The snow had melted quite a bit for mid to late February. Maddi was sitting on a blanket in the clearing, with her birds perched neatly on her legs and shoulders.
If you approached them you would realize that she was talking to them. Dean walked closer to his oblivious sister, wondering how close he could get before startling the group.
He had arrived home, greeted his parents with tears and ‘I love you’s’ but then realized that Maddi was nowhere to be seen. Dean had of course asked where she was.
Dean was surprised when his parents nonchalantly said that she was probably across the river. Maddi and  Dean often crossed the river and explored the other side without their parents knowledge.
Now he approached Maddi, who was freely allowed to sit in the middle of a clearing with a bunch of birds sitting on her.
Dean placed a hand on her arm. “Maddi?” Her head flew up and it was barely moments later that Dean found himself on his back in the slushy snow and Maddi laying on top of him. She was crying a little bit. Dean sat up and hugged her tight.
“I’m home Maddi.”