¹     In the darkest valley in the Smoky Mountains, there was a tree. It was a tall tree full of shadows. The tree was the home of Omega Owl.
 
²     Omega was a lonely owl. Her parents had vanished. They were nowhere to be found. Omega sat in her tree and waited for them to return. The shadows grew bigger. Omega got smaller.
 
³     Night crept into the valley. It was big. It was dark. It was as black as a bat cave. Omega's eyes were wide with fear.
 
⁴     Sounds popped out of the valley. There were cricket chirps. Leaves rustled in a soft breeze. Sometimes there was a crack as a dry branch snapped off a tree. Some trees seemed to sigh in the darkness. There were small, scurrying sounds on the ground. Omega's head turned all around as she stood guard on her own tree limb.

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