Not as strong as us

He jumped when Asla’s voice broke the silence, and he turned to look at his smaller sister. His body was more delicate than his, hinting at the willowey, lithe creature she was going to be. Sometimes he felt like a clumsy uncoordinated mess, and this was definitely one of these times. He dropped the creature delicately onto the grass, lowering his head down first, and looking at his sister.

“I think I broke it” he whispered apologetically, nudging it once with his paw to demonstrate how still it was, before looking up at his sister. His ears were flattened against his skull, and he didn’t look too happy about what he had done. “Can you fix it, please?” his sister might be younger, and smaller, but she was crafty and clever, and he already appreciated her insight in life. “What do you mean killed?” that sounded permanent. He really, really hoped he hadn’t broken it permanently. It had looked at him expectantly, he didn’t understand. How could something have life in one moment, and none the next? He sniffed, for some reason his eyes started to feel a little watery, he didn’t like the sensation. It was like that feeling that had welled up in him when he had stubbed his toe, but this time it was a slower, and more painful on the inside then the out.