A Warm Paw in the Snow

As soon as Puschel and Flauschi passed through the dew gate, the forest grew completely quiet. A broad snowfield lay before them. Yet a warm summer wind moved across the white hills, and tiny meadow flowers scented the air between the falling flakes.

Puschel carefully placed one paw in front of the other. Puschel“The snow feels like winter, but my ears are quite certain it is summer.” Then he took an especially brave step and sank up to his belly in a soft drift.

Flauschi set the travel basket on a dry patch of grass and reached out both paws. Flauschi“Do not wriggle. You might dig all the way to next spring.” Puschel held on while his enormous tail drew a sparkling furrow through the snow.

Together they pulled until Puschel landed on the warm grass with a quiet pop. The glass flower on the basket glowed pink and icy blue at once. Snow around their paws melted into a narrow bright rim.

Puschel brushed the flakes from his fur and held Flauschi’s paw for one moment longer. Puschel“Your paw is warmer than the entire summer wind.” Flauschi smiled. Flauschi“Then you know what to hold on to at the next snowdrift.” They continued together, close enough to reach one another at once.