Once upon a time, in a cozy pond nestled between rolling green hills, there lived a little duckling named Daffodil. Her soft yellow feathers shimmered in the sunlight, and her tiny orange beak always seemed to curl into a cheerful smile. But Daffodil had a secret: she was afraid of the world beyond her pond. While her siblings splashed in the reeds and chased dragonflies, she stayed close to Mama Duck, too nervous to explore. 
One crisp autumn morning, Mama Duck gathered her ducklings. “It’s time to fly south for the winter,” she announced. Daffodil’s heart raced. Fly? She’d never even flapped her wings properly! Her siblings practiced soaring over the pond, but Daffodil hid under a willow tree, trembling. “What if I fall? What if the wind carries me away?” she whispered to a friendly frog named Felix.
Felix blinked his big eyes. “Bravery isn’t about never being scared, little one. It’s about trying even when you are.” His words lingered in her mind as the flock prepared to leave.
When the day arrived, Daffodil’s wings felt heavy. She wobbled into the air, lagging behind as her family soared higher. A gust of wind suddenly swept her off course, and before she knew it, she was alone, drifting over a forest she’d never seen. Tears welled in her eyes as she landed clumsily on a mossy rock.
“Lost, are we?” chirped a voice. A sparrow with speckled wings hopped beside her. “I’m Twig! Need help?” Though nervous, Daffodil nodded. Twig guided her through the forest, introducing her to creatures who became her unexpected friends: Milo the mouse, who shared acorn cookies; Luna the firefly, who lit paths after sunset; and Old Oak, a wise tree who taught her constellations.
Each friend shared stories of their own fears. Milo once hid from thunderstorms until he learned the rain brought mushrooms to nibble. Luna admitted she’d been afraid of the dark until she realized her own light could brighten it. “Fear is like a shadow,” Old Oak rumbled. “It grows smaller when you step into the light.”
With their encouragement, Daffodil practiced flying every day. She stumbled into bushes and got tangled in vines, but slowly, her wings grew stronger. One evening, as the first snowflakes dusted the forest, Twig hurried to her. “Your family’s by the river! I heard their quacks!”
Daffodil’s heart soared—but the river was far, and storm clouds loomed. Taking a deep breath, she flapped her wings. The wind tugged at her feathers, and rain stung her eyes, but she remembered her friends’ words. Bravery is trying. She flew higher, dodging branches, until at last, she spotted her family resting near the water.
“Mama!” she cried, tumbling into her mother’s wings. “You’re so brave!” Mama Duck nuzzled her. “I knew you’d find us.”
That winter, as the flock swam in sunny southern lakes, Daffodil wasn’t just Mama’s little duckling anymore. She was the one who raced waves, befriended turtles, and even helped a lost seagull find its flock. And every night, she’d tell her siblings stories of the kind-hearted forest friends who taught her that courage grows when you don’t let fear stop you.
So, little ones, remember Daffodil’s journey when shadows seem big or paths feel unknown. Even the smallest wings can carry great bravery—especially with friends by your side. Close your eyes now, and dream of misty ponds, twinkling fireflies, and adventures waiting just beyond tomorrow’s sunrise. Goodnight!
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(Word count: 522)
