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A gray darkness lay over the land, blanketing the tiny village in shadows. There was but silence and faint moonlight and no one stirring about. So very, very calm. Touru could not rest, though. He dreamt too much to sleep. He dreamt of people and places far away--and of magic, too.

Touru hopped from his feather bed. He slipped on his moccasins, and crept through the tiny village, up to his favorite place. Like a quiet, little mouse. High atop Tangoro Mountain, overlooking all at rest and dream, the moon seemed so big and the little town so little.

Touru looked at the bright stars. He wondered who was out there and when strange visitors might come to visit. He wished for some friends--perhaps wondrous beings of light from the stars! The boy loved his family, but poor Touru so wanted adventure. The stars called to him with their many hidden possibilities.

And then. . .

Suddenly, one shiny star moved! It flew straight across the sky and floated right down to Touru. Such a bright wonder! Touru wasn't afraid at all, though. No, he stood up tall, and watched the bright star land. Its gentle warmth touched his cheek, making him smile a large smile.

What had seemed like a little star, became a large, glowing saucer. It landed in front of Touru, then went very quiet. As a small door slowly opened up, Touru's heart beat faster. Little beings, no taller than Touru, came out from the saucer and looked all about.

The boy was still smiling, but he didn't move at all. The beings smiled back at him. Then, one came forward. His name was Nâggi. The being approached Touru holding up his little hand of long, thin fingers.

"Salutations, little friend," he seemed to say, but his lips didn't move at all!

Touru wasn't frightened, but he found he couldn't speak! He tried and tried, but he couldn't say a word. Finally, Nâggi spoke to him.

"Try to think words, no speaking. I would like to see your world," he said smiling. "Please show me."

Well, Touru was happy to have new friends. Of course he'd help!

Touru watched as Nâggi's friends went back into their flying star.

The two friends walked through the woods. Touru showed Nâggi all kinds of plants.

"This is a tree. This is a leaf."

"Tree," repeated Nâggi. "Leaf."

Each time Touru said a word for something, the little being repeated it.

Just then, Nâggi spotted something.

"Porpum!" he shouted. "Is Porpum!"

Touru didn't understand, so Nâggi pointed to a violet and then to his crystal pendant. It twinkled purple in the moonlight.

"Oh, purple," said Touru.

"Yes," Nâggi replied. "We have flowers, but we have little trees."

"You don't have a lot of trees?" Touru asked.

Nâggi said they did have forests a long time ago, but no more.

"Our ancestors cut them all down. No more."

"That's terrible," said Touru. "Why did they do that?"

Suddenly, Touru saw a picture in his mind--a picture of campfires burning bright. He watched the images change.

"Our ancestors, a long time ago, needed wood to keep warm. They cut lots," said Nâggi, "but they never replanted. One day, trees almost disappeared. Karin, our wise leader said, 'We must change quickly! Our wood is almost gone!' So we changed."

More images flashed in Touru's mind. At first, he saw big machines and black smoke. But then, he saw bright and beautiful cities, too!

"Now we come for help," said Nâggi. "Bring back flowers and plants. And especially trees!"

"Oh, I can help you!" shouted Touru. "We have lots of different plants here!"

So the two friends gathered all kinds of flowers and plants and baby trees--for almost a whole hour.

When they finished, Touru was quite tired. Nâggi patted him on the shoulder and thanked him.

"Here, take," he said, holding out his hand. He had a crystal for Touru, just like the one he and his friends wore!

"Wow! Thank you, Nâggi," shouted Touru. "You are such a good friend."

Nâggi's friends were waiting for him at their saucer. Touru knew it was time for them to go.

Now Touru felt a bit sad. His new friends were leaving and his adventure was over. One tear rolled down his cheek--one, little tear. Nâggi noticed this and approached his newfound friend. With his long index finger, he touched Touru's warm cheek. The little tear fell to the ground.

Suddenly, where the tear had fallen, a little flower started to grow! It was a purple one, like no flower Touru had seen before. It grew and grew so fast, it was a full-grown flower in no time.

"You must plant," said Nâggi, smiling. "Not let these beautiful plants and trees die."

Then Nâggi went back inside his saucer. It floated up into the sky and soared off. Touru watched it, waved good-bye, then looked at his flower.

"I'll take good care of you," he said to the flower. Then he was so tired, he went back home to bed.

The next morning, a bright and alert Touru jumped from his bed to greet the sunny morning. He ate with his family, then gathered some tools. He had plenty of planting to do.

Touru's proud mom and dad watched him while he worked hard. As he danced around and sang his favorite songs, he planted trees and flowers and bushes. Touru even spread grass seeds wherever he thought they would like to grow. His special friends from the skies had reminded him how important plants were.

That night, as he watched the stars from his favorite spot high atop Tangoro Mountain, he shouted to his friends.

"I understand, Nâggi! I understand! I planted trees and flowers everywhere! Please come back soon!"

And a bright star blinked in response. . .