Chapter Three - The Forest of Big Things

CHAPTER THREE

The Forest of Big Things

THE RIVER CARRIED Pip through twists and turns, under bridges where squirrels played poker (true story, Pip swore), and finally into… The Forest of Big Things.

Pip blinked.

Big wasn’t even the right word.
This place was GIGANTIFIED.

The trees? Taller than the clouds.
The mushrooms? Bigger than Pip’s whole mountain.
The bugs? Don’t even get Pip started. There was a beetle wearing boots. BOOTS.

Pip rolled along the soft moss, staring up in wonder.
Then, BAM!, he bumped into something HUGE.

A shadow fell over him.
Pip slowly looked up… and up… and UP.

It was Bumble the Bear, a mountain-sized bear with the fluffiest fur and the friendliest face you ever did see.

“Whoa there, little buddy!” rumbled Bumble, scooping Pip up in one gigantic paw like he was a jellybean.
“What brings a tiny pebble like you to the land of the Big Things?”

Pip, still dizzy from the tumble, said,
“I’m… I’m on an adventure, I think.”

Bumble chuckled.
“Then you’re in the right place. Everyone here is on an adventure. Even me. I’m searching for the Legendary Sleepy Spot.”

Pip tilted slightly.
“The what?”

“The one place in the whole world where a bear can nap for exactly 47 minutes. No more. No less.”

Pip smiled.
That sounded important.
And cozy.

“Wanna tag along?” asked Bumble.
“Sure!” Pip replied.
Because even pebbles know: adventures are better with friends.

And with that, Pip rolled onto Bumble’s fluffy back, and they headed deeper into the Forest of Big Things…
toward whatever came next.