Read Whispers in Redwood Creek free: the opening chapter
A free sample of Whispers in Redwood Creek. About 17 minutes of reading.
Silent Forest: Redwood Awakening | The Missing Chorus
The mist hung like a soft blanket over Redwood Creek, clinging to the towering trees. Sunlight struggled to reach the forest floor, turning the ferns a deep, glowing green. Maya Rodriguez loved this time of day. It meant her morning walk with Leo Maxwell was about to begin.
“Ready to race to the creek?” she called, already halfway down the porch steps of her cabin. She didn't wait for an answer, knowing Leo would be right behind her.
Leo appeared a moment later, adjusting the strap of his binoculars. “Not a race, Maya. An observation stroll. There’s a difference.”
Maya grinned. Leo was always trying to make everything official. “Whatever you say, Mr. Scientist.” She took off running, her boots barely making a sound on the soft earth.
Leo sighed, but a small smile played on his lips as he quickened his pace. He enjoyed Maya’s energy, even if it did sometimes clash with his need for order. They'd been exploring Redwood National Park together since they were little kids. He knew every winding trail, every type of tree, and most of the birds that called this place home.
“Did you hear old Man Tiber yesterday?” Maya asked, leaping over a fallen log.
“Tiber? The great horned owl?” Leo asked, scanning the branches above. “No, I didn't. I was mapping the ladybug population near the visitor center.”
Maya stopped, frowning. "That’s weird. I always hear him around sunrise. His hoot is super loud. Yesterday… nothing. And even this morning, it’s quiet.”
They reached Redwood Creek, a ribbon of water winding through the ancient forest. Usually, the air here vibrated with life, the chirping of songbirds, the rustling of leaves, the gentle gurgle of the water. Today, though, something felt…off.
“It is quiet,” Leo admitted, lowering his binoculars. He focused them on a thicket of ferns. “I haven’t seen a single hummingbird this morning. They’re usually swarming around the salal.”
Maya scanned the water. “No frogs either. Usually, you can see them sunning themselves on the rocks.” She tossed a small pebble into the creek, watching the ripples spread. “It’s like everyone’s gone to sleep.”
Leo walked to the edge of the water, crouching down. He dipped a finger in, then frowned. “The water feels warmer than usual. And…” He sniffed the air. “Do you smell that?”
Maya inhaled deeply. "Sort of… metallic? Like when Dad works on the truck?"
“Exactly,” Leo said, his brow furrowed. “That doesn’t belong here. Redwood Creek should smell like damp earth and pine needles.”
They walked further along the creek, their usual cheerful chatter replaced by a quiet concern. They passed a cluster of redwood sorrel, its delicate leaves usually bright green. Today, the leaves were tinged with brown, curling at the edges.
“Look at this,” Maya said, pointing. “They look sick.”
Leo examined the plants closely. "Not just sick, Maya. Dying."
They continued their walk, the silence of the forest growing more unsettling with each step. They hadn’t seen a deer, a squirrel, or even a busy little chipmunk. It was as if the entire forest was holding its breath.
“This isn’t right,” Maya said, her voice barely a whisper. “Something’s really wrong.”
Leo, despite his logical nature, felt a prickle of unease. He had spent countless hours in Redwood National Park, observing and documenting its wonders. He knew this forest like the back of his hand. And he knew, with a growing certainty, that something was deeply disturbed.
“I’m going to tell Ranger Reed,” he said, straightening up. “She’ll know what to do.”
Maya nodded. “Good idea. But… let's keep walking a little further first? Just to see if we notice anything else?”
Leo hesitated. He wanted to go straight to the ranger station, to report what they’d found. But he knew Maya. She had a knack for spotting things he often missed. She had a way of feeling the forest, of connecting with it on a deeper level.
“Okay,” he agreed reluctantly. “But we’ll turn back soon.”
They walked another quarter of a mile, following the creek deeper into the forest. The metallic smell grew stronger. The dying redwood sorrel became more widespread. Then, Maya stopped dead in her tracks.
“Leo, look!” She pointed to a large redwood tree, its base covered in a strange, dark slime. The tree itself looked…weak, almost as if it were drooping.
Leo approached cautiously. The slime was thick and oily, and it smelled strongly of the same metallic scent they’d noticed earlier.
