Luna's Big Fall

Luna the moon loved her home in the big, dark sky. She shone her silvery light for all the world to see. But one night, with a wobble and a whoosh, she slipped! Down, down, down she tumbled, like a shiny silver coin.

*Thump!* Luna landed on something soft and mossy. "Oh, my," she whispered, her light all a-flicker. "Whooo are you?" a deep voice hooted from a branch above. A large owl with spectacles perched on his beak peered down at her. "I'm Professor Hoot."

"I've fallen from the sky!" Luna cried. "Can you help me get back?" Professor Hoot flapped his great wings. "I'm wise, but I'm not strong enough to carry you," he said kindly. "But I know someone very fast. Let's find Felix the fox!"

They found Felix the fox, a flash of red fur darting between the trees. "A fallen moon!" he yipped, his bushy tail wagging with excitement. "How extraordinary! I can run as fast as the wind! Maybe I can run you back up the sky!"

Felix was very fast, but the tallest mountain was also very steep. He huffed and he puffed, but he couldn't run straight up into the air. "I'm sorry, Luna," he panted, sliding back down the rocky slope. "I'm fast, but I can't fly."

Professor Hoot stroked his feathery chin. "We need someone strong," he declared. Soon, they came upon Barnaby the bear, who was gently trying to get honey from a beehive. "A moon on the ground?" he rumbled in a deep, kind voice. "That won't do."

"I am the strongest bear in this wood," Barnaby said with a proud smile. "I can throw you right back up to your home! Are you ready?" Luna felt a little nervous, but she trusted her new friends. "I'm ready!" she chirped.

With a mighty HEAVE-HO, Barnaby tossed Luna high, high, high into the air! She sailed up past the treetops, a silver streak against the dark. "Thank you!" she called down to her friends below.

Luna settled back into her cozy spot in the sky. She shone her light down on the wise owl, the speedy fox, and the strong, kind bear. Her heart felt warm and full of gratitude.

From that night on, Luna always saved her brightest, kindest light for the friends who helped her find her way home. And deep in the forest, an owl, a fox, and a bear would look up and smile, knowing they had a special friend in the sky.