A young wolf named Luna lived in a deep green forest. He was different from the other wolves - not because of his gray fur or bright eyes, but because wherever he went, a shadow followed. 

At first, it was just a tiny thing, barely noticeable in the morning sun. As Luna played with the other wolf pups—leaping over soft moss and pouncing on fluttering leaves—he couldn't help but giggle,

 "Catch me if you can!" 

But a tiny shadow played along, always just behind him, giggling in its own quiet way.  

"Catch me if you can!" 

But the shadow grew larger each time Luna felt angry, afraid, or selfish.

Like the time he growled at his sister, Helios, for taking his favorite bone,  

"It's mine!" he had snarled.

His shadow darkening behind him. 

“You’re not being fair, Luna! We can share!” his sister had whined.

But all Luna could think about was his own hurt feelings. 

“You’re not being fair, Luna! We can share!”

  "IT'S MINE!"

Or when he refused to share the berries he'd gathered with the younger pups.

"Hey Luna," his friend said, her name was Star because she always shined with kindness.

"Can we share the berries?" she asked optimistically, 

"We couldn't gather many because we can't reach them" motioning to the berries just out of reach from her little snout.

"But I gathered them myself, why should I have to give them up?" said Luna pouting.

"Can we share the berries?"  

"We couldn't gather many because we can't reach them"

"But I gathered them myself, why should I have to give them up?"

Soon, Luna started noticing the shadow more and more. It followed him everywhere, growing darker with each passing day. The other wolf pups began to avoid him, whispering about the strange darkness that followed their once-playful friend. 

"Look at Luna." one pup whispered,

Though his friend Star still played with him, her presence and calming nature seemed to help keep the shadow at bay, or a distance.

"I'll still be with you, no matter how big your shadow is. You got this!" said Star

With her kind words, the shadow shrank, if only a small bit.

"Look at Luna."

"I'll still bewith you, no matter how big your shadow is. You got this!"

One day the shadow was worse than usual "Go away!" Luna would shout, running faster and faster through the trees. But the shadow only grew bigger and darker.  

"Why won't you leave me alone?" he whimpered, his heart pounding like thunder. A little bird perched above chirped down softly, 

“You can’t run from it forever, Luna!” 

He was running so fast he didn't realize he was about to barrel into his best friend, Star.

“Ouch!” Star said, rubbing her snout, “You really have to watch where you're going, you know.” 

“Sorry, I just” Luna muttered out of breath, “the shadow keeps getting worse and I don't know what to do, I'm so scared."

“You should talk to Grandma Wolf, I bet she can help. She's the wisest animal in the whole forest!” star noted.

“You should talk to Grandma Wolf, I bet she can help. She's the wisest animal in the whole forest!” 

Sorry, I just... the shadow keeps getting worse and I don't know what to do, I'm so scared.

 While running from his shadow, Luna bumped into Grandmother Wolf. She was sitting on a smooth rock, watching the clouds drift by.  

"Why are you running so fast, little one?" she asked gently, her eyes twinkling with understanding.  

Luna looked up at her with tears in his eyes, the shadow lurking behind. 

"There's a shadow chasing me," Luna explained, trembling. "The more I run, the bigger it gets! I've tried hiding in caves, running through the deepest parts of the forest, and even staying awake all night. Nothing works!” 

Grandmother Wolf smiled knowingly. "Ah, I see. Come with me, young one. I know just what to do."  

"There's a shadow chasing me. The more I run, the bigger it gets! I've tried hiding in caves, running through the deepest parts of the forest, and even staying awake all night. Nothing works!”

"Ah, I see. Come with me, young one. I know just what to do."  

They walked together through the forest. “Is it true you are the wisest animal in the forest?” Luna asked timedly. “My friend Star said you were”

“Oh, Star,” said Grandma Wolf with a warm smile, “she flatters me, I am not so wise, I simply listen to my heart” 

After a little while they reached a crystal-clear lake. The water sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight.

"The water here is magical," Grandmother Wolf said with a mysterious smile. "It will protect you from the shadow. But remember, little one - true magic often lies within our own hearts."  

"The water here is magical. It will protect you from the shadow. But remember, little one - true magic often lies within our own hearts."

"When the shadow comes," Grandmother Wolf said gently, her voice calm like the evening breeze, "don't run. Stand in the lake's shallow water and face it." 

The sun dipped low, casting golden light on the water, making it sparkle.

"Remember these words: 'I am safe, I am calm, I am brave.'" Her wise eyes met Luna's, filling him with courage.

She taught him to take deep breaths—slowly in through his nose and out through his mouth—just like the gentle waves lapping at the shore. The cool air smelled of pine, wrapping around them like a warm hug and reminding Luna that he was strong and never alone.

"Remember these words: 'I am safe, I am calm, I am brave.'"

That night, Luna could hardly sleep. His mind raced with thoughts of the big day ahead. He decided to practice the breathing exercises that Grandmother Wolf had taught him. 

“Breathe in slowly for four seconds,” he reminded himself as he inhaled deeply, 

“Hold for seven seconds,” feeling his chest expand, 

“and exhale through your mouth for eight seconds.” 

As he repeated the exercise, he imagined filling himself with bright energy and pushing away his worries. With each breath, he felt a little more ready for the adventures that awaited him.

When dawn finally broke, Luna felt a flicker of hope in his heart. He was ready—or at least, he hoped he was! With a determined smile, he jumped out of bed, eager to greet the day and all its possibilities! 

“Breathe in slowly for four seconds,

Hold for seven seconds, feeling his chest expand, 

and exhale through your mouth for eight seconds.”