Once upon a time in a dense forest on a strawberry meadow lived two friends — Hamster and Butterfly. One day, Butterfly suggested going on a hike.
They say that beyond the tall trees, real wonders are hidden. We'll see so much — enough impressions to last a year!
At first, cautious Hamster had doubts, but then he too wanted to see the forest wonders.
No sooner said than done. The next morning, as soon as the sun rose over the strawberry meadow, they set off on their journey.
The forest path led them farther and farther toward adventure. Hamster looked around — he saw a clearing covered with white mushrooms. He rushed to gather them, forgetting everything around him. After collecting them, he looked around — and Butterfly was nowhere to be seen! When he called, his friend appeared, annoyed.
What were you doing there? I've already flown past three such clearings! At this rate, we won't get anywhere at all!
After lunch, the sun began to set toward the horizon. Hamster saw before them a clearing covered with wonderful blueberries — so delicious and large that our hero had never seen such berries at home. Having learned from bitter experience, he asked Butterfly not to fly away and to help him.
Butterfly agreed, but there was little use from her — while Hamster patiently gathered berries, she only darted from one bush to another. Hamster divided all the gathered harvest into two bundles: one he took for himself, the other, smaller one, he gave to Butterfly. And again she was displeased: because of the heavy bundle, it was uncomfortable for her to fly. For the rest of the journey until evening, she whined and complained.
Evening was approaching. The friends stopped to choose a place to spend the night in a wonderful spot, near a stream. But this didn't improve Butterfly's mood at all.
We spent the whole day on your stupid stops! First you need to gather mushrooms, then berries. Because of this, we didn't really see anything! I almost broke my wing because of your stupid berries.
And then Hamster couldn't take it anymore.
And what will you eat without my mushrooms and berries? If you want to flutter from tree to tree — go ahead, let's each go our own way. But you won't last long without supplies!
Butterfly didn't back down.
Me, not last? You're the one who won't last here without me! I can rise up and see where we need to go! If, of course, I'm not loaded down with kilograms of berries. And without me, you'll just get lost in your own backyard.
And then Hamster suddenly had a realization.
Yes, if you don't scout the road, we'll get lost. But if I don't gather supplies for us, we'll starve. Getting lost is bad, starving is no better. So maybe, instead of arguing, we should combine our efforts?
After thinking, Butterfly agreed.
As soon as the sun rose, the friends set off on their journey again. Now Butterfly didn't idle when Hamster found a clearing with forest gifts: at that time she rose above the trees and looked where they should go next. Each of the friends carried their share of the common harvest.
A week later they returned happy and full of impressions! The animals marveled at their stories and asked: what was the main lesson the friends learned during their travels?
Hamster and Butterfly answered, after thinking.
True friendship only grows stronger from trials! And it helps overcome obstacles that one couldn't handle alone. That's what's most important!
From that day on, all the animals in the forest learned to value friendship even more.
