Once upon a time, there was a bird named Max who lived in the vast ecosystem of the forest. Max had a wingspan of over a meter, but he was not happy. He yearned to fly higher and farther than any bird before him.

One day, Max came across a strange object that had washed up on the shore. It was a machine that could propel itself through the air. Max was fascinated and decided to try it out. He climbed in and turned it on, and before he knew it, he was soaring higher than he ever had before.

However, Max soon realized that his freedom was short-lived. The machine had taken him captive, and he was unable to escape. Over time, Max adapted to his new surroundings, but he still longed for the open skies.

One day, the machine finally broke down and began to decompose. Max saw this as his chance to escape. He flew out and found refuge in a nearby tree. There, he found a group of birds who were feasting on some carrion. Max joined in, and they welcomed him with open wings.

Max learned that the key to happiness was not just about flying high, but also about being surrounded by friends and living in harmony with his ecosystem. And so, from that day on, Max lived happily ever after, soaring through the skies and exploring the world around him.

Reflections

1. What was Max's initial goal in the story?
2. How did Max feel about being captive in the machine?
3. What did Max learn about happiness at the end of the story?
4. How did Max's experience in captivity help him once he was free?
5. What can we learn from Max's journey about adapting to new situations?