A howling wind rattles the canopy. Rain hammers the mossy trails until the stream swells and spills over its stones.
Pip clutches a dry leaf and watches a family of frogs stranded on a floating log. He calls out to them.
Pip wades into the rising water and reaches the badger first, who is buried up to his shoulders in thick mud.
Pip pushes twigs and pebbles away until the badger's nose pops free. 'About time,' the badger huffs.
A squirrel chatters from a branch overhead, pointing at a nest caught in the roots above the waterline.
The squirrel drops a woven vine rope. The badger plants his paws on a rock while the tortoise lumbers up beside them.
'I'll steer!' says the tortoise. They follow his shell through the swirling current, paddling around floating branches.
Halfway across, the vine snags on a sharp stone. The nest tilts dangerously, acorns splashing into the water.
The badger grabs the vine with his teeth and yanks sideways while Pip braces against the tortoise's shell. 'One, two, three — pull!' he cries.
The knot pops free and the nest swings safely onto dry ground. The tortoise offers Pip a dry acorn. 'You found us.' Pip curls into a hedgehog smile as golden light falls.