Comet found a tiny lantern beside the Cloud Bakery. Its light was no bigger than a cookie crumb.
“I’ll never light the whole woods,” he sighed.
Maya knelt beside him. “What can you light?”
Comet lifted the lantern. A smooth stone appeared. Then a puddle. Then a very small rabbit with a very wet shoe.
“I couldn’t see where to step,” said the rabbit.
Comet held his little light steady. Maya offered her hand. Together, they helped the rabbit across the puddle.
At the next bend, they found a baker searching for a dropped spoon. The lantern caught its silver handle beneath a fern.
“Just the light I needed!” the baker said.
By the time they reached the station, Comet’s lantern was still tiny. It had not lit the whole woods.
But a rabbit had dry feet, a baker had his spoon, and three friends had found their way home.
Comet looked at the warm little glow.
“Maybe I can start right here,” he said.
And that was plenty for tonight.