The Yawning Yak
High up in the mountains where the air smells like vanilla cookies, lived a gentle yak named Yuki. Yuki had the fluffiest, warmest fur – brown like hot chocolate with cream swirled in. But there was something very special about Yuki.
Every evening, as the sun painted the sky in sleepy pinks and purples, Yuki would let out the biggest, most wonderful yawn.
“Yaaaaaaaawn,” went Yuki, stretching her fuzzy arms wide like she was trying to hug the whole sky.
And something magical happened. Whenever Yuki yawned, all the little animals in the mountains would start to feel sleepy too.
The fluffy white sheep would see Yuki’s yawn and go, “Baaaa-yaaaawn.” Their woolly heads would start to nod.
The mountain rabbits would wiggle their pink noses and let out tiny squeaky yawns, “Yip-yaaaawn.”
Even the wise old owl would ruffle his feathers and hoot softly, “Hoo-yaaaawn.”
One evening, little Yuki noticed a baby mountain goat who couldn’t fall asleep. The little goat was jumping from rock to rock, too excited to rest.
“I’m not tired!” said the baby goat. “I want to play more!”
Yuki smiled her gentle yak smile and walked slowly over to the little goat. She sat down on the soft mountain grass and looked up at the first twinkling star.
“Sometimes,” said Yuki in her warm, rumbly voice, “the best adventures happen in our dreams.”
Then Yuki took a deep breath and let out her most wonderful yawn yet. “Yaaaaaaaaaaawn.”
The baby goat watched Yuki’s peaceful face, her droopy eyes, and her cozy, content expression. Before he knew it, the little goat felt his own mouth opening wide.
“Yaaaawn,” went the baby goat, surprised at himself.
“There you go,” whispered Yuki. “Yawning is like a warm hug for your whole body.”
Soon the baby goat curled up next to Yuki’s fluffy side, feeling safe and drowsy. The mountain became quiet and peaceful, with just the gentle sound of everyone breathing softly.
Yuki yawned one more time – a slow, sleepy yawn that seemed to say, “Good night, sweet dreams.”
As the moon smiled down on them all, every creature in the mountains drifted off to sleep, dreaming of soft clouds, warm hugs, and tomorrow’s gentle adventures.
And if you listen very carefully right now, you might hear Yuki’s sleepy yawn floating on the wind…
“Yaaaaaaawn…”
The end.