A Garden Waiting for Two

The next morning, Puschel and Flauschi climbed over the final snowy hill. Beyond it lay the Garden of the Four Seasons. Pink blossoms grew beside golden grasses, red leaves covered icy beds, and a great wooden wheel rose above the hedges at the centre.

Vines had swallowed the path downhill. Only one narrow root stretched across a sparkling ditch like a bridge. Puschel placed one paw on it and looked at the travel basket. Puschel“With a basket, a tail and courage, I am rather wide today.”

Flauschi took the basket and carefully stepped ahead. Flauschi“Then we shall divide the courage between us.” Puschel rested one paw against her shoulder. Step by step, they followed one another. Whenever the root swayed, one waited until the other felt steady again.

When they reached the garden floor, the glass flower on its green ribbon shone in all four colours. A warm gleam travelled from their shared footsteps along the path towards the great wheel.

They stopped beside it. Vines, ice and dry leaves wound tightly around the wheel, and it would not move at all. Puschel gently squeezed Flauschi’s paw. Puschel“It is a good thing the garden waited for both of us.” Flauschi smiled. Flauschi“Then together we shall discover why its heart has stopped.”