Everybody's voices quieted down as Friend Owl gathered them around the Groundhog's burrow, with the last two visitors taking their place just nearby the crowd.
"Attention, attention everybody! We're about to start, there's plenty of room!" The owl cleared his throat, at last silencing the others. "-Ahem- As we all know, today marks exactly one year since the creation of this event; the day the groundhog awakens from his winter slumber!"
As he explained, some stared in awe while others were nervously fidgeting in their places.
Admittedly, at first he wasn't too keen on supporting this idea, not when Winter's not a season for celebrating anything. But after last year? Maybe he could get used to it! Although he hoped the Groundhog would cooperate with the idea...
"But!" He paused briefly for a little dramatic effect, partially covering his face with a wing, "if he comes out and sees his own shadow... Winter shall last longer!" He flared his wings at his last statement, giving the crowd a little scare (and at least a pair of squirrels held onto each other like their lives depended on it).
Composing himself, he continued:
"But if he does not see it, spring will arrive!" Met with small voices cheering at the idea of spring coming soon, the owl cleared his throat once more. "Now now, without further ado...
The Groundhog!"
Silence.
The crowd of animals watched whilst holding their breath in anticipation, leaving Friend Owl nervously staring at the hole in the snow before he approached and repeated himself with extra enthusiasm in his call.
"T-The Groundhog!..." No result. With a concerned look in his eyes, he peeked into the entrance, finding the other animal steering away from it. "Why, what's the matter?"
"Why does it have to be a yearly thing? It was hard enough the first time!" The Groundhog squeaked in half-panic and annoyance, much to the owl's chagrin.
"Oh so much for a celebration... Just this once and I'll refrain from asking you next year." Friend Owl persuaded, hoping it'd work this time.
"... Deal." The other nodded and shut his eyes firmly tight as he crawled towards the entrance, making the bird hop away to give him space and let the crowd watch properly. About time!
"Well there you go! The Groundhog!" Friend Owl exclaimed as he perched back to his original spot, satisfied with the outcome as he watched the Groundhog finally leave his home —albeit mumbling to himself how this was a bad idea from the beginning— and everyone held their breaths in expectation.
It quickly turned to worry, as there was still some sunlight seeping through the clouds, the outline of the Groundhog casting a very faint, almost unnoticeable shadow onto the snowy ground. Anxiously, he took a deep breath and blinked one eye open...
... And let out a surprised "oh" before giving a big grin. The shadow had disappeared completely. Giving a hearty laughter, he loudly said for the entire crowd to hear:
"Everybody! Spring is here! Spring is here!"
Soon enough, all the animals there celebrated in joy before they started singing a tune about Spring's arrival, which made Friend Owl's mood sour considerably as he tried covering his ears with his wings.
"Oh not that song again..." Shaking his head, he decided to take off and call it a day, he'd deal with the rest of the affairs the next day anyway, while he tried to ignore the distant laughter and caws of a flock of crows.
"Gahahaha! Oh poor owl!"
"Cheer up, will ya? It's love's sweet song they're singing, y'know?"
"Don't forget it's a yearly thing! Gaha!'
Indeed, so much for a celebration...
As the crowd kept cheering on and talking to each other, Bruno and Corin decided to step away as soon as the singing began; the Young Prince found he wasn't really into that song either and the squirrel simply accompanied him. As cute as it sounded, it felt quite jarring compared to the previous moment of tension.
"Now I see why Friend Owl and Aunt Nettla dislike it so much." Bruno said as he walked on, with Corin sitting on his back.
"Yeah, it can get overwhelming quick. But hey, can't wait for Spring, right?" The squirrel smiled, which the Young Prince returned. "So uh, what are we gonna do next? We still have the whole day and all."
"I... I haven't thought about that." Bruno shrugged, looking pensive. Suddenly Corin stood up with a grin, his long tail swaying back and forth as if reflecting his mood.
"I know! How about we go to the waterfall? Plenty of the ice melted away so we could just hang about. What do you think?"
The Young Prince stayed silent for a couple moments, perhaps a minute or two, thinking on the offer. In part he was concerned about Nettla scolding him for wandering off on his own during this season.
However, when was the last time he just explored on his own without needing to ask her permission beforehand, regardless of having friends nearby or not? Why, he was growing antlers now even if they were still tiny, he wasn't a little fawn anymore!
His expression turned from pensive to determined as he decided on answering Corin's question.
"I don't see why not. Let's go!"
"That's great! No worries, we'll be back before the sun is gone."
And off the duo went, not concerning themselves with talking much on the way; Bruno had been there enough times to more or less remember the path, while Corin stood silent and content as he watched his friend go forward.
How strange to think time passed by so quickly. The memory of Bruno as a fairly scrawny and shy fawn contrasted with his current appearance and stance as a young buck. Corin himself stayed mostly the same, although his own appearance had changed a little.
Thinking back on the days before joining the group, Corin silently reminisced...
Squirrels always had to be swift, hard-working and alert, always watching out for danger. That's how he recalled his parents teaching him from infancy to the day he left his home, while his siblings stayed.
... Or rather, he was the only one able to leave while the others never made it.
Little time was spared to grieve those who were lost, for Life had to go on no matter what, Nature had to keep turning and changing. Because that's how things were for squirrels.
It was tradition.
Of course, Corin did get some reprieve here and there once he met the yearling siblings and the bunny Eike, then Aydan, and finally Bruno. He couldn't be more thankful for having them as friends.
Still, nothing stayed the same forever. Sooner or later the siblings would need to grow, separate from each other and lead their own lives. Same for Eike who, despite appearing as a young bunny due to some stunted growth, was already reaching adulthood herself.
At least Bruno would still be around for a while, while Aydan...
"Well, we're here." Bruno's voice cut through Corin's thoughts, realizing that they've reached their destination.
The waterfall stood as tall and mighty as ever, its waters having long since broken the ice that had once kept the river unmoving for most of the season. Just above were some birds flying around the trees near the cliffside, their voices barely audible from below.
"You know, one time when Aydan and I came here, she asked how it'd be like to see everything from up there." The Young Prince said, a smile forming as he recounted the memory to the squirrel. "It was... Scary to think about back then."
"Is it still scary now?" Corin asked as he hopped down from Bruno's back.
"A little. But not as much, now that I think of it. Maybe someday when I'm older, I'll get to the very top of this place." Corin tilted his head to the side as Bruno spoke, attentively listening to each word. "Standing up there, watching everything from above like... Like..."
"Like a Great Prince?"
Corin's words made the Young Prince turn to him in mild shock before it faded into an understanding look, slowly nodding as he looked up once more.
"... Yeah. Maybe."
"I mean, it was just a thought. It'd be nice seeing you become one, though. "Great Prince Bruno". Sounds like a nice title!" Corin admitted as he stepped a little closer to the edge, cupping some water in his paws to wash his face. "You could ask your Aunt about that."
"Hmm, you're right. When we get back I'll go ask her." The Young Prince said as he lowered his head to drink. Perhaps asking wouldn't be so bad after all.
Meanwhile Corin, having finished cleaning his face, just kept looking at Bruno with a little smile which faded as fast as it came once his eyes looked at his own reflection in the water.
How strange to think time passed by so quickly... Strange yet not unwelcome.
As potentially outlandish as his previous thought was, Corin couldn't help but silently hope that Bruno would become someone like a Great Prince in the future. If Nature allowed it, if Life allowed it, the squirrel would gladly be there to watch him along the way.
The sound of falling water and whistling breeze filled the peaceful silence between the two friends.
