This story took place in the Ural forest.
It happened during the coldest and snowiest winter. Moose were walking through the forest. At the front was the leader — the oldest and most resilient. He was breaking a path through the deep snowdrifts. In the middle of the herd were two cow moose with little calves.
A cold wind blew and snow began to fall. The gusts grew stronger, and a terrible blizzard swirled around them.
The leader said that soon there would be a clearing where everyone should lie down in a large snowdrift. That way it would be warmer — they could wait out the bad weather.
When the moose reached the clearing, a pack of hungry wolves appeared. The moose scattered in fear in different directions. A struggle began with the hungry predators.
One mother moose pushed her calf with her forehead and urged him to run: "Little one, move your legs faster, we need to get away from the edge and hide from the wolves in the forest, get lost among the pines and spruces."
Go into the forest, and I'll fight off the wolf! He's almost caught us! — she suddenly cried out…
Not far from this clearing, on the edge of the forest, stood a sturdy log cabin with barns. In the cabin lived an old forest ranger with his wife.
Grandma, tomorrow the grandchildren will arrive for winter holidays, — said the forest ranger, sitting at the table and sipping fragrant herbal tea.
It will be fun with them!… Look what a blizzard has started, — answered his wife, looking out the window.
I'll go to the station in the morning on horseback to meet them, — said grandfather.
Better on the snowmobile, — suggested the mistress of the house.
You're right. Why torture the horse in such snow. Better on the snowmobile.
I'll prepare a fur coat and felt boots, just in case the grandchildren get cold. They're city kids after all: they don't wear fur coats or felt boots.
Early in the morning the forest ranger took the snowmobile and went to the station. Suddenly he sees: not far from the road there's a strange snowdrift — it's moving. The forest ranger stopped and approached the snowdrift. He looks, and there's a little moose calf lying there. Frozen, shivering.
Oh, you poor thing... Where's your mother? — sighed grandfather. He looked around and noticed blood on some of the trees here and there.
Wolves attacked. I wonder if your mother is alive or if the wolves killed her? I'll have to go back, I can't leave you here.
The forest ranger wrapped the moose calf in a fur coat, tied it with ropes to the snowmobile, and slowly drove back.
Grandma, I brought you a gift, — he said, entering the cabin. — Here you go!
Oh my! A moose calf! We need to warm him up and give him warm milk to drink. You go quickly or you'll be late for the train. I'll take care of everything.
The forest ranger met his grandchildren — ten-year-old Lera and Lyonya — and came home.
Grandma, grandma, is this a calf? Did Burenka bring a calf? — asked the children, seeing the animal.
No, Burenka will become a mother in spring, but this is a moose calf. Grandfather found it in the forest this morning.
Grandfather, where are his parents? — wondered Lera and Lyonya.
I don't know if his mother is alive. Wolves apparently attacked the moose herd last night. The herd scattered in different directions. And the little one got lost, separated from his mother, — answered grandfather.
Maybe she was protecting him from the wolf, — added grandmother, — and died herself…
Oh, how sad, — said Lera, almost crying.
She's alive. Don't cry! — said grandfather, looking reproachfully at grandmother. — There was a blizzard all night, so the little one got lost.
But how will the mother moose find him now? — asked Lyonya.
She'll find him, — answered grandmother. — I warmed him up and gave him warm milk. When it gets warmer outside, I'll let him out to play in the pen with the goats. And the moose will find him by scent. Wash your hands and sit at the table, I've made pancakes. And then you'll take the calf to the pen with grandfather.
What else will we do today? — asked Lyonya with interest.
What else! I need to check the property and see if everything is in order. Want to come with me? And after lunch we'll go skiing, — offered the forest ranger.
Grandfather, do you check your lands every day? — pressed the grandson.
Twice a day: morning and evening.
Will we decorate the tree? — Lera asked, distracted from the pancakes.
I'll go to the forest right now and bring one back, — answered grandfather.
I'm coming with you! — the grandson perked up.
And I'll help grandmother, — offered the girl and began clearing the dishes. — And then we'll decorate the tree.
Granddaughter, I'll give you some chopped vegetables. Take them to the goats, and maybe the calf will eat some too, — grandmother got up from her chair.
Grandma, what if the mother moose doesn't come back? Will the calf stay with us? — squeaked the granddaughter.
Probably.
Let's give him a name.
We can, we can. Think!
Losya. Let's call him Losya. We don't know if it's a girl or a boy. And this name will suit anyone.
Oh, what an imaginative one you are! — laughed grandmother.
A day passed. Losya settled in and played with the goats in the pen.
Early in the morning, a mother moose came limping slowly out of the forest. She approached the pen and called loudly to her calf.
A-a-a-e-e-e, a-a-a-e-e-e! Little one, I found you!
Ma-ma-a-a, — answered Losya.
In the forest ranger's house they heard the cry. The dog barked loudly. Everyone ran outside.
The moose is exhausted, she's wounded, — said the forest ranger anxiously, buttoning his coat as he went, — I can see it from far away.
As people ran to the pen, the moose collapsed to the ground.
We need to call the veterinarian, — said the man with concern.
Is she dead? — the girl was frightened.
What will we do with her now? — asked the boy quietly, standing at attention. — For meat?
No, no! We'll drag her into the pen and treat her, feed her, — answered grandmother.
We'll take her to the barn with Burenka, there's plenty of space and it's warm, — added grandfather.
Grandmother, grandfather, will we treat the moose and the calf?! — Lyonya perked up. — That's great! I'll write a composition at school about winter holidays. All my classmates will be amazed!
You just want to brag and show off, — giggled the sister.
When they recover, they'll go back to the forest. We won't keep them here, — decided the forest ranger.
The veterinarian came in the evening. He said the wolves had badly mauled the moose.
I'm amazed she survived. She must have really wanted to find her calf. It looks like we'll have guests until spring, — said grandfather, entering the cabin. — Well, grandma, now we definitely won't be bored.
Grandfather laughed.
Hurray! Losya will live here until spring. We'll come visit you during spring holidays too, — the granddaughter was delighted. — Will they cure the moose?
Of course, we have a knowledgeable veterinarian.
