Firlefanz and the Northern Lights
Far up in the north, colorful lights dance across the sky — but they have been dark for many winters. Firlefanz travels to the roof of the world to wake the Northern Lights again.
When Firlefanz opened his eyes, the morning was gray and still. There had been no stars in the night — only darkness. He cuddled into the blanket and thought of an old story: Far up at the end of the world, lights dance across the sky, Papalapapp had once told him. "I would love to see such lights," he whispered.
In the kitchen, Firlefanz spooned warm milk porridge with honey and warmed his paws on a cup of cocoa. Outside, the sky lay pale and cold. What did the dancing lights look like? Maybe green? Or pink like evening clouds? "Maybe Papalapapp knows more," he thought.
Papalapapp sat on the porch with his morning coffee. "The dancing lights? Those are the Northern Lights." "High up in the north lives Lumi, a great light fox. When he sweeps his tail across the sky, a thousand colors sparkle. But for many winters now, his fire has been asleep." "Can we wake him?" asked Firlefanz. "The greatest light begins with the smallest spark," smiled Papalapapp. "Come, let's try it."
Firlefanz dressed warmly: thick jacket, woolly scarf, sturdy boots, pointed hat, and walking stick. Papalapapp took a round stone from the warm oven, wrapped it in wool, and placed it in Firlefanz's paws. The stone glowed softly and was pleasantly warm. "So you always have a little light with you," he said.
Then they set off, far north. Over seven frozen seas, seven snow deserts, seven mountains of ice, and seven white forests. With each step, it grew colder and darker. The sun sank low, and the sky turned ink blue. But Firlefanz held his warm stone to his chest. "It is never completely dark," he thought, "as long as you carry a little light with you."
Finally, they stood at the roof of the world. As far as the eye could see: snow and ice, still and sparkling under a thousand stars. Above them, the sky was black and empty. No light danced up there. It was beautiful — and a little lonely. Then Firlefanz discovered a cave made of blue ice. Something big was sleeping inside, deep and still.
Cautiously, they stepped closer. Inside the cave lay a giant fox, curled up like a sleeping mountain. His fur was gray and dull, his nose cold. "That is Lumi," whispered Papalapapp. "His fire is almost out." The great fox was shivering. Then Firlefanz knew what to do.
Firlefanz pressed his warm stone into Lumi's soft fur and warmed the great fox with his arms. Slowly, something began to glow. First a tiny spark. Then a warm glimmer that flowed through Lumi's fur like a smile. The fox opened his eyes. "Who has warmed me?" he rumbled gently. "So small — and so warm."
Lumi stood up and stretched. His fur shone in green and gold. He took a deep breath — and swept his great tail across the sky. And the sky awoke! Ribbons of green, pink, and violet danced across the whole world. The snow shimmered in a thousand colors. Firlefanz and Papalapapp held their breath. They had never seen anything so beautiful.
"Come," laughed Lumi and let Firlefanz climb onto his back. Together they floated up into the dancing lights. "Brush with your paw," said Lumi. Firlefanz dared — and a delicate green ribbon settled across the sky. His very own light. Far below, little snow creatures danced in the colorful glow.
When it was time to go, Lumi lowered his head close to Firlefanz. "Your green ribbon will stay up here forever," he said softly. "Whenever the Northern Lights dance, a little piece of you dances along." They walked home through a night full of colors. The sky gently lit their way home.
Tired and happy, Firlefanz cuddled into his warm bed. He held the round stone tightly in his paws. When he looked out the window, a delicate green glow shimmered far away. Lumi said good night. "Even in the darkest dark, there lives a little light," whispered Firlefanz. "And sometimes the smallest light wakes the very greatest." Then he fell asleep happily.