The crack in the sidewalk grew to an enormous size. As Basil, Ren, and the other kids in their class watched, asmall purple flower poked through the road. It was a bright lavender, wet with dew sparkling in the sunlight. Apink dust flew out of it as the crack grew. As most of the other kids ran when they saw the gap, Ren watched inawe, along with Basil. Though the crack was like a sinkhole, the flower was what drew their attention. It’sbeautiful petals were gleaming, and it’s green stem towered further and further into the air. Ren pulled out herphone to record, and Basil just stood in awe. They looked at each other, trying to see if the other knew whatwas going on.“You saw that?” Basil asked, eyes wide. Ren nodded, still recording. The flower doubled in size, growingrapidly with a thick green vine emerging from the crack as well. The vine branched apart, separating fromitself. More of the strange purple flowers blossomed from it. Basil spotted a little cat-like creature sitting on thevines.“Zoom in,” Basil said, pointing at the cat. Ren zoomed in on it and saw that it was not actually a cat. As Renzoomed up on the cat, she noticed something. The cat… wasn’t really a cat. It had three tails instead of one,eight legs instead of four, and it wasn’t holding on with claws. It didn’t even have claws. It was sticking. Renlooked closer, and the ‘cat’ climbed down the stem, straight down the side. It perched on another vine, andlocked eyes with Ren. Basil’s eyes were wide.“It’s kinda cute.” Said Ren. Basil paused.“I… guess?? Ok, it is.” Said Basil. Ren looked back at the cat.“I think it wants us to follow it.” Said Ren. She started to walk closer.“Dude, are you crazy, we still have calculus!” Said Basil.“And risk losing this? No way!” Said Ren.Ren dragged Basil over to the crack, in which, not just vines, but a TREE was growing. Ren climbed up intothe branches, which lowered themselves to help her up. Basil sighed. ‘I guess I can’t stop her now,’ she thought,‘She really does act off of impulse.’ So Basil climbed in after her. The experience was magical. As soon as shereached her hands up to grab the nearest branch, the other branches scooped down towards her, helping her upthe tree. When she looked down, she didn’t see the school campus anymore. Instead, a fluffy moss covered theground. Fireflies danced in the leaves and as she looked through the branches, she saw that she was in a forestof the same trees with thick trunks, bright green leaves, and dewy lavender flowers. A strange white deer withlarge antlers that had crystals hanging from them was eating the fluffy moss, under the cover of the trees. It wasHUGE. Basil looked up again and saw Ren cuddling the strange cat.“What on EARTH are you doing? That cat could be, like poisonous or something!” Shouted Basil.“I don’t think so. I climbed onto the branch he was on, and he just climbed into my lap!” Ren shouted back.Basil shook her head.“Imma call him Morris.” Said Ren, beaming. Ren looked down, and suddenly saw the ground below.“HOLY- WHA-???” Ren looked less scared, and more confused. She looked at Basil and said,“Man, I am SO glad we skipped calculus!” Ren said, flabbergasted.“Me too, but… I don’t know. Something about this feels off.” Basil said. “I might lose my perfect attendancerecord! And what if we get assigned like, a big project? What if there’s a pop quiz? What if—”“Basil! Calm down! Most likely, all we have to do is climb back down the tree and then we’ll end up back atschool! We. Will. Be. FINE.” Ren said. The fuzzy cat-spider-thing nuzzled Ren’s hand and then looked down atBasil, making its eyes huge and addictively cute. Basil looked back down the tree then made her way further uptowards Ren.
