FIRST TIMERS' KISS

The countryside of Ironbridge was calm and beautiful, with green hills stretching far and wide. Birds chirped in the morning light, and in the distance, a donkey brayed. Inside a small stone house, Ethan Nightingale sat at his desk, focused on his notes. His pen scratched across the paper as he spoke to himself.

"Strange...the foxes are moving closer to farms. Is it because of food? Or maybe something else is pushing them out?" He tapped his pen, thinking hard.

The door creaked open, and Eugene walked in, holding a pile of papers. "Dad, here are the notes you wanted."

Ethan looked up quickly, his eyes bright. "What did you find, Eugene?"

Eugene set the papers down and grinned. "I watched the foxes by the river. They're moving their dens closer to the farms, probably because there's more food there."

Ethan picked up the notes and flipped through them. "Good work! This explains a lot. You're getting better at this, son."

Before Eugene could reply, the door opened again, and Odessa stepped in. She was wiping her hands on her apron and looked at Eugene with a raised eyebrow.

"Eugene," she said firmly, "don't forget to give Henny his medicine today. That donkey's been coughing again."

Eugene laughed. "I won't forget, Mum. I'll take care of Henny after this."

"Good," Odessa said, smiling softly before heading back to the kitchen.

As the door closed behind her, Ethan turned back to Eugene. His voice grew serious. "Eugene, in two days, I need you to go to the Wonderwood Zoo. They've got rare animals there, and we need to know more about their habits for the research. Pay close attention to their habitats and behaviors."

Eugene's face lit up. "The Wonderwood Zoo? Really? I've always wanted to see it!"

Ethan smiled. "Yes, it's important for what we're studying. You're good at this, Eugene, and I know you'll do a great job. I'm proud of you."

Eugene nodded eagerly, his mind already racing with thoughts about the trip.

As Eugene grinned, thinking about the trip to the Wonderwood Zoo, a loud crash came from outside. Both he and Ethan froze.

"What was that?" Ethan asked, standing up.

Eugene rushed to the window and peeked out. "It's Henny! He knocked over the cart again. Looks like he was trying to get to the hay."

Ethan sighed, but before he could say anything, Odessa burst back into the room, looking pale and worried. "It's not just the cart. There's something wrong with him. Henny collapsed."

Eugene's stomach dropped. "Collapsed? I'll check on him right now."

Eugene and Ethan ran outside with Odessa following close behind. Henny, the family's old donkey, was lying on his side, breathing heavily. His ears twitched weakly, and his eyes were half-closed.

Eugene knelt beside Henny, his heart racing. "He doesn't look good. I gave him his medicine yesterday, but... maybe it's not working?"

Ethan crouched down, his experienced eyes scanning the donkey. "This isn't normal. It's like... he's been poisoned."

"Poisoned?" Odessa gasped, covering her mouth.

Eugene shook his head, confused. "How could that happen? He's only been eating from our field."

Ethan's face darkened. "I don't know, but this can't be a coincidence. Something's wrong here." He paused and looked at Eugene. "Forget the trip to the zoo for now. We need to figure this out first. I want you to stay sharp, Eugene. This could be bigger than it seems."

Eugene nodded, determined. "I'll do whatever it takes to help."

But as they stood over Henny, Eugene couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping over him. Why would anyone poison their donkey? And if it wasn't an accident... what were they really dealing with?

Eugene stared at Henny, thinking hard. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Wait! I think I know what might help him!"

Ethan and Odessa exchanged a surprised glance. "What are you thinking, son?" Ethan asked.

"There's that old herb mix we used for the goats when they got sick last year," Eugene said quickly. "Remember? It helped clear their system. It might work for Henny too!"

Without waiting for a response, Eugene ran to the storage shed. He grabbed the small sack of dried herbs and rushed back. Kneeling beside Henny, he mixed the herbs with water and carefully fed it to the donkey.

"Come on, Henny," Eugene murmured. "This has to work."

At first, nothing happened. Then, Henny's ears twitched, and he let out a soft bray. Slowly, the donkey tried to lift his head.

"He's moving!" Odessa cried, her voice full of hope.

Henny managed to stand on shaky legs, and after a moment, he gave a loud, healthy bray, wagging his tail.

Ethan clapped Eugene on the shoulder. "You did it, son! That was quick thinking. I'm proud of you."

Odessa nodded, smiling warmly. "You saved Henny, Eugene. You're a natural. No wonder your sister Emma always says you're the smartest in the family."

Eugene laughed as they all began walking back to the house together. "Emma's just trying to make me do more work for her," he joked. "But thanks, Mum. I'm just glad Henny's okay."

Ethan smiled as they entered the house. "Smart and humble. You're going to do great things, Eugene."

Odessa nodded in agreement. "And if you bring that same thinking to the Wonderwood Zoo, who knows what you'll discover?"

Eugene grinned, feeling a new surge of confidence. "I'll make sure not to let you down."

