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I rushed out, quickly stepping out into the sun shining down on me. The sunlight blinded me, having me barely closing my eyes. They adjusted a bit, and I was seeing patches of grass and trees in front of me.

I was staring at the jungle.

I smiled brightly like the sun. Oh, I'm ready to go out there! Being a adventurous cub, I tried to walk out toward it, to go exploring. But then I was stopped, by jaws grabbing my nape. I was lifted off the ground, crying, swinging and squirming. I looked back to a grown tiger who had me by the neck. Darn it! I whined out in protest, "MOOOOM!"

My mother grumbled as she carried me back into our cave home, the two of us covered in a bit of shadow. The inside wasn't totally dark thanks to how bright it is outside. Ahead, I was lifted toward two more adult tigers laying on their stomachs deeper within. They were my grandparents, my mother's father and mother, both giggling at the sight of me being taken back in here. After she'd brought us closer to them, mom let loose of my neck and I fell to the hard ground. I shot her up a glare as I was getting up and standing around to face toward her. She smiled down on me, and told me, "Caught you, little one."

Me, however, I pretended I didn't do anything wrong, "What'd I do? I wasn't doing anything."

She said in disbelief, "You know, this isn't the first time you tried to sneak away while mommy is talking to your papa and nana."

Grandpa behind me chimed in with a amused giggle, "Were you trying to run off on your own again?"

I fibbed, "No." They all just stared at me as I tried to come up with an excuse, "I was just..." I grinned when I came up with one, "Just wandering outside to see what it was like!" I gazed past my mother's form, "It's fantastic! The sun's warm, the sky was blue, and...Everything!"

Grandma laughed, "We know it's fantastic from in here, darling."

Mom called me out, "Face it. You were caught trying to explore all by yourself again."

I denied it, "I wasn't!" I rushed up to grandpa. I begged as my forepaws pressed onto his shoulder, "Papa, please tell mommy I wasn't trying to explore!" I always thought mom always listened to him, since he's...The male of the cave here...And her daddy.

Papa giggled in amusement, "I don't think she'll believe me. We all saw your actions, Prem, no way she'll trust a WORD I say."

I got my paws off him to let out a whine, "AWWWWWW!" I sat down and pouted, "I hate you."

Mom giggled, wandering up to us, especially me, "Don't take it out on grandpa when he can't cover for you...Even though it's wrong."

Grandma took her side on it, "Yeah, you can't hate somebody for not covering for you. Besides you're not supposed to go off exploring alone."

I whined, "But I'm borrrrrreeeed!"

Grandpa said playfully, "Aw, poor sneaky cub is bored. What are we gonna do with you?"

I grumbled, "Take me outside."

He let out some chuckles, "Now THERE'S an idea."

"Father." Mom told him, giving him a glare, "Don't encourage her."

He defended, "I'm not!"

Grandma leaned her head to nuzzle him sweetly, "I think that's why she keeps wanting to go outside alone. You always encourage her to leave."

Shortly, grandpa replied with a returned nuzzle, "Nah, she takes that from her dad."

Nana remarked, "Really such a no wonder that she loves to explore."

My mom stood there and smirked while I huffed, trying to pace out into the light at the opening. I felt her narrowing her eyes toward me as I walked away from her. She said my name sternly, "PREM."

I groaned, whirling back to them, "But mom, I want to get out of here!"

She told me, "You are staying here."

Come on! I moaned her name with a begging look, "Moooom."

"No."

Grandma demanded with a hard look, "Listen to your mother, Prem."

But I defiantly tried again, "But mom-"

"I SAID NO." I hung my head in sadness, sitting on my little hiney. There was no use arguing with her anymore. If mom keeps saying no, then what's the point? She always wins. Mom padded up in front of me and said, "I'm done talking to them, I'm going out hunting now. You do what nana and papa tell you, alright?" I didn't reply at all. She rubbed her cheek along my back, "I love you, I'll be back later." Right when she walked a step beside me, she told my grandparents, "You keep an eye on her, you two."

Grandma and grandpa said in unison, letting out shared giggles, "We will." Mom left the cave without another second to spare, while I was still pouting.

Papa asked with a tilted head, "How come she sometimes says that before she leaves us to cubsit for her?"

Nana responded, "You know her, always overprotective." Then she shot her teasing eyes toward him, recalling an event, "And you did let our granddaughter climb up to that hornets nest that one time while you were on watch for her." I twitched from her bringing up hornets. I hate those things. Those little meanies caused me a lot of pain that day.

