Authors’ note: Like a lot of people, I'm a newbie at this. Suggestions to make the story better are greatly welcomed.

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It's cold. I hate waking to the cold. Shivering a bit I reluctantly open my eyes... Where am I? This... isn't where I should be. I'm confused, where is mother?

I take a deep breath and sit up. I was lying on the light colored ground. Looking around I'm in a jungle like forest. I seem to be in the center of a small crater with no grass.

That's odd, this doesn't seem to be what I'm used to, but I don't feel like it's all that strange... I'm scared being alone though, I'm usually with mother... Where is mother?

With these thoughts running through my mind, I turn my attention to myself. I seem to be completely intact, not even any scratches or bruises. I don't feel any pain, so that means I have no internal damage.

Why would I be injured? There are some broken branches nearby. Did I fall from above the treetops? I remember now! I was on mothers back while she was walking through the sky, and a big bird attacked us.

It was really strong and mother was having a hard time fighting it. I fell during the fighting. I stand up and dust off my clothing. What should I do?

Uuu, I don't know. Reflecting on things doesn't seem productive. I'll go look for water instead. I'm not thirsty, but it's a start. All I really need to do is survive, and mother told me if I ever get lost I should search for food and water first.

I use my top pair of ears, they are better at hearing most things, swiveling them back and forth I manage to catch the faint echo of running water. I walk towards it with light steps.

.....

I walk a mile to reach the sound of running water. It is a wide brook, almost a river, and is flowing fairly fast, which is why I could hear it. I kneel down, and lap up the water. As I drink I keep my eyes up, darting around for any signs of danger.

I wipe my mouth once I've finished drinking. I've been hearing a lot of animals around, but none are nearby. I use my sense of smell though to be sure, and am rewarded with a sweet smell. Fruit.

There's a tree to my left that has pink fruits hanging from the branches. They don't smell poisonous, so it should be fine to eat them. I run up to the tree and stretch out my hand to grab one, but I'm much too short.

Pouting, I think about what I'm doing. Being only five years old, I'm not that tall, and I'll have to climb the tree to get fruit. I nod to myself, it is tough being short.

I begin to climb the tree. When I reach the first branch, I wrap my long, fluffy tail around the tree branch to make sure I won't fall as I reach for the fruit. I lick my lips in anticipation; it seems I'm very hungry.

I pluck a fruit from the branch below me, and take a bite. It's so soft and juicy. I finish it off with a few more bites, and reach for another. After eating ten more fruits I lick my fingers clean and climb down from the tree. I look to the sun and find that it is almost noon.

I've eaten and drank, so I have no pressing needs... I'd like to return to mother, but I don't know how to. I'm saddened by the fact I'm now alone. Where is she? I'm lonely. What should I do?

Hmm, should I try to get stronger? I can smell a lot of spirit beasts in the area, so to survive I'll have to anyway. What if mother can't find me?

In that case I'll just have to find her. To find mother I'll have to survive, and mother herself is really strong. Plus it will give me a goal... Alright, I've decided. My goal from now on is to be stronger, so that I can find mother. I sit down and close my eyes to get started.

The fastest way to get stronger is to increase both the strength and control of your second energy. If you can control it well, then you can use it to make yourself stronger and make things like fire and wind with it. Mother taught me that.

Shaking my head, I refocus on my second energy; it's really hard to do anything with it though. I make it cycle through my body first, to warm up, and then try to bring it outside. Hehe, it tickles as it leaves.

Once it's outside I lose control over it, and it fades away. Pouting at the failure, I try again. This time I imagine it as a stream leaving my body and circling me, the mental image is really important. This time I manage to control it for longer, but it soon dissipates.

*Sigh* Why is this always so hard? I'll continue until I've used up all my second energy! I'll get stronger so that I can survive and find mother.

.....

I get up and stretch. I've used up all my second energy. I even managed to hold it outside my body for almost a minute. Yawning, I realize I made it to evening, and a light rainfall has started. It's colder than when I woke up. Should I go look for a cave to sleep in? I could sleep in a tree, but a cave would be better... I'll go look for one.

I end up sleeping in a tree. I walked for a while in a random direction, but realized that wasn't a good idea. By the time I thought to climb to the top of a tree, to see if there was a hill, cliff, or mountain nearby, I was drenched from the rain.

There is a large hill in sight but it's at least a day's walk from where I am. I climb back down from the top of the tree, to one of the middle branches, and settle in for the night. I've already walked at least four miles today; I'll continue to the hill in the morning.

.....

It takes two days to reach the hill and find a cave. The rain hasn't stopped, if anything it has gotten worse. Shivering, I walk into the large cave. It's occupied. There is a pack of wolves in here and they've woken up. They walk up to me, who is drenched to the bone and severely shivering.

I caught a cold on my way over here, so I have a fever too. The wolves surround me, and begin to brush up against my legs. The wolves behind me push me further into the cave. They lie down, and curl up around me. They are inviting me to sleep with them, to share their warmth, I'm grateful.

Regular animals are very kind to me, only monsters and spirit beast would try to hurt me, so I'm not afraid of the wolves, and accept their kindness. Their warmth makes me feel less lonely. I cry a bit as I fall asleep. My mother would always curl up around me as we slept; it was a lot like this. I miss my mother.