Harvey Squirellton

A short story about a squirrel and his hardships preparing for Winter. Only part of the story.

It Began with a Thump

 

A new day began in Stone Bark Forest, as the crisp Autumn Sun broke through the forest canopy, signaling a new day to its denizens. A slacken wind followed the sunrise; the trees casting a slow applause in its wake ushering a chorus of cries from the nested chicks, begging their mothers to begin their hunt for breakfast. Before long, all of Stone Bark’s creatures, from quick acting field mice to the slow, life pondering grizzly bear roused from their slumber.

 

It was a busy time for Stone Bark and many of its creatures still need to stock their dens for winter, as the twilight of Fall makes way for Winter. One such critter was Harvey Squirrelton of Walnut Meadows.

 

Harvey resided in a small hollowed out knot about halfway up a grand oak, and like most days, slept in past the initial bustle of morning. In fact, Harvey was so intent on sleeping, he did not wake until he heard a rhythmic thumping from outside his den.

 

*Thump thumpthumpthump thump*

…

…

*Thump thump*

 

"Ah, 5 more minutes" Harvey mumbled at the intruding noise, as he attempted to curl himself more adamantly into a pile of cushy leaves.

 

…

 

*Thump… thump… thumpthumpthumpthumpthump*

 

"Alright, alright I'm up, who is it?" he beckoned, wistfully moving towards the entrance of his hollowed oak den.

 

He poked his head out of the hole, letting his eyes adjust to the morning light and, as he often did, marveled at the beauty of his home.

 

Walnut Meadows was a particularly safe place for Squirrelfolk. There a massive oak tree grew from atop a small hill, its leafy peak erupting from the Stone Bark canopy, overlooking the rest of the expanding forest. The tree roots sprouted in thick bushels around the hill, enveloping the many large boulders that speckled the hillside. A lush canvas of green blanketed the hillside, interrupted by the occasional protrusion of Spring flowers. A slackest creek formed in crescent around the Oak, its cold-water seeping from its intended course to form shallow pools along the meadow floor. Nary a tree grew next to the great oak, as if seceding to its grandeur, and indeed, the oak did not need the company. Its branches spread far and wide, providing a blanket of shadow to its residents.

 

Harvey had forgotten himself for a moment before a familiar thumping noise invaded his ears once more. He quickly looked up and to the left at the source of the noise, only to find a black-feathered bird with a long beak that faded into white feathered cheeks, topped by a long red mohawk.

 

Harvey's eyes narrowed in frustration at the source of the intrusion.

 

It was Larry Peckerwood:  Bark-slayer and sleep defiler.

 

"Larry, couldn't you go peck somewhere else, some of us are trying to sleep!?"

 

Larry put two thumps into the sturdy bark of the grand oak before cocking his head down to look at the ill-tempered squirrel.

 

"I'll peck where I please, and nowhere I that may be a tease. But Harvey, the forest has stirred, and food must be earned, the one who is early, will most likely get the worm!"

 

Harvey disliked talking to the Woodpeckers, they talked in a rhythmic pattern that prolonged conversations; a most inconvenient side effect of banging your head against a tree your whole life, Harvey thought. For a squirrel who deals in quick thought and even quicker action, talking to a Woodpecker was a mild form of mental torture.

 

"I don--"

 

*Thump, thump*

 

"Listen, I don't care what time it is, my sleep should not be disturbed! There is plenty of tree to go around, go bother somebody else!" Harvey said.

 

"The tree seed is where you feed, and in the bark is where I leave my mark. And grateful you should be, our marks create shelter, if not for a kind like me, where would you be?"

 

Harvey twitched his nostrils and ran his paws through his whiskers, he was about to retort back to the stammering bird, but a gust of wind brought a chill that forced away his attention. As if the jaws of winter had shut tight around his body, Harvey retreated into his den rubbing his paws together while blowing air into them. He had never felt a cold like that before, in fact, he had not made it through a full season yet. His parents had warned him of winter, but he thought he had more time.

 

                He concentrated a moment and shook the cold from his bones, tepidly walking back to the entrance of his den. With less fervor than before, he poked his head through and looked to find Larry.

 

“Larry is�"”

 

As he turned his head up, he realized the woodpecker was gone. He quickly scanned to find any trace, but before he could find him, he heard a prominent *thump* from beneath him. He flinched back slightly and looked down to see Larry right beneath him, carefully measuring where to strike his beak again.

 

“Alright, listen here, Larry. I need a straight answer, not a long-winded poem. Is this winter? I’ve not felt a cold like this before” Harvey asked.

 

The bird snapped its head to the left, looking directly at Harvey with one eye.

 

“Indeed, it is cold, but winter has not yet settled into the roots of Stone Bark, though today marks the first day of Winters breath. My squirrel friend, it is time to collect whatever the forest has left, winter only favors the bold” Larry said in a rhythm that sounded almost like prophecy.

 

Harvey was about to ask more, but Larry leapt from the tree and flew off before he could utter another word. Winters Breath… Collect… Bold… These words echoed in Harvey’s mind for a moment; if the stories his parents told were true, winter was only survived with shelter and plenty of food. When it began, he would not leave his den until the first flowers of Spring bloomed, and the Honeybees flew. He needed a plan.

