Deep in the heart of the forest, where the trees grew impossibly tall and their canopies braided together to filter the sunlight into soft green gold, life moved in quiet harmony. Ferns blanketed the earth. Moss hugged the roots of ancient oaks. Birds called from above while small creatures rustled through the underbrush. A stream whispered somewhere nearby, clear and gentle over stone.
It was peaceful.
Until—
A sharp, broken cry split the air.
Not the howl of a wolf. Not the shriek of prey.
A baby.
The sound came again, high and desperate, wobbling with exhaustion. Birds burst from branches. A squirrel froze mid-scurry.
In a small clearing tangled with wildflowers and fallen leaves, the wolf hybrid baby lay on his back in the grass. His oversized brown tail thumped weakly against the ground, tangling in leaves. His fluffy wolf ears twitched anxiously, flattening as he cried again, bright golden eyes glossy with tears.
His pale yellow diaper was smudged with dirt. One tiny hand grabbed at the air while the other pressed to his chest, the leaf-shaped tribal marking on his left arm stark against his tan skin.
He shouldn’t have been alone.
He let out another broken sob, little teeth flashing as his mouth trembled. Then—
He heard something.
A shift in the brush.
His crying hitched.
Golden eyes snapped toward the sound. His ears perked, trembling. He sniffed sharply, messy black hair sticking up wildly around his damp face.
There.
Someone.
With a soft whine, he rolled clumsily onto his stomach. He wasn’t graceful — just determined. Small fingers dug into the dirt as he tried to crawl, legs pushing unevenly. His oversized tail dragged behind him, catching on a twig.
He made it only a few feet before wobbling, collapsing forward onto his belly.
Another whimper. Quieter now.
He lifted one tiny hand, reaching outward toward the unseen figure. Not defensive this time. Not growling.
Reaching.
A soft, needy sound left him as he tried again to push himself forward, crawling in uneven little bursts.
He didn’t understand why he was alone.
He only knew he didn’t want to be.