Groundhog Day

.o0o.

The little group of farmers murmured quietly amongst themselves as they waited near the burrow.

"Aye, well, he'll be seeing shadow like as not." Rafe squinted at the sun as it dodged in and out of the ragged cloud cover.

Gert blew into his fists, nodding. "Ayuh."

"Mild enough. Six weeks more of this makes no real bother."

"Ayuh."

"Ah, not like the winters we had when I were a lad." The old gaffer stamped his feet. "I mind me when the creature cast no shadow account of were no sun in sky at all. Words froze on the lips and fell to ground like stones, and us never knowing what was said until spring thaw."

"Hard times." Rafe spoke respectfully.

"Ayuh."

The bushes quivered and there was a slight fall of soil.

"Hsst! Creature be a-stirring."

In the expectant hush, the sounds of approaching grunts and scraping could be plainly heard from the burrow. The vegetation began waving wildly, and in a shower of earth and snow a figure clawed its way out of the hole just as the sun's rays broke through the clouds. It crouched, squinting vaguely, then lunged upright and darted away through the trees.

"Freedoomm!"

The men blinked after the fleeing apparition.

"That looked like the king."

"Naw. King wears no earring."

"Certain?"

"Ayuh. Not sure about the dress, but no earring, certain."

The gaffer hawked and spat.

"Best check provisions, lads. I mind me we've a hard six weeks ahead."