Grandpa laughed loudly, "Oh cut that out already! You were there too, remember? And so was her mother!"

Grandma defended, "We were both just taking a bath and having a swim and WE told YOU to watch out for her, and you failed." She let out a tiny laugh, "Ha ha! We had to run for our lives since our granddaughter DESTROYED their nest! Those little palookas wouldn't leave us alone."

I sighed, slowly walking up to my grandparents with a hanging head. Grandpa said, "Well for the record, as I already told you, it was not my fault." He shot his eyes upward, "Sneaky cub just CLIMBED up that tree SOMEHOW without me knowing and just kept swiping at it. I would have climbed and got her down, but I'm not the climber. YOU ARE."

While I went beside papa, nana rolled hers as they were still distracted with talking to each other, "Oh goodness, you can't take any responsibility."

"Neither does Prem. She said it wasn't her fault and that it fell on its own. Sounds like I'm not the- Oh!" Grandpa felt me jumping and climbing on his back, twisting his head to see me. Then I just laid on stop of him, letting out a depressed, bored sigh, gazing down at his stripes. Seemingly dropping their conversation, he said with a smile on his big mouth, "Awww, don't look so down. It's always great to stay with your grandparents. Heck, we always LOVE having you around."

I replied with a bored tone, "I do too...Till I suddenly get bored from staying with the same ones."

He playfully remarked, "You're making it sound like you want a new different set of them."

I smiled a little, gazing back at his eyes, "No. But now I'm thinking about it...It would be cool to meet the papa and nana who raised daddy." I honestly never met them before, not once since I was born. It would be cool if I did meet them.

Grandma giggled, "Then there'd be a bunch of us grandparents taking up space in this cave."

"I would never mind sharing all of you with me." I drooped my eyes downward in a bit of depression, "If they were to stand up to mom and let me go outside."

Grandma narrowed her gaze, "Now, Prem, we would go outside now, but we're not in the mood. I, especially, am kinda tired."

Grandpa added, still gazing over his shoulder while I was still on his back, "Yeah, you just stay right here with us."

I sighed, rolling to lay on my back on his. I complained with my vision upside down, "I'm so bored. It gets so boring in here. I can't even play catch the prey with you guys in here."

Grandpa actually chuckled at that, throwing his gaze around the small cave we're in, "Yeah, this cave is not exactly made for that game."

"Tell me something I don't know. Why can't I just go outside without you?"

"Because you're not old enough."

I brought up somebody, sighing again, "Daddy would've let me go out on my own."

Grandma contradicted, "No, he wouldn't, dear. He may travel great distances, but he would never let you do that."

My grandpa then said when he looked back at me again, "Look...The jungle is not totally a place for someone like you to go out alone. Us tigers are kings and queens of the jungle, but there are dangers that do threaten us, especially your father, like the hornets for example. The jungle may be bright, peaceful and beautiful, but we, including your dad, must always be careful. We're strong, but not that strong like elephants." He added a fact with a deep giggle, "And not ginormous with those trunks either."

I heard grandma mumble, "Wouldn't that be a sight."

I rolled back onto my stomach, "I know..." I glanced down again, "Sometimes I wish I wasn't a cub and I was out and going just like daddy."

"We all go out someplace." Grandma added after those words, "But I see your point."

"Me too." Grandpa grunted as he tried to stand up, "Alright, off, honey." I felt him move beneath me, and I slid off his back, landing between my grandparents. I was being a bit hopeful to why he stood and moved up a few paces. What's he doing?

Grandma asked curiously, "What are you doing, dear?"

Papa locked eyes with her, "I'm dang thirsty. I'm going to head out and get a drink." Then he locked them on me with a promising grin on his face, "And YOU get to go with me."

My eyes brightened up with a gasp escaping my mouth. I hoppped up and down with joy, "YAY!" YES! I ain't getting cooped up here a bit more longer!

Nana cautiously said, "Hiran, maybe you should let her stay with me. I haven't let go the whole hornet nest incident."

Grandpa shot up his head, "Oh nonsense, I ain't THAT neglectful. I'll keep a close eye on her like she's my prey."

My eyes shot wide open in shock, "What?"

Grandpa let out a laugh, gaping to me, "But there will be NO eating on my little grandcub."

"Oh." I giggled in tiny embarassment. What am I thinking? Of course papa wouldn't eat me! I'm such a stupid cub.

Grandma started in a worried tone, "Hiran-"

But grandpa cut her off, "I said I can do it, Ruma. Besides, it'll get her out of the cave and stop feeling SO bored." I just nodded firmly nearby. He's right.

