In the heart of autumn, a forest floor comes alive under a quilt of fallen leaves. As the leaves settle, they bring the magic of shelter and sustenance, nurturing the earth through the quiet months of winter. For countless creatures – from tiny beetles to sleepy salamanders – these leaves are home, warmth, and a winter pantry.
But the humans came, rakes in hand, gathering and clearing, leaving the soil bare and cold. “Why do they take our leaves?” wondered Moss the mouse as he watched from a hollow in the old oak.
Rustle, an elder fox, heard him and replied, “They think the leaves are a mess. But these leaves protect us all. They feed the soil, shelter the small, and keep the roots warm through the freeze.”
Moss nodded, thinking of the earthworms and ladybugs who’d lose their winter refuge. “If they left the leaves alone, we’d all be better off, wouldn’t we?”
Rustle’s eyes twinkled. “Yes. Sometimes the best help is to let things be. Leaves are not just fallen things – they’re gifts for the earth, nature’s blanket keeping life safe and sound.”
And so, a message drifted through the forest with the autumn breeze: Leave leaves alone, and let the forest thrive.