Marytale
The Lantern Cat
- 8-10 min read
- 19 pages
- 7+
Every evening, Larry the cat walks through the forest and hangs glowing star lanterns by the animals’ homes, so nobody is afraid of the dark. One night the squirrels’ lantern is gone, and Larry follows tiny tracks to a new little bunny who has no light of his own. Larry helps him, and soon the two friends are hanging the lanterns together.
The sun slipped down behind the hills. The forest grew dim and quiet. And Larry the cat set off through the woods, just like always.
Larry carried a little cloth bag full of glowing star lanterns. Down the winding path he went, checking the lights above the cozy burrows. Where one was needed, he hung a tiny lantern on a branch—gently, gently—so nobody would be scared of the dark.
By nightfall, little faces peeked out everywhere. “Larry’s here!” the animals whispered. To them, Larry was a little bit magic. Soon the whole forest glowed, warm and golden, and everyone smiled.
In their snug little home, Ruby and Max curled up on a warm blanket by the window. The bear cubs were curious and wiggly, with soft ears and round tummies. Tonight they lay very still, watching the star lantern twinkle on its branch outside. Its light was soft and gentle, just like Mama’s lullaby.
Out by the path, Harry the hedgehog curled up into a prickly little ball. He always slept best right under a lantern. Its soft light lay on the leaves and on the path. All around, the forest was hushed and still. Harry gave a tiny yawn and closed his eyes.
High in a tall tree, Gloria the owl sat on her favorite branch. She blinked her big, kind eyes. Gloria loved to watch the little lights twinkle all over the forest, all night long, until morning.
One evening, Larry’s bag was empty, and he was nearly done. He looked up at the big oak tree, where the squirrels Lilly and Jack lived. The branch where their lantern always twinkled was dark.
Larry stared at the empty branch. His tail twitched. “How strange,” he said softly. “Where did the squirrels’ lantern go?”
Larry began to search right away. He looked all over the meadow. He peeked under the bushes. He brushed aside the fallen leaves. But the lantern was nowhere to be found. Larry’s ears drooped.
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