Seasonal Landscapes: Winter Hot Springs

Shelbert carried his and Bud’s backpack with him. They were only full of towels. The distance they had been walking made them feel like there was lead inside. He stopped atop the steep slope they just went up and took a breath. Only a few more meters before we make it. 

Tarte was following closely behind them, a gloomy aura hung over him the entire trip thus far. He didn’t want to come but Shelbert, as per usual, dragged him along. He said that the hot mineral water will help lighten him up. Although, Tarte never asked to be ‘lightened’ up. He just wanted to be left alone to do his drawings.

Bud bounced up the incline, almost effortlessly. The baobaby form meant less weight to carry against gravity, so he was keeping up just fine. Unfortunately, he could not carry his own stuff because backpacks were just not made to fit his size. “Weeeeee!” yelled Bud as he continued to climb up.

Truffle was struggling. He was last. Physical activity was not his forte. He was way behind all of them, near the beginning of the steep incline. “Go…go on…,” Truffle huffed.

“Just a bit more!” Shelbert called out to their slowest. “Come on! You can do it!”

“I–,” Truffle fell onto his bum and sat where he was standing, “I can’t. I need a break.”

Shelbert gave a sigh and looked over at Tarte and then Bud. “Alright, let’s take a quick break here.”

“Awwww! But I want to reach the springs!” Bud pouted.

“Unless you can carry that one down there, we’re going to have to wait,” explained Shelbert.

This high up in the mountains meant that there was more snow here, especially in the winter. A soft layer covered every area exposed to the sky. It wasn’t very windy up on these mountains, so everything was rarely disturbed.

Tarte wished he could have brought his easel to paint up here. “A nice scene.”

“Tarte actually approves?” Shelbert mused. 

Tarte’s cheeks reddened and he turned away, using his bangs to cover his face.

Truffle was laying down on his back, staring up at the sky. It was too bad that the mountain wasn’t flat, because it would have made it more comfortable. Plus all the rubble and sticks beneath him didn’t help. He watched the gentle sway of the treetops. Some of the pine trees were so tall that they looked like they’d touch the clouds.

With nothing else to do, Bud started to roll little snowballs. Before he could throw the first one, Shelbert stopped him. “You’re a party pooper,” Bud whined.

“You’re going to make everyone wet and cold.”

“The hot springs will warm us up anyways,” he squeaked.

Shelbert looked down at Truffle. “Are you done resting yet?”

Truffle raised his paw from where he lay, “Five more minutes.”

He sighed and sat down on a nearby boulder. Before sitting, he had to double check it wasn’t Bud he was about to sit on. Unfortunately, that had been a problem in the past.

The trees were mostly coniferous species. They were mostly covered in snow, but when spring comes around, they will all bear cones. Bud chose two of the shorter ones and started to build a snow fort. Shelbert laughed and decided to join in while they waited. It didn’t take them long to build a small one just big enough for Bud.

He grasped the ledge as he heaved himself over the last hurdle. Truffle flopped onto the ground, making the snow fly up. “I-I made it.”

“Oh good!” Shelbert grinned. “Let us continue then.”

Tarte was drawing in the snow with a stick he found. He threw down the stick and patted himself off, ready to get this trip over with. “About time…,” he muttered, unhappily.

“Yaaaaaay!” Bud bursted out from his fort and started to climb once more.

If they were true bears, maybe they would have an easier time climbing the slopes, but alas they were simple baobears.

—

The hot spring bubbled and smelt strongly of minerals. When they reached it, there was no one there.

“All to ourselves,” Shelbert clapped.

Tarte immediately chose a spot far away from the rest of them where he could overlook the landscape below. Truffle didn’t stop for a second, he went straight into the pool and dunked himself in it. Later, he resurfaced, floating on his back.

Bud found the first small cliff that hung over the pool and climbed it. “Canon ball!” He yelled before plummeting into the pool and splashing everyone.

Shelbert was the only one putting down his stuff neatly to the side before entering the hot spring. “Ahhhhh….,” he let the hot water warm his cold bones. There was steam coming from the water, disappearing into the sky as it floated upwards.

“It’s really nice up here,” said Tarte.

“The best natural hot spring one could find,” said Shelbert shifting in his spot.

Truffle started to snore. Bud laughed at him. “Truffle’s asleep again,” he said.

The trees were more sparse up here, so the view all around was lovely. They could see the mountaintop covered in snow just off to the side. There were animals but they were all quiet at this time, probably scared off by their presence. The blue sky complimented the view. 

“I wish I brought my sketchbook.”

“But then it’d get all wet,” laughed Bud, splashing water at Shelbert.

Tarte groaned. “This sucks.” He was going to regret not sketching this view.

Shelbert splashed Bud back and laughed along. “Just enjoy it with your eyes, Tarte. Why do you have to capture it?”

Tarte sighed. “You don’t understand…,” he slunk back into the pool to where only his head was above water.

“Tarte looks like a baobaby!” Bud giggled. “He looks just like me!” Bud swam over to his roommate and floated next to his head. Truffle’s sleeping body floated gently nearby, undisturbed despite all the noise.

They all stayed there for a long while, enjoying the natural water. Dusk eventually set in and the skies began to darken. Shelbert was drying them Bud off when he noticed the first snowflake coming down. “Oh, it would have been lovely to stay up here and watch it snow.”

Tarte sighed again. “And draw it…”

Truffle has woken up now. “If only there was a lodge up here.”

“We would have to travel far for something like that,” said Shelbert. He moved to drying himself off.

Now that they were all warmed up, and had the chance to enjoy the view, it was time to head back down the mountain.

“Are we cooking tonight?” asked Bud.

“I think we should eat out,” said Truffle, mid-yawn.

Shelbert nodded, “Eating out sounds nice.”

Tarte let out a dissatisfied groan. “Even longer until I am reunited with my sketchbook…”

Shelbert rolled his eyes at him. They all started to descend the mountain. At dusk, the snow glowed a soft orange, making the mountain sides look like they were glowing or on fire. The trees were all darkened, and maybe a little spooky even. It was quiet, even quieter than when they were ascending. As the temperature started to drop again, small patches of ice started to form on the path. Good thing they were all well prepared and brought their ice cleats, or else the way down would be near impossible at this hour.

All the baobears, except for Bud, wore headlamps so they could see better in the increasing darkness. Their lamps bobbed up and down as they took each step.Bud was trailing alongside them; he knew not to wander off in these circumstances, even though his tiny body was filled with energy.

“What should we eat?” asked Shelbert. The topic of food always made time pass faster.

“I want fried rice!” Bud yelled.

Tarte didn’t respond. Truffle nodded along with Bud’s suggestion. “I’m good with that.”

“Okay, but which kind?”

As the landscape continued to change into night, the four baobears could be heard chatting about different kinds of fried rice. There was some debate on whether chicken was better than shrimp fried rice. Their voices echoed in the forest as they continued their way home. An owl hooting in the distance somewhere on the mountainside and soft snow drifted from above.