Pri and the Whispering Willow

In the heart of the Glimmerwood Forest, where creeks giggled over sparkling stones and the air smelled like sweet wattle, lived a girl named Pri. Pri was courageous. She wasn't scared of wiggly worms or shadows that danced at sunset. Her favourite thing to do was to pull on her wellies and explore the twistiest, turniest paths, collecting shiny giggle-stones that chimed when she put them in her pocket.

One sunny afternoon, Pri skipped down a path she'd never seen before. It led her to a clearing with a giant, silvery willow tree whose leaves rustled like secrets. From a little hollow in its trunk, she heard a tiny, sad sound. It went: 'Squeak... sniffle... squeak.' Pri's brave heart thumped. Someone needed help, and she was just the person to give it.

Being very brave, Pri marched right up to the tree. "G'day in there!" she boomed in her biggest voice. "I'm Pri and I'm not scared of anything! Come on out and we can play!" But the squeaking stopped. All Pri could hear was silence. Her bravery suddenly felt too big and too loud. A wave of confusion washed over her as she realised her big, brave voice had scared the little creature away.

Pri sat down on the bouncy moss and remembered what her Nan always said: "Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is be quiet and kind." So, she tried again. In a voice as soft as a fairy-wren's feather, she whispered, "I'm sorry if I was too loud. It's okay to be shy. I can just sit here with you, if you like." Slowly, two big, sparkly eyes and a twitchy nose peeked out from the hollow. A tiny fluff-sprite named Pip cautiously crept out.

Pip showed Pri his amazing collection of shiny dewdrops, and Pri showed Pip how to do the most courageous cartwheel ever. They spent the rest of the afternoon sharing stories and giggling under the Whispering Willow. Pri learned that making a new friend wasn't just about being loud and brave, but about being gentle and kind too. And that felt like the best kind of courage of all.