"Is it always gonna be the same thing, every morning?" Jim said. I put my hands on my hips and smirked. "Yeah. But you go hunting every morning... Why should I get a lecture?" I said. He rolled his eyes. "That's useful. I find my time more useful in spearing an antelope then exploring the wilderness... On your own, no less! What if your attacked by a Saber... Or worse a Mammoth?!" He said, picking me up by my waist and making growling noises I giggled and kicked my feet back and fourth.

"Don't be ridiculous. Mammoths are extinct." I said, pushing away from him as soon as he let my feet touch the ground. "I'm just saying, you should be careful... What if something happened to you?" A usual over-protective brother... Annoying as mess! "I promise I'll be fine. Now go." I pushed him away as I ran from his side and to the woods.

My name is Izzy and I'm an explorer. My brother, Jim, is a Hunter. Every day, I explore the woods to see if there's something new out there. Last time, I saw an Ant Eater and before that, Glyptodons. A whole family! I'm really on to something!

While I walked through the thick snow, my foot leaving a shoe print as I stepped, I felt around for my dagger and took it out, walking to the nearest tree, to mark the trail. I do it all the time, so I don't get lost. I made an arrow that pointed from the way I was going to the way I came. I made it thick so it was easy to see. I then kept walking. I felt a slight chill down my neck so I drew the hood to my coat up.

My coat was made of a special type of fur... My brother never told me what kind. Just that it was a birthday present. Who am I to judge? It kept me warm. While stepping, I started singing a tune as I stepped.

"Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your eyes
And when again they open, the sun will rise."

I singed as my arms swayed back and fourth. It was a lullaby my mother used to sing to me. I never forgot the words. My brother still sings it to me every night. I kept singing as I marked another tree.

"Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you."

I bit my lip and finished the indent on the tree. I put my knife away but I then heard a crack from behind me. I turned around and looked back... I was so certain... But I could be dreaming.

I then heard it again. I turned around sharply and saw small paw prints in the snow... "What?" I got on my knees and looked at them... "Molehogs? Excellent." I smiled. I then heard a rustling in the bushes. I just knew it was a Molehog. It had to be! Although, I can mistake them for possum tracks... But not this time! There's even a burrow trail. I stepped lightly on the snow and over to the bush... I pushed the leaves back and right there... Was a Molehog. And he was adorable!

"Oh, My gosh." I whispered, seeing my breath in the cold weather. The little Molehog then looked up at me and backed away. "No! No, it's OK... I won't hurt you..." I promised. And just like that, it stopped and... Stared at me? "OK... freaky." I bit on my lip.

I then heard a voice... "A human that can talk?" It didn't come from the Molehog. No way! I then looked at it again... Was it smiling. "D- Did you just talk?" I said... Nothing. "Ugh, I feel so stupid right now!" I literally slapped myself. "OK, that was weird..." It talked again? OK, maybe I'm not freaking out.

I have to admit, I've always felt a connection between me and wildlife... But this sort of connection? So, I looked down at the Molehog and smiled. "Uh... Say something again." I said. It looked at me. "You're a human that can talk." It said. I bit on my lip... But something still didn't make sense. "What do you mean, 'A human that can talk'? All humans talk... But animals that talk?" It shook it's head... I'm guessing this Molehog is a boy.

"Of course. All animals talk." He said. I rolled my eyes. "Right..."

"It's true! I can prove it." He smiled. "Wait, lets exchange personal info... Hi! I'm Izzy... And uh... You are?" I waited. "Louis." He said... He was absolutely adorable! I bit my lip. "Well, Louis... You said something about proving a point to me." I smiled, making a hand gesture that meant nothing to me.

"Right. Follow me!" He then stuck his head underground, leaving a burrow trail. I was stunned. This little thing could move fast. I followed the burrow trail, my feet pounding with every step. I felt as if I would fall at any minute but the only thing keeping my head up and my feet moving was that little Molehog, Louis. Not only was he adorable, he could talk. It's like a win-win here!

I then saw Louis make a sharp turn but when he did, I fell over a giant rock and landed in freezing cold water. I saw Louis stop and he dug his head out from the dirt. I glared at him, moping in the cold water. "Thank you... Thanks, that's exactly what I needed!" I complained, standing up and taking my now drenched coat off, freezing in the cold but feeling my skin go numb. "Sorry, I didn't know a puddle was there."

I had a feeling the animal was lying to me. I just sighed and started to ring out my black hair. "I'm sure you didn't." Just then, I heard a branch snap. I looked around and placed my hand on the dagger in my pants, just in case... "Don't do that! They'll think you're a threat." Louis interjected. I rolled my eyes. "Easy for you to say." And just then... I saw a Mammoth! I swear, I thought they were extinct!

"Is that..." I whispered. "Yep." He brushed it off. I then felt a little woozy... "Izzy... Are you OK?" I heard it as if it was an echo... Everything got black and I fell on the ground... I fainted. How delightful...

The song in the beginning is from "The Hunger Games" I do not own it!

*Just thought I'd put that out there...*