It was this sound that It was this sound that wokewoke Millie. It woke her from her Millie. It woke her from her slumber and it woke her in her heart. She shuddered, a slumber and it woke her in her heart. She shuddered, a little scared.little scared. She new she was close...She new she was close...

Millie just knew she had to go in the direction of the river. Millie just knew she had to go in the direction of the river. There was a strange feeling in her tummy, an ache. You There was a strange feeling in her tummy, an ache. You know that feeling when you know something's wrong as know that feeling when you know something's wrong as well as that feeling you get when you're very excited. It felt well as that feeling you get when you're very excited. It felt like that.like that. So she gathered her bag and off she set.So she gathered her bag and off she set. Her sudden movements disturbed the wildlife around her Her sudden movements disturbed the wildlife around her and suddenly everything went quiet. All animated life and suddenly everything went quiet. All animated life disappeared. Just the sounds of the trees bowing to the disappeared. Just the sounds of the trees bowing to the mighty wind that had blown up.mighty wind that had blown up.

And then the sky went black.And then the sky went black.

There was a gust of wind that bent the trees almost to their There was a gust of wind that bent the trees almost to their roots and Millie was knocked right off her feet.roots and Millie was knocked right off her feet.

Millie shivered, Ever so slightly. A little scared. She Millie shivered, Ever so slightly. A little scared. She quickened her pace along the rocky path and the wind quickened her pace along the rocky path and the wind blew stronger against her, pushing her back. What was blew stronger against her, pushing her back. What was going on she thought. Her walking pace quickened as the going on she thought. Her walking pace quickened as the wind blew strongerwind blew stronger

But as quickly as it happened, it was over.But as quickly as it happened, it was over.

Suddenly everything went still again.Suddenly everything went still again.

She stood in complete silence, the trees straightened and a She stood in complete silence, the trees straightened and a shower of leaves, twigs and petals slowly cascaded and shower of leaves, twigs and petals slowly cascaded and twirled down to the ground around her.twirled down to the ground around her.

It was like a silent shower of rain made up of bits of the It was like a silent shower of rain made up of bits of the forest.forest.

She wondered if that was where the name rain forest came She wondered if that was where the name rain forest came from.from.

Millie carried on along the path and came to the top of a Millie carried on along the path and came to the top of a ridge. From here she could see vast valleys, mountains and ridge. From here she could see vast valleys, mountains and forest as far as she could see.forest as far as she could see.

The horizon didn't exist. Which was strange in itself! And The horizon didn't exist. Which was strange in itself! And she could still hear the mighty sound of water but she could still hear the mighty sound of water but couldn't couldn't see it.see it. Where she stood, the air was still, but in the distance the Where she stood, the air was still, but in the distance the forest canopy rose and dropped like mighty waves in forest canopy rose and dropped like mighty waves in a a storm as a dark shadow swept through the greenery. What storm as a dark shadow swept through the greenery. What was it? There was no wind? and no clouds in the sky. Then was it? There was no wind? and no clouds in the sky. Then she spotted the reason.she spotted the reason. The biggest bird she'd ever seen in her life, the air from its The biggest bird she'd ever seen in her life, the air from its wings beating a mighty downdraft.wings beating a mighty downdraft.

Millie’s face was a picture of wonderment. Her eyes like Millie’s face was a picture of wonderment. Her eyes like saucers. She couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.saucers. She couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.

And it was coming her way.And it was coming her way.