0:00 A baby owl’s first flight happens when it is about ten weeks old.0:06 Just like we saw Barnaby the bear awaken to a world of gentle surprises in his forest, tonight we meet a little owl named Orion, who is about to discover a sky full of his own magic.0:24 Orion the little owl stood at the very edge of the branch.0:30 His talons curled tightly around the rough pine bark.0:35 A soft night breeze ruffled his fluffy feathers.0:40 Below him, the forest was a deep, sleepy shadow.0:45 Above him, the sky was a blanket of dark velvet.0:50 His mother, perched beside him, gave a soft hoot.0:55 “It’s time, my little one,” she whispered.0:59 “The sky is waiting for you.” Orion’s heart did a little flutter-thump inside his chest.1:08 He peeked over the edge.1:10 It looked so… very… far down.1:13 He took a deep breath, smelling the sweet scent of pine needles and damp earth.1:21 He remembered his mother’s words.1:24 “Be brave, and trust your wings.” So he did.1:28 He closed his big, round eyes for just a second.1:33 Then he opened them, spread his wings as wide as they could go, and hopped.1:41 For a moment, he tumbled.1:43 The wind rushed past him with a whoosh.1:47 But then, he felt it.1:49 A push.1:50 A lift.1:51 He beat his wings once… twice… and he wasn't falling anymore.1:57 He was flying.1:58 He looked up, and his breath caught in a little gasp of wonder.2:04 The dark velvet sky wasn't empty at all.2:08 It was filled with tiny, glittering lights.2:13 They blinked and twinkled as if they were waving just to him.2:19 They looked like a thousand scattered diamonds.2:24 “What are they?” he chirped, gliding in a wide, wobbly circle.2:30 His mother flew up beside him, her own wings silent and strong.2:36 “Those are the stars, my dear Orion,” she said softly.2:41 “And that big, glowing one… that is the moon.2:46 They are the night’s gentle lanterns, here to guide you.” Orion soared.2:53 He dipped and swirled through the cool night air, feeling the moonlight warm on his feathers.3:02 The world below was quiet and peaceful.3:06 He flew past the top of the tallest oak tree.3:11 He saw the river glimmering like a silver ribbon.3:16 He felt so brave, and so… free.3:19 After a long, wonderful flight, a little yawn escaped his beak.3:25 His wings began to feel tired.3:28 He followed his mother back to their cozy nest, high in the old pine tree.3:35 He snuggled into the soft feathers, warm and safe.3:40 He could still see the stars twinkling through the branches.3:46 He closed his eyes, his little head full of starlight and the feeling of the wind beneath his wings.3:56 And as Orion the little owl drifted off to sleep, he dreamed he was dancing with the stars.
