Chapter One
The first breath
"Is he alive?"
I hear my mother's mew above me. I have never seen her, but I know her voice instinctively.
"I can't tell," Says my father, and I find that I know him, too. Who are they talking about? My brother? Or could it be… are they talking about me?
My world is black and my eyes are firmly shut. I feel my brother moving next to me, I hear is soft breathing as he sleeps and smell my mother's sweet milk. My brother mewls in his sleep. They can't be talking about him. He feels huge and strong beside my tiny form.
They're talking about me, I realize. They think I'm dead. I struggle to answer, to say, "I'm alive! Don't worry, mom, Don't worry, dad!" but my voice won't work. I find that my body won't move, my mouth is sore and dry.
They're talking about me.
My body feels weak and my bones brittle. I hear my parents' soft whispers above me. They're trying not to disturb my littermate and me. I open my soft ping mouth and at last I let out a strangled mew. It's better then nothing. Air rushes into my lungs. It shocks and startles me at first. Then I enjoy the sensation. It's cold! The wondrously brisk air swirls in my lungs. As I exhale, my mother sighs with relief.
I struggle to her side and suckle with my littermate as my mother licks our heads. I hear her tail brush my brother's pelt. "I call this one Falconkit. See how his body is already muscular, like a falcon's?" She gently touches her tail to my ear. "I'll call this one Wildkit, in the hopes that he will grow to have a wild and strong heart."
Wildkit!
I'm overjoyed that my mother would call me such a strong sounding name. I mew happily as my father says, "Those are perfect."
Falconkit seems happy, too. He mews with me and my mother laughs. "They already seem stronger."
As I curl next to my mother, I feel a warm sensation in my stomach.
I will get strong. You'll see. One day, I'll be Wildstar. I'll make you proud, mom, I promise as I drift into a black cloud of sleep.