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Long, long ago, there was a very
adventurous little bunny rabbit that liked to eat dandelions in the
meadow and dream of grand adventures. In springtime the
little bunny had been born in a cozy nest of roots
on the edge of the meadow. Being the very first bunny born that spring,
little bunny was named Spring Bunny. All spring and summer long Spring
Bunny ate the tender greens in the meadow and grew into a wonderful
grown-up bunny.
 Autumn
followed summer and the leaves began to rustle along the meadow ground.
Squirrels prepared their winter stores, bees finished patching holes in
their hives, and bunny rabbits were preparing their dens in warm cozy
holes in the earth. But, Spring Bunny didn’t feel like preparing a den,
Spring Bunny felt like having an adventure, a real adventure!
Spring Bunny was
sitting next to the meadow pond one autumn morning remembering summer
days when the dragonflies zoomed overhead. 
Remembering when there was fresh greens to eat, birds flitting about,
and bees buzzing as they collected nectar. Spring Bunny sat next to the
pond remembering so many wonderful things that the sudden sound of
voices coming out of the nearby forest startled bunny. Quickly Spring
Bunny dashed under a nearby baby spruce tree and hid. Presently a girl
and boy ran out of the forest and into the meadow. Bunny sat with ears
pricked up to listen and after a while became so curious (and a little
adventurous too) that bunny crept out from the tree and over to the
children.
“Oh!” exclaimed the
girl, “it’s a lovely bunny”.
The boy came right
over to the girl, got down slowly on his
knees, carefully reached into his pocket and laid out a carrot on the
ground
for bunny. Spring Bunny was delighted and ate the carrot with greens
happily. Then the girl sat down and
started to stroke the bunny gently between the ears. After a while she
picked bunny up and bunny snuggled cozily into the girl’s lap.
“Do you remember when
our bunnies were born?” asked the boy.
“Oh, yes,” said the
girl.
“And when the lambs
were born?” asked the boy.
“In spring,” answered
the girl.
“It’s such a magical
time,” said the boy with a wide smile.
“I think the best
magic of all is when the hens lay eggs again after winter is over,” said
the girl.
“Then it’s really
spring,” said the boy.
“And mama makes us
pancakes,” replied the girl.
“And,” added the boy,
”We celebrate the arrival of spring with the whole village.” Wit h
that he sighed remembering the time of year when winter would end. The
flowers would start to grow. Many kinds of bird babies and animal
babies were born. Insects would fly in the warmer air. The farmers
would look with hope each day waiting for the chickens to start laying
eggs again. Then there would be a fine celebration, with special
breads, dancing, music, and much merriment.
After a while, when
the breeze began to grow cooler, the girl and boy said good-bye to
Spring Bunny and headed home. Some time passed and bunny felt a little
sad inside and choose to run after them and find out where they were
going. Spring Bunny bounded down the forest path, but could not find
them. Bunny put an ear
way
up high to listen and thought there were voices on the forest’s eastern
path, so then quickly hopped over there. Bunny did not give up, but
instead went deeper into the forest looking everywhere.
Eventually dusk
started to settle in and bunny, weary with hopping all over the place,
flopped onto a tree stump at the base of very tall mountain. After
Spring Bunny rested a few moments on the stump, looked up and called
out, “will you tell me which way they went?” to the mountain.
There was a deep
silence followed by a rumble and mountain replied quite plainly, “Who?”
Spring Bunny related
the story of the children and the mountain said, “I see…” once bunny had
finished.
“I am called Magic
Mountain,” the mountain
told bunny, “and there is a chance that your wishes will come true. You
must be prepared to climb to the top of my mountain and meet your
challenge there.”
“I am prepared,”
answered Spring Bunny.
With a hop and a
skip Spring Bunny bounded away up the steep trail that led to the top of
the mountain. It wasn’t long, however before bunny was overcome with
tiredness and decided to rest in the roots of an old tree for the night.
The next morning
after a nice long rest bunny began again up the trail. It was a long
trail, and before reaching the top it was night again, so bunny rested
again. On the third day bunny was weary, but hopped along slowly. The
day felt endless and before night had really fallen Spring Bunny was
fast asleep. Bunny slept peacefully and when morning came heard a
gentle whisper, “I can help you Spring Bunny.”
