“Guys!!!” Thomas yelled with excitement as he came running into the village.  “It’s open!  It’s open!” 

Both Kel and Kya looked up from a big piece of paper they had unfurled on the ground. There was a stone in each corner to help keep it open.  As Thomas got closer he could see that it was the plans for a new building. Their village was growing quickly and needed some new space.

Just then a great gust of wind ripped through the village.  The tops of the evergreen trees creaked as they bent and the paper was tossed into the air despite the rocks holding it down. 

“I got it!”  yelled a pink and white Belemiod who was watching from her favorite spot in the lake. 

Shasta climbed and ran after the paper before it could reach the water. The paper had already curled up again and so it was easy for her to pick up.  

“Thank you Shasta. “ Kel said as he grabbed the loosely rolled up paper.  Then he turned and gave it to Kya.

“I think it’s just too windy right now to be looking at this.  Maybe tonight when everyone's sleeping we can look at it in the big hall. “ 

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“You're right.  That’s the second time the plans have gone flying. “ Kya agreed.

“Now that the excitement has died down, care to tell us exactly what is open. “ Kel turned to Thomas.

Curious Shasta stayed to hear what Thomas had to say.  

“The Bunker is open!  I went up there to try and see if I could get the door open and it was standing open.  So I peeked inside.  It looks like another world in there.  It was all green trees and bushes and I saw-”  He switched to a harsh loud whisper but his voice betrayed how excited he was. “And there were creatures that had round bodies and many, many legs!”

Kel looked at Kya.  “I have to check this out.  If there are dangerous animals in there-” he trailed off.

Kya just nodded.  She had known Kel for a long time.  “ Just be careful there. “ Then she turned and walked into her house to go store the plans.

Kel turned to Thomas.  “I guess you're going with me. Let’s go. “

Shasta spoke up.  “I want to go. Just because I like to swim in my lake does not mean I don’t like adventures.”

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“Well they do say there is safety in numbers.” Kel muttered.  “Alright you two.  Let’s go take a peek. “

It took the three of them a good two hours to walk through the forest of evergreen trees.  The wind gusts bowed the tops of the trees and there were several times when the creaking caused them to look up and wonder if a tree was about to be blown down. Occasionally they caught glimpses of the tall black mountain range in the distance. 

They finally spied the bunker and went inside. 

“It is so strange to see it open. “ Shasta said.  

Kel couldn’t agree more.  He had seen the door shut for so long it just seemed to be wrong somehow.

“You two coming or what?” Thomas asked.  He was already inside and was peering at them from around the corner. 

“Thomas!  We need to stick together.” Kel shouted.  

Thomas laughed and ducked back inside. Kel swallowed a curse and ran in after him.  

“Guys wait for me!”  Shasta shouted as she too disappeared into the depths.

The three stopped just inside and stared in awe.  This place should not be.  It was filled with green plants. Trees and bushes and plants they had never seen before.  

“Isn’t this exciting!”  Thomas said.  Kel and Shasta could only nod in agreement.  They moved deeper into the underground jungle to see what they could find. 

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