Fluttershy tucked a dandelion behind the rabbit companion's wing. "I'm scared of thunder," she whispered. Tiptoeing toward the meadow clearing, she heard a whisper herd her secret to a circle of wide-eared animals. The rabbit fluttered to her shoulder, wings rattling softly.
Fluttershy tiptoed back toward the hollow tree, her hooves silent on the mossy ground. The rabbit companion landed on a low branch and drummed his tiny legs against the bark, the only sound in the suddenly quiet meadow.
The next morning, Fluttershy noticed a ring of buttercups on the tree root. Each petal was perfectly placed. She nudged the ring with her nose, and the flowers tumbled into the soft grass below.
An hour later, she found a neatly folded leaf with a crooked 'sorry' sitting on the tree stump. She picked it up, folding it once and then again, creating a small hard square.
At dusk, Fluttershy peeked out and saw Whisper in the wet meadow, arms stretched wide toward the darkening sky, trying to push the clouds apart. A rumble of thunder rolled down the hill.
Fluttershy took a step out of the hollow tree and walked to where Whisper stood. "You told them about the thunder," her voice was small but steady. She pulled out the crumpled leaf square, smoothing it flat.
Soft raindrops began to fall on the meadow grass, creating delicate splashes on the ground. Fluttershy and Whisper sat together, watching the skies weep, and the distant rumble of thunder grew softer.
As the last rumble of thunder echoed away, they smiled at each other, finding warmth in the shared moment. The meadow transformed in the soft light of the rain, each droplet sparkling like tiny jewels.