Nana responded with another worrying statement, "Look, I don't like it. I just have a weird feeling about this." I gave her a annoyed glare. Come on, let me leave already!

Grandpa rolled his eyes at that, "You're ALWAYS having a weird feeling...And sometimes it's your stomach when you eat something that it didn't agree with."

Grandma narrowed her eyes at him, "Hiran..."

I finally had enough of this argument. I broke through it with a pleading look, moving up a bit to stand beside her face, "Grandma, just let me go."

She focused on me, "Prem-"

I insisted, "I'll be fine. The river is not far away from the cave, right? It's not like we're going someplace VERY far. Everything will be fine. Please, nana?" I grinned, showing my teeth, "I'll bring you back a PRETTY flower."

My nana smiled at the last part, "You're always such a sweet, cute little cub." Then she showed her eyes narrow, "But let me ask...Do you still remember what all of us taught you if trouble arrives?"

I was telling her what I already know, "Always run away and hide whenever you can and don't come out till you're sure the danger has left, I got it. Now can I go?"

Shortly, after a long pause, she let out a sigh, "All right." She threw her gaze onto papa, "You can both leave."

I cheered again, "YAY!"

Grandpa chuckled deeply, shaking his head playfully, "Oh Prem."

Grandma warned, "You guys be careful out there. And if something happens, YOU'D BETTER be the one taking responsibility."

He held up his head proudly, "I won't cause nothing's gonna happen to her."

Grandma rolled her eyes, "SURE."

"Love ya." Grandpa then said to me, padding for the cave entrance, "Let's go." I giggled happily, dashing past him. I made it outside before him, greeted by the blue sky and sun again. I heard him holler for me when I slowed to a stop, "Hey wait up!" I turned myself around as I waited, watching grandpa shortly catch up to me. He said with a playful look, "I ain't as fast as I used to be, you know."

I just smirked, "That's why I always beat you outside."

He shot me down with a crack, "Little show off."

I made a impatient step forward, "Well what are we standing around for? Come on, or I'll beat you to the river!"

Grandpa laughed as we started moving. I was padding directly in front of him, his eyes not letting me out of their sight. I actually did felt this urgency to run for the river and actually beat him at that race, but I held myself back. I thought grandpa wasn't in the mood for running so I cut him some slack. I just smiled deviously. I probably won't next time.

Shortly, we were on the usual trail in single file leading to the river. I gazed around my surroundings. I heard birds singing up in the trees with the sun trying to shine through the canopy. It really was a nice day for a walk. I love walking out in days like this. They're always better than rainy ones. I hate when those dark clouds form above, and make everything wet and sloshy...And make me dirty. I don't like getting muddy all that much. Course I don't mind taking a bath in the water, since baths always make you look good as new, I always see that whenever the grownups take one. Bathing in water is a lot better than a TONGUE bath, I think.

I probably would've liked being bathed out in a rain storm, especially with how fast the rain falls sometimes, IF I was careful enough not to get muddy afterward...If it weren't for something scary that happens during one.

What else I hate about storms other than rain making everything muddy and me dirty...Is the thunder and lightning. I hate the sight of lightning shooting across the sky and thunder booming all over the jungle. When it comes to lightning, I always think it's gonna come RIGHT AT ME and hurt me. The thunder, well, it's just very loud and that scares me even more. When I see that and hear that, I always cower away, and hug myself closely with my mom, my grandparents, and my dad whenever he's around.

But I don't have to worry about any of that...We're out on a stroll during a nice day.

With grandpa's watchful gaze still locked onto me, we soon both made it to our destination. The long river flowed decently along the banks, the sun's rays reflecting off the surface. Grandpa moved up to the edge and lowered his head for a drink. I jogged up and stood at the edge beside him, seeing his tongue lapping at the surface. I shot a glance down it, my reflection staring back at me. Then I gazed across the water, seeing more of the jungle.

I thought about my daddy traveling all alone. I always wondered where he could be. Sometimes I wonder what is beyond my home, what my dad sees that I haven't. I even wonder if some things that my family bring up when they tell their stories to me at night are real. I wonder if daddy saw any of them.

Grandpa lifted his mouth away from the water and asked, "Do you need a drink, Prem?"

I declined, "No."

He scooted closer to me, pressing in concern, "You feeling okay?"

I replied without looking toward him, "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just thinking about daddy."

Grandpa smiled at me, "You miss him again? Don't worry, he'll come back soon." He added with a shrug, "I think so."

