Mira, a young and clever micro-human, stretches her long fingers as she climbs down from her acorn-shell bed. The scent of toasted seeds wafts up from the communal kitchen below. Outside, children leap from twig to twig, racing each other while older micro-humans prepare for the day’s work in the intricate maze of tunnels and tiny workshops.
"Hurry up, Tilo! You’ll miss breakfast again," she calls out, her voice echoing along the winding wooden halls.
Tilo[/@ch_2], her impatient younger brother, make their way to the tree’s edge. A rickety rope bridge leads to a secret entrance into the enormous brick building that looms beside their oak.]
Tilo hops from root to root, his oversized feet landing softly on moss. The siblings exchange nervous glances as they reach a hidden trapdoor, camouflaged with leaves. The world outside their tree feels vast and dangerous, but the need for fresh supplies outweighs their fear.
"What if the big humans catch us this time, Mira?"
"We’ll be quick and quiet, just like always. Remember, we only take what we need and never leave a trace," she reassures him, tightening her woven satchel.
Every surface towers above them, from the mountain-like pile of shoes to the cavernous hollow beneath the old washing machine. Mira’s skilled hands make quick work of scaling a wall to reach a stash of sugar cubes, while Tilo peeks out, alert for any signs of danger.
"I heard the last group saw a cat down here," he whispers.
"That’s why we stick together. Besides, cats don’t scare me half as much as those human scientists used to," Mira replies, her voice steady but eyes wide.
Ms. Evelyn[/@ch_3] sits by the window, sipping tea and reading a book. She glances down to see a flash of movement along the baseboard and, remembering her childhood tales, smiles instead of reaching for a broom.]
Ms. Evelyn crouches and gently places a crumb of bread and a thimble of honey near the secret tunnel entrance. The micro-humans freeze, uncertain, but Mira recognizes a familiar kindness in the woman’s eyes.
"If you’re there, little friends, you’re welcome to what you need. No one will bother you while I’m here," she says softly, returning to her chair.
The tale of Ms. Evelyn’s kindness spreads quickly, igniting hope and curiosity among the micro-humans. As they feast on honeyed bread and sweetened seeds, Mira ponders the possibility of peaceful coexistence.
"Maybe not all big humans want to harm us. Maybe, someday, we won’t have to hide," she muses, gazing out toward the world beyond the tree.
Tilo leans close to his sister, his impatience softened. "Do you think we could ever invite her here? Show her how we live?"
"Maybe, when the time is right. For now, we’ll keep learning and looking out for one another. Our world is small, but our dreams don’t have to be," Mira replies, her eyes shining with determination as the community settles in for the night, hopeful for the dawn.
