Once upon a time, there was a group of animals who gathered together in the forest. You were one of them. One day, it was your turn to tell a story. You stood up, took a deep breath, and began:

"My friends, I have a secret burrow deep in the forest where I keep all my treasures. But lately, I've been worried because every time I visit, I see a strange shadow lurking nearby. I tried to cheer myself up by grinning and pretending not to notice, but it doesn't seem to go away."

The other animals listened carefully, nodding their heads in concern. Suddenly, one of the bravest animals stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, we'll gather together and find out what's causing that shadow."

And so, with you leading the way, the group of animals set off into the heart of the forest. When they finally reached your burrow, they discovered that the shadow was just a tree casting its branches across the entrance. They all cheered and hugged each other, relieved that there was no danger after all.

As you gathered your treasures and headed back home, you couldn't help but grin from ear to ear, grateful for the support of your friends. From that day on, you knew that no matter what shadows appeared, you could always count on the love and protection of those around you.

Reflections

• Why was the main character worried about the shadow near their burrow?
• What did the other animals do to help?
• What did they find out was causing the shadow?
• How did the main character feel after the adventure with their friends?
• What did the story teach about friendship and support?