The Forest had returned to sunny glade when I raised my head this day. Soon before, the birches had glowed with rose dust and ruby sparks, so bright, so beautiful, splendor at its full. And it was then that I had met dear Paavo again, first since my body changed to that of a doe... It had been wonderful to see him again.

Now, the scent that first met my nose was of Hania. Joyful, I galloped towards him, my leg now nearly healed.
I sped through soft grasses and there he was, waiting, and we exchanged bows and nuzzles in greeting...

Ah, thou hath returned, Sun, to warm our pelts and butter the bark of these golden seas...



"A stroll, perhaps?..." I asked timidly, and we began to walk together across the dusty plains, mottled robust ochre and gold...
And it was beautiful...



Soon I felt a kind of joy within me burst open, and I began to hop about - silly as it was - and jump within the birches. To my surprise, Hania joined me, and soon we were both jumping and hopping everywhere...

I felt so happy, and I realized how wonderful it felt to be happy, with not a care, and the whole absurd silliness of all this hopping just made me want to... want to...
And then...

I laughed.

Not a grin, not a giggle, nor a chuckle. A full laugh, the kind that starts in your belly and doesn't like to stop.
I nearly choked at how amazing it felt to laugh. And now I understood what it was to laugh, or I remembered what it was like to laugh... For I hadn't laughed since that day...
And the nostalgia, the familiarness of laughing, nearly overwhelmed me.
But it was wonderful, this thing called laughing, and when I heard Hania, too, laugh, I couldn't help but laugh again and again.

And it was wonderful. It will always be wonderful...



But soon, as all movement will do to one, I became tired, and Hania and I sought a place to rest.
We found a lovely sloping hill, gentle and lined with down-like wheat, wavering softly. We settled down, still breathless from our joyous bout, and I could not help but wish perhaps he would sit a little closer...



I soon became drowsy, for I felt so content and the sun was so warm, and there were none to disturb this perfect time within the birches with Hania...
And I let sleep take me, and I tucked my head into my shoulder, breathing a deep, happy sigh...

...sweet dreams...



I am not sure how long it was that we slept... I only know that when I woke, I saw Hania wake, too, and together we gazed silently out through the waving grasses and birches. I felt a slight blush rise to my cheeks as I turned my head slightly to look at Hania...

...this place is a poet's dream...

Suddenly I heard hoofbeats and I tensed automatically, but I had nothing to fear. It was Seed, my good friend! I ran to greet him, and I led him back to Hania for them to meet. Now here was a wonderful day, indeed!

What followed was a silly series of antics as we, three, journeyed through the birches...







Alas, soon enough did dear Seed have to take his leave, and we mourned, only two again.
And so, now solemn, we walked to the Hill, the highest place within the birches where it seemed nearly all the Forest could be seen from.

And there, Hania said his goodbye...
Shocked and sorrowful, I nuzzled him, tears welling up in my eyes. I did not want this day to end...
It had been too wonderful to end just yet...

But perhaps... Perhaps the nuzzle he gave me made up for it...



It's easier for me to be happy, now, it seems... I wonder why...

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