On any other day, a young child celebrating their birthday would be a happy occasion, anyone's would, especially a coming of age party where they were transferring into " big girl/boy" hood as many young children do. This was different for predators however, as it was the day when they received their tame collar

Today, a young arctic fox, who was turning 5 that day was happily skipping and running around the room, it was decorated with sky blue and green decorations and balloons, laughing happily as she chased her brother and his friends around, pretending to be a witch who was capturing them for a scheme the adults watching them with smiles on their faces, the clink of a fork tapping a glass caught the children's and everyone's attention and they stopped to look where it was coming from

A polar bear stood on the small stage, dressed in a casual outfit, a clunky looking collar fastened around his neck

"Attention everyone, it is time the party girl has gotten her last gift, no?" He said, his voice clear, the arctic Fox's eyes lit up and she scurried to the stage, running up the steps and stood in front of her adoptive father, her eyes shining with excitement and anticipation of receiving the gift she was waiting for, the moment she was finally going to be a big girl. he smiled at her and a female polar bear handed him a white box, he took it in his large paws and opened it

Inside was a collar, like his but smaller and was painted as blue clouds and green dots adorned it

"Today, my daughter has reached the age of receiving her collar" he spoke, his voice loud enough for everyone in the room to hear

"And you, my little one, are officially a big girl.." he whispered as he took the collar from the box and carefully fastened it around his adopted daughters neck, watching her face light up with excitement, everyone clapped and some cheered as he hugged her, but they knew the grim truth behind it all, of what it symbolised, it pained them for what was to come

The arctic fox was smiling and turned and walked to the front of the stage, waving and giggling, she saw her brother shaking his head and signaling for her to calm down but she only got more excited as she began to jump up and down and starting to laugh, the beeping from the collar growing louder by the second

"Sweety calm down!" Her father whispered but she didn't hear him

"Sweet-"

Beep! bzzzt!

The arctic fox stopped jumping and cringed, her ears and tail dropping immediately as she slowly turned to her father, her eyes wide and tears were starting to form in her eyes sniffling slightly

Her father looked at her with a sad look and opened his arms

She stumbled towards him and into his arms, sniffling as she tried not to cry, everyone only looked at the kit with sympathy, her brother touching his own collar with a pained look on his face