The Moon’s glow blinked out. The forest village went dark, and Lumi whispered, “I’ll bring it back.”
Lumi lifted the tiny lantern and stepped onto the whispering path. Dry leaves rustled, shhh, shhh, under the tall trees.
WHOOSH! A gust snuffed the lantern’s flame. Leaves skittered like little feet, and Lumi crouched beside a glowing firefly.
Lumi cupped the firefly in a broad leaf. Its flicker showed the way through the dark, one bright blink at a time.
At last, Lumi reached a silver stream. Beneath the rippling water, the Moon’s lost glow shimmered between the stones.
Lumi dipped the leaf into the stream. POP! The firefly flew free and zoomed around Lumi’s nose—blink, blink, blink!
Lumi gathered the firefly’s light in the leaf. Then Lumi raised the little glow toward the dark sky.
Up rose the glow. It grew, spread, and splashed across the Moon until the whole forest shone again.
Lumi walked home beneath the bright Moon. The little leaf lantern glowed softly beside Lumi’s steps.
Warm lights twinkled in the village windows. Lumi smiled at the small glow that had helped light the sky.