Deep in a quiet field, where fluffy clouds drifted like slow sheep across the blue sky, lived a horse named Buttercup. Buttercup wasn't the biggest or the fastest horse in the field, but she was certainly the gentlest. Her coat was the colour of warm sand, and her mane and tail were like soft, spun moonlight. Buttercup loved the feel of the warm sun on her back and the taste of sweet green grass.
One afternoon, as Buttercup was munching happily near the old oak tree, she heard a tiny, distressed peep! Peep! Peep! It sounded very small and very worried. Buttercup lifted her head and looked around. There, near her big, gentle hoof, was a tiny, fluffy yellow duckling. It was all alone, looking very lost and scared.
Buttercup lowered her head slowly, careful not to frighten the little creature. "Peep?" said the duckling again, wobbling slightly. Buttercup gave a soft, quiet nicker. She knew just how the little duckling must feel. It needed its媽媽 duck.
Using her soft nose, Buttercup nudged gently towards the direction of the pond. The duckling looked, and then looked back at Buttercup, as if asking for help. Buttercup took a slow, careful step. Peep! The duckling followed her wobbly legs. Buttercup walked very, very slowly, making sure the tiny duckling could keep up. She watched where her big feet landed, stepping carefully over pebbles and around puddles.
They walked past the singing crickets and the buzzing bees. Buttercup stayed patient, sometimes stopping just for the duckling to rest its little feet. Finally, they came to the edge of the sparkling pond. And there, swimming with her other ducklings, was the mother duck! "Quack!" she called happily.
The little duckling peeped with joy and hurried into the water to join its family. The mother duck swam over to the edge where Buttercup stood. She looked up at the gentle horse and gave a grateful quack. Buttercup felt a warm feeling inside. She hadn't run a fast race or jumped a high fence, but she had used her kindness and gentleness to help a little friend.
As the sun began to dip below the hills, painting the sky in soft pink and orange, Buttercup walked back towards the barn. She felt happy and peaceful. Helping others, no matter how small the helper or how big the job seemed, was a wonderful thing to do. And as she settled down for the night, dreaming of green fields and little yellow ducklings, Buttercup knew that being gentle and kind was the best thing of all.