A Tale for Winter

A Tale For Winter

It was a cold and miserable January, filled with rainstorms, harsh

frosts and a gusty wind that made the trees creak, as their roots

clung to the soil for support. The grass was clothed in a cloak of

silver and the trees were tipped in white. Most of the animals of the

forest were still in hibernation from the autumn months, safely

sleeping in their grassy beds and earthly homes. All except one, a

young bat named Vladimir, who had not been able to sleep for the

howling of the wintry winds. Hanging from the branch of an old oak

tree he shivered, with only his wings wrapped around his small body to

keep him warm. His feet were bitterly cold and the icy coating on the

branch made it hard for the tiny creature to hold on. Vladimir fell

into the bed of fluffy snow and frozen grass beneath him. He was all

on his own and feeling lonely without his friends, who were fast

asleep, hibernating in their dark cave. Vladimir, who was freezing

cold right through and missing all his furry friends, began to cry.

Suddenly he heard a sniffling noise come from behind him. He turned

around to see what looked like a small pile of brown pine needles

wandering towards him. As the mysterious creature came closer it

lifted its head up to reveal two dark beaded eyes and a funnel nose.

It was a hedgehog, who had also been unable to sleep for the whistling

of the winds. The hedgehog introduced himself as Horace, and explained

that he too was feeling lonely, wandering the forest on his own whilst

his friends slept in hibernation.

The win...

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...adimir knew that the snow outside had

melted and the animals had come out of hibernation. The bats had heard

Vladimir’s cries for help and had come to rescue him from the ravenous

grizzly bear. Vladimir was extremely happy to be reunited with all his

bat friends, who he introduced to Horace. Some of Horace’s friends had

come along too, having heard all the noise coming from the cave and

mistaking it for a post-hibernation party! Once all the bats had

settled and found places to hang from, the bear stood up. He saw that

the snow outside had melted and padded out of the cave to find a tasty

tree to feed from. With a free cave all to themselves, the small

creatures of the forest had a party until the sun came up. Whilst the

bear found himself an alternative soup recipe, made from woodlice and

dandelions, rather than bats.