Once upon a time, in a far-off land, there lived a magical creature named Plume. Plume was a proud and majestic bird, with beautiful feathers that shone in the sunlight. However, Plume was also very defensive, and would often attack anyone who came too close.

One day, a group of mischievous animals decided to play a trick on Plume. They knew of his defensive nature, and thought it would be funny to see him get angry. So, they sneaked up on Plume while he was taking a nap, and tickled his torso.

Plume woke up with a start and, thinking he was under attack, he spread his wings and began to defend himself. But as he flapped his wings, he noticed something strange - there was a strange indentation on his chest. Plume was confused, and he couldn't understand what had caused the indentation.

So, he went to see a wise old owl, who lived in a tree at the edge of the forest. The owl listened to Plume's story, and then looked at the indentation. The owl told Plume that the indentation was a special mark, given only to the bravest and most courageous creatures in the land.

Plume was thrilled to hear this, and he realized that he had been defending himself and his home with bravery and courage. From that day on, Plume was no longer defensive - he was proud of who he was and what he stood for. And, every time he spread his wings, he would remember the indentation on his chest and feel proud of the bravery he had shown.

And so, Plume lived happily ever after, flying high in the sky, and always shining brightly with the beautiful feathers on his plume. The end.

Reflections

1. Why was Plume defensive at first?
2. How did Plume feel when he discovered the indentation on his torso?
3. Why did Plume go see the wise old owl?
4. How did Plume change after he found out about the indentation?
5. Do you think Plume was happy at the end of the story? Why or why not?
6. Can you think of a time when you were brave? How did it make you feel?
7. What do you think the indentation symbolized?
8. How do you think the story would be different if Plume was never defensive?
9. What lesson can we learn from Plume's story?
10. If you could have a magical plume like Plume, what would you do with it?