Pat The Badger

Previously

…“Beneath what?” Squeaky asked. But the tree did not answer. Its light went out, plunging the cavern into darkness. Only Greg’s daisy remained, a small, brave glow in the black. Mortimer pointed a trembling claw at the floor. “Beneath us. There’s another tunnel.” A small opening had appeared at the base of the tree, leading down into an even deeper darkness. From it came a faint, rhythmic sound—not a drum, but a whisper, like wind through forgotten leaves. Greg took a deep breath. “We’ve come this far. Let’s keep going.” And together, they descended into the unknown, the whisper growing clearer with each step: “Find me… find me… before the shadow does…”