Dark. Warm. Safe.
This was her world. A large warm body pressed against hers - the times when it was gone were the most distressing although she would never allow her fear to show... As long as the other, closer to her own size stayed nestled against her flank she would not cry out from fear or the cold - and deep down she knew they would have each other always. Earthy smells, crisp smells, small whimpers and the soothing shhh of her mother filled her world. She was content, but the dark and den could not remain her world forever.
Finally her eyes began to crack open, her short limbs were strengthening and now that she could see the obscure outlines she had begun to wriggle about her blurry world. She had always been the more vocal of the two and spent what felt like hours at a time trying her voice, attempting to mimic the sounds she heard her mother make. Ma was the easiest and seemed to please the largest in her world the most. "Ma! Mamamama MA!" she had repeated into the air with glee as the fuzzy outline of what she had begun to associate with a smile crossed her mothers face.
But the large form of her mother was missing now and surprisingly, it seemed the two were alone. It was all so quiet, too quiet.Her sisters silence was concerning and so she grasped one of the larger cubs ears in her mouth, giving it a tug. She should make the noise too. If they made their mother happy, she would come back, and they wouldn't be left alone.