Soft rustlings in the underbrush and the distant song of birds accompanied the turtle as she slowly but determinedly made her way forward. The scent of fresh earth and blossoming flowers enveloped her. She noticed a sudden movement beside her. It was a butterfly, dancing gracefully through the air. Its colorful wings shimmered in the sunlight, fluttering gently in the breeze and capturing her attention.

  Fascinated, the young turtle watched the vibrant creature. A little hesitantly, she said, “Hello, I’m Artemis. May I ask you something?”

  The delicate creature seemed to have understood her, for it landed on a flower beside her and answered softly, “Of course, go ahead.”

  Artemis explained why she had left her home and then asked, “What makes life special for you?”

  With a gentle beat of its wings, the butterfly began to speak, its voice barely more than a whisper in the breeze: “Everything is about transformation, my dear turtle. I used to be a simple caterpillar, always just wanting to eat. But now, I am more colorful and faster than I ever thought possible. Change helps us see different sides of ourselves. Before I had wings, I could only see a small part of the forest. But now, I look down from above and suddenly see the world in a whole new way.”

  Artemis listened closely, thinking back to her early years at the pond when her friends, the tadpoles, gradually became frogs. “I understand,” she said cheerfully. “Change is important so that we can grow.”

  The butterfly nodded in agreement, rose soundlessly into the air, and said, “I wish you a wonderful, albeit slow, journey, young turtle.”

  Artemis watched it fly away, marveling at its lightness, and thought, “I’m really not fast, but who knows, maybe one day I’ll grow wings too.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  With new knowledge and grateful for all she had learned, she walked on, letting herself be enchanted by the wonders of the forest.

  xAs she looked at the high branches and the many leaves swaying in the breeze, a hare suddenly darted out from between the trees. His soft fur shone in the sunlight, and his gaze radiated calmness.

  “Such a nimble creature must have seen a lot,” thought the turtle, and called out, “Hello, I’m Artemis. May I ask you a question?” The hare perked up his ears, gave a gentle smile, and hopped closer. “Of course, what would you like to know?”

  “What should I pay attention to as I explore the world? What do you pay attention to?” Artemis asked eagerly.

  The hare wiggled his nose thoughtfully. “When I look at the forest around me, I see tall trees reaching toward the sky, colorful flowers lifting their heads, and I hear the gentle rustling of the leaves. I always try to notice the beauty around me, even though it’s not always easy. But it’s up to us to decide what we notice in life, my dear.”

  As Artemis thought about these words, she began to see the seasons differently. Lost in thought, she began, “I remember in spring, the first flowers pushing through the snow; in summer, sunlight turning the pond into a sparkling play of light and shadow; in autumn, the forest being a riot of color; and in winter, the silence of the snowy shore bringing a special kind of peace.”

  “You’ve understood that well,” the hare confirmed. “It’s often easier to find something you don’t like, but each season has its own magic. It’s up to us to recognize it.”

  The hare paused for a moment before continuing, “And though you may be considered slow, that just means you have enough time to notice the special things all around you.”

  He twitched his nose again and took his leave: “Farewell, dear Artemis.” Then he disappeared among the trees as swiftly as he had appeared.

  Inspired by his words and filled with joy about the variety of nature all around her, the turtle continued on her way.

  After climbing over a few fallen branches, she noticed that the light between the trees in the distance was becoming brighter. It felt as if the edge of the forest was drawing near.