Mother’s scent was still fresh in the den when I awoke. Light was creeping in through the gaps in the leaves that sheltered us. I blinked. It was strange; day had come, yet Mother had gone out and left me alone. She had never done that before, not even at night when she went out foraging. I was always with her.
alwaysI stood up and stretched my front legs, shifting my weight to my hind, and then shook myself. She couldn’t have been gone very long, else her scent wouldn’t be that strong. Should I go out and look for her? I wanted to, but then I remembered what she"d said about going out during the day. Not all the creatures of the forest were friendly. There were predators whose fangs and claws would rip through my hide with ease.
I asked why they would want to do such a thing, but she ha
