Luna was a fluffy little lamb with a very big worry. She was afraid of bedtime! As soon as the sun began to set, and the shadows grew long in the meadow, Luna would start to tremble. It wasn’t the dark itself, she explained to her mama, but *what might be hiding* in the dark. She imagined grumpy badgers and sneaky foxes, even though Mama Sheep assured her they were all tucked away in their burrows.
Every night, it was the same. Luna would bleat and cling to her mama, refusing to close her eyes. “What if a shadow monster comes?” she’d whisper. Mama Sheep would patiently explain that shadows were just shapes made by the moonlight and the trees, but Luna couldn’t quite believe her. One evening, Old Man Fitzwilliam, the wise sheepdog, overheard Luna’s worries.
Fitzwilliam ambled over, his tail wagging gently. “Little Luna,” he said, “being brave isn’t about not being scared. It’s about doing something *even when* you are scared.” He told Luna about a time he was a young pup and had to guard the sheep during a thunderstorm. He was terrified of the booming thunder, but he knew the sheep needed him, so he stood his ground.
“I closed my eyes,” Fitzwilliam continued, “and imagined I was a strong, brave protector. And you know what? The thunder still boomed, but I didn’t feel so scared anymore.” Luna thought about this. Maybe she could try imagining something nice instead of scary things.
That night, Luna tried Fitzwilliam’s trick. As the darkness fell, she closed her eyes and imagined she was floating on a cloud, soft and fluffy like her own wool. She pictured the meadow bathed in moonlight, sparkling with dew. She imagined her friends, the playful bunnies and the chirping crickets, all safe and sound.
Suddenly, the shadows didn’t seem so scary anymore. They were just part of the peaceful night. She thought about how much she loved her mama, and how warm and cozy her little bed was. She even imagined herself dreaming of bouncing through fields of wildflowers!
Her friend, Pip the bunny, hopped close. “Are you scared, Luna?” he whispered. Luna shook her head. “Not anymore,” she said with a little smile. “I’m imagining I’m flying on a cloud!” Pip giggled and snuggled up beside her.
Mama Sheep nuzzled Luna gently. “See, my little lamb?” she said. “You are much braver than you think.” Luna closed her eyes, feeling safe and warm. She realized that bravery wasn’t about being fearless, it was about finding something good to focus on, even when you’re a little bit scared. And with that, Luna drifted off to sleep, dreaming sweet dreams under the starry sky.