Synopsis:
Barnaby Bunson, a timid bunny, overhears Rattus Nibbles, a shrewd rat, and Clementine Claw, a cunning cat, discussing a hidden treasure of gold coins guarded by monkeys on Mount Cinder. Despite his fear, Barnaby joins their unlikely alliance, hoping for a share of the riches. Their journey is fraught with peril: they navigate the eerie Whispering Woods, cross the shimmering River of Fireflies using leaf rafts, and brave the treacherous climb up Mount Cinder. They encounter a mischievous trickster, a giant earthworm, and a grumpy mountain goat along the way. Finally, they reach the monkeys' lair, where Barnaby's quick thinking and ingenuity, using shiny pebbles and a light-reflecting whistle, distract the monkeys long enough for Rattus and Clementine to find the gold. They escape with the treasure and return to the Whispering Meadow, where they use their newfound wealth to help others and live happily ever after.
Part Of The Book:
"Are you sure this is the right way?" he squeaked nervously, for the tenth time. "It seems awfully... quiet."
Clementine rolled her eyes. "Nibbles, darling, you're so jumpy you'd probably be scared of your own shadow."
Just then, the ground began to tremble. A low rumble echoed through the meadow.
"What was that?" Rattus squeaked, his whiskers trembling.
Before anyone could answer, a giant earthworm, at least twice the size of Barnaby, burst from the ground, wriggling its way across their path.
Rattus screamed, leaping into Clementine's arms. "A monster! A giant, slimy monster!"
Clementine, though slightly startled herself, managed to keep her composure. "It's just an earthworm, Nibbles," she said calmly, though her fur was slightly on end.
Barnaby, surprisingly, found himself less scared than the others. He'd seen earthworms before, though admittedly not quite this big. He even found himself feeling a little sorry for the creature, who seemed to be struggling to move.
"Maybe we should help it?" he suggested.