(ill divide this paragraph in two part, this is part one)

(Part Two)

air. The forest loomed dark and foreboding, while the moonlight danced across the surface of the lake, casting silvery reflections that flickered like the stars above. Her heart raced as panic surged through her—where could Ruky be? Had her words somehow transformed him? She frantically called out, “Ruky! Ruky! Where are you?” but the only response was the whispering wind rustling through the leaves.

Desperation clawed at her heart, and she dashed into the coolness of the night, her bare feet padding softly on the grass. “Ruky! Little Crow!” she cried, her voice echoing through the stillness. As she ventured towards the forest’s edge, she felt a strange pull, a magnetic force drawing her deeper into the shadows. The branches above twisted and turned, creating eerie shapes against the moonlit sky, and she strained her ears for any sound of her brother.

Suddenly, she heard a faint but unmistakable call, “Cor! Cor!” The sound sent a surge of relief through her, and she followed the voice, each step both trepidacious and determined. She stumbled upon a small clearing where the moonlight spilled out like a shimmering blanket. There, among the tall grasses, she saw him—a small figure with wings, fluttering as if trying to take flight. Ruky's laughter, that pure, innocent sound, rang out in the night. But it echoed differently, with a lilt that was both familiar and strange.

“Ruky! Is that you?” Cora gasped, half in disbelief.

“Yes, Cor! Look, I’m a crow!” he called, his eyes gleaming with delight. He flapped his little arms, and in that moment, she saw it was true. Her brother had transformed into a tiny bird, the raven-black feathers glistening in the moonlight.

“Oh, Ruky, what happened?” she cried, running to him, overwhelmed with an array of emotions—fear, joy, sorrow. This was all her fault; she had wished for peace and quiet, and the universe had answered in a way she never intended.

“I wanted to see the stars, Cor! They’re so beautiful!” he chirped, fluttering above her head. “Up here, I can see everything!”

Cora’s heart sank as she realized the weight of her earlier wish. She reached out, longing to touch him, to hold him close again. “But you belong with me, Ruky! Come back! You’re my little brother, not a bird!” Tears streamed down her cheeks as the enormity of their bond crashed over her like a wave.

“But I am a crow now, Cor!” he replied, darting playfully around her, leaving trails of laughter in the night air. “A crow can fly free! I love my tree!” He landed on a nearby branch, pecking at the leaves with delight and displaying the unrestrained joy of his transformation.

“Oh, Ruky…” she whispered, her heart heavy and conflicted. “I want you back. I didn’t mean it. I just want my little brother, no matter how noisy, no matter how different. I love you just as you are.”

At her words, the air shimmered, and slowly, Ruky began to glow. Cora held her breath, hopeful yet unsure. The light enveloped him in warmth, growing brighter until it burst like fireworks across the sky. In that fleeting moment, the enchantment shattered, and there stood Ruky, back in his familiar form, bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked.

“Cor!” he laughed, throwing his arms around her. “Did you see me?”

“Never do that again!” she exclaimed, hugging him tightly, her voice breaking with emotion. “You had me scared to death! I’ll never wish you away again, Ruky. I promise. You’re my little Crow, forever.”

“Forever!” he echoed gleefully, his smile broad and heartening. The tension that had once hung heavily in the air melted away, replaced by the warm glow of their bond. From that day forward, Cora embraced the noise and chaos that Ruky brought into her life, for she understood that even in the moments of discord, love was the greatest peace of all. And as for Ruky, well, he would always be her little crow, with laughter that could fill the darkest corners of the forest and joy that sparkled like the stars above.

(this is part two of the paragraph)

