Corvus was a very clever crow, and he *loved* shiny things. Buttons, bottle caps, lost beads, even sparkly pebbles – if it gleamed, Corvus wanted it for his nest! He had the shiniest nest in the whole wide wood. He’d spend hours arranging his treasures, admiring their sparkle.
But Corvus didn’t share. “These are *my* shiny things!” he’d caw if any of the other little forest creatures came near. Rosie the rabbit asked if she could borrow a sparkly pebble for her garden, but Corvus shook his head. Barnaby Bear wanted to see his button collection, but Corvus quickly covered it with a leaf.
One day, a big storm came. The wind howled, and the rain poured down. Corvus huddled in his nest, worried. Suddenly, he heard a tiny squeak. It was Millie Mouse, and her little home had been washed away! She was cold and wet and very sad.
Corvus looked at his shiny things. They didn’t seem so important anymore. He remembered how sad Millie looked. He quickly gathered some of his softest, fluffiest bits of string and a bright blue bottle cap. He flew down to Millie and offered them to her.
“Here,” he said, a little shyly. “You can use these to make a cozy new nest.” Millie’s face lit up. “Oh, thank you, Corvus!” she squeaked. “That’s very kind of you.”
Soon, other animals came to help Millie rebuild. Rosie the rabbit brought flowers for her garden, and Barnaby Bear helped gather branches. Corvus helped too, bringing more shiny bits to decorate Millie’s new home. He felt a warm, happy feeling inside – a feeling much brighter than any sparkle.
As they worked together, Corvus realized something amazing. Sharing his shiny things hadn’t made him have *less* joy; it had made him have *more*! He loved seeing his friends happy, and he loved being part of a team.
When Millie’s new home was finished, it was the most beautiful little house in the wood, decorated with flowers, branches, and lots of shiny treasures. Corvus smiled. He learned that day that the best treasures aren’t the ones you keep to yourself, but the ones you share with friends. And that made his heart shine brighter than anything.