The day was gloomy. I had come to find out that spring was not all that others always expected it to be; bright, happy, and full of sunshine and singing birds. No, it was rarely ever that. Mostly it was rain, and lots of it, clouds rolling in from all directions to douse the world in their tears. I quite enjoyed this rain though and took every opportunity to find a reason to be out in it. Sometimes I would just sit there and let it drench me and other times I would play in the puddles. When you are as small as I am the world can be a very interesting place to explore.
I had followed my father from the den, whether he was aware of it or not, my tiny legs incapable of keeping up with his pace and so I had continued by following his scent. It faded rather quickly in the rain but there were sparse bushes and limbs that he had brushed against that still held his odor. I kept following it until I could no longer find him anywhere and before I knew it I was standing in a large field. I didn’t know where I was or how exactly I had gotten here, my nose was to the ground for the most part after all, but I was certain to find out.
Eyes stolen from the night sky itself peered out into the doom and gloom of the vast expanse before me. It was so entirely different than the grotto where mother and father stayed; so open and exposing. I almost felt a strange pang of unease as I stood there, as if I needed to find cover. And I was right to feel so being that I’ve always lingered within the close confines of the caverns. Nevertheless, I did not spy any nearby threat to my own self and thus continued through the tall, dampened grasses with cautious steps. I was a very small boy, even for those of my age, and it would not bode well to encounter anything I couldn’t handle on my own.
I kept moving at this slowed pace until I reached a small pond. Drops of rain shattered the illusion of another world through its surface as I approached, rippling my face and contorting my features with each release from the clouds above. My guard was eased for a moment as I tentatively stepped closer and began to drink from it to soothe my parched throat, only to leap sideways soon after when the booming croak of a bullfrog nearly rattled my bones. Black and silver hairs stood upon my spine as ears pinned back at the terrible creature who has yet to show himself. It croaks again and I bark in an ashamedly unthreatening tone toward its hiding place in the reeds.