"—Don't run, I can't catch up with you!" the starfish shouted breathlessly, trying to synchronize his steps.
— No, come slowly! I have to be home early. Today I'm going to see a movie that starts as it slowly gets dark! replied the seahorse, quickly waving its dorsal fin.
The starfish was left behind. Since it could neither climb high into the water nor swim freely, but only step lazily on the sand and stones, it followed at its own, very slow pace, like a walk.
The little horse ran away quickly and arrived at his house just in time for the movie to start. He turned on the TV, lay back comfortably, and enjoyed the show. He really liked the movie!
When he was finished, he closed the screen, went out onto his porch for a moment to look at the moonlight dancing on the water, and then fell asleep peacefully.
The next morning, with the first ray of sunshine, he set out for his usual walk.
There, on the shallow shore, where the waves gently crashed onto the sand, he always met the starfish to play their games.
But as he waited and time passed, the starfish was nowhere to be seen. The little horse began to worry.
What on earth had happened? So he set off for his friend's house, perhaps he had forgotten in his sleep.
As she approached, she saw him lying on a chaise longue.
He was probably sleeping. But when he got closer, he froze at what he saw: he was missing one leg and had some white cloths, like gauze, wrapped around the wound!
The little horse was scared. He thought about sneaking away so as not to disturb him, but as soon as he turned to leave, the starfish opened its eyes and called out to him:
— I was waiting for you, come back, little seahorse! You have to get used to me like this for a while. Don't be scared! Don't you know that we starfish, when we lose one leg, another one grows in its place? Don't worry about me, because I will grow another leg, and what I lost may even become... another starfish!
The little horse began to pace nervously around him. By nature, the poor little horse cannot bend its head down – and fortunately so, because that way it could not see the wound clearly with the gauze, only what it had seen from afar.
"So you went to Doctor Poseidon and he tied you up?" he asked, full of curiosity.
— Yes, how else, answered the starfish calmly. Yesterday, as soon as you left, one of my legs was cut by something sharp that I didn't understand, it was hidden in the sand. I went straight to the doctor Poseidon. He carefully took my severed limb. In a short time, a new, small starfish will emerge from this piece, so don't worry about my cut at all!
The little horse was amazed. He couldn't believe how this miracle could happen with a starfish leg!
But before he could ask any more questions, the sky above the water suddenly darkened. A sudden summer storm broke out. The sea turned black, the waves began to foam violently, and the seabed became agitated.
The little fish, frightened by the commotion, gathered in groups, chatting non-stop about the weather and the starfish accident that had already become the first topic of conversation!
The little horse, who had difficulty keeping straight in such a wave, grabbed hold of a seaweed with its tail and shouted amidst the noise:
— Come on, hello starfish, I greet you! See you tomorrow! Should I come here to see you or to our familiar place for coffee?
"—To the familiar place! Apparently I'll be much better tomorrow," the starfish replied, smiling.
The storm lasted all night, but the next morning the seabed had cleared and the sunlight was shining golden on the sand again. The seahorse ran to the familiar place that they both loved.
Thus time passed, and one day, as the little seahorse went to the familiar place and thought about the starfish's words from the previous day, that a small starfish might not be reborn from its severed leg, he was surprised to see the starfish sitting on a sea carpet waiting for him.
Next to it, inside a small, protected shell full of clear water, a brand new, tiny starfish was shyly wiggling its edges!
The severed leg had already begun to transform into a new life.
The little horse felt his heart fill with joy and relief.
He understood that in nature, even the slowest creatures hide within them an incredible power to overcome difficulties and be reborn.
The two friends drank their coffee, which was a variety of fresh plankton, and the seahorse promised himself that from now on, he would never “run ahead” again. He would always go at his friend’s pace, enjoying the ride with him!!
photo hobby, https://pixabay.com
