Four Colours Between Us

When Puschel and Flauschi returned from Star Hill, the sun was just rising above the Wusel Forest. They had planned to eat breakfast and go straight to sleep. But outside their tree-door, spring flowers bloomed beside warm summer grass while red autumn leaves rested on a little mound of snow.

Puschel blinked. Puschel“Did we accidentally bring home four different mornings?” Flauschi knelt in the damp grass. Beneath a thin edge of snow, something sparkled that was neither ice nor dew.

Together they lifted a small glass flower. Its four rounded petals shone pink, gold, orange-red and icy blue. A simple green ribbon hung from its stem. When Puschel’s and Flauschi’s paws closed around it, the colours grew warm and bright.

Four narrow trails appeared across the meadow: blossoms, sunlit dew, autumn leaves and snow. Farther on, they joined again and led into the forest. Flauschi“Perhaps the flower wants to go home,” Flauschi said. Puschel looked at the unknown path and then at her. Puschel“Then it should not have to go alone.”

Flauschi rested her forehead against his. Flauschi“Neither should we.” For one moment they stood quietly between four seasons. Then they carried the glass flower between them—and a strange morning became the beginning of their next journey.