“What is that stuff?” he murmured, reaching out to touch it, then quickly pulling his hand back. “It feels…wrong.”
As they stared at the sickly tree, a twig snapped behind them. They whirled around, their hearts pounding.
Standing in the shadows was Kai Tanaka, his eyes fixed on his tablet. Kai was a year older than them, quiet and reserved. He preferred the company of computers to people.
“What are you two doing?” he asked, his voice flat. He didn't look up from his screen.
“We’re…investigating,” Leo said, trying to sound authoritative. “We think something’s wrong with the creek. And with the forest.”
Kai finally glanced up, his expression unreadable. "I picked up some unusual readings on my sensors earlier. Electromagnetic interference. I thought it was just a glitch, but…” He gestured toward the tree with his tablet. “This area is the source.”
“Sensors?” Maya asked, her eyes widening. “What kind of sensors?”
“I built them myself,” Kai said, a flicker of pride in his voice. “They measure electromagnetic fields, sound frequencies, air quality… all sorts of things.”
Before anyone could ask another question, a small figure burst through the trees. It was Chloe Davis, her face flushed with worry.
“Have you guys seen the deer?” she asked, breathlessly. “I haven’t been able to find Willow anywhere. She’s usually near the meadow, but she’s not there. And I… I feel something bad. Something really bad.”
Chloe had a special gift. She could sense what animals were feeling. She knew when they were happy, scared, or in pain. And right now, she was clearly distressed.
Leo, Maya, and Kai exchanged glances. The silence of the forest, the dying plants, the strange slime, the metallic smell, the electromagnetic interference… and now, a missing deer and Chloe’s unsettling premonition.
Something was definitely wrong in Redwood Creek. And they had a feeling it was more than just a coincidence.
“We need to find out what’s happening,” Leo said, his voice filled with determination. “We need to find out what’s hurting our forest.”
Maya nodded, her eyes shining with resolve. “We’re the Redwood Rangers, right? It’s what we do.”
Kai, surprisingly, didn’t object. He just adjusted his glasses and said, “Let’s gather data.”
Chloe, clutching her favorite stuffed otter, added, “And we need to find Willow.”
The metallic smell suddenly seemed stronger, carried on a breeze. Leo’s gaze drifted upwards, scanning the dense canopy. He thought he saw something move, a fleeting shadow amongst the towering redwoods. But when he looked again, there was nothing there.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.
The Missing Chorus: A Growing Concern
Maya pulled out her small notebook, the cover decorated with pressed ferns. “Okay, operation ‘Dawn Chorus Check’ is officially underway.” She scanned the branches above, her eyes quick and sharp. “Usually, by now, Old Man Tiber’s song would have started. He’s the earliest singer in the whole park.”
Leo frowned, adjusting his binoculars. He loved birdwatching. He knew every call, every nesting spot, every little habit of the birds in Redwood Creek. But this morning… nothing. Just the rustle of leaves and the distant rush of the creek.
“Nothing,” he said, lowering the binoculars. “Not a single warble, chirp, or trill. It's… eerie.”
Kai, already hunched over his tablet, didn’t look up. “My sound sensors picked up the same thing. A ninety-seven percent decrease in avian vocalizations compared to this time last week.”
Chloe shivered, hugging her stuffed otter tighter. “It feels sad. Like they’re all hiding, scared of something.”
Maya started scribbling in her notebook. “Okay, Tiber, missing. Ruby-crowned kinglet, missing. Spotted towhee, missing. This is way beyond a quiet morning. Something’s definitely up.” She circled each name with a determined flourish. “I’m marking every bird we don’t hear. We need a list. A proper, detailed list.”
Leo admired Maya’s dedication. She wasn’t just worried, she was doing something. He wished he could be as… organized. He tended to overthink things, getting lost in possibilities instead of focusing on what was right in front of him.
“Good idea, Maya,” he said, forcing himself to focus. “Let’s start near the creek. That’s where we first noticed something felt off.”
They followed the winding path alongside Redwood Creek, the giant trees looming overhead like ancient guardians. Sunlight dripped through the canopy, dappling the forest floor in shades of green and gold. But even the beauty of the redwoods couldn’t quite lift the strange, heavy feeling that hung in the air.
