16 DISAPPOINTED

CHAPTER 16 DISAPPOINTED I dragged my feet over to Mom. "I don't understand. I thought this would work!" I felt like crying, but I took some breaths and tried to stay calm. We'd figure out something, I told myself. "I did too, sweetie." Mom hugged me. "But it's a long way to walk. First the grumplets have to hear the unicorns, then they have to walk a few miles through the forest toward the sound until they find the berry trail from the edge of the forest to here. That could take some time, I imagine." "I guess," I said. "It's just that the grumplets were really fast when I saw them last. I figured they'd be here by now." I flumped to the ground, crossed my legs, and set my head in my hands. Pip and Sassafras came over and snuggled me. Then Sassafras started chattering.

I looked up. Sassafras was chattering? That meant… "Yesss!" I whispered. I could see the first of the grumplets eating a berry from our berry trail. The unicorns spotted it and stopped shouting. They effortlessly glided to either side of the berry trail to clear a path for the grumplets. First one, then another, then several more grumplets appeared. They followed the berry trail just like I'd planned.

When the grumplets got to the plants, they looked a little confused. Then they started snuffling. One found a berry on the plant and stared for a minute, then plucked it off and ate it. The others watched and did the same! "I hope there are enough berries!" I whispered to Mom, and she nodded. They ate just a few of the wild berries before patting their stomachs. The smallest grumplet gave a little burp! "What are they going to do now, Zoey?" whispered Pip. "I have no idea," I whispered back. The grumplets moved a bit farther into the new patch of plants, and one of the grumplets pointed at an old hollowed-out tree trunk. All the grumplets snortled and squeaked at each other, and then they looked along the ground. I stood and picked up Sassafras so we could get a better view. Pip hopped on Mom's head and she stood too. "What are they doing?" I whispered. The grumplets were gathering up moss and

lichen and putting it in the hollow part of the trunk. "Oh! I think they are making a bed!" I quietly told Sassafras. "Meow!" he replied. One by one the grumplets piled on top of each other inside the tree trunk. Before we knew it, they were SNORING! We held back our giggles so we wouldn't wake them.