The vine gave way with a soft creak. Behind it, a tiny wooden door stood open.
Ayla tugged the vine aside. Karam pressed his eye to the keyhole. "Someone's home," he whispered.
A high-pitched voice called, "Come in!" They squeezed through the doorway.
They landed on blue moss that giggled beneath their feet. "Tea?" asked the badger.
Karam reached for a saucer. The tea smelled like cinnamon and warm bread.
A stained-glass butterfly dropped gold dust into Ayla's palm. "For sharing," it buzzed.
"Your wings are like stained glass," she said. The butterfly fluttered around Karam.
Karam folded a leaf into a boat. It slipped onto a dewdrop stream and sailed away.
Ayla watched it go, then smiled at Karam. He smiled back.
An ancient owl landed softly. "You've shown kindness," it hooted. "Will you promise to protect this place?"
"We promise," they said together. The owl tapped its wing, and the forest pulsed with warm light.
They stepped back through the door and found themselves in Grandma's garden. "Same time tomorrow?" she asked.
