I am so very young and I do not know what is right or wrong in the world. I am not aware that my Mother should be ever so kind to me and always doing what she can to shower me with love. She is very distant to me. Yes, very distant. I am not sure why, but I remember one time I asked why I couldn’t sleep close to her and she said she didn’t want me near her. That is okay. There are lots of dead furs and I just wrap them around my tiny obsidian and crimson form. The furs keep me warm. I do go to her for food though. She smells good when I get close enough to her, when she allows me, and she grows very quiet when I feed. I do like my Mother. She is quiet. So very quiet. When she takes me out and about in the swamps she points out things to me like if I step in the darkest areas I will get stuck and fall through and die. When she takes me out we do see the other wolves in the pack, but she steers me away from them. Why, I do not know, but I do not mind spending time with her. It is nice I think. I mean she is my Mother...and I should enjoy such things. Today it is very hot and I think Mother was smart to keep us inside. Lately she has been showing me her kills and teaching me the organs. I find the whole thing disgusting. I do not like the smell of blood, but Mother assures me that I will...once I do not need her anymore. I don’t understand why I wouldn’t need her anymore. I mean...I’m always going to drink her milk, right? I am curled up in a ball deep within Mother’s den. We are lying across from one other keeping cool and comfortable. It is the sound of Auntie Aithne that stirs me awake.

At first I do not hear her well, since I am still have asleep, but my bright sapphire and ice blue eyes blink a few times until I can focus in on her friendly face. As I get up to stand on my little paws I take a few steps and nuzzle my Mother and then bound out of the cave and towards Aithne. Happily I wave my tail and I stumble on after her. She is very nice to Mother and I. I do like it when she comes, she speaks softly and does not yell. As I follow her I hear her warn me about a loose rock. Puzzled I lower my head and stop as the rock that held such concern for Aithne is right in front of me. Puzzled I sniff at the thing and bring one of my red paws up and smack it with such vigor as it begins to roll away leaving me to giggle and not hear a hissing noise. I wave my tail slowly as I notice there is a larger male close by. I have not met him before. I don’t know who he is, but Auntie Aithne smells a lot like him. As we get closer I notice he has a friendly looking face and any nervousness I felt disappeared. I stop walking and stand still not really wanting to get close. I feel the wetness of the swamp on my paws and I think nothing of it now. With a giggle my bright eyes shine when he calls me ‘lady.’ Proudly I lift my ebony skull as my crimson masked face looks to him. My light voice carries a happy tune as I introduce myself, but my voice suddenly changes into confusion when I alert Aithne that I am indeed stuck.

“My name is Jinx, Sir... Auntie Aithne...I think I am stuck.”

As I try to lift one paw I see it is completely coated in the thick muckiness stuff. Confused I lower my paw again, and then try to lift it up, but I feel my paw suddenly go straight down. I turn my head around and try lifting one of my back paws, but it is hardly able to go up. Well this is certainly odd I think. Kinda fun actually. I can feel the swampyness stuffy between my toes. My small ears twitch as I hear a very odd noise. I hear a hissing noise coming from the left. There is a weird looking flat head with coal black eyes looking straight at me and as it flicks its tongue out, I cannot help but laugh and stick my own tongue out in jest. Well this is a very odd creature I never saw before. Who knew it was deadly? Turning my skull around I look up at the friendly male and speak gently so very unconcerned for the danger I am in.

“Uncle Praetor what is that thing, it is coming over and it is going hiiiiiissssssss”

So Auntie Aithne and Uncle Praetor...what are ya gonna do now?