In a meadow where the wildflowers danced and the sunbeams played tag with the shadows, two butterfly friends shared their daily adventures. Emerald, whose wings sparkled like dew on fresh leaves, was always ready to chase after the next exciting thing. Azure, whose wings shimmered like a summer sky, was thoughtful and careful, and always checked the wind before taking flight.

Every morning they greeted each other with their special saying: “Shine bright, fly light!” And then they spent the whole day exploring their wonderful world together.

“Remember our safety song!” Azure would say, whenever they ventured far from home.

Wings up high, watch the sky, Stay alert, don’t get hurt, If danger’s near, disappear!

Emerald would usually just laugh and loop through the air. “You worry far too much, Azure. What could possibly go wrong in a meadow as lovely as ours?”

Then, one bright afternoon, as they played near the edge of their flowery kingdom, strange sounds came drifting on the breeze. Laughter, and shouting, and the thud of running feet that made the grass stems tremble.

“What’s that?” Emerald’s antennae twitched with curiosity.

A group of children had gathered nearby, their clothes as bright as flower petals.

“Shine bright, fly light,” Azure whispered nervously. “But perhaps we should shine and fly somewhere else?”

Emerald was already drifting closer. “Look how much fun they’re having! Perhaps they’d like to be friends!”

“Remember our safety song!” Azure called after him. But the wind carried her words away.

Then a boy with a green net caught sight of Emerald, and his eyes went wide.

“Look! A butterfly as green as a jungle!”

SWOOSH! The net came through the air like a hungry dragonfly.

“Wings up high, watch the sky!” Azure cried — but it was already too late. The net closed around Emerald and drew tight.

“Azure! Help!” Emerald’s wings beat frantically against the mesh. “I should have listened!”

Azure’s heart hammered like a hummingbird’s wings. But she remembered something else the two of them always said: Brave hearts fly smart. So she made herself take one steady breath, and she made a plan.

She followed the running boy, watching how he moved, noticing that he never once looked down at his own feet.

Then she began.

First, she danced right in front of his eyes, her blue wings flashing like tiny mirrors in the sun.

“Go away!” The boy swatted at her with his free hand.

Next, she flew low along the ground, tumbling as though her wing were hurt, drawing his gaze downwards.

“Another one!” he gasped, reaching for her with his other hand.

And that was when it happened. The boy’s foot caught in a tangle of long grass. He tumbled forward, and the net flew out of his hand and snagged on a thorny branch.

RIIIIIP!

“Now, Emerald! Wings up high!” Azure called.

Emerald shot through the tear like an arrow and soared straight up into the sky. Together the two of them climbed higher and higher, until the boy was nothing but a small dot far below.

“Shine bright, fly light,” they gasped together, their wings still trembling.

Back in the meadow, safe among the nodding flowers, Emerald turned to his friend.

“Azure, you were so brave. And so clever. I should have listened to your safety song.”

Azure touched her wing to his. “That’s what friends are for. We look out for each other. But next time —”

“Next time,” Emerald finished with a smile, “I’ll remember. If danger’s near, disappear.”

From that day forward, Emerald and Azure taught all the young butterflies of the meadow their special sayings.

“Shine bright, fly light!” to begin each day with joy.

“Brave hearts fly smart!” to remember that courage needs good sense to go with it.

And, of course, the safety song that could save a butterfly’s life:

Wings up high, watch the sky, Stay alert, don’t get hurt, If danger’s near, disappear!

They still had a great many adventures after that. But now they had them together, watching out for one another and staying safe. And if you visit their meadow on a sunny day, you might hear their gentle wing-song on the breeze, reminding all the butterflies that the bravest thing you can do is keep your friends safe.

The End.