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Cora was a quiet horse with a chestnut coat and a gentle soul who lived on the edge of a sleepy village. Each evening, after the children had gone to bed and the farmers had finished their work, Cora would graze in the fields under the golden light of the setting sun. But one night, as she nibbled on clover, she heard a sound unlike any she had ever heard before—a soft, sad song floating on the wind.
The song was coming from the hill beyond the meadow. Curious and kind, Cora followed the melody up the path, her hooves making only the faintest whisper on the earth. At the top, she found a small creature curled up under a blanket of stars. It was a tiny, silver-winged creature with eyes like moonlight. 'Hello,' said Cora, her voice calm and kind. 'Why are you singing so sadly?' The creature blinked and said, 'I’m a Starling, and I’ve been lost for days. The stars are my home, but I got separated from my friends.'
Cora offered her warm flank as a pillow and shared her hay with the Starling. As they talked, Cora learned that the Starling had been searching for a way back to the sky. 'You can’t fly here,' Cora said gently. 'But I can help you find your way.' She led the Starling down to the village and found a kind old farmer who had a telescope. Together, they watched the stars and found the path the Starling needed to follow.
The next night, the Starling soared back into the sky, singing a joyful song of thanks. Cora returned to her field, the night now filled with wonder and music. From that day on, whenever she looked up, she knew she had made a friend in the stars. And sometimes, when the wind was just right, she could still hear the song of the Starling, calling her name.
Moral: Kindness can light the way, even in the darkest of nights.
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