Why had the Great Forest gone silent?

Brendan pressed his palm against the oldest oak and felt nothing—no hum, no warmth, no pulse. For as long as anyone in the village could remember, the Great Forest breathed. Its trees exhaled cool, sweet air that drifted across the valley like invisible medicine. Three magical creatures guarded this breathing forest: Mossheart the badger, whose emerald fur filtered dust from the air; Windfeather the owl, whose wingbeats stirred fresh air through the canopy; and Rootclaw the fox, whose golden paws fed nutrients into the soil.

But now the air tasted stale. The trees stood still. And all three guardians had vanished.

Brendan found three clues on the forest floor. First, a trail of golden pawprints leading toward the river. Second, a single emerald feather caught on a thorn bush.