Iris was a little firefly, the smallest in her whole family. Every night, the other fireflies would zoom high into the sky, their lights twinkling like a thousand stars. But Iris was afraid of the dark.
She'd stay close to her mama, her tiny light flickering nervously. "I can't fly high," she'd whisper. "It's too dark up there!"
One night, a big storm blew in. The wind howled, and the rain poured down. Iris saw her friends struggling, their lights blown out by the strong wind. They were lost and scared!
Iris felt a little flutter in her tummy, not of fear, but of something else. It was bravery. She knew she had to help.
Taking a deep breath, Iris zipped into the air. The wind buffeted her, but she held on tight. Her little light shone brightly, a tiny beacon in the stormy night.
She flew from firefly to firefly, guiding them back to their home in the meadow. Her light helped them see through the rain and wind.
When they finally reached safety, her friends were amazed. "Iris," said one, "you were so brave!"
Iris smiled, her light shining even brighter. She had been scared, but she had overcome her fear to help her friends. She learned that even the smallest light can make a big difference.
From that day on, Iris wasn't afraid of the dark anymore. She knew that with bravery and the help of her friends, she could do anything. And every night, her light shone brightly, guiding others and reminding everyone that even the smallest among us can be the bravest.
And as the sun peeked over the horizon, Iris snuggled into her mama's side, feeling warm, safe, and very proud of herself. Sweet dreams, little ones!