Twilight settled over the whispering woods. The young boy wandered along a mossy path, his eyes scanning the darkening branches.
Something caught his eye — a tiny silver light tangled in the brambles. He knelt down carefully and reached toward it.
The little silver star blinked awake. It untangled itself and floated free, hovering before his outstretched hand.
He lifted the star, but it flickered weakly. The shadows grew thicker around him, and the star chimed a sad, thin note.
He wrapped the star gently in his scarf and kept walking. The star rested warmly against his chest.
At last he reached a moonlit clearing. The star tugged upward, but its glow was fading fast. It needs to go home, he thought.
"Go," he shouted, raising his lantern high. The star blazed like a firefly and zoomed skyward, circling his head once, twice.
The star twinkled steadily above him as he walked back. He slipped his lantern into his pocket and hummed a quiet tune.