Hello, I'm Cheryl and welcome to Sleep Tight Relax, a cozy bedtime podcast made especially for kids, but perfect for dreamers of all ages.
Tonight's story is called Wolfie's First Winter, and it's about three very special friends who live together in a beautiful forest.
Let me first tell you about them. Red and Rusty are fox siblings who love to play and explore.
Red is brave and energetic, always ready for an adventure, while her brother Rusty is more cautious and loves to use big words to show how smart he is.
One day, while playing in a part of the forest they've been told to avoid, they discovered what they thought was a scary wolf.
But it turned out to be Wolfie, a lost husky puppy who had chased a squirrel so far that he couldn't find his family.
The three of them become the very best of friends, and Wolfie has been living with Red and Rusty's family ever since.
In tonight's story, it's the middle of a hot summer, when Old Sage, the fox, tells some scary tales about a terrible winter from long ago.
Wolfie, who has never experienced winter before, becomes very worried about what might happen when the cold weather comes.
Red tries to help by testing how strong Wolfie is, while Rusty makes detailed plans and lists.
But sometimes, The best solutions come from the most unexpected places, like right in the middle of a summer thunderstorm.
So get cozy in your bed, close your eyes if you'd like, and let's spend some time getting relaxed before our story begins.
Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose. filling your belly with air like a gentle balloon.
Now breathe out slowly through your mouth, letting all the air flow out like a soft sigh.
Let's do that once more. Breathe in slowly and breathe out gently.
Now, let's begin with Wolfie's first winter.
Rusty flopped down beside the creek like a furry pancake and let out the most dramatic sigh in forest history.
I'm dying, he announced to no one in particular. actually dying from heat.
My brain is cooking inside my head. Red snorted as she splashed creek water on her face.
Your brain was never that big to begin with, so there wasn't much to cook.
Very funny, Rusty muttered, though he couldn't help but grin.
Wolfie had discovered something wonderful.
If he lay flat on his belly in the shallow part of the creek, the water would flow right over his thick husky fur, cooling him down instantly.
This is the best thing ever, he declared, his tail creating little splashes as it wagged.
Even the other forest animals seemed too hot to cause their usual trouble.
Riley the squirrel wasn't zooming around playing tricks.
Instead, he was draped over a tree branch like a furry dishrag.
The rabbits had disappeared completely into their burrows, and even the energetic chipmunks were moving like they were stuck in honey.
That's when Sage appeared, walking slowly through the trees with his usual dignified limp.
His graying fur looked even more weathered in the bright sunlight.
Reminds me of the summer of 98, Sage said, settling down heavily beside them with a grunt.
Hot as blazes it was. Course, we didn't know what was coming that winter.
Wolfie's ears shot up immediately. What winter?
What happened? Sage's eyes grew distant and serious.
Coldest winter I ever lived through, young pup.
Snow so deep it buried the berry bushes.
Ice so thick on the streams you couldn't break through to drink.
And the wind? He shuddered dramatically. howled for days on ends.
Many animals didn't make it through. Sage, Red's mother called from nearby, you're scaring the children.
But it was too late. Wolfie's tail had stopped wagging and his eyes were wide with worry.
What exactly is winter? Wolfie asked quietly.
Sage's whiskers twitched. Winter, young pup, is when the world goes to sleep under a blanket of snow and ice.
The trees lose their leaves, the streams freeze solid, and food becomes scarce.
Only the prepared survive. Red shot Sage a look.
Thanks for that cheerful explanation. But the damage was done.
Over the next few days, Wolfie couldn't stop thinking about what Sage had said.
When he saw Riley frantically burying acorns near the old oak tree, Wolfie's stomach dropped.
Red, he whispered urgently, look. Riley's already preparing for winter.
Are we supposed to be doing that too? Red glanced over at the squirrel and shrugged.
Riley's always burying stuff. Last week he buried my favorite stick for no reason.
But Wolfie wasn't convinced. He started noticing everything differently.
A flock of birds flew overhead, and instead of admiring their graceful formation, he wondered if they were fleeing from the coming cold.
When the wind rustled through the leaves, He imagined it was practicing to be the horrible howling wind Sage had described.
That night, as they settled into their usual sleeping spot outside Red and Rusty's den, Wolfie couldn't fall asleep.
Rusty, he whispered in the darkness, hmm?
What if I don't know how to find food when everything's frozen?
Rusty yawned. We'll figure it out, Wolfie.
