Stripey the zebra lived on the wide, grassy plains of Africa. He loved to play with his friends all day long, racing across the fields and splashing in the watering hole. But when the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the land, Stripey always felt a little bit scared.
The night sky was huge and dark, filled with twinkling stars, but it also seemed a bit mysterious to Stripey. He missed his mom, especially when the wind rustled through the tall grasses, making spooky sounds.
One night, Stripey was particularly scared. He couldn't sleep! His friend, Leo the lion cub, noticed Stripey's worry. Leo, though usually quite playful, was surprisingly good at comforting others.
Leo gently nudged Stripey. "What's wrong?" he whispered. Stripey explained how the dark and the sounds scared him. Leo, though brave himself, understood Stripey's fear. He suggested a game to help.
“Let's play ‘Spot the Star’!” Leo exclaimed. They lay down together, looking up at the night sky. Leo pointed out different constellations, sharing stories about the stars. Stripey was amazed by Leo’s knowledge and found himself less frightened.
They looked for the Southern Cross, the Big Dipper, and even tried to find the Milky Way. Each star they spotted helped Stripey feel a little more brave. Soon, Stripey started to feel sleepy.
“Wow,” Stripey yawned. “I feel much better now.” Leo smiled. “Sometimes, just sharing the darkness makes it less scary,” he said gently.
From that night on, Stripey still felt a little nervous as the sun set, but he wasn't as afraid. He knew he had Leo, and he knew that even the dark held beauty. He also knew that a good night's sleep made him ready for more fun with his friends the next day.
And as the stars twinkled above, Stripey drifted off to sleep, dreaming of adventures and of his brave and kind friend, Leo. He learned that night that facing his fears, with the help of a friend, made even bedtime a happy time.