Winter in the forest is always very fun! Forest dwellers — little animals, birds, bugs and spiders spend all day outside playing with fluffy snow. Little bear Sasha usually sleeps in winter. But when the winter cold retreats and you can already feel spring approaching in the air, Sasha quietly wakes up and comes out of his den to his friends.
Sasha is a very cheerful and active little bear; he is always the first to suggest interesting games, and the other animals happily support his ideas.
But sometimes the games that the little bear invents are not only fun but also dangerous. Once he suggested racing under hanging icicles, after which the rabbit had to lie in the hospital for a long time because an icicle fell right on his paw.
And Sasha's mom forbade the bear from going out and getting into mischief. But children are children, and Sasha couldn't stay home for long, and as soon as he was back outside, unsafe but very fun ideas came to him on their own.
Little bear Sasha's best friends were twin rabbits Tolik and Vovik and a beautiful squirrel Marusya. This time the little bear decided to invite his friends to play on the ice. He gathered them near a large forest lake and said:
Let's play a crossing game! Let's have a relay race on the ice! Whoever reaches the other end of the lake first wins!
We're in! — the rabbits Tolik and Vovik answered in unison.
But squirrel Marusya was in no hurry to agree to the dangerous game. She said to her friends:
It seems to me that it's already getting warmer and the ice might not be strong...
So you're scared? — the rabbits teased Marusya in unison.
Didn't your mom tell you it's dangerous to walk on thin ice? — Marusya said offended.
She did tell me, — answered Sasha, — but how does she know the ice is already thin? It seems to me that it will easily hold us, let's check?
Why don't you go first? — said Tolik and pushed the squirrel toward the ice.
There was a crack, but nothing happened. The squirrel got scared, squeaked, and in one jump ended up in a tree.
I won't play such games! I don't want to fall through the ice! I'm going home, — she said and ran away.
For a while, none of the animals dared to step on the ice. They still remembered the crack they heard. But little bear Sasha said:
What, little rabbits, tucked your ears in? Will we play? Or do you want to go home too?
I think I'll go home, — came Vovik's voice.
How can you do that? — called out Tolik when his brother rabbit was about to leave.
I don't want to fall through the ice!
Vovik, don't be silly, stay, let's play, it'll be fun, — Sasha tried to convince his friend.
Okay, I won't go home, but I won't go on the ice either. I'll watch from the side and tell you who wins.
They agreed on that. Rabbit Tolik and little bear Sasha took their starting positions. They decided to run across the lake back and forth in turns. And Vovik would keep time and say who was faster.
Tolik decided to start first. He approached the edge of the lake, squeezed his eyes shut, and when his brother Vovik said: "Go!", the rabbit hopped across the ice as fast as he could. At first everything was fine, in the middle of the lake Tolik opened his eyes and stopped being afraid that the ice would crack. But on the way back, he began to see small cracks appearing with each jump on the ice. The closer to the shore, the louder the cracking sound.
Oh no! I barely made it! Sasha, you better not go on the ice, it almost cracked under me! — said frightened Tolik.
No way! You just want to win without a fight, but I won't give up so easily. Vovik, start the timer, — saying this, the little bear stepped onto the ice.
Step — a terrible crack was heard.
Second step — a huge blue crack ran across the lake.
Third step — the little bear looked around in horror and realized the ice under him was cracking.
Fourth step — and the bear fell into the cold water!
Oh! What do we do?! — cried the little rabbits in unison.
It's cold! Help! I'm drowning! — cried the little bear and desperately tried to grab onto the slippery ice, but he couldn't.
The little rabbits rushed to help their friend, but the ice began to crack under them too, and they quickly returned to the shore. And the bear continued to cling to the ice.
Suddenly heavy footsteps were heard in the forest and cries:
Sasha! Sashenko, bear, hold on!
It was the little bear's mother running toward him through the forest at full speed. It turned out that the squirrel had warned her that the animals were playing a dangerous game. And the mother bear hurried to the lake.
She saw her poor, miserable and frozen little bear and rushed into the icy water toward him. She grabbed her son and pulled him to shore.
By that time, the rabbits had already brought a warm woolen blanket and wrapped up the little bear. He warmed up for a long time at home, drinking tea with honey and mint. But still, he had to lie in bed with a fever for the rest of the winter.
And mom strictly forbade Sasha from playing dangerous games, and scolded the little rabbits for not using their heads in time. And squirrel Marusya was a hero! She saved the bear from trouble!
