It was a beautiful morning in the forest. The air was crisp and fresh and the first rays of light penetrated the thick foliage and melted the last remnants of winter frost. 

It was spring at last!            

Bella, the mother bear stirred from her long winter sleep. Her precious cub, Billy, still slept next to her. Tenderly, she woke him up.

"Wake up, sleepyhead" she said.

"Let's go to the prairie."

Little Billy Bear searched the prairie. The sun was shining and the flowers were blooming. Billy could see the butterflies flittering in the light breeze and could hear the buzzing bees and the chirping sounds of the birds. 

He was ecstatic!  

Suddenly, a strange sound was heard and a spiky creature poked its head out of a leafy burrow.

"Who are you?", asked Billy.

"I'm Holly the Hedgehog. And who are you, little bear?"

"I'm Billy. Come with me, Holly. Let's search the prairie together", said the cub.

Then a hissing sound was heard. A long creature with a strange tongue slid through the grass. 

"Go away, sneaky snake!", Holly screamed.

"Please, don't be scared. My name's Sage and I 'd like to join you in your search of the prairie. I have just woken up from my winter sleep and I am feeling a bit groggy at the moment. But it's only temporary! I'm sure I can be of great help to you, as I can sneak into places you can't reach."

"Come along, Sage. The more, the merrier!" said Billy.

"What's all the commotion about? I 'm trying to get some more sleep.", said someone in an angry voice. It was Blake the Bat.

"We 're so sorry, dear Sir. We were just looking around, but we seem to be lost. It's such a big prairie that we have some trouble finding our bearings.", Billy said.

"Sorry, I can't help you. I 'm nocturnal, you see. I need my 'beauty' sleep so I can go foraging at night.", said the bat.

"Never mind! Sorry for the disturbance!" replied Holly the Hedgehog in an irritated tone. 

"Such a lazy, useless creature!", she murmured.

"Come on, Holly!" said Sage the Snake. "He was being truthful! Bats can't function during the day. And they are not as lazy as you think! They work hard during the night in order to survive."