 

A Nutty Chase

 

                Harvey counted his current supplies of nuts and other small scraps he had accumulated over Autumn and no matter how he rationed; his food would barely last a week, let alone an entire winter, however long that was. 

 

Oh, Winter can’t be that bad, he thought.  From what I’ve heard, it’s just a bunch of sleeping and the occasional snack. If I run out of food I can just wake up and get more. What’s the worst that can happen? I got a little cold. Actually, Winter sounds great, I love sleeping!

 

He ran his left paw through his chin hair as he pondered proudly his own thoughts. He couldn’t believe he let the woodpecker get under his skin like that; he wasn’t even the one banging his head against a tree, but just being around it seemed to cause brain damage. He chuckled a bit at his wit before another noise barged into his den.

 

“Quite fond of yourself, are you? Fancy telling me what’s so funny?” the voice said.

Harvey knew this voice, and although he was briefly surprised at its arrival, did not grant the intrusion any satisfaction of a reaction. Unmoving, and still pondering his nuts, Harvey replied to the voice:

“A bit far from home aren’t you, Clauri” He emphasized the name with a slow sarcastic draw of his voice.

“Hm” Clauri thought for a moment, “Home is there, and now I’m here. I intend to be here, so I suppose I’m not far from where I need to be” she said as she hopped down into his den.

“You must be mistaken if you believe you should be here, this is my den. The only company this den should know is mine.” Harvey said.

“And yet it has so graciously allowed me within its walls. It might be more welcoming than you let on, Harv” His name fell off her tongue, like the last leaf on a tree losing itself to an eager Autumn breeze.

Harvey’s right eye twitched slightly, while his left foot started to impatiently tap the knotted floor.

“I don’t believe I put a welcome sign on the door, you might be reading a little too much into it. Perhaps the nuts have finally gone to your brain” Harvey said.

“Or perhaps” she took one step closer, slightly leaning in “I haven’t read into it enough” Clauri said, staring intently at Harvey.

“I grow tired of this chattering nonsense, state your peace and leave!” Harvey said while turning to meet her gaze, foot still stamping impatiently.

It had been a few months since he had seen Clauri, but she looked exactly as he remembered her. She had short black hair that seemed to glisten in the morning light, and a small white patch that surrounded her left eye, running off into a point on her forehead. Like a white flame that flickered and flared, exaggerating her every expression. A perpetual half smile dawned on her lips, curling up towards the white flame, as if she was infinitely amused by herself. He found everything about Clauri infuriating, an yet equally intriguing.

Intriguing, he thought. The mere paring of the word with the likes of Clauri sent a shiver of anxiety through his whiskers. The implications of these thoughts and emotions eluded Harvey’s fast squirrel brain, leaping over any conclusion that might be logical.

“Or what, my dear Harv?” her voice pierced through his thoughts as she reached down and grabbed a nut from the pile and held it in front of him. “Are you gonna go nuts?”

“Hey, you put that back, I don’t have- “

Before he could finish, Clauri turned and bolted out of the den and up the tree.

“If you want it back, you better come and get it!” She yelled back, her voice trailing off into the wind.

Oh, damn it all, she never listens, Harvey thought. And bolted after her.

Breaking the threshold of his den, Harvey immediately broke into a full vertical sprint up the grand Oak. He quickly caught sight of Clauri and started gaining on her. Like a tiny fur cyclone, the two squirrels twisted up the oak’s trunk. After just a few moments he was right on her tail, getting ready to lunge towards her.

“I’ve got you Clauri, give up this foolish game!” Harvey yelled.

Clauri looked back, one cheek puffed out holding the stolen nut.

“Youff berxfj wch ut!” Clauri said.

“What?” Harvey said. “I can’t hear you with food in your mouth”

But before Clauri could reply, she banked to the left around a branch and continued up the tree. Harvey did not, her sudden speed surprised him, and he ran headfirst into the branch. The sudden blow caused him to slide down the tree, barely keeping grip on the wide grooves in its bark. A rush of pain swelled in his head, shooting down to the tip of his tale. After a few moments he shook the pain, clearing the concussive fog, and looked to find Cauri. They were getting towards the top of the tree, so the branches were getting bigger and more tightly packed together. He may be faster than her, but her size allows her to switch directions and curve around obstacles much easier. If he was going to catch her, he could not follow her path, he would need his own.

                Although Clauri had better natural ability than Harvey, she did not have his knowledge of the grand oak. Harvey spent many nights mapping out this tree for escape routes, hiding holes, and most efficient pathways going both up and down. The oak tree was not home to only Harvey, it hosted many different creatures from all walks of life, but they all shared one commonality: none liked to be disturbed.

                Harvey knew the path that Clauri was taking would cross with a nest of blue jays, and they would surely protest her arrival, giving Harvey just enough time to surpass her if he acted now. He bolted right and hopped along from branch to branch until he found a familiar oak leaf cluster where branches converged, creating a tapestry of vibrant colored leaves. He swiftly hopped on it and climbed it straight to the top of the tree. About halfway up he heard a loud shriek followed by a flurry of apologies. Clauri had made it to the blue jays, from there she would need to double back and climb the center spiral; it would be close, but he would beat her by just a few seconds.

