The Lighted Path

Cora's Story

In the heart of an ancient, whispering forest, where the trees arched like cathedral ceilings and the air sparkled with magic, lived a fairy named Cora. Her wings shimmered with a thousand hues of twilight, and she moved with a grace that seemed to make the very leaves sigh in wonder.

One misty afternoon, as the sun dappled the forest floor with its golden light, Cora heard a sound that didn’t belong to the forest: the curious whispers of three little girls. Curiosity and concern pulled her closer, but she knew the rules well. All fairies must remain hidden, for the forest was a place of secrets and enchantments.

Cora watched from behind a veil of ivy as the girls, no older than four or five, looked around in the forest with wonder.

She had seen countless travelers come and go, but she had never before witnessed such raw, beautiful innocence. Despite the rules, something inside her urged her to show herself. Gathering her courage, she let her light burst forth in the dense woods.

The girls gasped as they saw the soft, glowing figure hovering above them. “Who—who are you?” one stammered disbelieving.

“I am Cora,” the fairy replied, her voice gentle and musical.

The girls’ eyes widened in awe. They had never seen a fairy before and they gazed at Cora with wonder.

Cora’s heart felt like it would burst. “Follow me,” she said, her light growing brighter. “I want to show you something.”

As they walked deeper into the forest, Cora’s light illuminated a hidden path, winding through the trees. The air seemed to hum with magic, and soon they arrived at an enchanted grove. Fairies of all shapes and sizes fluttered and danced among the flowers and glowing fungi. But when they saw the children, they recoiled, hiding behind leaves and branches.

“It’s alright!” Cora called out to them. “These are children who have pure hearts! Come meet them!”

Hesitant at first, the fairies slowly emerged, their curiosity overcoming their caution. They gathered around, their eyes wide as they took in the sight of the three girls. The children, feeling the warmth of the fairies’ gaze, smiled shyly.

“Are all children like you?” one fairy asked.

The eldest girl nodded. “Yes, the world is full of children just like us. Not all children would come into the woods or follow a fairy, but we did!”

The fairies murmured among themselves, their hearts touched by the purity they saw. “Now that you’ve seen our home, we will help you get back to yours,” they declared.

With a flurry of wings and laughter, the fairies set to work. They flew into the darkest parts of the forest, their lights weaving a brilliant, illuminated path. The girls giggled as the fairies danced around them, their worries melting away with each step.

As they reached the edge of the forest, the sunlight broke through the trees, and the girls saw their parents working in the garden behind their home. The girls dashed forward, their cries of joy echoing through the meadow. The parents enveloped them in a sea of hugs and kisses.

“Where have you been?” their mother asked, with curiosity in her smile.

“We went to play in the forest,” the youngest explained. “Our new friend Cora found us and brought us home.”

The parents looked around, puzzled. “Who is Cora?” they asked.

“She’s right here,” the girls said, but Cora had already retreated, her light fading into the forest’s shadows.

The parents saw nothing but the gentle rustling of the leaves. “Girls, it must have been your imagination. Let’s go get washed up for supper.”

As they walked back through the yard, the youngest girl turned to wave at the forest. In response, a tiny glowing orb zipped from behind a tree, pulsing its light in a rhythmic farewell.

From that day on, the fairies of the forest made a vow. They would always be watching over the children of the world, lighting their paths and keeping their dreams bright and safe. And whenever a child looked back into the woods, they might catch a glimpse of a shimmering light, a reminder that magic and kindness were never too far away.