Deep within the Whispering Woods, where ancient trees rustled secrets and a winding stream hummed a lullaby, lived many small, busy creatures. There were chattering squirrels, scurrying hedgehogs, and hopping rabbits, all going about their days. And then, perched on the edge of the rocky hill that overlooked the woods, lived Faelan. Faelan was a troll. Not a grumpy, bridge-guarding troll, but a very large, very quiet troll who mostly sat still, looking like a part of the rocky slope itself.
Most of the small creatures in the woods were a little wary of Faelan. He was simply so big, and he didn't say much. They’d seen his enormous feet and his hands the size of dinner plates, and they imagined all sorts of things. But Faelan paid them no mind; he just watched the clouds drift by and the leaves turn colour with quiet contentment. He had hair like moss and skin like grey stone, and his eyes were the colour of warm, brown earth, but few creatures ever got close enough to see the kindness in them.
One particularly sunny afternoon, a little squirrel named Pip was having a terrible time. Pip had a collection of truly magnificent shiny acorns, and his favourite, the most dazzling of them all, had somehow rolled away. He searched near his nest, under the fern fronds, and beside the bubbling stream, chittering with distress. He searched and searched until his whiskers twitched with frustration. The shiny acorn was nowhere to be found in all the usual places.
His search paths led him further than he usually dared, closer and closer to the rocky hill where Faelan lived. Pip’s heart thumped like a tiny drum against his ribs. He could see the massive shape of the troll sitting perfectly still, looking at the sky. Pip hesitated. What if the big troll wasn’t friendly? What if he was… well, troll-like? But the shiny acorn was special. Gathering all his courage, Pip scampered a little closer, his tail twitching nervously.
He stopped a safe distance away and squeaked, “Excuse me, Mr. Troll? Sir?” Faelan didn’t move for a moment, then very slowly, his large head turned. His earthy brown eyes, surprisingly gentle, looked down at the tiny squirrel. Pip felt a shiver, but stood his ground. “I’ve lost my favourite shiny acorn,” Pip squeaked again, a little louder. “It’s very special to me. Have you seen it anywhere?”
Faelan blinked his slow, kind eyes. His voice, when it came, was not a rumble or a roar, but a soft, low sound, like pebbles tumbling in a quiet stream. “A shiny acorn, you say?” he murmured. “Yes, I have seen something like that.” With immense care, Faelan slowly lifted one of his huge hands. He pointed a thick, stone-like finger towards the ground, right beside where his foot rested. And there, glinting in a sunbeam, was Pip’s beloved shiny acorn.
Pip gasped. It had rolled right to Faelan’s feet! Faelan then did something even more surprising. He bent down, very carefully, his large form moving with surprising gentleness. His enormous fingers, thick as branches, carefully scooped up the small, shiny acorn. He held it out on his open palm towards Pip. Pip, no longer afraid, scampered forward and carefully took the acorn from the giant hand. It felt safe and warm.
“Thank you,” Pip whispered, looking up into the troll’s kind face. “Thank you very much.” Faelan gave a slow, gentle nod and a soft smile that crinkled the stone-like skin around his eyes. Pip clutched his acorn tight. He realised the big, quiet troll wasn't scary at all. He was kind and gentle. Pip scurried back towards the woods, his heart full of relief and a new understanding.
Pip told all his friends about the kind troll on the hill. The other creatures listened, surprised, and slowly, they started to realise that judging someone just by their size or how quiet they were wasn't fair. Sometimes, the biggest, quietest creatures had the kindest hearts of all. And from that day on, the small creatures of Whispering Woods felt a little safer knowing the gentle troll Faelan was watching over them from the rocky hill, proving that kindness can be found in the most unexpected places. Now, close your eyes, little one, and dream of kind hearts and quiet friends.