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Outdoor Maranoa Park at dawn, mist curls around tall gum trees and the whispering creek glints under a soft pink sky. No animals are in sight yet, emphasizing the park's peaceful stillness.
Welcome to quiet Maranoa Park. Tall gum trees touch the sky here. The creek whispers to the ocean. Many animals call this place home. Everyone has feelings here. Today is a brand new day.
Grassy clearing beside the creek, midday sun dapples the ground. Mushka the kity cat crouches low, bright eyes eager, as a yellow butterfly flutters just out of paw-reach.
Mushka the cat is feeling happy. He loves to run and climb. His grey fur is soft and fluffy. He spots a fishy snack. "Yum!" purs Mushka brightly. He chases a butterfly.
Under a towering gum tree in afternoon shade, Mushka the kity cat sits with tail curled tightly around his paws. His ears droop and his green-blue eyes gaze downward, stillness hanging in the warm air.
But sometimes Mushka remembers being small. He was a lonely kitten once. This memory makes his heart heavy. He stops playing for a moment. Mushka feels a little sad. He needs a hug.
At the sunlit paddock fence, Holly the horse lowers her golden head to nuzzle Mushka the kity cat. Mushka presses into her soft muzzle, both framed by late-morning light and swaying yellow grass.
Holly the horse sees her friend. She is golden and very gentle. Holly nuzzles Mushka with her nose. "You are safe now," she says. Mushka feels warm inside again. Good friends help when you are sad.
Inside the open wooden stable at noon, sunlight streams through gaps onto a pile of fresh hay and a bucket of bright red apples. Holly the horse crunches an apple happily, golden coat gleaming as hay spills from her mouth.
Holly loves to eat red apples. Crunch, crunch, crunch! She shares her hay with friends. The sun warms her golden coat. It is a very happy day. Holly feels great.
Open paddock under dark afternoon clouds; wind whips loose straw across muddy ground. Holly the horse stands near a gum tree, legs trembling and ears flattened while lightning flickers in the distance.
Suddenly, the wind begins to howl. A big storm rolls in quickly. Holly feels afraid of the noise. Her tummy feels very wobbly. She does not like storms. Her legs shake a bit.
Clearing beside the paddock just after the storm, puddles reflect newly emerging sunlight. Barry the bin chicken performs a silly dance, muddy feet kicking water, while Holly the horse smiles, tension gone.
Barry the bin chicken walks over. He waddles on his muddy feet. He does a silly little dance. Holly starts to smile at him. Barry loves making others laugh. The storm goes away.
Quiet afternoon at the park's wooden boundary fence, long shadows stretching across dry leaves. Barry the bin chicken trudges alone, ruffled white feathers speckled with mud, head lowered as he calls, 'Is anyone awake?'
Later, the park becomes very quiet. Everyone is busy napping today. Barry walks along the fence alone. He feels lonely right now. "Is anyone awake?" he asks. His feathers look messy.
High branch of a tall gum tree in the golden late-afternoon light. Mr James the murray the magpie stands impeccably groomed, looking down with a courteous tilt, while Barry the bin chicken waits on the ground below.
High up sits Mr James. He is a proper magpie. He keeps his feathers very clean. Mr James likes good manners. He looks down at Barry. "Hello there," he tweets politely.
Twilight settles over the same gum tree, sky lavender and orange behind sparse leaves. Mr James the murray the magpie sits motionless on his branch, shoulders slightly hunched, beak angled toward the dim creek.
Mr James feels confused today. He misses someone very special. His heart feels unsure and quiet. Even proud birds get sad. He sits still on his branch. He sighs softly.
Lower branches of a gum tree, early morning light shining through fresh dew. Mr James the murray the magpie watches as Barry the bin chicken lands beside him and Mushka the kity cat paws the trunk, three friends grinning together.
Barry flies up to the tree. "Let's play together!" he says loudly. Mr James feels much better. Mushka and Holly come over too. The friends are all together. The sadness goes away.
Sunset paints Maranoa Park orange and purple, the creek murmuring beneath silhouetted gum trees. Holly the horse drowses, Mushka the kity cat curled against her foreleg, while Barry the bin chicken roosts on the fence, all bathed in fading light.
The sun sets on Maranoa Park. Happy days and sad days happen. But friends always help each other. Everyone goes to sleep safely. The park is full of love. Goodnight, animals.
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