The giant squirrel stood like a guardian knight, its fluffy tail swishing so hard the leaves shook. Hazel, Mina, and Liora sat frozen, like children caught with their hands in a cookie jar.
Hazel wiped berry juice off her chin and tried a smile. "Um… good squirrel… mighty squirrel… wonderful tail you have there…"
The squirrel narrowed its eyes. "You dare flatter me after devouring the sacred berries of Nutwood?!"
Mina squeaked, wringing her hands. "I told you this was a bad idea! I said the berries were suspicious, but noooo—"
Hazel elbowed her. "Not helping, Mina."
Liora, calm as ever, stood and gave a polite bow. "Forgive us. We didn't know these berries belonged to anyone."
The squirrel tapped its staff against the ground with a loud thump. "Ignorance is no excuse! You must face the Tribunal of Nutwood."
Hazel blinked. "…the what now?"
"The Tribunal!" The squirrel puffed its chest proudly. "Where justice is served… in the form of acorns."
Before anyone could question that, the ground beneath them shifted. Roots twisted up from the soil, forming a circle around them. The trees groaned, branches bending until three more squirrels appeared, each sitting upon a throne of leaves and twigs.
Mina's jaw dropped. "We're on trial… by squirrels?"
Hazel whispered, "I don't know whether to be terrified or impressed."
The three tribunal squirrels began chattering among themselves in dramatic tones, pointing their paws and shaking their tails like dignified judges. Finally, the leader raised its staff.
"The charges: berry theft, gluttony, and… excessive giggling!"
Hazel gasped. "Hey, laughing shouldn't be a crime!"
Mina groaned into her hands. "We're going to be executed by squirrels. This is how we die."
Liora, expressionless, asked, "What is the punishment?"
The tribunal conferred, tails swishing with importance. The lead squirrel finally declared, "You shall be sentenced to… community service!"
The girls blinked.
"Community service?" Hazel repeated.
"Yes," the leader said gravely. "You must gather one hundred acorns before sunset and deliver them to the Great Pile."
Hazel's shoulders sagged. "That's… that's just chores."
Mina whined. "But I don't even know where acorns come from!"
Liora tilted her head. "…Trees."
"Oh." Mina flushed. "Right."
And so, the three girls—once noble guinea pigs, now accidental berry criminals—found themselves spending an entire afternoon scurrying around the forest, arms full of acorns, while squirrels judged their technique. Hazel tried balancing acorns on her head for fun, Mina complained the whole time about blisters she didn't even have, and Liora silently stacked perfect piles like she'd been waiting her whole life for this.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, they were exhausted, covered in dirt and leaves, and Hazel had somehow made herself a crown out of acorn caps.
The Tribunal of Squirrels inspected their work, nodded in approval, and declared, "Justice is served."
Then they all vanished back into the trees, leaving the girls standing alone in the quiet forest.
Hazel threw her arms up. "Well! That wasn't so bad. See, Mina? We survived!"
Mina slumped against a tree. "Barely. My dignity didn't."
Liora brushed dirt off her dress and looked up at the stars. "If this is what adventure is like… it may be a very long journey."