Once upon a time, in a valley full of golden sunlight and swaying clover, there lived a magnificent horse named Silver. Silver was the luckiest animal in the whole forest. He had a private meadow all to himself, where the grass was sweet as honey and the stream ran as cool and clear as glass. He spent his days galloping, and grazing, and watching the clouds roll by. But one morning, the peace was broken. ...
In the long-ago time, when the world was brand new, the Great Magician was busy getting everything ready. First, he made the Earth. Then, he made the Sea. Finally, he called all the animals together and said, “It’s time to play!” The animals asked, “Great Magician, what should we play?” “I’ll show you,” he said. He took the Elephant and said, “Play at being an Elephant.” He took the Turtle and said, “Play at being a Turtle.” One by one, he gave every beast, bird, and fish a special job to do. ...
High above the dancing flowers, where sunbeams played hide-and-seek with the morning dew, two butterflies swooped and twirled through the air. Their names were Emerald and Azure, and they were about to discover something rather wonderful. Emerald had wings as green as the freshest grass, and he could never sit still for a moment, darting from flower to flower with endless curiosity. Azure’s wings sparkled like the clearest blue sky, and she liked to hover thoughtfully, watching everything around her with careful attention. ...