The Singing Bush

It all began with a single, unexpected note.

Victoria froze mid-step, her eyes narrowing as the sound echoed through the forest clearing. “Did anyone else hear that?”

“Hear what?” Tom asked, peering around suspiciously.

“That,” she hissed, gesturing toward a thick cluster of bushes. Another note floated out, lilting and sweet, as though someone was singing just out of sight.

Emily leaned in, clutching her bag of herbs. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s suspicious,” Alex muttered, arms crossed.

Tom grinned. “Maybe it’s a bard lost in the bushes. Should we toss a Lumin at it?”

Victoria rolled her eyes. “Or it’s a trap. Magical creatures love luring people in with songs, remember?”

“Oh, come on,” Tom said, stepping closer. “What’s the worst that could happen? We get a free concert?”

“Or we get eaten,” Alex deadpanned.

Emily ignored them, moving toward the bush. “What if it’s someone who needs help?” She crouched next to the leaves, peering into the thicket.

“Emily, don’t!” Victoria hissed.

Too late. Emily reached into the bushes, pulling aside the branches to reveal... a perfectly ordinary-looking shrub.

The group stared at it in silence.

“Did the bush... stop singing?” Tom asked, leaning closer.

“Because it knows we’re watching,” Victoria said, her voice tight.

“That’s ridiculous,” Alex said. “It’s a bush.”

As if in defiance, the bush suddenly let out a low hum, followed by a soft, cheerful melody.

Tom jumped back. “Okay, never mind. It’s haunted.”

“It’s not haunted,” Emily said, tilting her head. “It’s enchanted.”

“Great,” Alex muttered. “A magical shrub. My day is complete.”

Victoria crouched beside Emily, inspecting the bush. Its small green leaves shimmered faintly in the dappled sunlight. Nestled in its center was a single, tiny golden flower.

“That’s what’s doing it,” Victoria said, pointing to the bloom. “The flower’s singing.”

Tom groaned. “Let me guess—this is one of those ‘rare magical plants that only blooms once a century and has a personality’ things, right?”

“Possibly,” Emily said, her eyes gleaming. “It’s so pretty.”

“Pretty and loud,” Alex added, covering his ears as the bush’s melody grew louder.

Victoria frowned. “We need to figure out what it wants. Enchanted plants don’t just sit around singing for no reason.”

“Maybe it’s lonely,” Emily suggested.

Tom snorted. “It’s a bush. It doesn’t have feelings.”

The bush immediately let out a mournful, off-key wail.

The group winced.

“You had to say it,” Victoria muttered.

“Okay, okay,” Tom said, holding up his hands. “Sorry, bush. You’re very nice, and I’m sure you have a great personality.”

The melody shifted again, this time to something upbeat and cheerful.

Emily beamed. “See? It forgives you!”

“Wonderful,” Alex muttered. “Now can we leave?”

Victoria shook her head. “Not yet. If this is an enchanted plant, it’s probably valuable. People pay a fortune for magical flowers like that.”

“Wait,” Tom said, his eyes widening. “You mean... it’s worth money?”

“Probably,” Victoria replied.

Tom immediately lunged for the bush, hands outstretched.

“Tom, no!” Emily cried, but it was too late.

As soon as his hands touched the leaves, the bush let out an earsplitting screech. Tom recoiled, clutching his ears as the sound echoed through the clearing.

“Bad idea!” he shouted over the noise.

“No kidding,” Alex snapped.

Victoria groaned, stepping forward. “Let me try.” She crouched in front of the bush, holding her hands up placatingly. “Okay, little plant, what do you want? Food? Water?”

The bush wiggled slightly, its leaves rustling. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, it began to hum again—this time in a steady, rhythmic pattern.

“It’s... a tune,” Emily said, tilting her head. “Like it wants us to sing back.”

Tom stared at her. “You’re joking.”

“She’s right,” Victoria said, her face lighting up. “It’s testing us!”

“Great,” Alex muttered. “A magical karaoke challenge. My life’s dream.”

Tom groaned. “If this is what it takes to shut it up, fine. Let’s sing.”

The group exchanged hesitant glances before launching into a clumsy attempt at copying the bush’s melody. It wasn’t pretty—Emily was off-key, Victoria was too loud, and Tom’s voice cracked halfway through—but the bush seemed to approve.

Its leaves shimmered, and the golden flower detached itself, floating gently into Victoria’s hands.

“See?” she said, grinning. “We passed the test.”

Tom rubbed his temples. “I think I lost five years of my life from that screech, but fine. Was it worth it?”

Victoria held up the flower, its glow catching the light. “Definitely.”

The bush gave one final hum before falling silent.

Alex crossed his arms. “Next time, I’m staying home.”