He quickly climbed the oakleaf tapestry, careful not to tear any leaves from it and arrived at the next threshold. Two large branches poked through the top of the oak tree and stretched to the sky. Harvey saw the far branch twitch slightly signaling that Clauri was catching up. He quickly jumped to the closest one and clamored to the top, settling in, and awaiting his thief.

Heavy panting and sluggish footfalls greeted Harvey’s ears before Clauri broke the tree’s uppermost leaves. She stopped a few steps short of the top when she saw Harvey there waiting for her, with a look of genuine surprise.

“Hw dif urg tht?” she attempted.

“As much as you barely being able to speak pleases me, I still cannot understand you” Harvey said.

Clauri spit the nut out into her hand, still breathing heavily, “You’re a little cleverer than you let on.”

“I expect the apology didn’t go over well with my neighbors, much like me, I’m sure they don’t like being woken up before they wish to” Harvey said with a slight grin.

“Like that matters, it’s almost Winter, the whole forest should be up preparing. I’m surprised they haven’t flown off yet, as their kind often do.” Clauri Said.

“You know how it is in Walnut Meadows, things move a little slower” Harvey said.

“Hmph” Clauri climbed the rest of the distance to the top of her branch, sat, snapped the nut in half and tossed it to Harvey. “Must be nice to have such a relaxed mindset on Winter, the rest of us are rushing to prepare” she said.

Harvey caught his half of the nut and took a bite, “It’s not our fault we live in a thriving environment. Should we apologize for taking what is so plentifully grown around us? Besides, the whole forest provides for us all.”

Clauri looked at him steadily for a moment, holding his eyes before gazing off in the distance.

No tree stood taller than the grand oak, and from this perch, you could fully appreciate the grandeur of Stone Bark Forest. Green stretched as far as the eye could see, falling into the mountain range to the far south. The trees separated sightly and grew taller than their neighbors where the river carved through the earth.

“It’s beautiful, you know, the whole forest. I remember my first season; the trees became stiller and more lifeless as the cold gripped their roots. The birds left and everyone else started to hide away in their dens seeking warmth with their families. It was all so barren, I was sure the warmth would never come back, it felt like the end.” Clauri said, holding her half of the nut close to her chest.

Harvey stared at her for a moment; she had never opened up like this. In the past, their conversations were usually short, ending in a chase, or quick goodbye. His eyes fell away and into the landscape before him. It didn’t appear much different, he had spent many nights up on this branch, and any change was too gradual for him to notice. But something about Clauri’s words jolted worry into his mind. Warmth… Family… For just a moment, he wanted to reach out to Clauri, but she began again before the thought could become action.

“Walnut Meadows is picked clean, and you don’t have enough for Winter, Harv. I figured it would have been easy for you to prepare, given where you live. What happened?”

His emotions faded immediately, how dare she tell me how much food I have? Why would she care, she must have hoped to snatch some for herself and felt bad at the last moment, he thought. He felt the a thick glob of distaste build in his throat.

“And your hopes and dreams were crushed, when you realized my trove wasn’t plentiful enough for you to mooch from?”

“Harv, that’s not at all-“

Clauri began , but Harvey interjected, and locked her gaze.

“Just stop, I know what you’re going to say. ‘We need to take care of each other… We are all family”, but that’s all rubbish. That’s exactly why I left the Brambles, you all preached community, love, and that we thrive together, but-“ Harvey swallowed his distaste and replaced it with malice, while he looked down at his half of the Nut Clauri had stolen from him, and threw it down into the forest floor.

“But where was that community when my parents got taken, everyone just fled grasping for their lives like frenzied dogs for their next meal. I reject your community, and I don’t need any checking up on. As I said, state your peace and leave, Clauri”

Clauri’s gaze fell the moment he finished talking, her normally confident stature slouched into a shrug of apology. She looked as though Harvey’s words had sucked away her vigor and youth in one swoop. Without making eye contact, she hopped over to his branch, and slowly crawled toward him, reaching out one arm as she approached.

“Stay back, don’t touch me” Harvey commanded.

She stopped a moment, before razing her solemn gaze to meet his, and continued towards him until her hand laid on his shoulder. He didn’t say anything, but the fury of his glare didn’t need words.

“I wish I could feel your pain, share it, in some ways I do. The loss of your parents did not rest easy on anyone. You need more food, or you won’t survive the winter. I’ve been around a whole season more than you, I can show you the best spots, I can-“

“NO!” Harvey bellowed, as he swatted away her hand. The suddenness of his tone jolted Clauri back onto her branch. “I don’t need your help. I’ll find my own way.”

As if rising with his anger, a breeze rolled through, shaking the branches, causing Clauri to drop her half of the nut to prevent herself from falling. The weight of the wind and Harvey’s harsh words seemed to stretch the two branches apart to a distance that could not be crossed. Saddened by the resolution of his words, Clauri let the wind take her, and fell into the forest below.