A red leaf spun down through the quiet forest and landed right on Russet’s nose.
Russet blinked hard, then sneezed a funny little sneeze as more leaves whispered past.
Russet reached up to catch the bright leaf.
But a puff of wind skipped it away across the moss.
Russet trotted after it through the crunchy leaves.
Then Russet stopped. Another tree seemed to paint itself gold before Russet’s eyes.
At last, Russet patted one glowing leaf flat on a stump.
A breezy swirl lifted three more leaves and sent them dancing around Russet’s head like fluttering little hats.
Russet laughed, grabbed one bright fallen leaf, and held its smooth edges very carefully.
Russet carried the leaf to a quiet spot under the red-and-gold branches.
More leaves drifted down and covered the ground in a shining blanket.
Russet almost tucked the leaf away. Then Russet looked up and went still.
The whole woods shimmered and whispered in the evening light.
Russet curled up beside the bright leaf as more leaves settled softly nearby.