Maya moved quickly, scanning the undergrowth. She knew this part of the park like the back of her hand. Every root, every rock, every patch of ferns was familiar to her. But today, things looked… different.
“Look at this,” she said, pointing to a patch of disturbed soil. “Something’s been digging here. Maybe a badger? But the soil is all… broken up, not dug. Like something heavy was dragged across it.”
Leo knelt down, examining the ground. Maya was right. It wasn’t a clean dig, but a messy scrape. And the disturbed area extended towards the creek.
“And look at this,” Kai said, his voice unusually animated. He was pointing his tablet’s camera at a cluster of ferns. “The ferns are wilted. Brown edges. That usually only happens in late summer, when it’s really dry.”
Chloe walked slowly, her eyes scanning the trees. She stopped suddenly, her face pale. “I… I can feel it. Something is hurting the trees. It's like a sickness spreading through them.” She reached out and gently touched the bark of a redwood. “They’re sad.”
Leo felt a prickle of unease. He hadn’t noticed the wilting ferns, too focused on the bird sounds. Or lack thereof. He hadn’t really considered the trees were suffering, either. He was so focused on the birds, on what he knew, he hadn't thought to look beyond that.
“Okay,” he said, trying to sound confident. “Let’s follow the disturbed ground. See where it leads.”
The disturbed earth led them deeper into the forest, towards a part of the creek they rarely visited. The undergrowth grew thicker, making it harder to navigate. The metallic smell, which they’d first noticed yesterday, was stronger here.
“It smells like… metal,” Maya said, wrinkling her nose. “Like something’s rusting.”
“My sensors are detecting elevated levels of iron and copper in the soil,” Kai said, still glued to his tablet. “And… something else. An unknown compound. I can’t identify it.”
Suddenly, Chloe stopped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Willow!” she cried. “I can feel her! She’s close, but… she’s scared. Really scared.”
They followed Chloe as she pushed through the bushes, her small body moving with surprising agility. They emerged into a small clearing, and there, near the creek bank, stood Willow, the young deer. But she wasn’t alone.
She was standing near a section of the creek where the water was murky and still. And beside the creek, partially hidden by bushes, was a metal pipe, sticking out from the bank. A faint humming sound emanated from it.
“What is that?” Leo breathed, his voice barely a whisper.
Maya cautiously approached the pipe, peering at it with a critical eye. “It’s… a drainpipe? But it doesn’t lead anywhere. It just empties into the creek.”
Kai rushed forward, his tablet in hand. “The humming… it's electromagnetic radiation. And the compound I detected in the soil? It’s leaking from that pipe!” He started furiously typing on his tablet. “This is bad. Really bad.”
Chloe knelt beside Willow, gently stroking her neck. The deer trembled, her eyes wide with fear. “She’s afraid of the water,” Chloe whispered. “She won't drink.”
Leo stared at the murky creek, then at the metal pipe, then back at the silent forest. The missing birds, the wilting ferns, the disturbed earth, the metallic smell, the humming pipe, the frightened deer… it was all connected.
“I think,” he said slowly, “we’ve found the source of the problem.” He swallowed, a knot forming in his stomach. This wasn’t just a natural occurrence. Someone, or something, was actively hurting the forest. And he had a very bad feeling about it. He glanced at Maya, Kai, and Chloe. They were all looking at him, waiting for him to say something.
“We need to tell Ranger Reed,” he said, trying to sound sure, even though his voice shook slightly. “Right away.”
But as he turned to leave, he noticed something else. A small, almost hidden path, leading away from the clearing, deeper into the woods. It wasn't on any of the park maps. And at the entrance to the path, partially obscured by leaves, lay a small, torn piece of paper. A map fragment. And on it, a single word was visible: “Blackwood.”
“We need to tell Ranger Reed,” he said, trying to sound sure, even though his voice shook slightly. “Right away.”
But as he turned to leave, he noticed something else. A small, almost hidden path, leading away from the clearing, deeper into the woods. It wasn't on any of the park maps. And at the entrance to the path, partially obscured by leaves, lay a small, torn piece of paper. A map fragment. And on it, a single word was visible: “Blackwood.”
Maya was the first to speak. “Wait a minute. Blackwood? That’s old man Hemlock’s place. He lives way up on the ridge, practically abandoned his cabin years ago.”