"That's not why I'm thinking about him..." I asked, still looking at the jungle, "Grandpa...Do you think one day I can actually go explore like daddy?"

Papa answered, "I think you can do anything you want when you're old enough." Then he giggled, "And wouldn't that make you feel lonesome when you travel far away from your family?"

I gazed toward him finally, "But daddy says some tigers do that."

He said in agreement, "I do agree what he says."

"Right, if daddy can do it, I can too." I put my eyes back across the river, "I'm not afraid."

Grandpa stated, "I know you're curious about the world, Prem, but travelling like that is purely dangerous. Why do you think me, your nana and your mother never did that?"

I only rolled my eyes to him, smirking, "Because you're afraid."

"Well there's a bit of that." He lowered his head a bit down to me, "But we mostly don't think there is nothing to find than what we already know. Nothing would be gained except just make yourself scarce from your family."

I mentioned, "Well, daddy also says that tigers leave their families when they want to start their own."

He playfully shot back, "You're too young to think about that stuff."

I turned my head to him, closing my eyes and holding it up, "Well I think I should leave because of that, other than explore."

Grandpa said, "Either that, or your suitable mate will find YOU..." His forepaw stroked my back, "Just like your father found your mother."

I giggled, slowly bringing my sights back forward, "Well...I still think I want to see what's out there. Maybe I can find what you guys told me from your stories."

He playfully, but seriously asked, "But have you thought for a fact that the things we said are not true, nor real?"

I replied, "Course I've thought of that. But maybe some of the things are." I focused on him, "I think you're telling me this because you're trying to keep me around."

Papa admitted, "I don't want you to get hurt when you've come of age, I admit it. Neither does nana. And neither would your mother." He held a pity expression in his eyes, "Prem...Your mother usually worries about your dad when he leaves you guys."

I asked upon the realization, "She does?"

"Yes. She knows he's tough and can take care of himself, but that doesn't mean she's not worried about him...Other than miss him." Then he said, "And try asking yourself this...Wouldn't your mate who finds you be worried about his beautiful female when she's gone? Wouldn't your cubs too? Maybe just the mate, but I think they would miss their mommy...Like you would miss your father. And what if something bad happened to you? That would leave your cubs alone without their mother."

"Oh..." I gazed down at my reflection, "I never thought about it like that."

Grandpa chuckled, "How can you really? You're still a cub."

I said with a bit of worry, "I hope daddy's okay." I hardly ever get worried about my daddy. I only miss him at times. But now that grandpa brought it up...It makes me wonder what's going to happen to me, and my mother, when he doesn't come back.

I think mom and I will be very sad...

Grandpa nodded, "Me too. He's strong, but I hope he doesn't let anything happen to him. He has a family to come back to." He brought his head down close to my level, looking me into my eyes. He said while I can barely see myself reflecting in them, "Listen...I'm not telling you to not do what you want to do when you're older. None of us would force you to stay, and I would never doubt that you're brave and strong like your mother. You can leave when you're old enough and do whatever you want. What I said are just things to think about. I will tell you this...When we're still around, we don't want to lose you, because we love you, but we will always want what's best for you, no matter what. If you leave us, that's ok. If you want to see out the world, sure you can. If you desire to have your own family, that's all right. Just remember what I tell you, especially the consequences."

He smiled when he added, "And here's another piece of advice from your old gramps...If you do leave and find a mate of your own, and have cubs, please bring them all back here. I want to meet them. And our home is probably nicer than where you'd live at."

I blushed as I let out a laugh, "Grandpa! I'm not even sure I WANT to be a mom!" He giggled at me. Then, I said to him, "But...Ok. Before I grow up...I'll think about it."

Grandpa replied, "Good."

When I thought about daddy again, I thought of a question I wanted to ask. I broke the tiny silence that fell between us, "Hey, papa?"

He replied, "Yes?"

I asked, "If daddy doesn't come back...Will you always be with me? Will you not leave me like him?"

He nodded softly, "I will. I'm not planning on going anywhere." He placed a paw to his chest, "You have my word."

I was smiling. Then I stood up and rubbed myself against his haunch, "Thanks...I love you, grandpa."

He returned those words, "I love you too, Prem." He let out a breath as he stood on his fours, "Well I think my thirst is over." He whirled around to the direction of home, "Guess we'll head back."

I whined, "Awww, no!"

Grandpa fixed his eyes on me, then giggled amusingly, "Not yet? All right...I suppose you want to play a game while we're out here?"

I beamed, hopping up and down a few times, "Oh yes please!"

