“Might you tell me where you are going? I would be happy to assist you! Cro-o-o-a-a-a-k-k-k!” proposed Croaky helpfully.

Snoutie and Michelle explained how they came to find themselves in the Big Forest and how they were searching for a magical white flower.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this flower,” said Croaky, thinking hard.

He showed them the best place to cross the stream, how to get back to the edge of the woods, and where the sweetest wild strawberries grew.

“Have a safe trip,” he croaked after the friends.

After crossing the stream without any problems any problems, they headed straight for the field that Turtle had told them about. Snoutie caught sight of the green sprouts he knew so well and, squealing and wagging his tail in anticipation of the enjoyment he would get from filling up his tummy, he started digging up sweet potatoes, just like the expert his father had taught him to be. Michelle picked lots of ripe, red strawberries.

The satisfied travelers had just sat down on the green grass to rest, when all of a sudden they heard someone’s desperate cries for help coming from the direction of the stream. The friends jumped up and ran quickly in the direction of the cries. When they reached the stream, they saw red Little Squirrel struggling in the water as he tried as hard as he could to grab hold of some branches hanging above him. Snoutie walked into the cold water and, standing firm against the strong current, stretched out his snunk to drowning Little Squirrel. Little Squirrel grabbed it tightly with his front paws, but the current was so strong that Snoutie could not make his way back to the shore.

“Help! Please hurry!” cried Michelle loudly.

“I’m coming!” sounded someone’s voice.

And right then and there Hedgie the Valiant ran out onto the shore. He was known by this name to all forest residents because one day he saved Robin the Elder’s chicks from an attacking snake. After making sure that the chicks were safe, Hedgie drove that snake out of the Big Forest once and for all.

Now, standing on the very edge of the shore, Hedgie stretched out his walking stick to Snoutie. Snoutie grabbed it, clambered up onto the shore, and then easily dragged wet, frightened Little Squirrel out of the water.

“Thank you, brave Snoutie! Thank you, Hedgie the Valiant!” they heard someone say behind their backs.

It was breathless Mama Squirrel, hurrying as fast as she could towards the cries of her Little Squirrel and looking terribly afraid.

“Where are you heading?” Squirrel asked, once she caught her breath.

Upon learning that Snoutie and Michelle were looking for a magical white flower, Squirrel ran off somewhere and soon returned with a basket overflowing with fresh mushrooms.

“You have a long trip ahead of you,” she said, handing the basket to the travelers. “Take these mushrooms with you so that you can snack on them during your trip.”

After wishing Snoutie and Michelle bon voyage, Mama Squirrel and Little Squirrel scampered up a tree and disappeared into their hollow. Meanwhile, the friends set off farther along the river in search of the magical flower.

“What on earth could this be?” wondered Michelle, pointing to a large, ash-grey ball at the foot of the trunk of an old tree.

“Let’s find out,” said Snoutie, and he started prodding the strange ball with his snunk.

Well, let’s just say it would have been better if he had never tried that, because suddenly a cloud of angry wasps descended on Snoutie and Michelle with a terrible buzzing.

“A wasp’s nest!” shrieked Michelle, very frightened. She grabbed Snoutie’s paw, and they took to their heels without even trying to find the path.