Chapter one

"Run Emily! Run!" Oura squeaked from the sidelines. The smaller woodland creatures were playing a game of kickball with an oversized walnut shell. Emily is an orange chipmunk with dark markings on her face and back, all the way down to her bushy tail. Oura is a grey squirrel with a red tint and a white belly.

 

The chipmunk slid to second base. Oura is up to kick. The nutshell bounces against the forest floor towards the squirrel. Oura punts the nut passed the boundary of the kickball game. Her team screams with excitement as the therr players on base run to home. High paws to all for the good game and the amazing winning home run.

 

Game over. The mammals gather their things and head home.

 

Oura is excited after her big win, so she takes some extra time before going home. Emily stays a little late, too.

 

"Make sure you're home before dark, Oura. The moon is at it's highest and fullest tonight." Emily warns as she leaves the the kickball field.

 

"You got it, Em. See you later." Oura calls out. Emily disappears into the wood.

 

Oura relaxes on the forest floor, watching the strill leaves at the canopy; the deep greens of the foliage, the brown shadesw of the branches. Her home is not far from the field. She lays down on a stump. The year before last a strong tree stood where she lays. A terrible storm season struck the tree's core and rotted the bark. The wind gusts tore the tree down, and left it for the maggots. When the storms cleared, this entire neck of the woods helped turn the ruined tree into homes for other woodland creatures. Diana, one of the larger bears of the area carved the year into the stump, as tradition holds.

 

Oura realizes that the Sun is dimming. She picks herself up and off the stump. She heads down her path, heading home to her warm treetop nest. The summer air is blowing a cool breeze, as Oura climbs her tree. She reaches her nest. As she enters her home, the breeze stops. Oura crawls into bed and drifts to sleep.