Winter was in the air and the lake was beginning to show signs of frost.

“Time for us aquatic animals to move to warmer waters of the lake down south,” said Delma.

“I like winter,” chirped Dazel. “It means change and change is always good.”

“Well, if you put it that way,” Din Din grimaced. “I don’t like the cold too much. Thank goodness the Fruit Park is not as cold as the lake. When will we see you again, Delma?”

“You guys can come visit me anytime,” Delma replied.

“Winter is also a time when we get a lot of guests in Fruit Park and the surrounding areas. The animals who can’t take the cold look for some warm empty caves,” Din Din said. “Dr Trish has instructed us to welcome these animals who are looking for shelter and have come from the colder mountainous areas.”

“There are many creatures which hibernate during these cold months,” Dazel shared. “Skunks, bees, snakes, bears and bats to mention a few.”

The evening passed merrily as the three friends prepared for Delma to go down south for the next few weeks when the cold would be biting. When the sun was beginning to set, Din Din bid farewell to his best friends and trudged towards his cave home at the Fruit Park hoping to hit the sack early. The next day was a school day and he wanted to be well rested.

“These long winter walks make me tired and hungry,” he mused, hoping that a bowl of his mother’s steaming hot vegetable soup was awaiting him for supper. But Din Din was not able to find the relaxing evening he desired as he was taken aback to find the Fruit Park in uproar.

“There’s a large grizzly bear in one of the caves,” yelped Dave, Din Din’s younger brother. They were looking at the crowd surrounding one of the caves on the outskirts of........

© Dawn Young Magazine