Once upon a moonlit night, in a garden brimming with flowers and twinkling fireflies, there lived a playful little cat named Luna. With fur as black as a starless sky and eyes shining like emeralds, Luna was adored by all who met her. But what made her truly special was her moonstone collar, a shimmering gem that sparkled with its own light. Each night, as Luna frolicked in the garden, her moonstone would glow, guiding her way and enchanting all the little creatures of the night.
One fateful evening, as Luna prepared for her nightly escapades, she noticed something strange. The beautiful moonstone that always adorned her collar was missing! With a gasp, Luna felt around her neck; it was simply gone! Frightened, she called out to her friends, the wise old owl and the playful little squirrels, to help her search the garden. But despite their best efforts, the moonstone was nowhere to be found.
“I fear the worst,” hooted the owl. “It must have been stolen by the naughty raccoon who roams these parts at night, always looking for shiny treasures to add to his collection.”
Determined to recover her missing moonstone, Luna set off into the forest, her heart beating bravely in her little chest. The moon hung high, lighting her path as she called out to the raccoon. It wasn’t long before the mischievous raccoon, intrigued by Luna’s sweet voice, appeared from behind a tree, a glint of mischief in his eye.
“What do you want, little cat?” he asked, scratching his furry belly.
“Have you seen my moonstone?” Luna pleaded. “It was with me here in the garden, and now it’s gone!”
The raccoon poked around in his collection of shiny objects, picking each one up in his tiny paws and examining it closely. “Like this?” he asked, holding out a silver locket.
“No, not that one.”
“Or this little bell?”
“Please, no. It’s a moonstone—a beautiful, sparkling moonstone!” cried Luna.
With a sly grin, the raccoon dived into the bush. “I do believe this is what you’re looking for,” he called out, as he triumphantly held up Luna’s moonstone on the end of a long twig. “But why should I give it back to you?”
At this moment, Luna felt a soft breeze rustling through her fur. “Because it’s a special stone, dear friend,” she said in the sweetest tone she could muster. “It has magical powers, you see. When the light shines on it, it illuminates it like a little moon, bringing happiness and joy to those who see it. If you let me wear it, it will add its glow to this entire garden, and all the little creatures will rejoice!”
The raccoon’s heart softened at her words, but he was still feeling playful. “A race, then!” he suggested. “If you beat me, I’ll gladly return your stone.”
Luna pondered for a while and then agreed, trusting her little legs to carry her swiftly. So, off they went, racing through the garden and then the lush fields beyond. Off they went through the woods, the stars twinkling far above as they dashed through the underbrush.
But alas, not long into the race, the kind-hearted Luna noticed that the raccoon was struggling to keep up. He kept stumbling over roots and barely escaped a nasty fall as he tried to rush so quickly. Luna stopped and turned back to him. Seeing his tired little face, she said with a chime in her voice, “Dear raccoon, why not ride on my back for a while? That way, you’ll have some time to regain your strength.”
Astonished, but pleased, the raccoon leaped onto her back, and off they went again, flitting like a flame through the dark forest.
At last, they approached the edge of the woods, where a wide stream flowed quietly. On the opposite bank was a tall hill topped by a great oak tree, its branches reaching out like hands grasping for the stars.
“We must cross the stream!” said Luna. “Climb onto my back again, and together we’ll find a way.”
Luna led the raccoon to a pile of logs stacked together and said, “If we try hard enough, there’s a good chance we can roll one to the bank, and it’ll be just wide enough to get us across.”
So together, they nudged and pushed until a log, quite long and thick, rolled to the water’s edge, stopping just above the stream.
“Shall we go?” the raccoon asked excitedly.
“By all means,” said Luna, “but take care not to fall in,” so saying, she stepped onto the makeshift bridge and cautiously edged her way along, with the raccoon creeping behind.
When they reached the middle of the log, who should suddenly appear but a family of otters, splashing and tumbling over one another without a care for the log or Luna and her friend!
Luna stepped carefully off to one side, but the mischievous animals dashed by, tumbling forward, until the edge of the log just tipped below the water. The raccoon slipped, lost his footing, and holding on to the log with the greatest effort, cried, “I’d better go back. Wait until I reach the bank, then come yourself.”
“I’m afraid we are both coming to grief,” said Luna, looking down into the swirling waters below, “but we are not to blame for this. Over they both went—splash, splash! When they got out on opposite sides and looked at one another, both were laughing at their experiences. An otter came out to dig a hole in the bank, turned around, and asked, “Wasn’t that a lovely merry-go-round!”
“Splendid!” said Luna, shaking the water from her ears.
“But tell me, little cat,” said the raccoon, “who are the otters? I never saw their sort before.”
“I do not exactly know,” was the reply, “but they are kind-hearted animals and very fond of a joke.”
The raccoon turned about, made a deep bow, and said, “Permit me to introduce myself as the Prince of the Forest.”
“I’m glad to meet you, Your Highness,” was Luna’s demure answer.
“Your Highness!” was the cry from the otter. “What is that?”
“It is a title to show unity,” answered the raccoon. “Wherever I go, I am greeted as Your Highness, thanks to my position, which gives me a string of titles, and I am quite sure when the cat tells of meeting us, she will include that fact.”
“Oh, certainly,” said Luna, “but then I must ask you both to be kinder in the future to a little black cat.”
“We propose doing all we can,” was the answer from the otters.
“Then I should like to invite you to come to the moonlight garden, with its roses and its fireflies,” said Luna. “It is a very happy little spot.”
“We thank you and accept your invitation,” said the raccoon. “But while we go, it may please you to have your moonstone.”
Then the three bade Luna goodnight and set off together, while the moonlight roamed over the tree tops to see what it could find.
So they visited Luna in the moonlight garden, where a great feast fully enjoyed took place. The moonstone was here and there by turns. In fact, as Luna said at last, “Our party is held just in the right place to do ample justice to my friend’s title.”
But instead of becoming more peevish, or grumbling about having no dinner, or worrying himself about losing his moonstone anymore, the raccoon echoed Luna’s feelings about the garden, and while he gave no formal invitation himself, it was clearly understood before they parted that he would be glad to receive them anytime afterwards they cared to come.
This, indeed, as Luna said just before they separated, “Was a splendid moonstone party,” and it was a title of Royalty outside the Forest, all of which goes to prove that a title is not by any means the most important addition to a person’s characteristics.