In one wonderful forest there lived one inhabitant — an old and wise oak. 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 inhabitants could shelter beneath 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, which seemed immeasurable. In the middle of the tree many animals and birds had built small houses. At the very foot of the trunk a small raccoon had constructed a house. The entrance was overgrown with thick grass, and practically no one knew of this dwelling's existence, so living here was safe and not at all frightening.
A little higher up lived a family of squirrels — mum, dad and five baby squirrels. The ginger creatures had 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 now been a local resident for many long years.
And little creatures who had been caught by bad weather would also come to stay on the oak's branches. The old oak was always hospitable and never drove 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 had already risen.
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.
May we come with you?
A squeaky little voice suddenly rang out to the squirrels.
Turning their heads, the ginger mischief-makers suddenly saw a small mouse who had climbed onto the very highest branch.
What are you doing here?
The squirrels asked in surprise.
I've come looking for new friends. I was told that many little creatures live on this oak, with whom one 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? May 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.
And so new inhabitants appeared on the tree's branches. Now a little mouse would come to stay, now a cuckoo would settle not far from the woodpecker's dwelling, and in the evenings would cuckoo beautiful songs in duet with her new neighbour.
Time passed, and the oak became a truly enormous forest home in which the forest inhabitants lived. In autumn the tree absorbed moisture to easily endure summer, and in spring beautiful bright leaves bloomed and turned 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 gradually beginning to wither.
What's 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 gradually wilting, and the leaves are becoming quite dry. But autumn hasn't even arrived yet, and it's too early for the foliage to fall.
The tree replied.
And so the oak's inhabitants decided to find out at all costs what was happening to the old oak. Every night one of the tree's inhabitants stayed behind to watch over the master of their dwelling. And the time came for the raccoon, who settled himself comfortably outside right near his little house.
Night fell, and the forest became 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 beneath the ground. The little creature crawled towards the sound, and after a couple of minutes a very loud rustling could be heard beneath his paws.
The raccoon decided to dig up the earth a little to understand what was really happening there. Having dug once, twice, thrice, he suddenly jumped backwards. Right beneath 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 new lodgings. But there are such enormous roots here that they need to be destroyed urgently, so I want to gnaw through them.
The unknown worm replied.
What are you doing? This tree already has inhabitants, we have our houses here, and we won't allow anyone to destroy our kind tree.
The raccoon shouted in astonishment.
Oh no! I'll destroy this old fellow's roots and build an entire labyrinth underground.
The worm continued zealously.
And so the raccoon rushed to tell all the old oak's inhabitants about this encounter.
Alarm! Everyone come out of your homes quickly! Alarm!!!
The raccoon shouted with all his might.
A terrible and evil inhabitant has settled beneath 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 like this, the tree won't survive, it will wither and fall.
We won't allow some stranger to destroy our tree.
The forest inhabitants protested.
What shall we do? I can't reach the ground with my branches to drive out this villain.
The oak asked.
And so all the tree's inhabitants 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 allowed 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.
All together the animals dug an enormous pit and pulled out the villain who would have destroyed the oak's roots any moment. From the stream that ran nearby, the forest inhabitants brought water to water the oak.
Several days passed, and the old mighty oak spread its leaves again. All the little creatures and birds began to live peacefully in their houses again, and the oak, as before, always gladly welcomed new guests onto its branches.
