Early in the morning, the sun hadn't appeared in the sky yet birds were already awake and singing. Somewhere atop a tree, a gray squirrel awakened inside his tiny home, yawning as he started to step out and see the scenery before him.
The weather was gradually changing, some leaves were already losing their vibrant green colors and slowly gaining an orange hue. Autumn was arriving soon, and therefore his work of finding food for winter had barely begun. Like his parents before him, Corin would prepare himself for when autumn was over.
But of course, there was someone he had to visit first! Down the tree he went, branch by branch and holding carefully onto the tree bark as he made his way down—
A wrong move and he fell off, landing on top of something.
"CA-AGH!"
Or someone. Whoever it was, they shook off the squirrel, tossing him into a bush.
"For shame! Don't you know how to climb down a tree?" Corin could make out the shape of a feathery "thing" as it — a crow, the same one as the previous day, Sybille — screeched at Corin.
"Sorryyy!" Corin tried to apologize only to roll out of the bush, covered in leaves and tiny twigs head to tail.
"You're lucky I'm not in a bad mood. Or else I would've eaten you~!" She narrowed her eyes as Corin ran away from that bird as fast as he could.
He soon reached a small burrow, one he recognized as Eike's home, just as the rabbit was stepping out and stretching whilst trying to shake sleep off, only to get thrown across the grass as Corin crashed onto her in his hurry.
"... Mornin', Corin." She lifted a paw and gave a little wave to the squirrel, who hastily went to try and lift her back up, though she didn't seem at all bothered by what just happened to her. "Agitated as always, eh?"
"Aaah, sorry Eike! Couldn't stop running! It's just-"
A screechy laugh came from above them — guess the crow wasn't done with pestering the two rodents. Corin was undoubtedly shaking in fear, Eike was admittedly scared too but tried to maintain a sliver of toughness in her.
"Don'tcha have anythin' better to do, ye big bird?!" Sybille stopped laughing and seemed to ponder at the bunny's words.
"Well actually I do! I've a flock to return to, so time to take my leave~! Hope we get to meet again." And thus the crow took flight, leaving the two alone at last.
"Oh, hope we never meet again! Scary!" Corin grimaced while Eike shook her head then turned back to him.
"Nevermind that bird. What'cha up to today?"
"Autumn's coming, I gotta start hoarding nuts for winter as soon as I can!"
"Ya need help with that?"
"If you want to, sure! Also, by the way... Have you seen that fawn from yesterday somewhere? Uhhhh, what was his name again?"
"Ya mean Bruno, that lil' Prince? Prob'ly somewhere in the woods, dunno. Why?"
"How about we ask his help? Maybe we could befriend him or something in the meantime."
"Great idea! We're off then!"
The sunlight made its way through the woods as a cool breeze blew. Yet another day had started, and summer would come to an end soon.
Not too far from the den was a pond and a few berry bushes nearby — admittedly a place where it was common to see some birds and small animals eating or drinking. But of course, that part of the forest's always been so isolated and rarely ever got visitors, so they weren't unwelcome.
Old Nettla had briefly left for the pond to drink while Bruno stayed at the den, when he heard something from the bushes. He briefly turned his head to where his caretaker went before quietly stepping out and going to the source of the noise.
The rustling of leaves continued as he approached, berries rolling out from under that bush in particular, some noticeably munched on and others left untouched. There were voices coming from it. What in the world…?
"... Sheesh, were you -that- hungry now? There won't be any left soon!" A female voice tried whispering; Bruno's ears picked up the words. That voice was familiar...
"Forgot to eat! That crow was in the way!" A second voice, male perhaps, joined in… Was he talking with his mouth full?
"Better hurry up, or else we won't get to find that fella fawn!" Fawn? Maybe he could help with it? Bruno couldn't resist the urge to ask:
"Excuse me, do you need-"
"AAAHHH!"
"AHHH!"
Bruno quickly backed out to see two rodents, a brown rabbit and a grey squirrel — weren't they the same ones from yesterday, Eike and Corin? — stumbling out of the bush as if they've been spotted by a predator, only to realize who it was that unwittingly scared them.
"... Wha, what the." Eike blinked at Bruno and brushed some dust and leaves off her fur; the fawn quickly stepped away as if he'd done something wrong.
"Ah, sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"
"Oy, speak o' the fawn, he appears, right Corin?" Eike turned to Corin, who nodded whilst still holding onto a few berries and munching on one in the meantime.
"What?"
"We were lookin' for ya, fella Young Prince! Bruno, right? We were meanin' to ask for some of yer help!" She started gesturing to the squirrel. "See, Corin 'ere has to start collectin' food 'cause winter is comin' soon, and we figured ya could help us, how 'bout it?"
"Um, why me?" The fawn tilted his head a bit.
"Why not? Also, gettin' new friends gotta start somewhere, right?"
In a sense, Eike was right. How else would he get friends if not by interacting more with them? And it indeed seemed like Corin would need a little help in his mission of sorts, so perhaps it wasn't too bad of an idea in the end. But...
"... I don't know. I'm not supposed to leave the den. I shouldn't even be out here at all! Aunt Nettla wouldn't like it a bit, she'd scold me." He kept shaking his head. Not that it'd stop the rabbit.
"So? It's not like we're gonna go to the meadow or whatever, c'mon! And if anythin' happen, we cover for ya!" Eike smiled, which gave Bruno a slight sense of comfort.
"And we won't take long and it's not far either, just need to find nuts lying around." Corin finally spoke up after finishing his meal. "I know! You two search the ground, I search in the trees!"
"Great idea!" The bunny grabbed the squirrel for a hug, which was met with little resistance. The Young Prince couldn't help but giggle at the scene before him... Come to think of it, when was the last time he laughed like that? Oh, it didn't matter at that moment.
"Well let's go! Corin, ya lead the way!" She let go of him, and soon enough the little trio walked off, but not before Bruno took a worrying glance at the den he was in just moments prior to what just happened.
No doubt a part of him was still debating on whether to follow the two friends or not — would he dare believe those two had just become their first friends in... Well, ever? In spite of what he wanted, wouldn't sneaking out be directly against Nettla's words? Still, another part of him wanted an opportunity to try and be a little more independent, a little more confident, a little braver. Eventually he would have to in the future, right? And if he started now, that would make Nettla happy, even proud of him, right?
Bruno shook his head to get rid of such thoughts. The two had just reassured they'd be there for him in case Nettla found out, so why was he worrying so much? There was no need for that!
So for now, it was settled. The Young Prince quickly followed his new friends, with a mission to accomplish and a whole day ahead of them.
Unbeknownst to the trio as they went on their little adventure, the old doe silently watched them go from a distance, slowly shaking her head and letting out a little smile.
