The Bear and the Butterfly
The Bear and the Butterfly — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
"Wait for me, Barnaby!" cried Elara, her voice echoing across the swirling lavender dunes. A lumbering brown bear, several times her size, stopped and huffed impatiently, kicking up a cloud of sparkling periwinkle sand. "Don't dawdle, little one; the sunstone compass only works at midday!" he boomed, his voice surprisingly gentle. Elara scrambled to catch up, her small boots sinking into the ever-shifting landscape.
Page 2
Elara pointed excitedly at a small, shimmering object nestled between two dunes. "Barnaby, look! What's this?" she asked, carefully picking up a beautifully crafted butterfly made of iridescent glass. Barnaby lumbered closer, sniffing cautiously. "Hmm, that's no ordinary trinket, Elara. It looks like one of the legendary Whisperwings— they say each one contains a lost secret," he replied, his brow furrowed in thought.
Page 3
"A secret?" Elara gasped, clutching the Whisperwing tightly. "Then we must find out what it is!" Barnaby hesitated. "But Elara, the desert is full of dangers. Are you sure you're ready for this?" Elara squared her shoulders, her hazel eyes gleaming with determination. "As Leonardo da Vinci once said, 'Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence,' Barnaby! We've been silent too long; it's time to uncover the Whisperwing's message!"
Page 4
"Alright, Elara, but we stick together," Barnaby grumbled, his voice laced with affection. Suddenly, a shifty-eyed jackal, wearing a tattered purple cloak, darted out from behind a dune. "Looking for something, little ones?" he sneered, his voice raspy. "Perhaps... this?" He snatched the sunstone compass from Elara's side and vanished behind the swirling dunes.
Page 5
"He has our compass!" Elara cried, pointing in the direction the jackal fled. Barnaby sighed. "We can't track him without it. Whisperwings are attracted to the heart of the desert. The heart of the desert lies in the blue basin. Did you know that painted deserts get their colors from minerals in the soil?" Elara nodded, trying to remember her lessons, but the theft of the compass worried her more.
Page 6
They trudged onward, the landscape growing increasingly desolate. Suddenly, the ground beneath Barnaby's paws gave way! He tumbled into a deep crevice, the Whisperwing butterfly flying from Elara's grasp. "Barnaby!" Elara screamed, peering into the darkness. A low growl echoed from below. "Elara, go!" Barnaby roared. "There's something down here!"
Page 7
Elara stood frozen for a moment, but she knew she couldn't abandon her friend. "No!" she shouted, her voice trembling but firm. "I'm coming down!" Scrambling, she located a sturdy vine clinging to the edge of the crevice. "Hold tight, Barnaby!" she yelled, lowering herself into the darkness. As she descended, she thought of the quote, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.' That's what Helen Keller said, right? I feel you in my heart, Barnaby!"
Page 8
Deep within the crevice, Elara found Barnaby facing a massive, glowing sandworm, its eyes gleaming menacingly. "Elara, be careful!" Barnaby warned, swatting at the creature. Thinking fast, Elara remembered the Whisperwing. She threw the glass butterfly at the sandworm, and as it shattered, a beam of pure light erupted, blinding the creature. "Now's our chance, Barnaby! Remember, kindness is beautiful!"
Page 9
The blinded sandworm retreated, allowing Elara and Barnaby to escape the crevice. Reunited on the lavender dunes, they watched the jackal emerge from behind a dune, looking sheepish. He returned the sunstone compass. "I... I heard the story from the shattered Whisperwing. I thought being mean made me strong, but it made me lonely."
Page 10
"It's never too late to choose kindness," Elara said softly, smiling at the jackal. Barnaby nodded in agreement. "We all have inner beauty, you know." The jackal smiled shyly. "Maybe... maybe I can help you find your way back home?" Elara grinned, placing a hand on Barnaby's furry arm. "That sounds wonderful!" Elara looked back across the painted desert one last time. She was courageous on the inside, and now it showed.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)