CHAPTER 1 - Sweetness
By: Winter’s Ink

The early morning sun crested over the hills and blanketed the forest in a soft warm glow. Golden hands of light pierced the windows of Dogday’s home and slowly crept across the floor boards. Catnap tried to hiss them back. Sleep belongs to Catnap and not even a heavenly body could scare him into submission- Well, most heavenly bodies. 

Catnap’s eyes drifted to the figure of Dogday, resting on the couch beside him. His furry brown head and floppy ears lay motionless in Catnap’s lap. Catnap did what he could, he fought for every extra second of peaceful sleep he could give to Dogday, even if his efforts were fruitless.

The light crested the couch and poured over Dogday. It filled the room it’s radiance and warmth and Dogday stirred. Catnap’s job was done. Dogday’s eyes blinked open.

“Catnap?” Dogday said groggily.

He lifted his head and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. His short fur stuck out at odd angles and one ear was folded over backward.

“You didn’t have to stay with me the whole night,” he said.

“You fell asleep on my lap, dummy. I couldn’t move or all that work I did putting you to sleep would have gone to waste.”

“I thought you were the cat,” Dogday giggled, “Oh well, I’m glad you stayed. I always have the best dreams with you around.”

Catnap gave Dogday a playful shove and hopped off the couch, “Bush your fur. You look like an idiot.”

Dogday scampered across the room and scooped up a brush off the table. He started to brush out his floppy ears as he gazed out the widow with wide adventurous eyes. The forest was lit in glorious light, birds chirped from the tops of trees and animals were hard at work in their den’s and hollows. 

“What a beautiful day that has dawned on our forest.” He said.

Catnap rolled his eyes. He was getting a drink from the kitchen where Dogday couldn’t see him.

“I am so happy I have you and all our friends in the forest to enjoy this day with.” Dogday turned. The golden light bounced off his fur in a halo around him. 

Catnap choked on his water.

Dogday rushed over to Catnap’s aid. He patted Catnap on the back, far too gently to actually help with the choking. 

“Are you okay? Be careful when you’re drinking!” He said.

Catnap nodded and choked out a raspy, “Yep. I’m good.”

“Welp, that’s one friend helped today!” Dogday pranced around the kitchen with his chest puffed out in pride.

“Are you going to help everyone today?” Catnap asked.

Dogday’s eyes lit up like a christmas tree and his enormous smile, somehow, got even wider. “Catnap, that’s a great idea! We should do something for all the critters of the forest. Something that would really make their day even more beautiful and bring a smile to everyone’s faces.”

“What do you have in mind,” asked Catnap as he worked the last of the water from his windpipe.

“Oh...” Dogday scratched his chin, “I don’t know...” His fuzzy brows furrowed, ”What could we do to make everyone smile?...” He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his temples, deep in concentration.

A knock sounded at the door.

Dogday leaped into the air and scampered to the door. He flung it open and shouted, “Welcome friend!” Arms wide and inviting.

“Hi Dogday!” Pickypiggy said from the doorway, “And hello to you too, Catnap!”

Catnap tilted his water glass toward Pickypiggy in greeting.

“I brought you some chocolate chips.” Pickypiggy handed Dogday a bag colored in a rich brown. “I had some extra and wanted to bring some sweetness to the sweetest of the forest critters. I hope they bring some energy to your morning.”

“Thank you so much!” Dogday accepted the gift with reverence.

“But don’t eat too many,” Pickypiggy warned, “Too much sweetness can give you an upset tummy. That’s why you always add a little bit of salt when baking sweets. At least that’s what Bubby tells me.”

“I will be very careful.” Dogday nodded, looking very serious.

“Well, that’s all for now! Goodbye, Dogday! Goodbye, Catnap!” 

“Goodbye PickyPiggy! Thank you again for the chocolate chips!” Dogday said.

“Later, Picky.” Said Catnap.

Pickypiggy sauntered off down the road.

“That was nice of him,” Catnap said as Dogday put the bag on the kitchen counter.

“Very much so.”

Catnap plucked out a chocolate chip and tossed it into his mouth. The taste reminded Catnap of Dogday and his unending sweetness and boundless energy. He shook his head. A few moments later he reached for another. Dogday caught his arm.

“Don’t eat too many, you’ll get a tummy ache! Didn’t you hear what PickyPiggy said?” 

“Two is not too many. I’ll be fine.” Catnap ate the second chocolate smugly. 

Dogday just looked on, worried. Catnap rolled his eyes, “if it bothers you that much, we could always do something else with the chocolate chips. Didn’t Picky say something about baking? We could make them into cookies or something.”

Dogday’s eyes sparkled and he leaped at Catnap, wrapping his arms around him in a twirling hug. Catnap blushed and looked away. 

“Catnap, you are so smart! We can make cookies and share them with EVERYONE in the forest! Can you imagine how happy everyone would be if we made them cookies?” Dogday squeezed even harder, lifting Catnap into the air. “They should start calling you the sweetest critter in the forest.”

“Yeah, that would be the day.” Catnap said, “So the plan for today is to make cookies for the others?”

Dogday nodded, “Yep. One cookie for each Critter in the forest. They’ll love it!”

Dogday set down Catnap, “It’s just... I don’t know how to bake cookies... Do you?”

“I’ve never made cookies before but I know they take more than just chocolate chips. Maybe Bubby has the recipe?”

“Yeah, Bubby Bubbaphant has books on everything! We should head over there right now!” Dogday said excitedly.

Dogday went bounding toward the door. His paws scraped across the floorboards as he slid to a stop and flung it open. He looked over his shoulder. His wagging tail slapped the door faster than any drum.

“Are you coming?” He asked.

Catnap stretched, “What would I do with my day if not follow you around?”

THE PLAN
One Chocolate Chip Cookie for each Critter in The Forest.
 - Dogday & Catnap