Ep 10: The Story of Bramblekin

Welcome to The Hollow Tree.This is a story for the children who carry too much noise.For the ones who don’t always cry out loud.For the ones who feel the world before they understand it.Let’s begin.🍃 Forest Friend Whisper[Chime]“There are small keepers under the roots of the world.They collect the things that slip from pockets and hearts.Buttons. Wishes. Quiet.I have seen one. It was no taller than a teacup…and braver than thunder.”[Chime]🌿 The Story of BramblekinA Myth for the Ones Who Lose Their QuietAnd now, the tale.Long ago, when shadows still had names and dreams could walk beside you, there lived a small creature called a Bramblekin.No taller than a teacup.Covered in patchy moss fur.Soft as forgotten velvet.The Bramblekin made its home beneath the roots of the Hollow Tree—where the hush lived,and where little humans sometimes wanderedwhen the world was too loud.Bramblekin wasn’t brave.Not the kind of brave with swords or loud voices.It was the other kind.The kind of brave that holds your handwhen the thunder comes.Each Bramblekin was born from something lost—a button,a whispered wish,a broken toy left behind in a moment of sadness.They didn’t mind being made of forgotten things.They were good at remembering.One day, a little human named Lin came tumbling through the veil between dreaming and waking.Lin had lost something.Maybe it was sleep.Maybe it was hope.Maybe it was the feeling of being heard.The Hollow Tree knew.It always knew.Lin sat beneath its great twisting trunk, knees pulled to chest—not crying…but not not-crying, either.That’s when the Bramblekin came.It waddled up with a string of soft rattles trailing behind—tiny charms made from things that shouldn’t matterbut somehow did.A milk tooth.A bent paperclip.A bit of ribbon that still smelled like birthday cake.It looked up at Lin with eyes like warm tea and said:“You dropped your quiet.”Lin blinked.“What?”“Your quiet,” said the Bramblekin gently.“You were carrying too much noise and it slipped out.Happens all the time.I kept it warm for you.”From its pouch, the Bramblekin pulled something glowing—small and soft and just barely there.Lin felt it.Not in her hands.But in her chest.Like when someone listens—really listens—and you didn’t even know you needed them to.“Is this what I lost?” Lin whispered.The Bramblekin nodded.“That, and a little piece of your laugh.But don’t worry—we keep all the dropped things here.They grow into mushrooms and story-moss.Want to see?”And so they walked deeper into the roots of the Hollow Tree.Dream-mud squelched underfoot.Bioluminescent giggles bobbed in jars on the shelves.Soft shadows blinked like sleepy fireflies.Lin learned the names of the shadows that followed kids home from school.Learned the spell to make the bed-monsters curl up and snore.Found a sock that matched absolutely nothing—and loved it anyway.When it was time to return, Lin looked different.Not bigger.Not older.But more real.Like someone who remembered their own magic again.The Bramblekin didn’t say goodbye.It just hummed a tune that smelled like cinnamon toast and safety.And Lin carried that tune back into the waking world.Some nights, when the world feels too heavyand the quiet slips out again,Lin hums it back.And if you ever lose your quiet, too—if your chest feels loudand your words feel stuck—try listening near the roots.The Bramblekin is still there.Keeping watch.Keeping wonder.And keeping everything you thought was lost.🍃 Soft Lap Whisper If your toes feel wiggly in the dark tonight,or the room feels just a little too big—you can hum.Even very small.The roots will hear you.To the listeners.To the whisper-hearers.To the ones who hold story before it has shape:We see you.We thank you.We will keep writing.Thank you for listening to The Hollow Tree.This is just the beginning,and you are always welcome to return—whenever you’re ready for another story.You can find more tales and behind-the-scenes magic at thehollowtree.substack.com, Instagram @TheHollowTreeStories, and remember to follow along on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and soon YouTube.Until next time—may the path be soft,and the whisper of the forest stay with you.🍃🕯️—Written and performed by Amber Jensen and the voices of The Hollow TreeIf this story stirred something in you…You can keep The Hollow Tree lit by subscribing, sharing it with someone who listens like you do, or leaving a kind note.Everything here is offered with care.And every listen, every share, every whisper down the line—it matters. 🌲 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thehollowtree.substack.com