Nia the Squirrel and the Stormy Tree

In a quiet corner of the forest, lived a tiny squirrel named Nia. She wasn’t the fastest, or the strongest, but she had something special — a big, curious heart.

One sunny morning, Nia stood beneath the tallest tree in the forest. Its branches touched the clouds, and its leaves whispered secrets to the wind. She looked up, eyes wide with wonder.

“If I climb to the top,” she whispered, “I’ll see the whole world.”

So, with a flick of her tail, she began her climb. Higher and higher, past chirping birds and sleepy owls, past the spot where even the bravest squirrels stopped. The forest below grew smaller. The wind grew stronger.

But Nia didn’t stop — not until the sky began to darken. She hadn’t noticed the clouds gathering.

Suddenly, thunder cracked across the sky. The wind howled. The tree began to sway. Nia’s little paws gripped tightly to the bark. Her heart beat fast.

“Oh no… I can’t go down,” she said, trembling. “I’m stuck.”

Far below, Leo the lion was walking near the base of the tree when he heard a tiny voice calling through the wind.

“Help! Anyone?”

He looked up — and saw his friend clinging to a branch.

“Nia!” he called. “Hold on! I’m coming!”

Now, lions aren’t known for climbing trees… but Leo didn’t care. He climbed — slowly, carefully, paw after paw — until he reached her. With steady strength and a gentle smile, he helped her climb down, one branch at a time, until they were both safe on the ground again.

The rain began to fade, and a soft golden light broke through the clouds. A rainbow stretched across the sky.

“Thank you, Leo,” Nia said, still shaking. “I thought I had to be brave all by myself.”

Leo smiled. “Even the bravest need a friend sometimes.”

And from that day on, Nia learned something wonderful: courage is real — but it’s even stronger when you don’t face the storm alone.