The Rumor with Feathers

It started with a scream and a feather.

Bluejay Benny crash-landed in the middle of the forest square, feathers in a flurry. “The little owl’s stuck!” he squawked. “In

the

tower!”

Gasps rippled through the clearing like a ripple made of squirrels.

“The Number Tower?” asked a hedgehog, dropping all

twelve

of his berries.

“No one goes near the Number Tower,” muttered the raccoons. “It smells like... math.”

Up in a tree, Zippy the rabbit’s ears twitched. “How far up is she?”

“Thirty... five floors!” Benny shouted, flapping wildly. “She chased 35 butterflies and

zoomed

too high!”

That number made everyone go quiet. Thirty-five? That was at least

three tens and five ones

!

Bruno the bear blinked. “We need a plan. Or at least a big snack.”

Zippy stood tall on a mushroom. “Call a forest meeting! Bring your brains—and your paws. We’ve got numbers to climb!”

And just like that, the rescue began... almost.