never made, it was too late: Her newborn son was gone, taken from her side minutes after being born, and her first-born daughter, although blessed with the namesake of her ancestor, was destined for a life of being forgotten . . . a life hidden in her younger brother’s shadow.

The hours came, the days passed, the weeks flew by – neither Flicker nor her precious Tikia had any idea on how young Tikio was doing, and they couldn’t leave the den behind either. It was Clan ritual for newly-delivered mothers and their children to stay inside their dam’s birthing den, at least until a moon has passed and the she-wolf’s pups could walk on their own without assistance; this gave Mother and Litter a chance to develop that most important bond that is most crucial to newborn pups. However, the brown and white she-wolf knew that Tikio was going to be the talk of the Evergreen Clan, especially since he was now being raised by Riko and Sherry, who would only want to brag about their adoptive son that was destined to bear the entire weight of the Clan on his young shoulders.  

“Mama?” A now-seeing and walking Tikia asked her mother one day. “What is this smell that I smell?” She lifted her nose in the air, quickly sniffing the air. “It’s faint, but it smells familiar to me. What is it?”

Flicker, curious about her three-week old daughter’s questions, also smelt the air. Her eyes grew big once she recognized the scent.

Tikio! She thought in fear. She’s smelt her brother’s scent . . . It must have been from when he was first born. But . . . if I tell her the truth, oh . . . Flicker closed her eyes, slightly shaking the thought of what could happen. Riko and Sherry would not be happy about that . . . Flicker let out a sigh. I’ll tell her when she’s old enough, but not now. 

“It . . . it must be from my dinner from a week ago,” Flicker lied. “I’m sure that was whatever you smelled, Tikia.” She nuzzled her child gently after giving her a lick with her tongue. “Now, it’s time for you to eat, then you can rest for a while.”

“Okay, Mama,” The red-brown pup returned the lick to her mother, giggling at the response that she gave her. Flicker gently pushed her child towards her belly, and Tikia quickly began to suckle a pink teat that was in front of her. As the pup nursed, the brown she-wolf sighed. 

Oh, my beautiful daughter . . . She gazed at the nursing child on her belly with worried eyes. My dear Tikia, I know you are meant for something more than nothing. I’m sure if your brother could see you, he would say the same thing.She sighed again, almost gasping at her daughter’s tugging on one of her teats.Your father will help you grow stronger, my child. When you’re older, you’ll learn how to hunt and prove that you are not worthless.

I’m sure you’ll be just fine, Tikia . . . You have a destiny all your own.