The autumnal chill in the air made it clear to the faerie house friends that it was October.
“It was very close to freezing last night,” said Hedgehog.
“That makes sense,” said Frog, who, being made of metal, was particularly sensitive to the cold. “I had a very hard time getting up and about this morning.”
T1 and T2 agreed. It would soon be time to think about settling in.
“I see where this is going,” said Dog, who didn’t like to lose sight of friends over winter. “I say, let’s have one last bonfire.”
“Will you bring your accordion?” asked Rabbit.
“I’d be happy to……if everyone else agrees.” said Dog. “Would someone check on Dragon and extend an invitation?”
In due course, the fire was built, Dragon was found and invited, and the friends were all gathered. Dog played the accordion, Rabbit thumped out the beat and they all sang. Their repertoire had expanded since the spring.
As evening came the amphibian friends started to get uncomfortably cold.
“I want to be awake for Christmas, “ said T1, “and I know where to go to settle without going into a deep hibernation.”
T2 gave an enquiring look.
“The book house,” said T1. “Remember? There is a special room made just for me!”
T2 remembered the kitchen and decided to follow T1.
“Come on Frog,” said T2, “You should come too.”
Dog and Dragon watched as Hedgehog and Rabbit followed.
“I don’t hibernate,” said Rabbit. “I just want to see this book house.”
“What are you going to do Dragon?” asked Dog.
“I think I will get comfortable deep in my cave. I don’t think I am well suited to a paper house.”
“Hmmmm, you do have a point there,” said Dog.
The house had been moved since last winter so T1 had to look around a bit. T1 found it on the rolltop desk in the library. There was a pleasant view out the window. The gardening lady was working on her laptop there.
“I should have brought the faerie house laptop,” thought T1. “Ah well, I am going to be snoozing so it doesn’t matter.”
T1 knew where to look for the perfect room.
“This is so great,” T1 said, “Safe and cozy and ……. boy, am I sleepy……”
Frog and T2 arrived next. They looked around and felt pretty chuffed with the new setting.
“T1 left the door wide open,” said Frog. “Let’s go in.”
They went in the door, immediately turned right, and found themselves in the kitchen.
“This is where I am staying,” said Frog.
“Me too,” said T2.
Rabbit and Hedgehog took a slightly different route, but eventually found their way. They explored around the book house and saw that it had 2 doors, front and back, and several openings. Hedgehog pointed out T1’s room was.
“I can see how T1 could really like that space!” said Rabbit. “It is turtle shaped!”
They went in the door, heard activity to the right where Frog and T2 were getting settled; they went to the left.
“There is some knitting here, left over from last season,” said Hedgehog. “Frog was teaching T1. I should probably leave it for them, though I am tempted to add a few rows.”
“This is really lovely,” said Rabbit. “I’ll maybe have a quick nap on this pillow.”
“I am going to stay at the faerie house under the tree,” said Dog, to whomever might hear, “But I want to check that everyone is settled in safe and sound.”
Dog kept busy around the faerie house. Every once in a while Dog trotted down to check on Dragon. The first time Dog went into Dragon’s cave, Dog couldn’t see Dragon for all the leaves, pinecones and straw Dragon had burrowed under. Then Dog saw a red tail poking out just a little bit. Dog tip-toed back out. Since that visit, Dog went every few days and talked quietly to the tail.
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