Once upon a time, in a small village near a big forest, there lived a little girl named Lily. She loved to play with her dog, Max, every day. They would run around the yard, chase each other, and sometimes even try to climb the big tree in the backyard.

One sunny morning, Lily woke up early. She put on her favorite red dress and went outside to find Max. But he wasn’t there. “Max?” she called. No answer. She looked around the yard, but he was gone.

Lily felt worried. She ran into the house and told her mom, “Max is missing!” Her mom smiled and said, “Don’t worry, dear. He might be playing somewhere nearby.”

Lily decided to look for Max by herself. She walked through the garden, past the flowers, and into the forest. The trees were tall, and the birds were singing. She called out again, “Max! Max!”

Suddenly, she heard a soft bark. “Max!” she shouted. Then she saw him! He was sitting under a big bush, looking at a butterfly.

“Max, you scared me!” Lily said, hugging him tightly. “I thought you were lost!”

Max wagged his tail and licked her face. Lily laughed. “Let’s go home now,” she said, and they walked back together.

That day, Lily learned that even when things seem scary, it’s important to stay brave and keep looking. And Max? He was just having fun, as always.

The end.