Bear's Cosy Cave

On a cold, quiet evening, when the first soft snowflakes were falling, Bear woke up from a little nap and gave a big, slow yawn.

Yaaaawn.

“I think,” said Bear, “it’s time to get my cave ready for a long, cosy sleep.”

Bear’s cave was at the bottom of a hill, under a blanket of pine trees. Inside, it was dark and quiet and as snug as a pocket.

First, Bear gathered some soft moss. Pat, pat, pat. Bear patted the moss into a thick, springy bed.

“Nice,” said Bear. “But not quite finished.”

Next, Bear gathered some dry leaves, golden, red and brown. Crinkle, crinkle, crinkle. Bear tucked them all around the edges of the bed, like a cosy nest.

“Better,” said Bear. “But not quite finished.”

Just then, a small voice called from the doorway. It was Rabbit, with a bundle of warm, fluffy grass.

“I brought you something for your pillow,” said Rabbit.

“Thank you, Rabbit,” said Bear. He fluffed the grass into a perfect pillow. Fluff, fluff, fluff.

Then came Squirrel, carrying a tiny acorn lantern that glowed with a soft, golden light.

“I brought you a night light,” said Squirrel.

“Thank you, Squirrel,” said Bear. He placed the lantern by the wall. It glowed warm and gentle.

Then came Hedgehog, with a bit of sheepskin wool, as soft as a cloud.

“I brought you a blanket,” said Hedgehog.

“Thank you, Hedgehog,” said Bear. He tucked the wool around his big, round shoulders. It was warm and light and just right.

Bear looked around his cave. The moss bed was soft. The leaves were snug. The pillow was fluffy. The lantern was glowing. The blanket was warm.

“Now,” said Bear, “it’s perfect.”

“Goodnight, Bear,” said Rabbit.

“Goodnight, Bear,” said Squirrel.

“Goodnight, Bear,” said Hedgehog.

“Goodnight, my friends,” said Bear. “Sleep well. I’ll see you when the snow melts.”

One by one, the friends tiptoed out of the cave and padded home through the falling snow. Their footprints made tiny stars in the white. Soon they were in their own beds, warm and sleepy.

In his cave, Bear lay down on the mossy bed. He felt the soft pillow under his head. He felt the warm blanket around his shoulders. He listened to the quiet snow, falling, falling, falling outside.

Softly, softly. Softly, softly.

Bear took a deep, slow breath in. And let it out, in a long, sleepy sigh.

Hhhhhh.

His paws felt heavy. His nose felt warm. His eyes felt like they were full of sleepy sand.

And outside, the snow kept falling, soft and slow and silent, covering the hill, covering the trees, covering the little tracks, until all the world was still.

And Bear, in his cosy cave, with his moss and his leaves and his lantern glow, fell fast asleep. Zzzz.

The end.