The next morning, the pond shimmered like a dream. Dewdrops clung to every blade of grass, sparkling like tiny stars that had fallen to rest. The air was fresh, and the sky—oh, the sky—was bluer than ever.
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Tilly blinked awake under her favorite willow tree. Her "wings" of leaves and vines were still beside her, a little crumpled from the night breeze. She stretched her legs, yawned, and smiled to herself.
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"My very first flying lesson," she whispered.
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She glanced around for Poko, but the little snail was nowhere to be found. He'd left a note written on a smooth pebble using snail slime (which, luckily, dried sparkly in the sunlight).
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It read:
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"Went to find breakfast. Don't fly without me. – Poko"
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Tilly chuckled and she looked up at the wide blue sky—and that's when she saw it.
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Something white and soft was drifting down, twirling gently in the breeze like a snowflake.
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It floated lower, lower... until it landed right on her nose.
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A feather.
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Tilly gasped, crossing her eyes to look at it properly. "A feather... from the sky?"
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It was small and perfect—pure white, soft as clouds. It shimmered faintly in the sun, as if made of light itself.
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"Oh, wow," she breathed. "Grandma Shella said pieces of the sky are all around... but I didn't think one would fall right into my face!"
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She held it carefully in her little hands. "Maybe it's a sign! Maybe the sky believes in me, too!"
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"Talking to feathers now?" came a grumbly voice.
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Tilly turned to see Mr. Croak peering from his rock, his big yellow eyes suspicious.
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"It's not just a feather," she said proudly. "It's a gift. From above."
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Mr. Croak snorted. "The only gift you'll get from above is rain, little shellback. Feathers fall all the time."
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"Not like this one," Tilly insisted. "It's special—I can feel it!"
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Before Mr. Croak could reply, a sleepy voice called from the reeds. "Tillyyy! You didn't wait for me!"
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Poko slid into view, a bit of leaf stuck to his shell. "You promised no flying without me!"
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"I didn't fly," Tilly said, smiling. "But look! The sky sent me something."
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Poko squinted. "It's... fluffy."
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"It's a feather!" she said, twirling it carefully.
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"Maybe from one of the geese that passed by last night."
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Poko tilted his head. "So... does this mean you're half-bird now?"
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Tilly giggled. "Not yet. But maybe it means I'm meant to try again."
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At that moment, Penny the duck waddled over, flapping her wings excitedly. "Oooh! That's a goose feather! Fancy! Maybe it is a sign. I once followed a feather and found the juiciest worms ever!"
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"Not helping," Poko muttered.
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"Maybe it'll help me fly this time," Tilly said, tucking the feather on her shell between her leafy wings. "There! My flying charm."
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"Flying charm?" said another voice, smooth and teasing.
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A black shadow glided over them, and Corvus the crow swooped down from above, landing neatly on a low branch. His feathers gleamed like polished midnight.
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"Well, well," he croaked, smirking. "Still trying to reach my sky, little turtle?"
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Tilly lifted her chin. "Not trying. Learning. There's a difference."
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Corvus tilted his head, amused. "Learning to fall, maybe."
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"Learning to fly," she corrected proudly.
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From behind a cattail, Bertie the beetle buzzed closer, his tiny wings humming. "Oooh, this sounds exciting! Is there going to be a crash? There's always a crash."
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Poko sighed. "You know her too well."
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Tilly climbed up her favorite rock—the same one she always used for her "test flights." The morning sun sparkled on the pond below.
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"Ready?" she asked, glancing at Poko.
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The snail sighed. "No. But go on anyway. I know you will."
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Penny flapped her wings. "You've got this, Tilly! Just think feathery thoughts!"
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"Feathery thoughts. Got it!" Tilly grinned. She took a deep breath, spread her leafy wings, and jumped—
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SPLASH!
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Water sprayed everywhere. Poko squeaked, Penny gasped, and Bertie cheered, "Ten out of ten for effort!"
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Mr. Croak laughed so hard he nearly rolled off his rock. "I told you! Shells don't soar, they sink!"
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Tilly popped up a moment later, dripping wet but smiling wide. "Did you see that? I felt lighter that time!"
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Poko blinked. "You sank like a rock."
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"Maybe," said Tilly, wringing out a vine, "but I felt like a feather."
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Even Corvus, watching from above, tilted his head slightly—almost impressed.
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Corvus let out a low, amused chuckle, the kind that ruffled his dark feathers. "Feeling like a feather, hmm? The sky doesn't take dreamers—it takes doers."
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Tilly blinked up at him, still dripping wet.
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"Then I'll do whatever it takes."
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The crow leaned forward, his sharp eyes glinting like bits of obsidian. "Big words for someone who can't stay in the air longer than a hiccup."
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Penny puffed up indignantly. "Hey! She's got heart!"
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Bertie buzzed closer. "And determination! And great form on the way down!"
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Mr. Croak grumbled, "And perfect splash technique."
