The Zombie Who Loved Orange Moonbeams

Zara was not like other zombies. While her friends stumbled around looking for brains, Zara spent her nights dancing under the stars. Her green hair — which sparkled with tiny lightning bugs — bounced as she twirled.

One evening, Zara discovered something amazing. An orange moonbeam fell from the sky and landed right in her garden. It glowed like melted sunshine.

"What are you?" Zara whispered.

The orange moonbeam wiggled. It stretched into a little creature made of pure light and happy thoughts.

"I'm a Moon Friend!" it said. "I fell down by accident. Can you help me get home?"

Zara had never had a real friend before. The other zombies thought she was strange. But this Moon Friend didn't think she was weird at all!

"I'll help you," Zara promised.

But how? The moon was SO high up. Zara looked around and spotted an old cable hanging from the tallest tree in the forest. It had been there for years, left by some forgotten adventurers.

"Climb on my back," Zara told the Moon Friend. "I'm not scary — I'm strong!"

The little light creature snuggled into Zara's patchwork pocket. Up they climbed, hand over hand, until Zara could reach the cable. She swung higher and higher, past the trees, past the clouds.

"You're doing it!" the Moon Friend cheered.

Zara's green hair whipped in the wind as she climbed. She wasn't stumbling or groaning like the other zombies. She was flying!

At the top of the cable, Zara tossed the Moon Friend toward the orange moon. It caught the moonbeam and zoomed home, leaving a trail of sparkles.

"Thank you, Zara!" the Moon Friend called. "You're not weird. You're wonderful!"

Zara climbed down, her heart full. The other zombies gathered around, their mouths open.

"Where did you go?" one asked.

"On an adventure," Zara smiled. "And I made a friend."

That night, the zombies didn't stumble around. They danced with Zara under the orange moonbeams, learning that being different was the best kind of wonderful.