Dove stretched and stood slowly. She was tired, as if there was a twenty-pound weight hanging from her head and she couldn't shake it. Her white fur bristled gently as she arched her back to stretch it out. Lion was gone. She was not surprised. Dove spied Sandpiper about twenty feet away, gazing at a small brown pup. Dove immediately felt an onrush of love for the creature and had to almost physically hold herself back from running to him, grabbing him by his scruff, and bringing him to a nest. Sandpiper turned her head towards her and looked curiously at Dove. Dove walked towards her slowly, feeling the gentle breeze brush the fur out of her eyes. Bright green leaves, new and fresh, hung on the thin brown limbs of the trees overhead. Slushy snow left over from last week's shower moistened the ground and dampened Dove's feet. Squirrel appeared, obviously having been awake early. He looked eager and bright. The red stripe on his nose seemed redder than ever.
"Spring, Mother," he said happily to Dove. "I feel it, now. The animals are breeding again, having babies." As he said this a thoughtful look came over his face. "I was born out of season, wasn't I, Mother?" Dove considered this, trying to shake the sleepiness from her brain.
"Maybe a bit, Squirrel, but few care when you were born." Dove closed her eyes, enjoying the cool air and gentle wind moving against her eyelids. "Perhaps I shall have another litter this year." Then Dove opened her eyes and moved towards Sandpiper. Squirrel trotted at her heels and looked curiously at Raccoon, hiding a bit behind his mother's legs like any shy preschooler who meets someone his age whom he thinks he likes but is too afraid to communicate with. Dove smiled at Raccoon and sat down beside Sandpiper.