In a wonderful forest there lived one resident — an old and wise oak tree. It was so enormous that it could be seen even in neighbouring villages and nearby groves. Its branches were so large that all the forest dwellers could hide under them from rain, from snow, from wind and fierce storms.
In summer the branches became bright green, they were covered with thick foliage, and squirrels with other little creatures played hide-and-seek here.
The oak's trunk could be compared to an enormous cliff that seemed boundless. In the middle of the tree many animals and birds built small homes. At the very base of the trunk a small raccoon built his house. The entrance was overgrown with thick grass, and practically no one knew about the existence of this dwelling, so living here was safe and not at all frightening.
A bit higher up settled a family of squirrels — mum, dad and five baby squirrels. The red creatures built an enormous palace in the middle of the oak, each family member had their own room here.
At the very top lived an old woodpecker, who had never flown away from here since birth, and had been a local resident here for many long years.
And little creatures who were caught by bad weather would also come to stay on the oak's branches. The old oak was always hospitable and never chased anyone away from its branches.
Let's go for a walk!
The little squirrels would exclaim every morning to the raccoon, who woke up late, only when the sun was already rising.
I don't want to! Call the old woodpecker, he'll definitely keep you company. Lately he's been flying out for walks often, and with him you can see lots of interesting things, after all he's lived in this forest for a long time and knows all the surroundings.
The striped creature grumbled.
Can we come with you?
Suddenly a squeaky little voice rang out, surprising the squirrels.
Turning their heads, the red rascals suddenly saw a small mouse who had climbed onto the very top branch.
What are you doing here?
The squirrels asked in surprise.
I came looking for new friends. I was told that many little creatures live on this oak, with whom you can walk and play.
Does the oak know you've climbed up here?
I know everything, these are my branches! I almost never sleep and I'm always aware of who has come to my domain and why.
The old mighty tree laughed.
So what do you say, oak? Can the mouse live here for a bit? We'll play with her, show her our forest beauties.
The squirrels shouted.
Of course, let her stay.
The oak permitted.
That's how new residents appeared on the tree's branches. Sometimes a little mouse would come to visit, sometimes a cuckoo would settle not far from the woodpecker's dwelling, and in the evenings they would cuckoo beautiful songs together as a duet with their new neighbour.
Time passed, and the oak became a true enormous forest home in which forest dwellers lived. In autumn the tree absorbed moisture to easily endure summer, and in spring beautiful bright leaves would bloom and turn green again on the branches, creating shade for the little creatures and protecting them from the heat.
Several months passed after summer's arrival, and suddenly the animals who lived in the oak's trunk noticed that the tree was slowly beginning to wither.
What happened to you? Haven't you fallen ill, old oak?
The woodpecker asked with concern.
I don't know, I can't understand it myself. For several days now I've had no strength at all. My branches are slowly wilting, and the leaves are becoming completely dry. But autumn hasn't even arrived yet, and it's too early for the foliage to fall.
The tree answered.
And so the oak's residents decided to find out at all costs what was happening to the old oak. Each night one of the tree dwellers stayed behind to watch over the master of their dwelling. And then came the raccoon's turn, who settled himself comfortably outside right near his little house.
Night fell, and the forest became very, very quiet. The night was so warm, and the wind had completely calmed, and even the foliage wasn't stirring at all. Suddenly the raccoon heard a strange scraping sound coming from right under the ground. The little creature crawled towards the sound, and after a couple of minutes a very loud rustling was heard under his paws.
The raccoon decided to dig up the earth a bit to understand what was really happening there. Digging once, twice, three times, he suddenly jumped back. Right under the ground sat an enormous brown worm. It had wrapped its body around the oak's roots and was rocking on them with all its might.
What are you doing here?
The raccoon asked in a frightened voice.
I've found myself a new home. But there are such enormous roots here that they need to be destroyed urgently, so I want to gnaw through them.
The unknown worm answered.
What are you doing? This tree already has residents, we have our homes here, and we won't let anyone destroy our kind tree.
The raccoon shouted in amazement.
Oh no! I'll destroy this old fellow's roots and build an entire labyrinth underground.
The worm continued working diligently.
And then the raccoon rushed to tell all the residents of the old oak about this encounter.
Alarm! Everyone come out of your homes quickly! Alarm!!!
The raccoon shouted with all his might.
A terrible and evil resident has settled under our tree. He wants to destroy the oak's roots to build entire labyrinths there. That's why our old and mighty oak is losing its strength. If things continue this way, the tree won't survive, it will wither and fall over.
We won't allow some stranger to destroy our tree.
The forest dwellers protested.
What should we do? I can't reach the ground with my branches to drive out this villain.
The oak asked.
And then all the tree dwellers gathered together to drive away the worm. They called for help from everyone who cared about the fate of the old and mighty oak, which had always protected its forest neighbours and welcomed them to live in its trunk and on its strong branches.
The fox came to help, and the enormous bear, and even the wild boar came to help dig up the earth with his sharp tusks.
Together all the animals dug an enormous hole and pulled out the villain who was about to destroy the oak's roots. From the stream that ran nearby, the forest dwellers brought water to water the oak.
Several days passed, and the old mighty oak bloomed with its leaves again. All the little creatures and birds began living peacefully in their homes again, and the oak, as before, always gladly welcomed new guests onto its branches.
