Dawn Rising

M I S C H I E F ☽

One more day passed of the bears walking through the mountains. Now, they had started their ascent, climbing up the peak that bordered the mountains and the summer lands. Mother-bear and Mauna played tug-of-war more often, with Mischief's stick; Mischief knew their mood was lightened as they sensed the closeness of the summer lands.

Mischief sensed it, too. She could sense the air growing warmer, and sometimes, tangy hints stained the air. Mother-bear said that that was the smell of the pine trees in the alpine tundra. And sometimes she smelled something sweet, and Mauna said that was the smell of the wildflowers.

Mischief was enchanted. She could feel the pull of the summer lands as they walked up the mountain, longed to see it and frolic in it and finally, finally be free from these mountains. She could see it in the earthiness of the soil- it was still mostly frozen, but Mischief could feel things growing in it, sprouting. And the snow- the snow was still plentiful, but it was sludgier up here. When Mischief looked up, she could see the peak, always there, always looming over her, seeming closer every time Mischief glanced at it. "When are we going to get there?" she asked, for what seemed like the millionth time. But Mischief didn't care; she just wanted to be there, in the summer lands.

"Probably tomorrow," Mauna answered, with a slight huff. "Now hush. You've been asking that question too much."

"But it seems so close," Mischief said quietly. "I think we can get there today, if we hurry." She started bouncing up and down, weaving through Mother-bear and Mauna's legs. "Come on, hurry!" she yelped.

"Mischief," Mother-bear sighed in exasperation. But Mischief saw the flicker of excitement in her eyes, and saw her pace grow quicker despite her annoyance. Mauna did the same, even though her age somewhat slowed her down.

Mischief ran around the two she-bears for a few moments, then bounded ahead of them, up the mountain. It really did seem closer, although it was still a dim blue in the distance. A small gust of cold wind blew through her fur, and it seemed to strengthen her. For a moment, she wished Starry was here with her; she would have someone to race up the mountain and share her excitement with. But Starry was in the ground now, with Mischief's small star rock.

Then Mischief saw something. It was only a small smear of color, a small blur in Mischief's peripheral vision. Nevertheless, it made her stop. She approached the strange thing, her eyes wide in wonder.

It was a stalk of ordinary grass, its stem a yellowed green. But on top of it was something Mischief had never seen. It looked like a snowflake, but its edges were small and delicately rounded. Its center was small and filled with more small dots, a honey-brown color. But the color of the thing was what amazed Mischief the most. It was a bright yellow hue, brighter than anything Mischief had seen in the mountain's dull colors.

Mauna and Mother-bear had joined Mischief by now. "It's a flower," Mother-bear said, and Mischief heard a hint of amusement in her voice.

"It's so... pretty," Mischief said. She leaned forward and sniffed it; it didn't smell particularly of anything, but Mischief caught a faint whiff of sweetness.

"The summer lands are filled with flowers like that," Mother-bear said. "Wildflowers, we call them."

Mischief looked up at Mother-bear in awe. "There are wildflowers everywhere in the summer lands?"

"Everywhere," Mother-bear promised.

A new thrill of excitement passed through Mischief. "Then let's go!" she chirped. "Come on, they're right around the corner!"

Mauna huffed in amusement, but she started loping after Mischief. Mother-bear did the same, and soon all three bears were racing up the mountain, barking and roaring. "Here we come!" Mischief squealed.