Proving Oneself

Since the moment that Caladia could see, she has felt an overwhelming need to stick close to her three-legged brother. Maybe it is instinct that makes her wish to help him or the fact that he is missing a part of him that his siblings and parents all have. Whatever the reason, the girl often trails after her brother, lingering behind him to help if he needs her.

Now, to be clear, the young girl does not think of Kipling as less than or unable to do things because he only has three legs. No, if anything, she finds that he has more determination than all of them combined and is continually amazed by his creativeness in how he approaches things. Still, Callie worries about him and that is why she is tracking him, trying to stay back and out of sight as he explores the plains.

She tries to hide, to make it seem as if she is not actually following after him but, somewhere along the way, she loses sight of him. Panic flare is her chest as Caladia wonders if he has fallen and injured himself and that makes the girl throws caution to the wind. Racing toward where she had last seen him, small paws thunder across the ground, flattening the grass as she passes.

Unbeknownst to her, a predator waits among the green blades, watching for the perfect time to strike…


"Caladia Carpathius"