Elliot was a young eagle, and a very proud one. He lived on the highest peak of Mount Cinder, and every evening, he’d spread his magnificent wings and soar into the twilight. Elliot *loved* the night sky. He believed it was his special place, a canvas just for him to fly across. He didn’t want anyone else sharing it.
One evening, as Elliot was practicing his swoops and dives, he noticed a tiny flicker of light. It was Luna, a little firefly, blinking cheerfully. “Hello!” Luna called out. “What a beautiful night for flying!” Elliot huffed. “It *was* beautiful,” he said, “until you came along. This is *my* sky.”
Luna blinked sadly. “Oh,” she said. “I didn’t know. I just like to dance with the stars.” She began to drift lower, her light dimming. Elliot watched her go, but a strange feeling fluttered in his chest. It wasn’t a good feeling. It felt…empty. He continued his flight, but the sky didn’t seem as bright without Luna’s little spark.
Soon, he saw Barnaby, a small brown bat, flitting between the trees. “Lovely evening, isn’t it?” Barnaby chirped. Elliot, remembering his earlier grumpiness, snapped, “It was! Now it’s crowded!” Barnaby, surprised, quickly flew away, his echolocation clicks fading into the distance. Again, Elliot felt that empty feeling grow.
He flew higher and higher, trying to escape the feeling, but it followed him. He realized the sky felt…lonely. He missed Luna’s cheerful greeting and Barnaby’s friendly chirp. He thought about how much *fun* it would be to share the night with friends.
Elliot spotted Luna resting on a wildflower. He swooped down gently, landing nearby. “Luna,” he said, his voice softer than before. “I…I’m sorry I was rude. I didn’t mean to chase you away. Would you…would you like to dance with the stars again?”
Luna’s light brightened instantly. “Oh, Elliot! I’d love to!” She zipped and zoomed, creating swirling patterns of light. Just then, Barnaby flew over, hearing the happy sounds. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“I was being silly,” Elliot explained. “I thought the night sky was only for me, but it’s much more fun with friends!” Barnaby joined Luna and Elliot, and the three of them played amongst the stars. Elliot discovered that sharing the sky didn’t make it less beautiful; it made it *more* beautiful.
He learned that night that the vast, dark sky wasn’t something to be guarded, but something to be enjoyed *together*. He swooped and dived with Luna twinkling below and Barnaby looping alongside, feeling happier than he ever had before. From then on, Elliot always welcomed others to share his beloved night sky, understanding that friendship and sharing made everything brighter.
As the first hint of dawn touched the horizon, Elliot, Luna, and Barnaby said goodnight. Elliot returned to his peak, his heart full. He knew that even the biggest, most magnificent eagle needed friends to make the world – and the night sky – truly special.