"Ruky! Ruky!" she screamed. There was a slight stir in the low-growing tree. "Ruky, darling, come back!" "Caw, caw!" answered a harsh voice from the tree. Something black seemed to spin out of it, and then, in great sweeping circles, salled upward, until finally it settled upon one of the loftiest trees in the forest. "Caw, caw!" it screamed, fiercely. The girl shuddered, but, with outstretched arms, cried out: "Oh, Ruky, if it is you, come back to poor Cor!" "Caw, caw!" mocked hundreds of voices, as a shadow like a thunder-cloud rose in the air. It was an immense flock of crows. She could distinguish them plainly in the starlight, circling higher and higher, then lower and lower, until, with their harsh "Caw, caw!" they sailed far off into the night. "Oh, Ruky, answer me!" she cried. Nep growled, the forest trees whispered softly together, and the lake, twinkling with stars, sang a lullaby as it lifted its weary little waves upon the shore: there was no other sound. It seemed that daylight never would come; but at last the trees turned slowly from black to green, and the lake put out its stars, one by one, and waited for the new day. Cora, who had been wandering restlessly in every direction, now went weeping into the cottage. "Poor boy!" she sobbed; "he had no supper." Then she scattered breadcrumbs near the doorway, hoping that Ruky would come for them; but only a few timid little songsters hovered about, and, while Cora wept, picked up the food daintily, as though it burned their bills. When she reached forth her hand, though there were no crows among them, and called "Ruky! Ruky!" they scattered and flew away in an instant. Next she went to the steep-roofed barn, and, bringing out an apronful of grain, scattered it all around his favorite tree. Before long, to her great joy, a flock of crows came by. They spied the grain, and soon were busily picking it up with their short, feathered bills. One even came near the mound where she sat. Unable to restrain herself longer, she fell upon her knees with an imploring cry: "Oh, Ruky! is this you?" Instantly the entire flock set up an angry "caw," and, surrounding the crow, who was hopping closer and closer to Cora, hurried him off, until they all looked like mere specks against the summer sky. Every day, rain or shine, she scattered the grain, trembling with dread lest Nep should leap among the hungry crows, and perhaps kill her "little bird" first. But Nep knew better; he never stirred when the noisy crowd settled around the cottage, excepting once, when one of them pounced upon his back. Then he started up, wagging his tail, and barking with uproarious delight. The crow flew off in a flutter, and did not venture near him again. Poor Cora felt sure that this could be no other than Ruky. Oh, if she only could have caught him then! Perhaps with kisses and prayers she might have won him back to Ruky's shape; but now the chance was lost. There was no one to help her; for the nearest neighbor dwelt miles away, and her uncle had not yet returned. After a-while she remembered the little cup, and, filling it with grain, stood it upon a grassy mound. When the crows came, they fought and struggled for its contents with many an angry cry. One of them made no effort to seize the grain. He was content to peck at the berries painted upon its sides, as he hopped joyfully around it again and again. Nep lay very quiet. Only the tip of his tail twitched with an eager, wistful motion. But Cora sprang joyfully toward the bird. "It is Ruky!" she cried, striving to catch it. Alas! the cup lay shattered beneath her hand, as, with a taunting "caw, caw," the crow joined its fellows and flew away. Next, gunners came. They were looking for other birds; but they hated the crows, Cora knew, and she trembled for Ruky. She heard the sharp crack of fowling-pieces in the forest, and shuddered whenever Nep, pricking up his ears, darted with an angry howl in the direction of the sound. She knew, too, that her uncle had set traps for the crows, and it seemed to her that the whole world was against the poor birds, plotting their destruction. Time flew by. The leaves seemed to flash into bright colors and fall off almost in a day. Frost and snow came. Still the uncle had not returned, or, if he had, she did not know it. Her brain was bewildered. She knew not whether she ate or slept. Only the terrible firing reached her ears, or that living black cloud came and went with its ceaseless "caw." At last, during a terrible night of wind and storm, Cora felt that she must go forth and seek her poor bird. "Perhaps he is freezing-dying!" she cried, springing frantically from the bed, and casting her long cloak over her night-dress. In a moment, she was trudging barefooted through the snow. It was so deep she could hardly walk, and the sleet was driving into her face; still she kept on, though her numbed feet seemed hardly to belong to her. All the way she was praying in her heart; promising never, never to be passionate again, if she only could find her bird-not Ruky the boy, but whatever he might be. She was willing to accept her punishment. Soon a faint cry reached her ear. With eager haste, she peered into every fold of the drifted snow. A black object caught her eye. It was a poor storm-beaten crow, lying there benumbed and stiff. For Ruky's sake she folded it closely to her bosom, and plodded back to the cottage. The fire cast a rosy light on its glossy wing as she entered, but the poor thing did not stir. Softly stroking and warming it, she wrapped the frozen bird in soft flannel and blew into its open mouth. Soon, to her great relief, it revived, and even swallowed a few grains of wheat. Cold and weary, she cast herself upon the bed, still folding the bird to her heart. "It may be Ruky! It is all I ask," she sobbed. "I dare not ask for more." Suddenly she felt a peculiar stirring. The crow seemed to grow larger. Then, in the dim light, she felt its feathers pressing lightly against her cheek. Next, something soft and warm wound itself tenderly about her neck, and she heard a sweet voice saying: "Don't cry, Cor, -I'll be good." She started up. It was, indeed, her own darling! The starlight shone into the room. Lighting her candle, she looked at the clock. It was just two hours since she had uttered those cruel words! Sobbing, she asked: "Have I been asleep, Ruky, dear?" "I don't know, Cor. Do people cry when they're asleep?" "Sometimes, Ruky," clasping him very close. "Then you have been asleep. But Cor, please don't let Uncle whip Ruky." "No, no, my little bird-I mean, my brother. Good night, darling!" "Good night."

