Ever since that snowy morning, Surly would go out and meet up with Andie and Grayson would tag along too, and the trio would go exploring around the snow filled park. Surly couldn't believe he was able to play with Grayson more, but he was able to make a friend, and it was someone who he admired with great respect. Andie wasn't like the others. She knew how to take charge of things, and a lot of her ideas were brilliant. For once in his life Surly felt welcomed by someone.

"Alright guys the key is to slide with your claws!"

Andie shouted from the frozen river as she skated across the surface. Grayson was hesitant about it though, but Surly ventured onto the ice with caution. His feet immediately slipped from under him and he fell flat on his stomach, sliding slowly over to Andie. Andie laughed and pulled him up, pointing at his feet.

"Dig your claws into the ice, and stand off your heels, use your sole instead."

Surly leaned up and clawed the ice, and pushed forward and found a bit more traction, but was still unstable.

"Use your tail as balance, it's what they're for!"

Surly stuck his tail out straight behind him and felt a bit more easy as he glided around. He started to get a better hang of it, and slowly turned around to see Grayson sliding cautiously toward him. Surly slid over to him, repeating what Andie had told him, and soon the three were sliding around with ease. Andie slid fast and jumped in the air, landing wobbly onto her paws. Grayson clapped for her and Surly smiled and nodded. Andie gestured for Surly to come, and try. Surly gulped and slid forward, picking up speed and tried jumping, he fell unsteadily onto his paws and almost fell backward. But he stuck out his tail behind him and it caught him, and he slid toward Andie with his tail under him. Andie laughed at how awkward he looked, and he pushed himself up next to her.

"Alright you two! Grayson is going to show you how it's done!"

Surly's eyes widened a bit.

"Oh no…"

Grayson skated faster and faster toward them and then leaped in the air. He didn't seem to have control of his own weight cause he flew to far and straight for Surly and Andie. The two screamed as Grayson crashed into them, sending the three sliding together across the ice. As the slid to a stop, Grayson had his arms around both their necks and he was facing down. He slid over onto his back, and the three looked over at one another. Andie chuckled a bit, and Grayson burst out laughing. Surly couldn't help it and the three laid there laughing at each other.

Many days went by like this where they just played and laughed until they felt like their fur was going to freeze off and headed home. One night they stayed out too late, and Grayson caught a small cold, and was forced to stay inside the hollow for a week.

"But mom I want to-" Grayson was cut off by a cough and he tried to clear his throat, "Outside…"

Grayson's mother walked over to him and placed her paw onto his forehead.

"No way hunny, you still have a tiny fever. You can't leave the hollow until you are fully healthy."

Grayson sighed, and perked up when he saw Surly at the edge of the hollow.

"But Surly is going out." Grayson complained.

"Well that's because Surly came in half hour before you that night, so he didn't catch a cold. He is allowed to go out."

Grayson pouted and rolled over onto his side. Surly sighed feeling sorry for him, then turned and jumped out of the tree, jumping from branch to branch and gripping onto them the best he could. He landed on the branch next to the hollow where Andie's was and he waited.

"Hey Surly down here!"

He heard from below then felt a snow ball hit his back. He whipped around to look at her from below, she has grinning and waving her arms tauntingly at him. Surly grinned and jumped down for the ground.

"Oh you're going to pay for that!"

He yelled and landed by her on all fours. Andie let out a small screech and scurried away, kicking up snow behind her. Surly wiggled his haunches and burst after her. Andie ran in front of him, keeping a good distance away from Surly's reach. Surly looked around for help and noticed a hole that was probably made by the Bruisers. He grinned and while Andie was facing forward, he dove under the hole, navigating in the darkness. Andie looked back excepting to see Surly in pursue of her but he was no where to be seen. She skidded to a halt and looked around.

"Surly?"

There was no response. Behind her there was a hole, and Surly's head poked out of it. He grinned and readied himself.

"Surly?"

Then from behind Surly jumped and tackled Andie into the snow. Andie let out a yelp as she was pinned onto the ground under Surly. She twisted around and Surly laid down onto her. The two laughed for awhile and until the grew tired and they laid there for awhile. Surly had his eyes closed as he rested and he peeked them open to look at Andie. She was looking up at the clouds, her eyes filled with wonder.

"What do you dream about doing in the future Surly?" She asked him, put her arms under her head. Surly tilted his head and rolled off of her and laid next to her. He never really thought about this before.

"I don't know, look after Grayson and you."

Andie giggled a bit, "I want to take care of you guys too, but not only you guys, the park."

Surly lifted himself up to look at her.

"You mean, as the leader of the park?"

Andie shrugged, and turned to him.

"I don't know, I feel like I could do it you know. I care about you guys a lot and my family. I feel like I owe this park something."

Surly sighed and laid back onto his back.

"Well I don't care much for the park but, I do care about you and Grayson. You do what you want Andie. I'll support you through it."

Andie smiled at him and looked back up at the sky. Surly looked up at it too. For once the usually gray sky was open, and it was a vast blue sea. Surly breathed in the cold air that seemed to be warming up. He could tell winter was coming to a close, and spring would be here soon. Now that he thought about it, Grayson has been getting bigger these days, he had already passed Surly in height. Now that Surly looked over himself, his fur was a darker graish purple unlike the dark gray it was when he was a younger pup. Looking over at Andie, her fur had turned into a nice shade of orange, and her face had lost most of it's baby fat. Surly didn't realize it, it hadn't come to mind lately, but he and his friends were growing up. They were all practically teenagers now. He couldn't believe how fast time had passed them. And as he lay there with Andie, starring up into the sky, he tried to imagine what life held in the future for both of them.