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Corvus ignored them all, hopping down from his branch to stand just a few feet from Tilly.
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His wings stretched wide, blocking part of the morning sun. "If you truly think you can fly," he said slowly, "then prove it. Meet me at the Willow Rise at dawn tomorrow."
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Tilly tilted her head. "Willow Rise?"
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Poko's eyes went wide. "That's so high! Even ducks don't go there! It's where the wind gets wild and twisty!"
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"Exactly," said Corvus, his beak curving into a sly grin. "If she wants the sky, she has to face the wind."
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Penny flapped her wings nervously. "Corvus, that's dangerous! She's just a turtle!"
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Tilly, however, stood taller, her little chest puffing with courage. "Then it's perfect."
Corvus blinked in surprise. "Perfect?"
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"Yes," she said, steady and sure. "Because the wind is what lifts things up, right? If I can face it, maybe it'll lift me too."
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For a second, even the pond seemed to go quiet—just the faint sound of rippling water and Bertie's faint buzzing.
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Corvus gave a small nod. "You've got spirit, shellback. I'll give you that. Be there when the first light touches the willow. And don't bring your friends—if you want the sky, you must meet it alone."
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"Alone?" Poko cried. "That's not fair! She needs moral support!"
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Tilly smiled softly. "It's okay, Poko. Sometimes, to reach new places, you have to take the first step by yourself."
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Corvus spread his wings, his feathers catching the sunlight like black glass. "We'll see if you can keep up with the wind, little dreamer."
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With a powerful flap, he soared upward, vanishing into the open blue.
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Penny blinked after him. "Well, he's dramatic."
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Bertie nodded. "Very dramatic. I like it."
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Poko turned to Tilly, frowning. "You're really going, aren't you?"
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Tilly looked up at the sky, where Corvus had disappeared. She touched the feather still tucked between her leafy wings and smiled. "I am. Tomorrow...."
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***
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That night, the pond shimmered under the moonlight like a bowl of silver water. Fireflies floated lazily above the reeds, and the air smelled sweet and calm.
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Under the willow tree, Tilly was busy. Like, super busy.
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She had leaves spread out, vines tangled everywhere, and little feathers scattered across the grass. Her tongue peeked out from the side of her mouth as she concentrated.
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Poko blinked sleepily beside her. "You've been at it for hours, Tilly. What even is that thing?"
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"It's my... uh... prototype!" she said proudly, holding up two leaves tied together with vines.
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"If I adjust the angle just right, the aerodynamics will help me lift off!"
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Penny tilted her head. "Aero-what now?"
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Tilly paused, blinking. "...I don't actually know. But it sounds clever, right?"
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Poko nodded sagely. "Very. You sound like a scientist."
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"Exactly!" Tilly said, puffing up with pride.
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"Professor Tilly, expert in... aero-somethings!"
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Bertie the beetle zoomed in, bumping into a stick. "Did someone say science?! I brought supplies!" He proudly held up a bit of spider silk and a shiny pebble.
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Tilly gasped. "Perfect! Spider silk for strength, pebble for balance!"
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Penny sniffed. "Balance? You're a turtle. You are the balance."
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Tilly giggled. "Well, now I'll be balanced in the air too."
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She began tying the spider silk around the leaves and feathers. The result looked a little crooked—but also adorable. Every time she moved, the wings rustled softly like giggling leaves.
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Poko poked one wing. "Are you sure this thing won't just... fall apart midair?"
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Tilly gasped dramatically. "Excuse me! I used aerodynamics!"
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Penny whispered to Bertie, "She still doesn't know what that means."
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Bertie whispered back, "Neither do I, but it sounds magical."
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Mr. Croak, who had been pretending not to watch from a nearby rock, grumbled, "It's not magic. It's gravity waiting to happen."
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Tilly stuck her tongue out playfully. "Well, maybe gravity just needs to be outsmarted!"
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Everyone laughed, and even Mr. Croak's mouth twitched like he was hiding a smile.
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Finally, after much tying, fluffing, and fixing,
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Tilly stepped back. "Ta-da! The Winginator 3000!"
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Penny clapped her wings. "Ooooh! Fancy name!"
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Poko tilted his head. "What happened to Winginator 1 and 2?"
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Tilly blinked. "...They didn't make it."
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They all laughed again.
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Then Tilly sat down, looking at her wobbly creation with a soft smile. "It's not perfect," she said, "but it's mine. And tomorrow, when the sun rises... I'll fly with the wind."
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Poko yawned. "Just don't forget breakfast first, okay?"
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Tilly nodded, eyes twinkling. "Promise."
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As her friends settled around her—Penny tucking her beak under her wing, Bertie snoring midair, and Poko curling up beside her—Tilly looked up at the glowing moon.
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"Goodnight, sky," she whispered. "Don't go anywhere—I'm coming for you."
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If anyone listened closely, they might've heard the faint sound of the wind laughing back, as if the sky already knew her name.
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and then Add to home screen.