Short Stories

The Guardian and the Protector: The Story of Lily and the Forest

Tree in a magical forest with woman and wild animals.
Tree illustration by Ralph – Ai Artist / Pixexid.com CC BY 4.0 & Woman image by Harryarts on Freepik

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the heart of the forest, there lived a young girl named Lily. She was a kind and curious child, always eager to explore the world around her.

One day, while wandering in the forest, Lily stumbled upon a clearing she had never seen before. In the centre of the clearing stood a large, ancient tree unlike any she had ever seen. Its trunk was as wide as a house and its branches reached up to the sky as if they were trying to touch the clouds.

Lily approached the tree and placed her hand on its trunk. As she did, she felt a strange sensation, as if the tree was alive and communicating with her. She closed her eyes and listened closely, and to her surprise, she heard a voice.

“Hello, Lily,” said the tree. “I am the Guardian of the Forest. I have been watching you and I have chosen you to be my protector.”

Lily was shocked and a little scared, but she also felt a sense of excitement and purpose. She knew that this was a great honour, and promised that she would do her best to protect the forest and all of its inhabitants.

From that day on, Lily spent all her time in the forest, learning from the Guardian and protecting the animals and plants.

Cover of the December 2023 issue of The Teenager Today — a Christmas Special!

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Om Gupta is a 20-year-old student of BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, Academic City.

Om Gupta

Om Gupta is a 20-year-old student of BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, Academic City.