Flora flutters through the ferns and spots a glimmer deep inside a hollow oak root.
She reaches in and pulls out a gem that throws rainbow sparkles across the moss. Flora gasps and wraps both hands around it.
It hums warm against her palms.
Flora climbs onto a smooth stone and holds the gem up to the sunlight. It dances and sparkles and hums a soft happy tune. She tucks it into her pocket and bounces on her toes.
A dry rattling sound comes from behind a bush. Barnaby, an old turtle with a cracked shell, drags himself into the clearing. His neck stretches toward the dusty creek bed.
"Little fairy," he croaks, "I've walked so far. Is there any water?"
Flora's hand slides into her pocket and closes around the gem. It pulses warm and bright. She pulls it out and holds it toward Barnaby.
A single drop of water appears at the gem's tip and falls with a soft plink into the dry moss. Barnaby's eyes widen.
The gem glows brighter, then blooms into a tiny fountain that spills into the creek bed. The dry dust turns to shimmering water.
Flora dips her fingers in and laughs as it splashes.
The gem settles into the pool, still glowing.
Flora sits beside Barnaby and watches the sparkle ripple across the forest floor.