Milo found a patch of silver light on his bedroom floor. It shimmered into a winding trail that led out the open window.
He dipped a paw in the glow. It tingled coolly against his fur. The trail pulsed gently, inviting him forward.
Milo followed the glowing trail into the whispering forest. Shadows danced between the tall trees.
A sudden rustle made him freeze. His tail puffed up like a bottle brush. *Scratch, scratch, sniff.* A tiny white nose emerged from a bush.
The white nose belonged to a lost puppy tangled in vines behind a fallen log. Milo tried to untangle it, but his teeth slipped on the thick vines.
He huffed and puffed, pulling until the vines snapped loose. The puppy tumbled free—but whimpered and scurried under a root.
Milo grabbed a sturdy stick and wedged it under the log, prying the root away. The root lifted, revealing a hidden tunnel. The puppy darted out barking joyfully.
A towering shadow fell over them. Milo spun, fur bristling, and let out a defiant *Woof!* The shadow shifted to reveal an owl blinking from a branch with a soft hoot.
Milo licked the puppy's head. The puppy licked his ear in return. They followed the moonlight path home together.
When they reached the doorway, the light faded to a gentle silver sheen on the floor. Milo curled up beside the puppy, both breathing softly under the luminous full moon.