The Deep Winter Sleep

Up north, in the Himalayan region, everyone was busy preparing for hibernation. It is the time of low or no activity when the weather is harsh and cold outside.

- Ashima Kaushik

It had started snowing early this year. Soft fluffy snow was everywhere covering the bushes, trees, hills, paths, roads, windows, and rooftops. With sunlight sparkling on the snowflakes, it was a beautiful winter wonderland!

Everyone was busy doing their lastminute preparation.

Ruby Rabbit and family had dug up deep burrows and stocked up on carrots, soup cans, and pickles.

Fanny fox made sure her store room was full of food, wood, oil, nuts, and books. She bought a new mattress and some cushions as well.

Pam badger bought aromatic candles. And a lot of yarn for her grandma. Grandma loved knitting blankets while telling folk tales all winter long. She surprised Grandpa with a new treadmill as well. Grandpa loved his indoor gym.

"Who wants to be outside in the cold and chilly winds to search for food or play? You stock up on food and games to keep  yourself busy," said Limo Squirrel.

"Winter is for saving and conserving energy, not exercising," said Matto bear as he just planned to sleep all the winter months.

All Matto made sure was that he had security locks and codes in place. He had heard rumours about the thief, Zimba snow leopard. He was always lurking around with a knife tucked in his mouth.

That made Roxy Squirrel, who was running around with a mouthful of roughly seven nuts tucked cleverly in her cheeks, stop in her tracks, "How do you know that he carries a knife tucked in his mouth?"

"I have seen with my own eyes!" said Matto, shivering at the memory.

"But you always sleep in the winter. How did you see?" asked Sunny deer, throwing a snowball at Matto.

Matto dodged, "It was shining. I saw it from the window while I was awake."

The snow was soft and fluffy - just perfect for a snowball fight.