The Swimming Bull's Secret Pond

Emma sat by the old pond, her iPhone forgotten on the grass. She'd come to take pictures of dragonflies, but something much more amazing splashed into the water.

A massive black bull emerged from the trees, his hooves making soft thuds on the muddy bank. Emma held her breath. Bulls were supposed to be scary, but this one tilted his head curiously, his big brown eyes kind and gentle.

Then—SPLASH! The bull jumped right into the pond!

Emma gasped. She'd never seen a bull go swimming before. The powerful animal glided through the water like a giant, happy dog, his horns slicing through the surface as he chased sparkling dragonflies.

"You're magical!" Emma whispered, forgetting all about her phone.

The bull swam to the edge and nudged something toward her with his wet nose. A glowing orange bottle bobbed in the water. Emma picked it up—it was filled with the most beautiful golden liquid she'd ever seen.

"Dragonfly tears," the bull seemed to say with a gentle snort. "Full of magic vitamin from the sun."

Emma understood. This secret pond was where dragonflies came to heal, and the swimming bull protected them. She poured a drop into the water, and hundreds of dragonflies lit up like tiny stars.

"I won't tell anyone," Emma promised, slipping the bottle into her pocket. "Except maybe my little sister. She'd believe in magic swimming bulls."

The bull nodded wisely, then disappeared into the trees with a splash. Emma smiled, grabbing her iPhone—not to take pictures, but to turn it off. Some magic was too special to share with the whole world.