On a super sunny day, a little ant named Pip was very, very thirsty. He scurried over to a big, clear stream to have a drink. "Ah, water!" he thought. But as he leaned down, whoops! He slipped and tumbled right into the fast-flowing water.

"Help! Help!" squeaked Pip, kicking his tiny legs. The water was too strong, and he was being carried away.

Up in a tree, a gentle dove named Dotty saw the little ant struggling. "Oh dear," she cooed softly. "That little fellow is in trouble!" Dotty quickly plucked a leaf from the tree with her beak and dropped it carefully into the water, right near Pip.

Pip saw the leaf floating like a little green boat. "Hooray!" he thought. He scrambled onto the leaf, holding on tight. The leaf drifted gently to the riverbank, and Pip hopped off, safe and sound. He looked up at Dotty. "Thank you, thank you, kind dove!" he chirped. Dotty just cooed happily and flew on.

A few days later, Pip was walking through the woods. He saw a man, a hunter, tiptoeing very quietly. The hunter had a net, and he was looking up into a tree. Pip looked up too and saw Dotty, the kind dove, resting on a branch. The hunter was getting ready to throw his net over her!

"Oh no!" thought Pip. "That's my friend Dotty! I have to help her!"

Pip ran as fast as his little legs could carry him, right up to the hunter. Then, with all his might, he gave the hunter a sharp bite on his bare ankle!

"OUCH!" yelled the hunter, jumping in surprise. He dropped his net and looked down to see what had bitten him.

The noise made Dotty look down. She saw the hunter and the dropped net. Whoosh! She spread her wings and flew away, high into the sky, safe and free.

Pip watched her go and felt very happy. Dotty looked down and cooed a special thank you to her tiny friend. And so, the little ant helped the kind dove, just like the dove had helped the ant. They both learned that a little bit of kindness can go a very long way.

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