The Chirp from the Roots and the Visitor Below

Nutmeg knelt down on the smooth stone floor of the secret room. The heavy wooden block still kept the chilly draft from the brass archway under control, but the narrow crack near the corner had a voice of its own today. Nutmeg rested one fuzzy ear right against the dark gap in the floorboards. At first, there was only the soft rustle of deep roots and the smell of damp bark.

Then, a tiny, cheerful sound floated up from the shadows far below. It sounded almost like a little song or a gentle chirp, as if someone or something was moving around in the hidden space underneath the village. Nutmeg's eyes grew wide with wonder, and calling quietly over to Pip and Bramble, the squirrel whispered that they were not alone beneath the ancient oak tree.

While Nutmeg, Pip, Bramble, and Clover gathered around the stone table to listen closer, a small snout covered in golden dust poked out of the dark gap in the floorboards. The little mouse pulled himself up, brushed some dirt from his whiskers, and smiled warmly at the astonished group.

The newcomer introduced himself as Barnaby and explained in a soft, polite voice that he lived in the root cellar underneath. He carried a tiny pouch made of woven dandelion silk and explained that he had heard all the tapping and talking from up above, so he simply had to climb up and see who his new neighbors were. Pip, Bramble, Nutmeg, and Clover welcomed Barnaby with big smiles, setting out an extra acorn-cap cup for him as they eagerly listened to tales of the deep root tunnels.