Night spread across the quiet forest. Quillby flapped onto a mossy stump and opened a tiny notebook.
Quillby pointed a feather at the sky. “One, two, three!” The silent trees seemed to listen.
The counting continued. Quillby tapped each star with a twig. “Four, five, six!”
A loose owl feather slipped over Quillby’s eyes. Bonk! The stump gave a soft bump.
Quillby climbed to a higher branch for the last stars. A silver cloud drifted over them.
Quillby waited while pine needles rustled below. “Seven…?” The hidden stars gave no answer.
Quillby hopped from branch to branch, searching for a clear patch. More clouds gathered overhead.
One cloud looked like a giant upside-down teacup. Quillby lowered the twig.
The final spaces in the notebook stayed blank. Quillby closed it with a quiet flap.
Quillby settled beneath the wide, cloud-dappled sky. Moonlight shone on the leaves as the clouds glided quietly.