The Lewis mansion in the heart of the city was alive with excitement. Bright lights hung across the garden, sparkling like stars. Balloons of pink and gold bobbed in the gentle evening breeze, and tables were piled high with delicious food. A massive banner that read "Happy 18th Birthday, Lilian!" stretched across the patio. Music blared from the speakers, and guests danced on the lawn, their laughter filling the air.

Inside, Lilian stood near the grand staircase, looking radiant in a flowing lavender dress with delicate silver embroidery. Her long, dark hair was styled in loose curls, and a silver tiara sparkled on her head. She was the star of the evening, surrounded by friends and family who couldn't stop complimenting her.

"Lilian, you look like a princess tonight," her mother, Cecilia, said with a warm smile as she adjusted Lilian's tiara.

"She's always been our princess," Dayton, her father, added proudly.

"Thank you, Mum and Dad," Lilian said, hugging them both. "But you're spoiling me too much with this party."

"Nonsense," Cecilia replied. "You only turn eighteen once!"

Lilian's siblings were nearby, laughing and chatting. Little Zoe, only seven years old, tugged at Lilian's dress. "Lilian, if you're a princess, does that make me the queen?"

Gina, their 14-year-old sister, burst into laughter. "You? A queen? More like the court jester!"

Zoe puffed up her cheeks. "Hey! At least I don't snore like you do!"

Marvin, their 16-year-old brother, chuckled from where he was leaning against the wall. "Zoe's got you there, Gina. You're louder than a lawnmower."

Lilian couldn't help but laugh, her cheeks hurting from smiling so much. "Okay, okay, let's not start a family war at my party. Zoe, you can be the queen for tonight."

"Yay!" Zoe cheered, twirling around dramatically.

As the music grew louder, the party reached its peak. Guests danced, waiters moved through the crowd with trays of drinks, and the air buzzed with energy. But just as Lilian was about to join the dance floor, a loud crack echoed from outside.

The laughter stopped, and everyone turned toward the garden.

"What was that?" Dayton asked, frowning.

Before anyone could answer, a waiter rushed inside, looking panicked. "There's been a break-in at the gate!"

Gasps filled the room. Cecilia gripped Dayton's arm. "Who would try to break in during the party?"

Lilian's heart raced as she looked at her father. "Dad, what should we do?"

Dayton's jaw tightened. "Stay inside, all of you. I'll handle this."

But Lilian wasn't sure she could just stand by. She glanced at Marvin, who gave her a knowing look, as if he was already hatching a plan of his own.

Suddenly, smoke began to fill the party room. It crept in from the garden, swirling through the air like a mysterious fog. People coughed, waving their hands to clear the air.

"What's going on?!" someone shouted.

Guests backed away from the source, fear spreading across the room. Lilian's siblings huddled close to their parents, and even Dayton looked startled.

"Stay calm!" Dayton called out, trying to reassure everyone.

Before anyone could panic further, a voice boomed through the smoke. "Now THIS is how you make an entrance!"

As the smoke cleared, a group of elderly women appeared, led by none other than Dana, Lilian's grandmother. She stepped forward, holding a cane in one hand and a megaphone in the other. Behind her, her friends waved sparklers in the air, grinning.

"Mother?!" Dayton exclaimed, his hands flying to his head. "What on earth are you doing?"

Dana gave a dramatic bow as the music stopped. "Making my granddaughter's 18th birthday unforgettable, of course!" She tossed the megaphone aside and spread her arms wide. "You only turn 18 once, Lilian!"

Lilian's surprise quickly turned to joy. She ran to Dana, throwing her arms around her. "Grandma! You scared us! But this is amazing!"

Dana hugged her tightly, laughing. "Didn't I tell you, Lilian? I always bring the fun! Look at you; so grown up and beautiful. I wouldn't miss this for the world."

Dayton walked over, shaking his head in disbelief. "Mother, did you really break the gate?"

Dana waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, no, no. That sound was fake; one of my brave friends brought it along to make the entrance more... dramatic."

Cecilia chuckled, crossing her arms. "Well, Dana, you and your friends certainly know how to make an impression."

Dana grinned proudly as her friends, one by one, stepped forward to hug Lilian.

Lilian beamed, hugging each of them warmly.

"This is the best surprise ever!" Lilian said, her excitement spilling over.

Little Zoe tugged at Dana's sleeve, her face serious. "Grandma, what about me? Don't I get a hug too?"

Dana's eyes softened as she bent down to hug Zoe tightly. "Of course, my little queen. You're too sweet to miss out! Look at you; cuter than a cupcake!"

Zoe giggled, snuggling into Dana's arms. "Thanks, Grandma. You're the best."

Dana stood up, turning to the crowd with a mischievous smile. "Now, my dear Lilian, my friends and I didn't just come for the fun. We've prepared a special gift for you."

The room fell silent, all eyes on Dana. Lilian's heart raced. "A gift? What is it?"

Dana's smile widened. "Oh, you'll see soon enough. But trust me, it's something you'll never forget."

The guests murmured in curiosity, and Lilian's siblings leaned closer, their faces full of wonder. The mystery hung in the air as everyone waited to find out what the gift could be.