On a soft green hill, under a sleepy blue sky, lived six little sheep with warm, fluffy wool.
Every evening, they walked together to the meadow where the grass was fresh, sweet, and green.
But tonight, a tiny river flowed between the sheep and the grass.
The water whispered, shhh, shhh, shhh.
The sheep looked at the river. Then they looked at the grass.
Old Willow Sheep smiled gently. “One by one,” she said. “Soft and slow.”
The first sheep stepped back.
One sheep jumps.
Hop.
She landed softly on the other side.
The second sheep stepped back.
Second sheep jumps.
Hop.
He landed beside her and gave a tiny, happy baa.
The third sheep stepped back.
Third sheep jumps.
Hop.
Soft as a cloud.
The fourth sheep stepped back.
Fourth sheep jumps.
Hop.
Quiet as moonlight.
The fifth sheep stepped back.
Fifth sheep jumps.
Hop.
Gentle as a dream.
Only little Luma was left.
She stepped back too, but the river looked a little wide for her tiny legs.
Shhh, shhh, shhh, whispered the water.
Luma tried one small hop.
Hop… no.
Her hooves stopped at the edge of the grass.
“I am too little,” whispered Luma.
The five sheep looked at one another. Then they smiled the softest sheep smiles.
“Then we will help,” they called. “Soft and slow.”
One sheep reached out a hoof.
Second sheep reached out a hoof.
Third sheep reached out a hoof.
Fourth sheep reached out a hoof.
Fifth sheep reached out a hoof.
Together they stood close across the little stepping stones, wool to wool and hoof to hoof, making a warm, wobbly sheep bridge.
Luma breathed in. Luma breathed out.
Little sheep steps.
Step.
She stepped onto the first stone, holding the first soft hoof.
Little sheep steps.
Step.
She stepped onto the second stone, holding the second soft hoof.
Little sheep crosses.
Soft and slow.
And there she was, safe in the fresh, sweet grass.
All six sheep cuddled close and nibbled quietly under the silver moon.
The river whispered. The grass swayed. The stars blinked softly above them.
Soon their bellies were full, and their eyes grew heavy.
One sheep sleeps.
Second sheep sleeps.
Third sheep sleeps.
Fourth sheep sleeps.
Fifth sheep sleeps.
And little Luma sleeps too.
The meadow was calm. The night was warm. And all the fluffy sheep dreamed gentle dreams.
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