He threw up his head for a laugh, "Okay!" Then he asked, "What game do you want to play?"

"How about..." I suggested, "Catch the prey!"

Grandpa remarked, "I KNEW you were gonna say that. Who's running off first? Me?"

I shook my head quickly, "No! I'm younger than you so I get to go first."

Grandpa let out a chuckle, "Heh...Alright. Just don't go too far, ok?"

"Yeah, yeah." I playfully asked, "Is the hunter getting ready?"

Grandpa replied in a playful way, "Not yet." He planted his haunches to the grass, "Better run off, cub."

"You don't have to tell me twice."

The grownup covered his face with a forepaw, beginning his count, "One...Two..."

I turned my back and ran off for the jungle. I threw a suggestion behind me, "COUNT TO FIFTY!" Very shortly I dashed through a lush bush, then stopping to quickly think which way I need to go. Which way?! I decided to go off to the left, running as fast as I can. Soon, after running a long time, I found a long, fallen tree in my path. I caught that it had a bunch of space underneath. I hid below it.

Pressing my belly as close to the dirt as I could press, I was huffing and puffing, my tiny heart thumping in my own chest. Phew! This is a good spot. Now all I have to do is wait here and wait for grandpa...Then when I see him and he doesn't catch me...I'll come out when he's so close...And GET HIM! I snickered deviously. Oh I can't wait to scare him again! I remember his face when we played this game along with everyone else the other day. It was SO HILARIOUS!

Speaking of my heart, it slowly began to beat down to normal, along with my breathing slowing too. I shifted a bit to get comfortable. I think I felt a pointy rock hurting my belly. I shifted again, and finally felt a lot more soft dirt. That's better. I patiently waited for the only grownup searching for me. I know I was thinking about the game, but a part of me thought about mom finding me right here instead of grandpa. She'd be mad, but I'd tell her that me and grandpa are the only ones out of the cave and playing a game. I'm just hoping she didn't think I just ran out on my grandparents on purpose just to get away from home when I'm trying to tell her that. I hope she believes me...

After a VERY long time, he still hasn't shown up. I let out a quiet 'grrr' of impatience. What's taking him? He really is taking a long time to come near this spot. I let out a huff as the impatience overwhelmed me. I've had enough of this. I scooted myself out from under this thing, padding off to the direction I came from. I'll just keep low and quiet and try to catch him by surprise this way.

I slowly and cautiously wandered through the jungle, darting my eyes back and forth every ten seconds. I was trying to see my grandparent through my surroundings, but he was yet nowhere in sight. Out here, at this moment, I felt that I was all alone, like I was the only tiger left in the jungle. Strange when I think about it. Maybe it's because I'm just a cub and the jungle looks big all around me. But I know papa's around here somewhere. Where could he be? Maybe he's in another part of the jungle still trying to find me. Maybe I'm too hard for the hunter to catch today.

Several minutes later, as I still searched for him, for some reason I felt this overwhelming feeling that something...Bad was going on. That something bad happened to him. I shook my head at my own thought. Don't be silly. Grandpa's tough just like everyone else. He's not hurt. I think he's doing just fine.

Before I was about to take another step, I heard a roar over the sounds of the jungle from a far off distance. I froze myself and gasped. Who was that? Grandpa? Or mom? My eyes shot at a direction. I think it came from that way. I followed that sound on a tiny path, trying to slip past trees and a bunch of low greenery.

Then not too long later, I jumped to a different sound. It came like thunder raging across the jungle...Only it seemed a bit less noisy. It didn't seem as loud as that. It sounded like a loud 'pop' or something.

I glanced up at the sky. I definitely know it wasn't thunder. The sky doesn't have black clouds. I shot my gaze back down towards ahead, and another pop rang out, my little frame shook. I don't think I heard that before...But it did send me a tiny twitch of fear.

What was that? I don't like it...

I'd better find grandpa before I find...Whatever that was.

I picked up my pace, frantically searching for grandpa, while also still following where that roar had came from. I decided to call out for him, "Papa!" My voice echoed but I didn't hear a response. I tried again as I kept going, "Papa! Where are you?!" I still didn't hear a peep from him. A worry moan came out of me. Where is he? He's REALLY scaring me.

He wouldn't do this...Not like this.

I kept hollering over and over again, but never to hear from him. I was very worried...Frightened. This seemed a lot scarier than the storms come at night. I would've thought maybe he was looking for me and I haven't really searched in the right part of the jungle, but IF grandpa was looking for me, he'd be doing the same thing I'm doing...Hollering for my name. Maybe I would have heard him. But he hasn't. That was really getting to me.