Kai, still examining the readings on his tablet, looked up. “Hemlock? I read something about him in the park archives. He was a geologist. A bit eccentric, apparently. Obsessed with finding rare earth minerals.”
“And what if that pipe is connected to his old mining operation?” Leo asked, his mind racing. “What if he’s been illegally dumping something into the creek?”
Chloe, who had remained with Willow, gently coaxed the deer to take a few cautious steps. “Willow feels… anxious about that path. She’s saying it’s a place of darkness.”
“Okay, we can’t just rush to Ranger Reed,” Maya said, her eyes gleaming with determination. “We need evidence. Solid proof. Ranger Reed will want to know where this pipe leads, and what exactly is being leaked into the creek.”
“But it’s getting late,” Kai pointed out, checking the time on his tablet. “And that path looks… overgrown. It could take hours to explore.”
“We work as a team,” Leo said, remembering their promise from the beginning. “Maya, you’re the best tracker. You take the lead on the path. Kai, keep monitoring the levels of whatever’s leaking from that pipe and scan the area for more hidden pipes. Chloe, stay with Willow and use your connection to the animals to warn us of any danger.” He looked at each of them, ensuring they understood. “I’ll document everything, just like I’ve been doing with the birds.”
Maya quickly gathered her notepad and pencil. “Right. Let's go.”
The path was narrow and winding, forcing them to walk single file. The undergrowth was thick, snagging at their clothes. As they ventured deeper, the metallic smell grew stronger. Leo diligently recorded their observations: the type of plants they passed, the condition of the trail, and any signs of recent activity. He noted the absence of birdsong, even more pronounced here.
After about twenty minutes, Maya stopped abruptly. “Footprints,” she whispered, pointing to the muddy ground. “Old ones, but definitely human. And… tire tracks. Small ones, like from an ATV.”
Kai's tablet beeped urgently. “The leak is getting worse! The concentration of the unknown compound is increasing rapidly downstream.”
Chloe suddenly gasped. “Willow says… something is watching us. Something big.”
Leo felt a shiver run down his spine. They were no longer just investigating a mystery. They were entering something dangerous. He gripped his notepad tighter, his heart pounding. Whatever was happening in Redwood Creek, it was far more complicated, and far more sinister, than they had ever imagined.
Old Man Tiber’s Tale: Echoes of the Past
The kids pushed forward, following Maya as she carefully examined the footprints. The tire tracks were faint, but definite, leading deeper into the woods. Chloe kept her hand on Willow, her eyes scanning the towering trees, listening for any sign of the “something big” the little hummingbird had sensed.
“This feels…wrong,” Chloe murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “Even Willow seems nervous.”
Leo tried to stay focused on documenting everything, but it was hard. The silence felt heavier now, less peaceful and more…expectant. The metallic smell hung in the air, stinging his nostrils. He wished he could hear something, a bird call, a squirrel chattering, anything.
“Think we should turn back?” Kai asked, his voice unusually hesitant. He kept glancing at his tablet, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“No,” Maya said firmly. “We’ve come this far. Whatever’s causing the pollution, it’s close. And Willow said something is watching us. I want to know what it is.”
Leo admired Maya’s courage. He was starting to feel scared, but he wouldn’t admit it. “Maya’s right. We agreed to see this through. Let’s just be careful.” He adjusted the strap of his backpack, feeling the weight of his notebook and pencils.
They continued on, the path becoming even more overgrown. Thorny bushes clawed at their arms and legs. Leo stumbled over a root, nearly falling, but Maya reached out and steadied him.
“Watch your step,” she said, her eyes focused on the trail ahead. “This place is a maze.”
After another twenty minutes of difficult hiking, the path opened into a small clearing. In the center stood a tiny, weathered cabin. It looked abandoned, its windows boarded up, its paint peeling. Smoke curled lazily from a rusty chimney.
“Someone is here,” Kai said, his voice a mix of surprise and suspicion.
“Stay close,” Leo cautioned. He raised his notebook, pretending to take notes, but really trying to assess the situation. The cabin gave him a bad feeling.
As they approached, an old man emerged from the cabin, leaning on a crooked walking stick. He was thin and wiry, with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes. He wore patched overalls and a faded flannel shirt. He didn't seem surprised to see them.
