Batty decided it was time for his first solo expedition to Echo Caves, the popular hiking spot for adventurous flyers. He packed his tiny leaf-backpack with his favorite snacks—dried mango slices and sugary figs. "No water bottle for me," he declared proudly, "Mom taught me that a true explorer finds their own sips!"
The cave was massive and filled with bats zooming back and forth like busy traffic. Batty was having so much fun dodging stalactites that he didn't notice when the crowd thinned out. He followed a rock that looked suspiciously like a giant banana and zipped down a quiet, unknown tunnel.
Suddenly, everything was very quiet. Batty hovered in place, realizing he had no idea which way was out. "I am not lost," he whispered to a rock, "I am just taking the scenic route." He wasn't scared, though; the cave glowed with friendly blue moss.
His tummy gave a loud rumble that echoed three times. Batty found a comfortable ledge and sat down to munch on a dried fig. "Panic is for birds," he mumbled with his mouth full, "bats use their brains and their bellies."
After his snack, Batty felt thirsty. He remembered his mother's lesson: "If you want water, listen to the stone." He closed his eyes and rotated his large, fuzzy ears like radar dishes, listening for the tell-tale *drip-drop* sound.
He followed a soft tinkling sound to a beautiful hidden grotto where water trickled into a crystal-clear pool. He took a refreshing drink, feeling proud of his survival skills. "Take that, water bottle!" he chirped.
Just as he turned to leave, Batty spotted something strange behind a curtain of ivy. It wasn't a rock, but a tiny, ancient wooden door with a brass handle, built right into the cave wall. He reached out a wing to touch it...