Go to sleep. But what if my fur isn't thick enough?
What if I freeze? What if... Wolfie, Red groaned, rolling over.
It's still so hot outside that I'm sweating.
Winter is months and months away. But what if my family never finds me before then?
What if I'm all alone when the scary wind starts howling?
This time, Rusty didn't answer. But Wolfie could tell neither of his friends were really asleep either.
The next morning, Wolfie peppered every animal he met with questions.
Marshmallow, he asked the white rabbit, how do you survive winter?
Oh, you dig deep burrows and store lots of carrots, Marshmallow replied cheerfully.
But when Wolfie asked Stinky the skunk the same question, Stinky said, You eat as much as possible in the fall to build up fat for the cold months.
And when he asked one of the older raccoons, she said, The secret is finding a perfect hollow tree and sleeping through most of it.
Each answer made Wolfie more confused and worried.
Dig burrows? Build up fat? Sleep for months?
How was he supposed to do all of that? By the third day, Red was getting frustrated.
Wolfie, you're making everyone nervous with all these winter questions.
Look around. The berries are still growing.
The creek is still flowing. And I'm still too hot in my own fur.
Can't we just enjoy the summer? Rusty tried a different approach.
He pulled out a piece of bark and started making marks on it with a charcoal stick.
Maybe if we make a list of everything we need to know about winter, you'll feel better, he suggested.
But as the list grew longer and longer, find food, stay warm, build shelter, avoid predators, store supplies.
Wolfie only felt more overwhelmed. There's so much to learn, he whimpered.
What if I can't remember it all? Red had heard enough of Wolfie's worrying to last her several lifetimes.
On the fourth day of nonstop winter questions, she decided to take action.
That's it, she announced, jumping to her feet.
Wolfie, you're driving yourself crazy over nothing.
You want to know if you can handle winter?
I'll prove it to you right now. But Red, Rusty started, it's the middle of summer.
Exactly. If he can handle tough stuff now, winter will be easy.
Red's tail swished with determination. Wolfie, if you can swim all the way across the creek, you'll know you're strong enough for anything winter throws at you.
Wolfie looked at the creek doubtfully. It wasn't very wide, but it was deeper in the middle than where they usually played.
I don't know. Come on, you're part husky, right?
Huskies love cold water. So Wolfie tried.
He made it halfway across before panic set in, and he had to paddle frantically back to shore, coughing up creek water.
Okay, swimming isn't your thing, Red said quickly, but climbing.
If you can climb to the top of that fallen oak tree, you'll be high enough to see everything in the forest.
That's definitely a winter survival skill.
The fallen tree was huge and slippery with moss.
Wolfie made it about three feet up before sliding back down, scraping his paws in the process.
Maybe climbing isn't running, Red interrupted.
If you can run from here to the big rock and back without stopping, you'll know you can outrun any winter storm.
By the end of the day, Wolfie was exhausted, wet, scraped up, and more worried than ever.
Every failed challenge felt like proof that he'd never survive the winter.
Meanwhile, Rusty had taken the opposite approach.
He gathered information from every animal in the forest and was now surrounded by pieces of bark covered in his careful notes.
Okay, Wolfie, Rusty said importantly, pushing his makeshift charts towards his friend.
I figured it all out. We need exactly 47 acorns per week. stored in three different locations, in case one gets raided.
Plus, 16 berries daily, but only the red ones after the first frost.
And we need to find a den that faces south, but is protected from north winds, with two escape routes and... The list went on and on.
Wolfie's eyes glazed over as Rusty explained the 17 different types of edible bark, the proper technique for ice fishing, and the exact angle needed for optimal sunlight in a winter shelter.
Rusty, Wolfie said weakly. There's no way I can remember all of this.
That's why I made charts. See? This one shows optimal food storage locations.
And this one maps wind patterns and... Stop!
Wolfie buried his face in his paws. I'll never learn everything I need to know.
Red and Rusty's parents watched from a distance as their well-meaning children made their friend even more anxious than before.
Three days later, the oppressive summer heat finally broke.
Dark clouds rolled in faster than anyone expected, turning the bright afternoon sky an ominous gray-green.
The air grew thick and electric, making all the animals' fur stand on end.
Red, Rusty, and Wolfie had been playing their usual game of chase when the first rumble of thunder echoed through the forest.
We should head home, Rusty said nervously, eyeing the swirling clouds above.
But before they could move, the sky opened up.
Rain poured down in sheets, soaking them instantly.
