20
Lying in the darkness, the woodman found himself awake. He listened intently, waiting for a repeat of the sound that had woken him. After a few moments of silence, he heard a quiet snuffle in the corner. He listened again to be sure, then slowly pushed back his bedding, before moving silently across the cave to put his hand on the little girl’s shoulder. At his touch, Sparrow turned a tear-stained face to look up at him.
“Come here, little one,” murmured Thunder Storm gently, gathering her into his arms.
Creaking Bough appeared beside him and stroked Sparrow’s hair as she buried her head into the woodman’s chest and let the sobs come.
“Don’t worry,” crooned Creaking Bough, “We will find them somehow… or they will find us. They will all keep each other safe. No forest will harm a for
