Bori loved to collect things. She lined up pebbles, leaves, and tiny, broken sticks in a small box. One sunny morning she was looking around in Grandma's attic when she found a folded paper behind the sewing box.

"Map!" she breathed. On the paper were simple drawings: a little sun, a big tree, and wavy lines. And in the corner a tiny drawing: water spray and a smiling little fish. At the bottom of the map, it said: "Go towards the splashing sound!"

Bori ran down the stairs and called Spotty, her spotted little dog. Spotty's tail wagged like the happiest flag. "We're leaving, Spotty! There's an adventure!" said Bori.

Into the backpack went a red apple, a flask of water, a yellow scarf, and the map. Grandma looked out the door and smiled. "Stay on the path and listen for the sounds!" she waved.

The path led through the meadow. Dandelion umbrellas floated, bees buzzed, and blades of grass tickled Bori's ankles. On the map was a sun, and in the sky, the sun really shone. "Good sign," laughed Bori, and Spotty answered with two happy "woofs".

Soon a huge oak tree stood before them, exactly like in the drawing. Under the tree lumbered a turtle. "Hi, Tekla!" greeted Bori, as if they had always known each other.

"Hi, hi!" nodded Tekla. "You can wade across the stream there, where the pebbles are smooth. It's shallowest there. Do you hear? Splash-splash!"

The stream tinkled softly. Flat stones rested in the water. Bori tapped the first stone with a stick. "Are you sure?" she whispered.

Spotty's paw stepped carefully. Splish-splash, plop, but he didn't get soaked. Bori went after him, slowly, like a stork. In the middle she wobbled for a moment. "Whoa!" she shouted. Spotty looked back and barked encouragingly. Bori took a deep breath and went on. On the other bank Tekla nodded with her head. "Clever!" she said, then pointed towards the thicket. "Behind the ferns you can already hear the loud splashing."

The wind suddenly picked up and snatched the map. "Hop!" shouted someone from the treetops. A magpie who loved sparkles circled above them.

"Wait, Chee!" shouted Bori. "That's our map!"

The magpie dived, caught the paper in its beak, then landed on a low branch. "Pretty paper. Will you give something shiny?" it tilted its head.

Bori reached into her pocket and pulled out a silvery button that she had found in Grandma's sewing box in the attic. "I give this in exchange."

Chee chirped happily, traded, and flew on. Bori smoothed the map. "You're a good friend, Chee!" she smiled, and tied the yellow scarf to a branch so they could find their way back more easily.

The ferns grew high, rustling against Bori's arm. The air became cool, and the splashing became louder and louder. "Do you hear, Spotty?" she whispered. "Splashing!" Spotty answered in his dog language.

The wall of ferns suddenly opened, and there it was before them: the waterfall. It wasn't huge, but strong and cheerful. The water rushed down like a white veil, and below a clean pool sparkled. The tiny drops of spray formed a fine, cool cloud. In the sunlight, a colorful arc appeared in the spray.

"Hello!" shouted Bori to the waterfall. The answer bounced back from the rocks: "Hello! Hello!" Spotty splashed into the shallow water and jumped around, splashing. Bori laughed and sat on a flat stone. From her pocket she took out the apple and broke it in two. "Half is yours, Spotty!"

On the edge of the pool lay a strange stone. The water had polished it smooth, and it glowed with a bluish color. Bori took it in her palm. "A memory from the waterfall," she said softly.

Homeward they crossed the stones again. The middle stone wobbled a bit now. Bori stopped, looked around, and found a longer branch. She propped up the stone with this, making their footing immediately surer. "Idea!" her eyes shone. Spotty barked praisingly in his doggy way. Tekla was already waiting on the other bank and nodded leisurely.

The yellow scarf waved on the bush like a little flag, showing the way back. Chee circled above their heads and laughed tinklingly. Bori waved to everyone. "Tomorrow, I will draw a new map," she said. "There can be a heart-shaped stone on it, too."

At home Grandma stood at the kitchen window. "Well, how did the splashing sound?" she asked.

"Like a song," answered Bori. "And the water scribbled in the air. Look, I brought a stone. And I left a yellow sign so others can find it, too."

Grandma hugged them. In the yard the grass rustled, the air was full of the scent of fresh water. Bori smoothed the map on the table and drew a tiny smiling fish in the corner. Spotty curled up at her feet. The adventure still vibrated in the air, like the fine spray.

"Where are we going tomorrow?" asked, curiosity sparkling in Spotty's eyes.

"Wherever the next sound calls," smiled Bori, and was already circling with the pencil on the paper.