Tatiana Mauro - The Little Bear Stories

Across the air-whipped soufflé snow hills, Little Bear strolled along the forest. When he reached the edge of the forest, he saw a pattern of tiny footsteps. Those belong to hares, little brats, leaving their footprints in the early morning. The playful leverets were having fun and enjoying the scent of spring, but quietly, whispering. They noticed Little Bear, ran towards him and encircled him.

‘Why are you winding around here so much?’ Little Bear asked them.

‘We are fouling the trail… We don’t want the lynx and her kittens to track us down! Their claws are long and sharp; their paws are quick and hefty… There are smaller footprints, and over there you can see the bigger ones…’ the leverets whispered. ‘It’s not that we are scared! Not at all! It’s just that lynxes, spotty woolly beasts, love running and playing around. But our fur is so white, soft and fluffy. It is not good to smudge it! Why are you, Little Bear, wandering around alone? Isn’t it still your time to sniff and snuffle, have your dreams and not to ruffle?’

‘Yes, hoppers, but Owlet needs my help, so I’m walking around, trying to figure out… I need to find the names of months of the year! Do you know anything?’

‘Our ears are big and long, we’ve heard a lot! We know what magpies are chattering about! We know what foxes the little rogue ones are gossiping about! That is how weather tokens are made up!’

‘Don’t drag it out, leverets! Please tell me!’

‘Ugh, ugh! Can you feel the frost!’ leverets pattered with their paws.

‘Can you feel it biting? You should know that the summer’s going to be exciting! It will be very nice and warm. Can you see the frost-dew on the branches? That’s good for you! This year will give you an abundance of honey! Winter and spring are crossing their path this month, and it’s named February.’

‘The hares are telling you the truth,’ confirmed the lynxes. The whole family went out to listen to what the hares were whispering about. ‘Can you see the field voles running on that lawn? It means the thaw is around the corner.’

The leverets got cold feet in the presence of the uninvited guests. They hid behind Little Bear and didn’t move.

‘Don’t be scared! Don’t be shy! We’ve just come over like good neighbours because we heard your conversation. How could we stay away? We know the Owlet’s family. We respect them and can help them.’

‘Thank you, leverets. Thank you, wild cats. I am very grateful! I will take a note of it.’ Little Bear unrolled his scroll and wrote down February next to number two.

It was getting dark. It was time for the clumsy little bear to go home to his den.

Little Bear returned home the same way he had done before, following his footsteps in the snow. Mummy Bear was still sleeping blissfully. Of course, she knew that her child was out in the daytime. She followed him in his trips unnoticed and was very proud that he was so independent. She went back to the den a little earlier and pretended to be asleep by the time her little one arrived and cuddled up next to her.

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