Mila and the Valley of Quiet Giants

Chapter 1: We lost

The footprint outside Mila’s window was too big for a dog, too deep for a bird, and much too strange to ignore.

It had three toes.

Mila placed her shoe beside it. Her whole foot fitted inside the middle toe.

“Well,” she whispered, “you certainly aren’t a pigeon.”

The tracks led toward the tall ridge beyond town. Everyone said there was nothing behind it except rocks and trees. But once, while lying awake, Mila had heard something beyond the ridge breathe.

Something enormous.

She fetched her sketchbook and found Grandpa tending his beans.

“Will you come exploring?”

Grandpa looked at the footprint.

He looked at Mila.