¹     In the darkest valley in Smoky Mountains, there was a tree. It was a tall tree full of shadows. The tree was the home of Omega Owl.
 
²     Omega was a lonely owl. Her parents had vanished. They were nowhere to be found. Omega sat in her tree and waited for them to return. The shadows grew bigger. Omega got smaller.
 
³     Night crept into the valley. It was big. It was dark. It was as black as a bat cave. Omega's eyes were wide with fear.
 
⁴     Sounds popped out of the valley. There were cricket chirps. Leaves rustled in a soft breeze. Sometimes there was a crack as a dry branch snapped off a tree. Some trees seemed to sigh in the darkness. There were small, scurrying sounds on the ground. Omega's head turned all around as she stood guard on her own tree limb.
 
⁵     The night was dark. The night was scary. How Omega wished for daylight! Her parents weren't afraid of the night, but they were gone. Omega was alone. She had never before been alone.

Paragraphs 6 to 12:
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