Duski was a small bat who loved to fly far at night. He was not afraid of dark places or strange sounds. He enjoyed exploring places no other bat dared to go. While flying over the hills one night, Duski saw a strange cave between two large rocks. It looked different from any cave he had ever seen. The rocks around it were shaped like sharp teeth, and cold air emerged deep inside.
Duski flew closer. On the stone above the entrance were words carved in big letters. He read them slowly.
“Enter if you dare. Return only if you are wise.”
Duski was curious. He had solved puzzles before and liked challenges. So, without overthinking, he flew into the cave.
Inside, it was cold and quiet. The air was still. The walls were smooth, and the ground was wet. As he moved deeper, he heard a low voice coming from the dark.
“Welcome, little bat,” the voice said. “You have entered the Cave of No Return.”
Duski stopped in the air. “Who are you?” he asked.
“I am the keeper of this cave,” the voice said. “You may not leave unless you answer three riddles. If you fail, you stay here forever.”
Duski’s heart beat faster. But he nodded. “I will try.”
The voice said,
“I come at night without being called.
I disappear during the day without being chased.
What am I?”
Duski thought for a moment. He remembered flying under the trees, seeing dark shapes move with him.
“Shadow,” he said.
There was silence. Then the voice spoke again.
“Correct. You may go further.”
Duski flew deeper. The cave became darker. Strange shapes moved along the walls though no wind blew.
The voice returned.
“I have hands but no arms.
I have a face but no eyes.
I tick, but I do not speak.
What am I?”
This one was harder. Duski had once seen such a thing hanging on the wall in a human house. It moved its hands and made small sounds.
“Clock,” he said.
The cave rumbled softly. “Correct again,” the voice said. “Only one more.”
Duski flew to the final room. The walls here were covered in drawings. Many of them showed bats: flying in, standing still, or trapped behind lines. Some looked very old. The voice now sounded louder.
“I cannot be seen,
but I can be heard.
I can break hearts
or lift them high.
What am I?”
Duski had never heard a riddle like this. He closed his eyes and thought. He remembered the time he had heard a song from far away. He couldn’t see it, but it made him feel something.
“Music,” he said.
There was a long pause.
Then the voice said slowly, “You are clever, little one.”
The cave began to shake. The rocks opened. Light came through the cracks. Duski flew toward it as fast as he could.
He came out into the night air. The stars were above him. The wind touched his wings again. He was free.
Duski looked back. The cave had sealed itself shut. The words above the door had changed.
Now they said:
“He who leaves never forgets.”
Duski flew home in silence. He never told anyone what he saw inside. But from that day, he never explored alone again.
What We Learn from The Bat and the Cave of No Return Story
This story shows that curiosity is good, but we should also be careful. Duski didn’t run away from the challenge but stayed calm and used his mind to find the right answers. In life, we may face strange or scary situations. At those times, it’s important to think before we act. Being smart and careful can help us find a way out, even when things look dark.
At Storyious, we believe in nurturing young minds through stories that spark courage, build wisdom, and encourage quiet confidence. Discover more moral stories that inspire growth through gentle adventures.
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