Lightning cracked overhead, followed by thunder so loud it seemed to shake the trees.
This way, Red shouted over the noise. leading them toward a small cave she'd discovered weeks earlier.
They scrambled inside just as the wind picked up, whipping the trees back and forth like grass.
The temperature dropped so suddenly that Wolfie could see his breath in little puffs.
This is it, Wolfie whimpered, his whole body shaking, though whether from cold or fear, it was hard to tell.
This is just like winter. The cold, the wind, the howling.
I can't handle this. I'm not strong enough.
I don't know enough. I... Wolfie, breathe, Red said.
But for once, her usual confidence wavered.
The storm was fiercer than anything she'd experienced, too.
Lightning illuminated the cave. And Rusty realized all his careful charts and planning meant nothing when you were actually cold and scared.
Without thinking, Red started gathering the driest leaves she could find, piling them around Wolfie.
Here, this will help keep you warm. Rusty used his organized mind differently than before.
Instead of making lists, he arranged their small shelter, creating a windbreak with fallen branches.
And Wolfie, despite his panic, caught a scent on the wind.
There are wild berries growing right outside, he said, his keen nose working even through his fear.
We won't go hungry. The three friends huddled close together, sharing warmth and comfort as the storm raged outside.
Gradually, Wolfie's shaking stopped. Not because the storm had passed, it was still howling, but because he wasn't facing it alone.
When the thunder finally faded and the rain became a gentle patter, sunlight began streaming through the cave entrance.
One by one, they crawled out of the cave and into the peaceful aftermath.
The three friends sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching steam rise from the forest floor as the warm sun met the rain-soaked earth.
Everything smelled fresh and clean, like the world had been washed and was starting over.
You know, Red said quietly, picking at a soggy leaf, I was actually scared during that storm too.
Wolfie looked at her in surprise. You were?
But you're the bravest animal I know. Being brave doesn't mean you're never scared, Red admitted.
It just means you do what needs to be done anyways.
And honestly? I felt a lot less scared when we were all together.
Rusty nodded slowly. All my planning and list-making didn't help at all when the storm hit.
But working together to make our shelter cozy?
That actually felt good. Wolfie thought about this.
During the scariest moments of the storm, when the thunder was loudest, and the wind was howling just like Sage had described.
He hadn't been thinking about winter survival charts or strength tests.
He'd been thinking about keeping his friends warm and finding food they could share.
I still handled it though, didn't I? He said wonderingly.
Even though I was scared, I still helped.
You definitely did, Rusty said. Your nose found those berries when we needed them most.
And you didn't freeze or panic so badly that you couldn't function, Red added.
You were scared, but you still took care of us, too.
Wolfie's tail gave a tentative wag. So maybe, when winter really comes, we'll face it together, Red said firmly.
All three of us. Nobody has to be brave alone or smart alone or worried alone.
We can make lists together, Rusty added with a grin, but not scary long ones, just helpful ones.
And we can practice being strong together, Red said, but with fun games, not impossible tests.
They made their way home as the forest came alive again after the storm.
Birds began singing. Riley emerged from wherever he'd been hiding to shake the water from his tail.
And the other animals started venturing out to assess the damage.
That evening, as fireflies began blinking like tiny stars in the warm air, the three friends lay close together watching the light show.
The summer heat had returned, but it felt gentler now, more comfortable.
I'm still a little worried about winter, Wolfie admitted softly.
That's okay, Rusty said. Being a little worried just means you care about things.
And besides, Red added, I bet when winter actually gets here, it won't be nearly as scary as we're imagining.
Things usually aren't. Plus, we'll have months to get ready, Rusty pointed out, together.
Wolfie smiled, feeling something settle peacefully in his chest.
Winter would come eventually with its snow and cold and challenges, but he wouldn't face it as a lost, lonely puppy anymore.
He'd face it with his family. His eyes grew heavy as the fireflies danced and he drifted off to sleep between his two best friends, dreaming of gentle snowflakes instead of howling storms.
And that's the end of our story. If you're still awake, I'd like you to whisper to yourself or just think quietly in your mind, I am brave enough to handle new challenges, especially when I have people who care about me.
It's okay to feel worried sometimes. That just means I care about things.
My friends and family will help me through difficult times, just like I help them.
When I face my fears with others beside me, I discover I'm stronger than I thought.
I am calm, relaxed, and peaceful. Good night.
Sleep tight. Thank you.
