun around and around.
A bright flash burst out of it.
Maks squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, the room was gone.
He was standing in soft, damp grass beneath tall dark trees. Huge green leaves brushed his shoulders. Somewhere nearby, an owl hooted. Łatka sat beside him, with her tail puffed up like a brush.
Then a tiny figure stepped out from behind a tree. She wore a hat made of leaves and held one finger to her lips.
"Who are you?" she whispered. "And why has the watch brought you here?"