“Well now,” he rasped, his voice like dry leaves rustling in the wind. “What have we here? A gaggle of youngsters lost in the woods?”
“We’re not lost,” Maya said, stepping forward. “We’re investigating the creek. We noticed the water is polluted.”
The old man chuckled, a dry, rattling sound. “Polluted, you say? That creek’s seen a lot in its time. A whole lot.”
“Do you know what’s causing it?” Leo asked, trying to sound polite.
The old man’s eyes narrowed. “I know more than most about this forest. They call me Old Man Tiber. Been living here since before Redwood became a park.” He gestured with his walking stick. “Come inside. I’ll tell you a story. A story about greed, and secrets, and the things people will do for a little bit of gold.”
The cabin was small and cluttered, filled with strange objects: old tools, animal skulls, dried herbs hanging from the rafters. The air smelled of wood smoke and something else…something earthy and musty.
Old Man Tiber settled into a rocking chair by the fireplace and began to speak. His voice was low and gravelly, but his words painted a vivid picture.
“Years ago,” he began, “before this land was protected, a man named Blackwood came here. He was a logger, like his father and grandfather before him. But Blackwood wasn’t content with taking only what the forest freely gave. He wanted everything. He wanted to clear-cut the entire valley, sell the redwoods for a fortune.”
Chloe gasped. “But the redwoods are so important!”
“They are,” Old Man Tiber said sadly. “But Blackwood didn’t care about importance. He only cared about money. The townspeople protested, of course. But Blackwood had powerful friends. He had the county sheriff in his pocket.”
“He started logging illegally, deep within the forest, where no one could see. He built a secret mill, hidden in a ravine. He dumped the waste directly into Redwood Creek, poisoning the water. The animals started to get sick. The fish died. The forest itself began to wither.”
Kai, who had been silently recording everything on his tablet, looked up. “Did anyone stop him?”
“A few brave souls tried,” Old Man Tiber said. “A young ranger named Elias Thorne. He gathered evidence, tried to expose Blackwood’s operation. But Blackwood was too powerful. He framed Thorne, accused him of sabotage. Thorne was fired, discredited, and forced to leave the area.”
Leo frowned. “What happened to Blackwood?”
Old Man Tiber shook his head. “He got away with it. He sold the lumber, made a fortune, and lived out his days in luxury. But the forest never forgot. And neither did the creek.” He paused, his eyes fixed on Leo. “There’s an old legend, passed down through generations. It says that when someone tries to exploit the forest again, the creek will rise up and reveal the truth.”
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Blackwood had a grandson. Silas Blackwood. He runs a logging company now, a legitimate one, or so he claims. Some folks say he’s been up to no good, just like his grandfather.”
Maya exchanged a look with Leo. Silas Blackwood. The name sounded familiar. They’d seen his company’s trucks driving near the park entrance.
“Follow the shadow of Blackwood,” Old Man Tiber said, his voice barely a whisper. “That’s what they used to say. Follow the shadow, and you’ll find the truth.”
He fell silent, staring into the flickering flames of the fireplace. The kids looked at each other, a sense of unease settling over them.
“Thank you, Old Man Tiber,” Leo said finally. “That was… a very interesting story.”
“It’s not just a story, boy,” the old man said, his eyes gleaming. “It’s a warning. And it seems like the warning is coming true again.”
They left the cabin, the old man’s words echoing in their minds. The forest felt even darker and more ominous now.
As they walked back towards the creek, Chloe suddenly stopped, her face pale. “Willow says… he's watching us. The man from the cabin. Old Man Tiber.”
Kai frowned. “What do you mean?”
Chloe shook her head. “I don’t know. Willow just…feels like he’s not telling us everything. Like he’s hiding something.”
Leo felt a chill run down his spine. Old Man Tiber's tale was compelling, but something didn't quite add up. And if Chloe and Willow were right, they were being watched.
He glanced back towards the cabin, half-expecting to see the old man standing in the doorway. But the cabin was silent, shrouded in shadows.
“Let’s get back to Ranger Reed,” Leo said, his voice tight with apprehension. “We need to tell her everything.”
But as they hurried through the trees, Leo couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap. Something was definitely wrong. And the shadow of Blackwood was looming larger with every step.
The sample ends here.