Where Were the Birds

All knowing tree was silent, assessing the strangers How had they gotten to this side of his forest? He had heard no alarms, this was curious. Watching the interlopers, he made some predictions. The prissy one would leave when she saw a spider. She left before that, when she saw a harmless snake. The one in the weird hat would want to hug him. He put his prickles out, so it would be difficult. All knowing tree watched them slink back out Away from the heart of the forest, into the light shadows Why did no one warn me? He wondered. Where were the birds? They were curiously absent.