High in a tall pine tree lived a little squirrel named Rudenka. She had a fluffy tail and tiny whiskers that wiggled with curiosity.
In autumn, Rudenka ran and hid acorns and nuts. She tucked them under roots, in an old oak hollow, and between stones by the stream. Everywhere!
"I'll hide one here," she chattered. "And five more over there!"
She hurried so fast, she never thought about remembering where she put them.
Then winter came. A soft white blanket covered the forest. Rudenka woke up hungry.
"Where are my nuts?" she wondered.
She dashed to the first tree—nothing. She looked under a bush—empty. She dug by the stream—only snow and ice.
"Oh dear!" sighed Rudenka. "I forgot everything!"
She sat on a branch and scratched behind her ear. What could she do?
Suddenly she heard a quiet voice: "Rudenka, have you seen my acorns?"
It was Synokrylka the blue jay. She was looking for her own stash too.
"No," said Rudenka. "Have you seen my nuts?"
The bird shook her head.
They decided to search together. Synokrylka flew up high and looked down. Rudenka hopped below, sniffing the snow.
"Look!" called the jay. "Over by that pine, something is peeking out!"
Rudenka scampered over. Oh! There were Synokrylka's acorns!
"Thank you!" chirped the bird. "Now I'll help you!"
They kept searching. By an old stump, Rudenka sniffed the air.
"Nuts!" she clicked. "I can smell nuts!"
Synokrylka helped scoop away the snow with her beak. And sure enough—there was a big pile of nuts!
"Hooray!" sang Rudenka.
But there were too many for one squirrel. She thought a moment, then smiled.
"Synokrylka, you take some too! I have more stashes—I just can't remember where."
The jay thanked her and took a few nuts.
That evening, Rudenka sat in her cozy nest, nibbling a tasty nut and listening to the snow creak outside. Tomorrow they would search again together.
She curled into a little ball, tucked her nose into her fluffy tail, and closed her eyes. Outside, the snow danced gently in the moonlight.