The Woven Pocket in the Wall

Step, step, step went Chloe's sparkly pink shoes. Flap, flutter, flap went Blossom's transparent wings.

Together, they stepped right across the smooth amber threshold and into the secret root-hall. The door made of woven birch twigs stayed open behind them, letting in one last sleepy sunbeam from the meadow above. Oh, it was so cozy inside! The air felt soft and warm, wrapping around them just like a freshly dried blanket. It smelled of sweet honey, damp green moss, and sunshine baked into pine needles.

Pip stopped just inside the doorway. He pressed one small fairy hand against his green shirt pocket. Pat, pat. Yes! His favorite shiny blue pebble was still sitting right there, safe and sound, right beside his damp shirt. Pip gave a happy little wiggle and grinned up at Chloe. "Safe as can be, Butterfly!" he chirped.

Down on the shiny resin floor, a gentle humming began. Hum, hum, hum. It was not a loud noise at all. It was a soft, tickly buzz that buzzed right up through their boots. Chloe giggled and curled her toes inside her sparkly shoes. Every time the floor gave a tiny hum, the star daisy crown on her pink hair answered. The star flower twinkled with bright dancing stripes of pink, blue, yellow, and green, sending playful rainbow ripples splashing along the wooden floor.

Blossom tilted her head. Her wide clover leaf hat tipped delightfully sideways. "Look at the golden specks!" Blossom whispered, pointing her thin green wand toward the air.

High above the dark clover roots, the golden meadow sunbeam met the hall. Tiny flecks of amber dust danced in the warm air, drifting and twirling like little floating lanterns. They floated up, up, up, and then drifted down, down, down, sparkling whenever Chloe's crown shone upon them.

"It is so quiet in here," Chloe said softly. "And so very warm."

They walked a little deeper into the hall, following the winding curve of a great pine root. The dark wood was smooth and curved, arching over their heads like a wooden hallway made just for little adventures.

Then Chloe stopped. She heard a soft rustle—rustle, rustle, whisper—right beside her elbow.

"Did you hear that?" Chloe asked.

Blossom hovered close, her little wings buzzing softly. Pip stood on his tiptoes. Chloe looked closely at the pine root wall. Tucked neatly into a little crook of the bark was a tiny woven pocket made of dried meadow grasses. It was braided so neatly and carefully, perfectly sized for fairy hands.

Chloe reached out her fingers and gently tapped the grass pocket. Something smooth and round was resting inside.

With careful fingertips, Chloe lifted it out. It was a little wooden acorn cup, carved smooth and round, with tiny polished edges. When she brought it close to her nose, it did not smell like bitter tree bark at all. It smelled faintly of warm, baked sugar, sweet and yummy.

"Look, Pip! Look, Blossom!" Chloe whispered, holding the wooden cup in her open palm. "Someone made a treasure pocket right in the wall."