New World

As my father cried out, my brothers crowded around me, calling out to him. I opened my bright blue eyes and saw before me my brother's standing and going out, beyond the wall I had been told never to enter. My mother came up behind me and pushed me forward. I sighed and jumped through the bright wall. My eyes were blinded for a moment, because it was so bright. When I got used to the light, I looked around at my surroundings, astonished by the new smells and sites. Tall brown pieces of wood stuck out of the ground and towered over me, making me afraid. I backed up until I hit something. I turned my head and met my mother's black nose. She nuzzled me and looked up at my father. 1

Had I known him better I would have known that he was not to be disturbed. I waddled up to him and began to yip. When he crouched down, I thought he wanted to play, therefore I began to tug his ear. But my father growled at me, with his head still facing forward. I felt a sharp tug on my tail and I was pulled back. I yelped in pain and fright, until I saw my mother was pulling me away from my father. My brothers stared at me in laughter. I hung my head and lay beside my mother as I carefully examined the rest of my surroundings. 2

It was bright and nothing like the cave i was born and raised in. There were many pieces of green that stuck out of the ground and it tickled my paws. A beautiful green and white plant stood beside my mother. I got up cautiously and sniffed its lovely aroma. The smell was so good, I took a nip of the white. It tasted plain in my mouth and not satisfying at all. I spit it back out and continued to looked among similar plants. They were each different colors, royal purples, shimmering reds, striking blues and baffling yellows.3

I looked behind me and saw another tall brown wooden piece, but this one flopped down, with white plants sprouting out of it. I slowly walked over to the tree and touched a white plant with my nose and felt it's smooth texture. I walked under the white and it grew darker. I pranced back out afraid, but I got up courage to venture back into the darker part of the plant. It wasn't as hot as it was when I was out in the brightness. I was calm until I heard a quick "chirp!" I ducked down low, as I looked and sniffed around. I looked up into the plant and heard more of the sounds.4

"They're baby bird chicks dear," my mother whispered softly walking up behind me.5

"What are they doing mother? I mean, why do they call like that?" I asked sniffing the brittle circular home the "bird chicks" lived in.6

"Same thing you want when you whine dear," my mother said nuzzling me. "Food." I yipped and my tail began to wag with excitement. I took a small step and heard another chirp, but it did not come from the same place as the others did. I looked at the ground and saw a little, fragile creature, squirming around chirping as well. "Must have fallen out of the nest," my mother said.7

"What are birds mother?" I asked tilting my head to one side.8

"Food dear, for us they are food," my mother said nudging my side. "Come, we should get back to your father and brothers. As she trotted off, back through the white into the light, I stared at the chick.9

"Food?" I asked myself as I sniffed it. I took a hold of the bird with my tongue and gently placed it in my mouth. As I closed my mouth, a warm liquid ran down my throat and my stomach seemed pleased. It was tasted good, my mother was right, they were food. As I walked back into the light, it wasn't so hard adjusting this time. I blinked and in a flash, I could see all things around me. I licked my lips and sat beside my mother.10

"Come on dears," my mother cooed to my brothers and I. "We should get back into the cave." She nudged my brothers and nuzzled my father before she disappeared into the cave, followed by my brothers. I tilted my head and looked back at my father, who was still crouched down. I yipped at him and he looked at me. I wagged my tail playfully and rolled over onto my back. My father approached, holding his tail high and he licked my muzzle. He nudged me into the cave and wagged his tail slightly.11

I licked my lips again as I sat down next to my mother and felt drowsy. I stared at the white entrance, with the green spikes that tickled my feet, standing outside. I yawned and slowly, shut my eyes.12