Through a curtain of hanging vines, a small bluebird lay in the grass. One wing was bent wrong. "Oh no," Taaloub whispered.
Taaloub crept closer. The bird let out a squeaky chirp and fluttered uselessly. He gently gathered the little creature into his paws.
He scurried toward the old oak tree, but a tangle of roots blocked his way. Taaloub tried to squeeze through — stuck!
He backed up, hopped, and squeezed again — free! The bird pecked his nose while he carried on.
At the oak's hollow, a grumpy old turtle blocked the entrance. Taaloub offered a plump red berry from the bush beside him.
The turtle sniffed, ate the berry, and slowly crawled aside. Taaloub squeezed into the hollow.
That night, Taaloub stayed awake beside the bird. He curled his bushy tail around the little creature and hummed softly. The shivering stopped.
Morning light filled the hollow. The bird stood on a twig, wings stretched wide, and soared into the green garden. Taaloub watched it go.