Soon enough, my tiny form pushed around another bush that's filled with white flowers. I came out to a small clearing. Before I was about to make another move, I was startled to find something I haven't seen before lying on the ground.

It was some kind of creature...On two legs, I think.

I tilted my head in curiosity and confusion. Then I slowly went toward that creature. I didn't hesitate or run away. My curiosity was literally pulling me to it. I don't think I was going to leave till I got a closer look. When my body was right near the creature's, I saw that I was right. It DID have TWO legs. I shot a frown at the creature's head. What is that thing? I would think that it was some kind of monkey, I've seen a few before...But I don't think it was. It seemed to be not furry. Its head didn't have fur except at the top, and spots where it doesn't have fur showed that it's white. Its body was even covered in those....I don't know what. Layers of...Something. Even the top of his head had something that covered his fur.

I've never seen something like that before. What is that thing?

I don't know what it was...But I can tell that it was dead. Other than those layer thingies, it was also covered in red, with claw marks on its chest, and teeth marks in its neck. I even noticed something else with the creature. Like where a monkey would hold a fruit, I saw in its place that it's holding...Was something long like a huge stick, but it didn't totally look like a stick...And it gave off a shiny glint from under the sun.

What is that? Looking at something I didn't see before made me very nervous. And it got me thinking about papa again. Down past the feet, my eyes caught sight of a trail of red that led away from the dead creature. I had a feeling what happened to him. Grandpa? Did...Did he fight it? I dashed alongside the trail. I hope he's ok. I called for him when I left the clearing, "Papa? Papa!" I moved with the trail with each anticipating and worrying step.

I didn't really know how long I'd been following it, but I managed to reach the end. I came to a stop.

A tiger laid under a VERY large tree, its head resting on one of those huge roots.

Is that...Papa? Or mom? Who is it? I hesitantly padded up toward the body, noticing it hadn't moved itself when I got closer to it. I sniffed the scent off the tiger, and recognized it.

It's...Papa.

"Papa?" I had my paws on him, trying to shake him awake since he seemed to be sleeping, "Papa. Wake up." I then caught something on his chest. There was red on his white underbelly.

Oh no...

I tried again, shaking his big, striped form, begging him to get up, "Papa...Papa...Get up. Please. We gotta go home."

He didn't move nor make a sound.

He was motionless.

My eyes were starting to mist when I finally realized the truth. No...He can't be...

There's no way he can't...

"No..." I desperately shook him to no avail, "No...Get up. You can't be gone. Grandpa. Grandpa! Please wake up! Grandpa!" I shrieked his name for the last time when tears were falling out of my eyes, "GRANDPAAAAAAA!!!"

I woke up with a jolt, quietly sucking in air. I breathed in and out, trying to collect myself. I gazed around...And found that I have awoken in the cage.

I let out a huge breath. It was a dream. I was just dreaming. I looked up, like I was looking toward the sky even though I couldn't see it. I was dreaming that I was in the jungle again...Only I was also dreaming up the past. I was dreaming up the day my grandpa died when I was a cub. When he was shot by a human hunter who had roamed into where we lived searching for its own prey to kill.

Grandpa killed that human...But at the cost of his own life.

I've lost him, but that was the day I learned humans existed.

I lowered my eyes down to my blanket, sadness shone in my eyes. I remembered when I cried for a long time on his body, knowing he wouldn't talk to me ever again, knowing he wouldn't stay with me like he said he would. I definitely remember finding my way back to the cave afterward, and finding grandma still in there, and mother who came back from her hunt....And telling them the bad news. I certainly remember the tears from them. They were both heartbroken.

As was I.

I sighed. I still remember that day...Even sometimes dream about it. I haven't dreamed about that for a long time. I thought maybe I'd forgotten it now. Apparently I was wrong.

A tear formed in my eye. I was laying my head on my forepaws as I blinked it out. Looks like I know what's really beyond our home, huh, grandpa? Only I can never go back. Guess that was one of the consequences you tried to warn me about.

Grandpa...How would he feel that I'm stuck in this place? How would my whole family feel when they know I'm stuck in Temra?

I can imagine how they'd think...But I'll never know.

I closed my eyes to try to sleep again, the thought of grandpa still around in my head. Oh grandpa...I'm sorry you're watching this from the heavens. I'm sorry this isn't what you probably thought was best for me.

I wished this before...But I wish you were here with me...Like everybody else I love.