The Trail to Star Hill

From the edge of the forest, Puschel and Flauschi saw Star Hill clearly for the first time. It rose beyond silvery treetops, with a cloud shaped like a feather above its peak. The place appeared on none of their maps.

Puschel spread a map across a tree stump anyway. He turned it left, right and finally upside down. Puschel“It should be here,” he said, pointing confidently at a blue patch. Flauschi leaned closer. Flauschi“That is Cloud Lake.”

The star lantern in her paw tugged gently at its violet ribbon. Its single spark leaned northwards, towards tiny lights floating between the trunks. Flauschi folded the map. Flauschi“Perhaps this path does not need one.”

They packed only the essentials: a blanket, two cups, a magnifying glass for Puschel’s important discoveries, and a notebook for Flauschi’s observations. Puschel also wanted an umbrella, a net and three cushions. After brief negotiations, one cushion stayed behind. Puschel naturally carried the other two.

As they set off, the forest grew darker while the trail grew brighter. Puschel moved closer to Flauschi. Puschel“Only so you don’t get lost,” he explained. Flauschi linked her paw through his. Flauschi“Very thoughtful.”

At the top of Star Hill, a second light blinked for just a moment, then vanished. They looked at one another. Their journey had only just begun—and somewhere up there, someone or something seemed to be waiting for their lantern.