Elena is a little girl in the desert. The sand is warm. The sky is big.
Elena wears a small hat. She is kind. She is brave, even when she feels shy.
“Hello, desert,” Elena says.
A Fox peeks out from behind a rock. The Fox has bright eyes and a clever smile.
“Hi,” says Fox. “I know secret paths.”
Elena giggles. “I lost my tiny water cup.”
Fox sniffs the air. “We can find it. Follow my tail.”
They walk. Step, step. Soft sand. Little wind.
Far away, something goes “Grrrr.”
Elena stops. Her hands hold her hat.
Fox whispers, “That is the Monster. It is loud. But we can be quiet and smart.”
Elena nods. “I can do quiet.”
They pass a tall cactus. They pass a sleepy lizard.
Fox points. “See those footprints? Small ones. Yours. And a round mark. Your cup rolled.”
Elena’s eyes get big. “My cup rolled away!”
They follow the round mark. It leads to a dune. The dune is like a soft hill.
On the other side is a shadowy cave made of stone.
“Cup might be there,” says Fox.
Elena feels a tiny wobble in her tummy. “Monster?”
“Maybe,” says Fox. “We can say hello nicely.”
They tiptoe to the cave.
Inside, it is cool. Drip, drip, goes water.
Elena whispers, “I hear water!”
Then—THUMP.
The Monster steps out. It is big. It has messy fur and heavy feet.
“WHO IS HERE?” the Monster booms.
Elena’s knees shake. Fox stands close to her.
Elena takes a slow breath. “I am Elena. I lost my water cup. Please.”
The Monster blinks. It looks surprised.
“I… I found a cup,” the Monster says, quieter. “It rolled into my cave. I kept it.”
Fox tilts his head. “Did you keep it because you are mean?”
The Monster looks down. “No. I get thirsty too. But I am clumsy. I spill.”
Elena’s fear gets smaller.
Elena says, “We can share. I have a trick.”
She shows her hat. “Hat can be a bowl!”
Fox laughs. “Smart girl!”
Elena holds the hat under the drip-drip water. Little drops fill it.
The Monster watches. “Oh.”
Elena offers the hat. “Sip.”
The Monster sips. “Mmm. Thank you.”
Then the Monster reaches behind a rock.
“Here,” it says, and gives Elena her tiny water cup.
Elena hugs it. “My cup!”
Fox does a happy spin.
The Monster shuffles. “I also found this.”
It opens a small pouch. Inside are smooth stones that shine like stars. Gold and blue and pink.
“Treasure stones,” Fox whispers.
The Monster says, “You were brave and nice. Take some.”
Elena chooses three stones. “One for me. One for Fox. One for you.”
The Monster’s eyes get soft. “For me?”
Elena nods. “Friends share.”
They walk out together. The sun is gentle now.
Elena pours a little water into her cup. Fox drinks a little. The Monster drinks a little.
Fox says, “The desert is big, but we are a team.”
Elena laughs. “Team!”
They wave goodbye at the cave.
Elena goes home with her cup and her shiny treasure stones, and a new friend who is not scary at all.