Leon and Hania spot a strange shimmering spiral on the old oak tree in the forest. When a hedgehog darts into the roots, the mystery suddenly feels much bigger.
Leon and Hania loved the forest behind their house, especially the huge old oak at its heart. On warm afternoons they spread out a blanket beneath its wide branches, read stories, and listened to the leaves whisper overhead.
One sunny day, Leon stopped in his tracks. Something new shone on the oak bark. It was a tiny spiral, bright as silver and soft-looking, as if it had appeared there only moments ago.
"Hania," he whispered, "look at that."
Hania came closer and touched the strange mark with one careful finger. It gave a faint glow under her skin.
"That’s not a snail trail," she said, and her eyes grew round.
A rustle sounded in the grass. Both children turned. Under the oak roots, a small grey hedgehog was dragging a strip of shiny ribbon through the leaves.
"Where did he get that?" Leon breathed.
The hedgehog lifted its nose, blinked at them with tiny black eyes, and vanished into a little hole between the roots.
Leon knelt down. Hania leaned beside him. The ribbon was gone now, but the hole was still there, dark and quiet.
Then, from deep inside the tree, they heard a soft chirp.