The Whispering Woods and the Lost Laughter

Previously

…She knew that the Whispering Woods would always be there, a place she had touched and changed, and that had changed her in return. And in her heart, she carried the knowledge that even in the most serious of places, a little bit of laughter could make all the difference. The world outside might be ordinary, but her heart was now filled with a touch of extraordinary magic, a secret treasure she would carry with her always. The butterfly, she knew, would be a constant reminder, a tiny beacon of the joy she had helped to rekindle. And as sleep finally claimed her, Lily dreamt not of frowns and stern faces, but of shimmering sprites and a badger with a surprisingly infectious chuckle.