Chapter 2: Lost Among Emerald Shadows

Pally’s heart thudded, echoing in his ears as the hush of the forest pressed closer. Beside him, Bätty’s ears twitched, wings half-spread and ready. Sunlight no longer filtered through in golden sheets—the canopy above had thickened, painting the world in deep green shadows and threads of trembling light.

A few steps further, the ground sloped, and the sparkling trail faded away beneath a tangle of ferns and moss. Pally’s sense of direction spun. "Uh, Bätty? Which way did we come from?" Pally’s voice wobbled, trying to sound brave.

Bätty fluttered up, his keen eyes searching, but the trees all looked the same: towering trunks, mossy roots, and clusters of unfamiliar leaves. "I... can’t tell," Bätty admitted, worry pinching his features. "It’s like the forest changed around us."

A gentle chittering broke their anxious silence. From beneath a bramble bush, a small, twitchy squirrel peeked out, tail curled tightly around her. Her eyes glistened with uncertainty. "Excuse me?" she squeaked. "Could you help me? I can’t find my way home. I’m Nutty."

Pally glanced at Bätty, feeling both relief and concern. At least they weren’t the only ones lost. “Hi, Nutty,” Pally said, kneeling so he wouldn’t seem so big. "We’re a bit lost ourselves, but maybe if we work together..."

Nutty’s nose wiggled. “I live near the big hollow tree, the one with the silver moss. Everything looks strange today. Even the birds are quiet.”

Bätty hovered closer, voice gentle. “We’ll help you, Nutty. Maybe if we fly up, we can spot your tree—or something familiar.”

The three of them huddled together, sharing a moment of silent hope. Pally’s wings, usually so confident, felt heavy. Still, determination flickered inside him. He met Bätty’s eyes, and they nodded in quiet agreement.

Bätty soared first, circling just above the tangled branches, scanning for a glimpse of silver moss. Pally followed, his gaze sharp. Nutty scurried along the forest floor, looking for acorns she’d left behind as clues. Every rustle and snap made them jump, each shadow a possible watcher.

“Down there!” Bätty called, spotting a patch of silvery green in the distance. But as they swooped lower, the ground shifted into a steep ravine, tangled with roots and slippery stones. The way was blocked.

Nutty’s tail drooped. “I don’t know another way. What if we’re stuck here forever?”

Pally landed gently beside her. “We won’t give up. If we can’t go over, maybe there’s a path around. Let’s look for another trail.”

As they searched, Pally felt his worry soften—replaced by the spark of curiosity that had first led them here. The silence of the forest pressed on, mysterious and watchful. But now, with Nutty’s paw in his, he felt braver.

Suddenly, from behind a twisted oak, a faint shimmer—like the sparkling trail from before—flickered and vanished. Was it guiding them, or leading them deeper in?

Pally’s breath caught. “Did you see that?”

The forest seemed to hold its breath, waiting for their next move.