Rass and the Winter He Learned to Love

It was a crisp winter morning in the forest, the kind where every pine needle held a tiny crystal of ice and the sunlight made the snow sparkle like scattered stars. The woodland was alive with whispers of excitement, for tonight, the animals were gathering for a grand winter party under the moonlight.

Everyone was eager, except for Rass.

Now, Rass was a peculiar creature, with the fuzzy ears of a squirrel and the quick paws of a rat, but with a kind heart and a courage that made even the foxes admire him. Today, however, Rass felt small. The snow frightened him—its cold bite, its endless whiteness, and the way it swallowed sounds until he felt alone.

Still, he wanted to join the party. He wanted to see the fireflies dance above the clearing and hear the elder owls tell their stories. So, at the edge of the forest, Rass took a deep breath and crawled on his belly, hoping to avoid the icy wind. The snow clung to his fur, and when he stood to look around, he found his tail stiff with frost and tiny icicles hanging from his whiskers.

Rass shivered, fear bubbling up, but then he remembered what his grandmother once told him: “When fear finds you, sing it away.” So, Rass began to hum, his little paws tapping in the snow. The icicles on his fur chimed softly, a sweet, tinkling sound, like tiny bells in the winter breeze. Before he knew it, his hum turned into a tune, and his feet moved to the rhythm.

Jingle, jingle, dance away fear, winter’s here but I am near…

As he danced, warmth spread through him, melting the icicles on his fur, leaving droplets that glittered before falling to the snow. Just then, a small voice called out, “Why are you dancing all alone?”

Startled, Rass looked around and found nothing but snow mounds. Suddenly, with a shake and a hop, a small white rabbit burst out of a snowdrift. It was Bobsi, her ears tipped with frost, her eyes bright and curious.

“I’m afraid of the snow,” Rass admitted softly, “but I want to get to the party.”

Bobsi’s nose twitched, and she thumped her big hind feet in delight. “Afraid of snow? But snow is the forest’s playground! Come, let me show you.”

Before Rass could protest, Bobsi rolled snowballs with her paws and flung one playfully at him. It burst on his fur, and Rass gasped, then laughed as Bobsi ducked and rolled, throwing another. Soon, the two were in the midst of a cheerful snowball fight, their giggles echoing through the trees as they tumbled and played, leaving a trail of laughter in their wake.

But then, a loud “Ouch! Stop that at once!” interrupted their fun. A shower of snow fell upon them as they looked up to see Corky the crow bouncing on a branch, shaking the snow loose.

“That’s what you get for throwing snowballs at me!” Corky cawed, his feathers ruffled.

Rass and Bobsi peeked out from under the snow, giggling. “We’re sorry!” they called out in unison.

Corky flapped down beside them, looking curious. “A party, you say? I’ve never been to one. If I help dig you out, may I join?”

The three friends shook hands—well, paws and wings—and with Corky’s help, they set off together, trekking through the snow towards the clearing where the party was to be held.

As they journeyed, the snow fell softly around them, and the tall trees watched silently, their branches heavy with white. But after a while, Rass noticed the path had disappeared under the snow, and the forest seemed unfamiliar.

“Are we lost?” Rass whispered.

They all paused. Corky flew up to scout, but the snow-covered branches made it hard to see. Just as fear began to creep in again, a shimmering figure stepped from behind a tree.

It was a white wolf, her fur like the snow itself, crowned with icicles that sparkled under the pale sun. Her eyes were kind but powerful, and her voice was like a soft breeze when she spoke.

“I am Wolfina, Queen of the Winter Woods. What brings you here?”

Bobsi stepped forward, bowing. “Your Majesty, we are on our way to the winter party, but we’ve lost our way.”

Wolfina’s tail swayed gently. “Ah, the party is in my honor. Come, I will take you there, but we must ride.”

She gathered three sturdy logs and tied them with twine, creating a sled. With a gentle nod, she gripped the ropes in her mouth, and the three friends climbed aboard.

“Hold tight,” Wolfina said, and they slid down a slope, the cold air rushing past as they laughed, the forest becoming a blur of white and silver.

They arrived at the clearing, and it was more beautiful than Rass had imagined. Icicles hung like fairy lights, and red berries peeked through the snow like tiny lanterns. The moonlight turned the clearing into a silver sea, and all the animals stood in a circle, waiting.

When Wolfina appeared, pulling the sled with the three friends, the animals bowed, then erupted into cheers. Their queen had come, and she had brought friends with her.

That night, the clearing filled with laughter and songs. Foxes danced with squirrels, owls hooted softly to the rhythm, and rabbits leapt through the snow, leaving patterns like lace. Rass found himself dancing again, not to push away fear, but to celebrate the warmth in his chest.

As dawn’s light touched the treetops, the animals curled into their snowy beds, sighing with the joy of the night.

And who was the happiest of all? It was Rass, who had faced the cold, journeyed through the woods, made new friends, and discovered that sometimes, fear melts away if you simply take the first step forward.