Preview audio:

storyj.mp/ae3h97ac7rn6

On the branch of an old tree, hung a family of bats: Mama Bat, Papa Bat, and Tara Bat. The moon was high in the sky, waking up Tara’s family.

They each stretched their wings and let go of the branch. Joining the rest of their friends, all of the bats went out to find food.

Tara found a juicy fruit with her friend Cassie Bat. As they ate, Cassie had an idea. “Hey Tara,” Cassie called. “I’m having a sleepover with friends tonight. Do you want to join us?”

Tara gnawed on her fruit, thinking for a moment. Tara had never been to a sleepover before. She has always stayed with Mama and Papa Bat. Tara got excited.

After getting permission from Mama and Papa Bat, Tara went with Cassie and more friends to her cave.

It was dark in Cassie’s cave. Tara had always slept in the dark grove of the forest. She always had the moonlight to wake her up. Cassie’s cave started to scare Tara.

Cassie flapped to a rock with her guests and had another idea. “We should play a game!” Cassie shouted.

Tara liked games, but she didn’t know how to play many. “How do we play games in the dark?”

“Easy!” Cassie exclaimed. “We can play hide-and-seek and use our voices to find each other!”

Tara didn’t know what Cassie meant, but the rest of the group flew away to hide, leaving Tara all alone.

Tara thought about closing her eyes, but there would be no point in the darkness. So she started to count as the sound of wings began to stop.

One, two, three...

Tara didn’t like the darkness or being alone. She was afraid. What if she got lost? Her friend’s cave was very big.

Four, five, six...

When Tara finished counting, she was drowning in the pool of black. She didn’t know what Cassie meant about using her voice. So she flapped her wings and started to fly in random patterns.

“Hey, guys?” Tara squeaked, hearing her echoes bounce all around. “Cassie, where are you?” She asked, flipping and flapping her wings.

Tara bumped into something she couldn’t see, only to hear Cassie’s wings pattering in the air. “You found me!” She laughed. “Come on, let’s find the others!”