As if in a dream
Bunny gazed slowly around and saw a most beautiful fairy standing
shining in the dew of the morning light. Spring Bunny asked, “Who are
you?”
“I am the Fairy of
Spring and I have been waiting for you. Do not give up Spring Bunny,
you are almost there,” answered the Spring Fairy.
With renewed
determination bunny hopped up and began the rest of the journey. The
sun was high in the sky when the pinnacle came in sight. There at the
top of Magic Mountain was a cave. Spring Fairy guided Spring Bunny to
the door, and opened it. Inside was a most wondrous site, waterfalls
and rivers, flowers in bloom, trees in bud, bees buzzing, birds chirping
and calling, and everywhere lay large clusters of crystals
glistening. Here it was spring! Before bunny could ask, Spring Fairy
explained, “It is always spring here. We have an important job to do.
Our job is to keep the spirit of spring alive here at the top of Magic
Mountain. That is why we have been waiting for you.”
“But, why?” asked
Spring Bunny.
“Each year in the
village below, as well as many others, we bring a spring surprise. We
paint the eggs with the leftover paint from insects’ fresh spring
jackets and the many flower bulbs that lay asleep all winter. Then the
gnomes deliver
 the
eggs in time for the spring celebration. But, the gnomes need help.
They cannot carry the eggs very fast and last year the eggs were almost
late. As well, the eggs are to be kept a secret surprise. ”
“I can help you!”
exclaimed Spring Bunny.
“You may enter the
Cave of Spring Spirit if you are ready to complete your challenge Spring
Bunny,” announced Spring Fairy.
“I am,” answered
Spring Bunny, and hopped right through the cave door.
After a wonderful
lunch of fresh spring greens, Bunny began thinking of all the ways to
deliver the eggs. The first decision bunny made was to be the one to
make the delivery. “After all,” thought bunny, “my legs are strong and
fast.”
Spring Bunny wondered
and wondered how to deliver the eggs and was nearly out of all thoughts
when at last sitting near the river the great weeping willow tree bent
down gently. Whispering softly the great willow suggested, “Why not
make a basket?”
“But, how?” asked
Spring Bunny, not at all startled from the great willow’s gentle voice.
“With my strong and
supple spring shoots you can make a basket. I can teach you if you are
willing to learn,” replied the willow.
“Yes, thank you
willow, I am willing to learn. Please teach me.”
Many hours Spring
Bunny and willow worked together. Willow showed bunny how to cut the
new spring shoots so that it would not hurt the rest of the tree. Once
there were enough shoots they made a frame and wove the shoots in and
out. When they were all finished Spring Bunny thanked willow most
heartfully and hopped off to find Spring Fairy.
Once Spring Bunny had
shown the new invention and explained the plan to Spring
Fairy, she sent a robin right away to deliver a message that the
challenge had been met. Then bunny helped along with everyone in the
Cave of Spring Spirit painting and polishing eggs in time for spring.
One day spring did
come to the outside world and all the eggs were ready. Carefully they
were loaded into the willow basket all day long and
ready for a new adventure Spring Bunny zipped down Magic Mountain into
the villages below. The new invention worked wonderfully and Spring
Bunny had so much fun delivering the enormous load of colourful eggs.
Just before the first rays of dawn came over the last village on the
route bunny rested with an empty basket near a large rock. Very curious
to see what would happen, bunny waited a little bit before heading back
up Magic Mountain. Everywhere children were finding the colourful
spring eggs! Delighted, Spring Bunny turned to head home up Magic
Mountain, but something caught bunny’s attention. It was the girl and
the boy from the meadow. They were so excited with their spring gifts.
Spring Bunny was overjoyed to see them at long last and very nearly fell
out from behind the rock giving the secret away. Carefully and silently
Spring Bunny decided to quickly hop straight home before discovered.
Spring Bunny was so happy and had such a warm special feeling inside
that the journey back up Magic Mountain to the Cave of Spring Spirit
hardly took any time at all.
~The End~
The Spring Bunny is an original story by Natalie
Weeks
© March 2006.
Please contact author for permission to use in part or whole for
purposes other than personal. Thank you.
gnatalie@netidea.com
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