The dark season was almost over and the first spring was just around the corner. The green moon was rarely seen anymore and the night sky was only lit by the gentle glow of the pink moon and the millions of stars. The cold winds of the winter were beginning to stop blowing around the cold grey planet. And somewhere, in the middle of a desert no one heard about proudly stood what would soon become a great part of Alternian history.

A few days have passed since Kankri pupated and he started being more curious every day. He could walk but not very long distances and he would often trip over his own little legs. Porrim would watch him with affection every now and then and sometimes even motivate him to walk just a little further. Now was on of those moments.

"Come, Kankri, just a little bit more," Porrim smiled as she whispered those words to the wiggler in front of him. Kankri giggled and made big and sloppy steps towards Porrim.

"Come on, Kankri, just a few more steps," the jade blood was crouching to the ground holding her arms for the wiggler to jump into. "Come to your-"

Porrim stopped mid sentence. What was she to Kankri? She wasn't his lusus, and saying guardian just didn't seem right. The jade blood thought back to when she took him. He was just a mutant at first in her eyes. But the Mothergrub thought differently and that convinced her to take him. Could she name herself after the Mothergrup? Porrim wondered and her thoughts were interrupted by a small troll jumping in her arms.

"Good job, Kankri," Porrim smiled, finally deciding on a name. "Your mother is so proud of you."

Kankri giggled and looked up at her. Porrim hugged him tightly.

They spent the rest of the night eating what was left of the beast Porrim slayed a while back. Kankri drifted off to sleep while Porrim made sure he was warm enough.

The jade blood decided that she would have to find some food before her wiggler woke up so, being as silent as she could, she put on a black cloak and walked out of her hive after locking it behind her. Kankri was a heavy sleeper and he hardly woke up after falling asleep. The nightmares wouldn't start for another few sweeps so he should be alright by himself until Porrim returned from the city.

The scorching Alternian sun was starting to be seen more and more every day, signaling the end of the dark season. She had a few hours of light in which the streets would be empty. She would be able to break into a shop and steal some food.

After a few minutes of walking the city appeared into her view. It was the first time she returned to the city since Tremok's death and she wasn't happy that she had to come back. She had no choice, though.

The sun was up into the sky when she stepped past the city gate. As Porrim predicted, the streets were empty. No ordinary troll would dare walk outside on daytime. But Porrim wasn't ordinary. Since she became a Rainbow Drinker, she was able to bear the sun even more than before.

Keeping the cloak wrapped around her body, Porrim walked trough the backstreets until she stumbled upon a small and dirty shop. Judging by the state of it, it was owned by a lowblood, therefore, no one would care if it was broken into.

The jade troll used her strength to push onto the door until the lock broke. She tried her best to not make much sound. Once inside, she took out a bag and stuffed in it anything she could find.

It appeared she wasn't silent enough, as a door burst open behind her. Porrim didn't waste any time looking and she ran past the front door, outside. She kept running, knowing that the owner wouldn't be able to follow her. Once she was past the city gates, she slowed down to catch her breath.

She walked fast and when she finally let a sigh of relief slip past her black lips, she reached the hive. She unlocked the door and went inside. She made her way upstairs and when she got close to the door of her respiteblock she heard cries coming from inside. Her heart almost leaped out of her chest as she burst the door open.

In front of her stood Kankri, looking at her with pale red tears in his eyes. The blankets that were used to keep him warm were spread across the room. Porrim didn't waste any time and ran over to the little wiggler to comfort him.

"Don't worry, Kankri," Porrim whispered. "Your mother is here." He cried in her chest for a few minutes until he finally calmed down.

They spent a few perigees like that, with Porrim going into the city every few weeks. Kankri got used to sitting alone once in a while, but the jade troll started becoming worried about leaving.

The highbloods were becoming aware that someone was stealing from the hives and shops of lowbloods and they would soon try to find the guilty one. She already used up all the money she had and they were almost out of food. She knew she would have to leave the safety of the hive soon, but Porrim wasn't sure Kankri was ready. He didn't grow up like he was supposed to.

Normally, wigglers would start communicating a few weeks after pupation. Their brains develop really fast after they are taken in by a lusus and they can understand and talk to their guardian. Later they learn to use words and communicate with other trolls as well. Porrim guessed that since she wasn't a lusus he would start speaking their language from the start. Apparently she was wrong. Even so she talked to him a lot and she knew Kankri understood her.

It was the middle of the second summer when Porrim saw some silhouettes in the distance. She knew exactly where they were heading. That's when she packed as much food and clothes as she could fit in a bag, took Kankri in her arms and left the hive for good. She walked through the cold sand until she got to the old tree where her moirail was buried. The small wiggler was startled by the sudden movement but he didn't complain, probably understanding that the situation was serious.

Porrim put Kankri down and let him play in the sand while she looked around to make sure there was no danger. That's when, in the distance, coming from the direction of her hive a big light appeared. The jade troll knew immediately what it had happened. Those that came to look for the thief didn't even bother to look inside. They just set the hive on fire. Porrim was so glad she was able to escape and save Kankri.

She turned around and held the wiggler in her arms, to comfort him... or maybe herself. She didn't let herself cry any longer, but Kankri must have known Porrim wasn't well.

"Mother," came a whisper and Porrim looked down at the wiggler. She smiled at him and answered.

"Don't worry, Kankri. I will not let anything harm you. You are the only thing I have left." Porrim looked at Kankri with love. He finally said something and it was her name. The young mother was so proud of him.