Then came the soft flutter of wings. Magpie landed beside her, tilting her head. Crow, it is so late. Are you still awake? I cannot sleep, Crow sighed.
I am looking for the brightest star, said Crow. Grandma always said, find it, and whatever troubles your heart becomes clear. And when your heart is clear, sleep comes easy. Magpie's eyes lit up.
Then let us find it together! Magpie spread her wings. Fly toward the darkest place. Only in the deepest dark can you find the brightest light. And so the two birds flew up into the night.
They flew over sleeping villages, over silent ridges, through cloud after cloud, soft as breath. The wind was cool, but neither bird felt cold, for their wings flew close together.
Suddenly, Crow stopped. Ahead of them hung one star, larger, brighter, warmer than all the rest. It did not twinkle. It simply glowed, steady and calm, as if to say: I have always been here, waiting for you.