The morning sun filtered through the bare branches, casting a golden glow over the snowy forest floor. Nutty and Whiskers scampered about their treehouse, each secretly preparing a special surprise for the other. Valentine’s Day was just around the corner, and they wanted to show how much they cared—not just for each other, but for their friends as well.
“I found the plumpest hazelnuts in the old oak grove,” Nutty murmured to himself as he carefully arranged them in a small wooden box. He added dried blueberries and a few golden acorns, polishing each one to a shine. “Whiskers will love this.”
Meanwhile, Whiskers was busy weaving a tiny basket from thin twigs and soft moss. He carefully tucked in clusters of red winterberries and chestnuts, arranging them just so. “Nutty always says how much he loves the taste of these,” Whiskers said with a smile.
As they worked, they couldn’t help but think about their friends. The badgers who lived down the road always shared their wisdom and stories. The rabbits across the way were wonderful neighbors, always ready with a helping paw. And of course, their best friends, the chipmunks, who never failed to bring laughter and adventure to their days.
“We should make gift boxes for them too!” Nutty suddenly said, his tail twitching with excitement.
Whiskers grinned. “I was just thinking the same thing!”
Together, they gathered the best the forest had to offer—walnuts for the badgers, sweet apples for the rabbits, and crunchy hickory nuts for the chipmunks. Each box was lovingly decorated with bits of evergreen and tied with delicate strands of dried grass.
On Valentine’s morning, Nutty and Whiskers exchanged their gifts under the great pine tree. Their eyes lit up with joy as they opened their surprise boxes, each filled with their favorite treats.
“This is perfect,” Whiskers said, nuzzling Nutty’s cheek.
Nutty chuckled. “Yours is too! You know me so well.”
Then, with their forest goodie boxes in tow, they set off down the path to deliver their surprises. The badgers, rabbits, and chipmunks were delighted, their faces beaming with happiness.
As the sun began to set, Nutty and Whiskers sat side by side on their treehouse branch, watching the sky turn shades of pink and orange. Love, after all, wasn’t just about the gifts—it was about the joy of giving and the warmth of friendship that made life truly special.
~Wylddane