In a wonderful forest there lived one inhabitant — an old and wise oak tree. It was so enormous that it could be seen even in neighboring 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 animals 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 houses. 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 scary at all.
A little higher up settled a family of squirrels — mother, father and five baby squirrels. The red-furred 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 animals who were 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 was already rising.
I don't want to! Call the old woodpecker, he'll surely 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-furred rascals suddenly saw a small mouse who had climbed to 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 animals live on this oak, with whom you can walk and play.
Does the oak know you climbed up here?
I know everything, these are my branches! I almost never sleep and I'm always aware of who comes to my domain and why.
The old mighty tree laughed.
So what do you say, oak? Can the mouse live here for a little while? We'll play with her, show her our forest beauties.
The squirrels shouted.
Of course, let her stay.
The oak permitted.
And 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 sing beautiful songs together in a duet with their new neighbor.
Time passed, and the oak became a real enormous forest home in which forest dwellers 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 animals 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 then the oak's inhabitants decided to find out at all costs what was happening to the old oak. Every night one of the tree dwellers stayed to watch over the master of their dwelling. And the time came for the raccoon, who settled 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 down, and even the foliage didn't stir at all. Suddenly the raccoon heard a strange scraping sound coming from right under the ground. The little creature crawled toward the sound, and after a couple of minutes a very loud rustling was heard under his paws.
The raccoon decided to dig up the ground a little 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 swinging on them with all its might.
What are you doing here?
The raccoon asked in a frightened voice.
I found myself a new dwelling. 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 inhabitants, we have our little houses here, and we won't let anyone destroy our kind tree.
The raccoon shouted in amazement.
Oh no! I will destroy this old one's roots and build a whole labyrinth underground.
The worm continued working diligently.
And then the raccoon rushed to tell all the inhabitants of the old oak about this encounter.
Alarm! Everyone quickly come out of your homes! Alarm!!!
The raccoon shouted with all his might.
A terrible and evil inhabitant has settled under our tree. He wants to destroy the oak's roots to build whole 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.
We won't let some stranger 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, who had always protected his forest neighbors and accepted them to live in his trunk and on his 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 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 spread its leaves again. All the little animals and birds began to live peacefully in their little houses again, and the oak, as before, always gladly welcomed new guests to its branches.
