Moonlit Meadow

The moon rose like a silver coin. It shone over a quiet meadow. Grass swayed and flowers blinked with dew. Pip the hedgehog woke in his cozy nest. He liked the night. He liked soft sounds. He heard the rustle of leaves and the whisper of the brook.

A tiny glow bobbed near a buttercup. It flickered like a shy blink. It was Luma the firefly. Her light was dim and tired. 'I cannot find my willow tree,' she said. 'My light is weak. The night feels big.'

Pip's small heart felt big. 'We can help,' he said. 'Friends make the night gentle.' He pattered along the path. He called for Nib the rabbit. Nib popped from a burrow. His long ears stood tall. His whiskers twitched. He was quick and kind.

Olive the owl hooted from a crooked branch. Her wings were soft. Her eyes were wide and bright. She could see far in the dark. By the brook, Tully the turtle lifted his smooth shell. He moved slowly, but he was strong and steady. He smiled a warm, slow smile.

Pip told them the plan. 'We will make a moonlight trail. We will make a path that shines. Luma can follow it home.' Nib hopped to the meadow. He gathered pale petals. Petals are soft flower pieces. He found white daisies and creamy clover. He made a basket of blooms.

Tully slid to the brook. The water made tiny ripples. He picked smooth pebbles with his careful feet. Pebbles are small stones. Some were gray. Some were pearl-bright. Pip searched for shiny acorn caps. He found them near an old oak. The little caps winked in the moonlight. Olive flew up, up, up. She watched the willow sway by the water. She could guide the way from above.

Together they laid the path. Pebble, petal, acorn cap. Pebble, petal, cap. It made a gentle pattern. It made a soft shimmer. The moonlight kissed each piece. The trail began to glow. Luma hovered over the start. Her tiny light blinked. Blink, blink. She followed the shining path.

They walked slowly. They did not rush. Nib hummed a sweet song. Pip whispered new words. 'Glimmer,' he said. 'Shimmer,' he said. Luma smiled at the pretty sounds. Tully kept the path neat and true. Olive flew in smooth circles. Her shadow was like a quiet winged cloud.

At last, the willow tree waved its long green arms. It was Luma's home. Dozens of fireflies floated there. They made little stars in the leaves. They blinked hello. They blinked good night. Luma's light grew a little brighter. 'Thank you,' she said. 'Your small lights made a big light.'

The friends felt warm and proud. The meadow felt calm and safe. Nib yawned a big rabbit yawn. Tully tucked his head in his shell. Olive settled on her branch. Pip curled into a tiny ball. He felt the soft moss under him. He watched the moon sail slow and kind.

The brook whispered. The grass sighed. The petals rested. The pebbles glowed a last soft glow. Pip closed his eyes. 'Good night, meadow. Good night, moon,' he thought. And the moonlit meadow slept.