Deep in Hollow Wood, where the brambles curl and the moon peeks through the leaves, our story begins...
Bramble stood at the edge of the Dark Hollow in broad daylight. The sun was up, the birds were singing, and everything looked completely different.
"It's not so dark now," said Pip from his perch on a low branch, safely behind Bramble.
"No," said Bramble slowly. "It's not."
He'd been thinking about what Old Oakley had said. Pip's mum needed elderflower medicine, and it grew on the far side. Bramble hadn't promised to fetch it, not out loud, but the thought wouldn't leave him alone.
"Are you going in?" asked Pip.
"I'm going to practise," said Bramble. "In the daytime. With no hurry at all."
He took three steps in, just like before. Then he stopped and looked around properly. There was the twisted root he'd always imagined was something dreadful. In daylight it was just a root.
"What can you see?" called Pip.
"Roots and brambles," Bramble called back. "And a bend in the path."
He walked to the bend. His heart thumped a little, but he kept going. Round the bend was a fallen log, pale with moss. Beyond that, a large grey stone covered in soft green moss.
"I can see a mossy stone," Bramble called.
"How far is that?" Pip's voice sounded smaller now.
Bramble looked back. The entrance was still visible, a bright patch behind him. He wasn't lost. He could count his steps back if he needed to.
"Not far," he called. "I'm all right."
He walked to the mossy stone and put one paw on it. This was the furthest he'd ever been. His paws felt trembly, but in a different way than before. Not quite so frightened. More like he was doing something difficult on purpose.
The path kept going, winding deeper into the shadows. Bramble looked ahead, properly looking instead of running away, and that's when he saw it.
Far off, where the path twisted out of sight, there was a faint glow. Not bright like daylight. Softer, steadier. Like something warm waiting at the end.
"What is that?" Bramble whispered to himself.
It wasn't scary. It didn't look dangerous. But he couldn't work out what it was. Not moonlight — the moon wasn't up. Not a lantern — who would leave a lantern burning there?
"Bramble?" Pip's voice was worried now. "Are you coming back?"
"Yes," said Bramble. He touched the mossy stone once more, fixing it in his mind. Wood-edge, first bend, fallen log, mossy stone. He could find this spot again.
He walked back carefully, counting his steps just like Old Oakley had taught him.
When he reached Pip, the little mouse scrambled down and looked at him with wide eyes.
"You went really far," said Pip.
"I did," said Bramble. And then, quieter: "There's a light in there, Pip. Right at the far end. I don't know what it is."
Pip's whiskers twitched. "A light?"
"A glow," said Bramble. "I couldn't reach it today. But I know where the mossy stone is now. Next time I'll go further."
And as Hollow Wood grew quiet and the stars came out to watch, it was time to rest — until tomorrow's tale.