Rabbit And The Bird

"I’m going to miss you," whispered Clover the rabbit, his nose twitching in the chilly autumn air.

Finley the bird fluffed her feathers. She looked at the horizon, where the sun was dipping low and gold. "I’ll miss you too, Clover . But the North Wind is calling, and my wings are ready for the Big Flight."

Clover looked at his paws. The grass was turning brown, and soon the meadow would be tucked under a heavy blanket of snow. He would spend the winter in his cozy burrow, but Finley had to follow the sun all the way to a land of green trees and warm breezes, thousands of miles away.

"It’s so far," Barnaby said softly. "What if you forget our meadow? What if you forget... me?"

Finley hopped down from her stone and touched her beak to Clover ’s ear. "A bird’s heart is like a compass," she chirped. "No matter how far I fly, it will always point me back to my best friend. When the first primrose blooms and the ice turns to puddles, look for a flash of wings in the sky."

She spread her wings wide, catching the breeze.

"Stay warm, Clover !" Finley called as she soared into the orange sky.

Clover watched until she was just a tiny speck against the clouds. He wasn't sad anymore. He knew that true friends are like the seasons: even when they leave for a little while, they always find their way back home.