The next morning I awoke as usual. Slipping out Mothers arms was easy, and I venture out into the world. Passing by others caves I came to the one I was searching for. I called out and soon a young human like me came. I "Yipped" at the child and took their hand. They smiled at me and let out a "Yip" in return.
We dashed towards the river to play. At first I was the only one to get in, but due to my impressive social skills, such as splashing them until they are soaked, they soon joined me. We tried catching different fish and seeing who could stay under the water the longest, and enjoyed our time together.
Once we were both tired we sat on the bank of the river tossing stones and hearing them "ker-plunk." I'm not sure how but we had been friends since forever and the moments we shared have always stayed with me.
Eventually a shadow casted over us that was quite large. Their father had come for them. Letting out a loud howl made us both scurry over. The Father scolded them while maintaining a look of disgust when our eyes met. They pulled the child away from me and took them back to their cave.
Left alone on the river I eventually headed back to Mother. When I arrived Mother was not preparing herself like normal. In confusion I asked If we were not going to hunt and Mother told me that those days were over. We would have to change. I fought with her at the time. I enjoyed hunting. I enjoyed our life and didn't want anything to change.
Mother came up with a deal. I would hunt by myself for a week and If I could bring home food nothing would change. I of course was determined to prove that I could hunt without her and set off.
I stayed out the remainder of the day trying to hunt anything and everything, but I had failed. Upon my return I found Mother roasting meat over our fire like normal. She didn't ask me how my hunt was. I quietly ate my meal that she had prepared and crawled into our bed. I know she wanted to comfort me, but I wouldn't let her.
The next day I went to see my friend as usual, but they did not come out. So, I returned home and set off again. Hoping my hunt would go better than yesterday. I returned home empty handed again. Mother never discouraged me though, and always had meat on the fire when I returned. This went on all week.
The last day of our deal was slightly different, I was able to bring to small creatures I had caught home with me. Like usual Mother had somehow gotten meat and a fire already going. I showed her my hunt and she sighed and told me it wasn't enough. I already knew she would say that, but I was hoping she would see my improvement.
She told me that I had not succeeded and that we would have to adapt. I solemnly agreed. That night when Mother held me she cried softly into my back. I awoke to Mother being gone before me. Her absence however unusual didn't stop me from my daily retinue of seeing my friend.
Today they joined me once again at the river. They noticed how I was upset and tried their best to comfort me with a smile. I couldn't feel the warmness from them like how I used to. Not because they had changed but because I had.
Their Father did not come looking for them like they had the other days. So we spent all day there just being their for one another. It took me years to understand that some people can hide behind a simple smile.
When we returned I walked them to their cave first. Their Father was there. He pulled them again from me and threw them inside the cave. His eyes a look of hate when returning to face me. It happened so fast that I never saw him move, my stomach contents of last nights meal was spewed forth and my gut trembled. He had punched me with his full might.
While I was convulsing on the ground he cursed at me a few more times before spitting on my head. That was the last thing I could remember before passing out.
Sometime during the night I awoken. I gathered myself to my feet and went home. Upon arrival I saw a large man sleeping where Mother and I normally sleep. Mother was tending the flame her eyes without the same shine as they once had. I asked Mother what was going on. She told me changes. That sleeping man was my new Father and he would take care of both me and Mother from now on. She handed me some meat and I ate until there was nothing left. I asked Mother for more but she simply said changes. She grabbed my shoulders and embraced me, humming me to sleep next to the fire once again.
I began to hear a strange sound. Not feeling mothers arms I called out to her as I started to awaken. Mother told me to go play at the river immediately. Turning to face her I saw her on her hands and knees while my new Father was behind her. That weird sound was not stopping. Unsure of what I was actually seeing she told me again to leave. As I did I caught the eyes of my new Father and he grunted towards me in acknowledgement.
I stayed away from home until it was almost dark. Upon my return Mother and "Father" were sitting at the fire. Father was eating some sort of meat that had sticks on its head while talking with her. When they noticed me he tore off some meat for me. It wasn't a lot and at my Mothers request he gave me more. She smiled and told me to eat it well. Father only grunted, while he started to touch Mothers chest. She tried to brush him off with her arm but it still has not healed. Eventually he got fed up with her and told me to go to sleep and started to make his way to their bed with her in his arms. Mother pulled away and came to me, Father did not like that. She kissed me on my head and told me to sleep well and went back to him. I saw a weird smile as she got close.
I rolled over and tried to go to sleep, hearing those strange sounds once more.