The next
morning, Emma couldn’t shake the thoughts of the mysterious cottage and the
enchanting book she had discovered. The stories had left her with a deep
curiosity, especially about the magical creatures described in its pages. The
butterfly she had seen the day before seemed almost as if it had come straight
from one of those stories.
"I have to go back," Emma decided. She quickly dressed, grabbed a small backpack, and made her way back to the forest. The morning air was crisp, and the sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
As Emma approached the cottage, she felt the same strange sensation she had felt the day before, like the forest itself was alive with secrets. The cottage stood quietly, as if waiting for her return. Emma pushed open the door, the hinges creaking softly in greeting.
The old book was still on the table, just as she had left it. But something was different. A small, folded piece of parchment lay on top of the book. Emma’s heart raced as she picked it up. Unfolding it carefully, she read the elegant handwriting:
Emma’s eyes
widened as she read the note. A mix of excitement and nerves filled her. “A
guide?” she whispered to herself. She opened the book to the story of the
magical deer and began to read.
The story told of a mystical herd of deer that roamed the forest, protectors of its ancient secrets. These deer had the ability to appear and disappear at will, guiding those who were pure of heart toward hidden truths. Among them was the Silver Stag, a leader of the herd, who was said to have once belonged to a great sorcerer who lived in the very cottage Emma now stood in.
As she read, Emma felt a tingling sensation, like the air around her was humming with energy. She looked up from the book, and through the window, she saw it—a glimpse of silver through the trees. The deer! Without a second thought, she rushed outside.
The forest seemed to whisper her name as she followed the silver gleam deeper into the woods. The deer led her to a small clearing, bathed in golden light. There, standing proudly, was the Silver Stag. It turned its gaze to Emma, its eyes reflecting wisdom and kindness.
Emma held her breath as the stag stepped forward. It lowered its head, and she noticed a delicate, shimmering feather caught in its antlers. She reached out hesitantly, and as her fingers brushed the feather, a vision flashed before her eyes. She saw the cottage as it once was, alive with warmth and magic. A figure stood in the doorway—a kind-faced sorcerer, with the same silver stag by his side.
The vision faded, and Emma found herself back in the clearing, the feather still in her hand. The stag nodded once, as if to say, "Remember this," and then it turned, disappearing into the trees.
Emma stood there for a moment, her heart pounding. The feather was the first clue. She knew she had to find more, to uncover the story of the sorcerer who once lived in the cottage. With renewed determination, she made her way back to the cottage, the feather held carefully in her hand. She would return to the book and find the next story, the next clue, and continue her journey to uncover the mysteries of the forest.
This adventure, she knew, was far from over.
Now, read and share your answers to the following questions:
1. Why do you think the butterfly was chosen as Emma's guide? What other creatures could have guided her, and why?
2. What do you think the Silver Stag represents in the story? How does it connect to the cottage and the sorcerer?
3. If you were in Emma's place, would you have
followed the deer into the forest? What would you hope to discover?
4. What kind of person do you think the sorcerer
was, based on the vision Emma had? How do you imagine he used his magic in the
forest?
5. What do you think the feather symbolizes, and
how do you think it will help Emma uncover more secrets about the cottage and
the forest?
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