The Transfer Student
The Transfer Student — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
The colossal tree-school, Arbor Academy, groaned softly as another class bell chimed, its sound echoing through the leaf-strewn hallways. Students, a kaleidoscope of twiglings and saplings, rushed past, their laughter intermingling with the rustling of the ancient leaves. A new student, Elara, hesitated at the foot of the grand staircase spiraling up into the canopy, clutching her worn satchel nervously. "Well," she sighed, "Here goes nothing."
Page 2
Elara navigated the winding corridors, lined with classrooms carved directly into the living wood of the tree. She peeked into a history class where Professor Bramble, a kindly old gnome with a beard of moss and spectacles perched on his nose, lectured on the Great Root Wars. I hope I can find my dorm room before dark, Elara thought, clutching a small, smooth stone she found near the entrance.
Page 3
"Lost, are we?" a cheerful voice chirped. A boy with vibrant blue hair and mismatched socks bounded into view, a mischievous grin on his face. "I'm Finn, and you must be the transfer student! Professor Bramble mentioned you might need help finding your way around," he said, extending a hand. "As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things,'" Finn declared with a flourish.
Page 4
"Elara," she replied, shaking his hand, relieved to finally have a friendly face. "I'm hopelessly turned around already." Finn laughed, his eyes sparkling. "Don't worry, everyone gets lost in Arbor Academy at first! The tree shifts its passages with the seasons, just to keep things interesting, come on, let's get you to your dorm, it is up near the maple section."
Page 5
As they walked, the tree seemed to groan, the walls shuddering slightly. Books tumbled from shelves in nearby classrooms, and a low rumble filled the air. "What was that?" Elara asked, her eyes wide with alarm. Finn grabbed her arm, his usual cheer replaced with a serious expression. "That's never a good sign; the tree's pathways are rearranging themselves VERY aggressively."
Page 6
A booming voice echoed through the hallway, "Students, remain calm! The tree is experiencing... seasonal turbulence! Head to the Great Hall immediately!" Professor Bramble, looking flustered, hurried past, his moss beard askew. "Seasonal turbulence?" Elara asked skeptically. Finn shook his head. "That's what they ALWAYS say," he whispered, "but this feels different. More... dangerous. It's like the tree is trying to shake us off."
Page 7
They fought their way against the current of panicked students, pushing toward the Great Hall. The normally vibrant maple section was now choked with fallen leaves, blocking their path. "We'll never make it through this way!" Elara shouted over the din. Finn pointed to a small, almost hidden passage behind a tapestry. "There's a shortcut I know, but it's... unstable, it is near the root passage, the tree's weakest part."
Page 8
They squeezed through the narrow passage, finding themselves in a dark, damp tunnel lined with exposed roots. The tree groaned louder than ever, and the ground beneath them trembled. Suddenly, a section of the tunnel collapsed, blocking their path. "We're trapped!" Elara cried. Then, remembering the smooth stone she picked up at the entrance, she held it up. It began to glow, resonating with the tree's energy, revealing hidden markings carved into the root.
Page 9
Finn recognized the symbols. "Those are the ancient markings of the Arborists, the tree-speakers, The markings show us the correct path to reinforce the damaged section of the root!," he exclaimed. "But we need something to support it—something strong!" Remembering something from history class, Elara said, "Professor Bramble told us that Arborists use fallen branches to support weakened tree roots!".
Page 10
Working together, they gathered the fallen branches and carefully wedged them into place, reinforcing the damaged section of the root. The trembling subsided, and the tree let out a soft sigh of relief. "We did it!" Finn cheered, high-fiving Elara. She smiled, finally feeling like she belonged. The ancient tree-school felt less menacing, and more like a home.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
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