Cora held Ruky tightly to her chest, relief flooding through her as the reality of his return settled in. The warmth of his small body against her felt like a reassurance that love and hope had triumphed over despair. She brushed the hair off his forehead and gazed into his bright eyes, now glimmering with innocence and mischief, as they always had been.

"You’re back! You came back!" she exclaimed, her voice quivering with emotion. "I was so scared, Ruky. I thought I'd lost you forever!"

"Cor, I was just having fun in my dream," he replied with a giggle, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of the situation. “I flew everywhere and saw the stars up close! They were so pretty!” His enthusiasm was infectious, igniting a small flame of joy within Cora’s heart. Yet, mixed with that joy was a lingering guilt for having wished him away in the first place.

“Ruky, I should never have said what I did,” she whispered, her tone filled with remorse. “I wanted peace, but I didn’t mean it like that. I want you just as you are—always here with me.”

“Well, you scared Ruky!” he pouted, his small eyebrows knitting together in a cute frown. “But now I am here, and I won’t go away again. Let’s promise to always be together, even when we’re grumpy!”

“I promise,” Cora replied, feeling a weight lift from her chest. She kissed him softly on the cheek, and the warmth of that small gesture filled both their hearts with love and understanding. The shadows of the previous night began to fade, replaced by the soft light of a new day just beginning to creep in through the window.

“Can we go look for the stars again tomorrow?” Ruky asked, bouncing slightly with excitement.

“Of course, little bird! We can do anything together,” Cora assured him, a smile breaking through her earlier sorrow. “As long as we’re together, every moment will be an adventure.”

With that, they settled back into their cozy bed, Ruky nestled against Cora, the two of them now united more than ever by their shared experiences and the trials they had faced.

As sleep began to claim her, Cora thought of the crows and their persistent "caw," but now it no longer sounded mocking. Instead, it resonated as a reminder of her bond with Ruky—a bond that was tested yet unbroken. She vowed never to take their time together for granted again.

Outside, dawn’s early light unfurled across the lake, the sun spilling radiant colors over the horizon like an artist’s palette. The world was waking up, filled with promise and brightness that mirrored the newfound warmth of Cora and Ruky's relationship. No longer would she wish for peace at the cost of losing him. They would create peace together, in every joyful moment and in every playful mischief—their laughter echoing through the trees, resonating long after they had grown up and left their childhood home behind.

And so, as Cora drifted to sleep with Ruky's rhythmic breathing beside her, the promise of tomorrow glimmered like the stars above, reminding them both that love was, indeed, the brightest light of all.

Use the passage to answer the question.

Which universal theme does the passage include?
(1 point)
good versus evil
survival of the fittest
power
love

The passage includes the universal theme of **love**. The relationship between Cora and Ruky illustrates the strength of their bond and the love they share, which ultimately allows them to overcome difficulties and misunderstandings.

Use the passage to answer the question.

Which universal theme does the passage include?
(1 point)
good versus evil
survival of the fittest
power
love

The universal theme included in the passage is **love**. The story emphasizes the strong bond between Cora and Ruky, showcasing how their love helps them navigate challenges and misunderstandings.