Chương 4: Growth

He couldn't remember how many days had passed since coming to this river. He searched every direction and found no sign of his families home hole. In the time he was exploring the area he had to dig out a bigger hide hole a couple times as i've grown quite a bit with fresh food and no danger nearby. When he got cold he decided to weave some ivy into several of those large leaves and covered himself to keep warm while he slept.

Having nothing better to do he chose to keep exploring the surroundings for what seems like months. So many wonderful things to see and hear. There's a flappy yellow thing up in the canopy as big as his paw with all his fingers extended. It makes a fun noise like "PIPOOWEE PIPOOWEE". Lots of fun noises here in the wood. One day he decide to move up the river and find anything new, his curiosity about the world growing as much as his body.

He found after some thought that he was growing comfortable with the place he had found myself and the peaceful environment. Not needing to hide from creatures that want to snack on him has been so nice.

'I wonder where all those threats mother drew paintings of are.' He had seen a big black furry thing across the river several days back that looked scary but as soon as it saw him it snatched a squirmy thing from the water with a clawed paw and turned back to the wood with a huff loud enough to hear over the splashes of the river between them. From how far away the two were the pup could tell its paw was bigger than his little head.

Catching the squirmy splashing things every day he had noticed they don't get much bigger or smaller than their kin. With that experience in mind the pup did the simple comparison and realized just how large that animal had to be.

'Oh well' he thought as he shrugged the reality of that detail off. The thing clearly didn't see him as food when there was fresh food to be grabbed out of the river whenever either was hungry. Two days of walking up river leads him to a cliff as high as he can see. The river just flows right off it in the most amazing, splashy, and loud mess that he had ever seen or heard.

'I wouldn't have to be quiet in home hole at all if it was next to this mess.' Without hearing the crumble of rocks under his feet anymore the pup moved to the cliffs edge. Far enough away the rocks aren't slippery with water so he can dig his three clawed fingers in and pull himself up. This was maybe a mistake. Turning his head to look down he realized he didn't have a way off this cliff if he couldn't make it all the way up.

He was already far too high to climb back down without slipping and landing on that rocky shore he adored so much. Not wanting to become a splatter on the pale rocks below he begin to dig his claws into the dirt wall he was clinging onto. Steadily scooping away enough dirt and rock to make an alcove he could climb into and rest. He sat down and looked out at the wood and river below. And wow. There's so much green!

With wide wondering eyes he sat and watched the flying creatures flutter from patch of green to other places hidden by even more patches of green. Knowing his cooking fire left a white pillar of smoke up high in the sky he looked out in search for any other smoke to maybe find people. Maybe even his family. He sat and stared into the distance for most of the morning and still could see not a single sign of other people.

'I still have so much to see, surely one day I will find someone.' With a shrug and a positive attitude he continued his climb to the top of the cliff. Hearing a shriek he spun his head to see one of the flappy things headed his way. It was almost as big as him with brown feathers and a white head. And it looked angry. He dug my clawed hand deep into the cliffside to hold tight while he swung his other hand out to swat at this pest.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. He was holding tight and trying not to panic while the flyer bit and grabbed at his swinging hand. With an unlucky swipe it flayed the skin from the top of his forearm. He reacted to the pain with a grab and he squeezed its three clawed yellow hand before he threw it away from himself feeling a crunch between his fingers and thumb. With a wild shrill screech the flyer took off with one claw limply dangling.

He watched to be sure the winged animal wasn't turning around for more. When he was calming down he looked at his arm and cringed. His grey fur was soaking up the blood, but the flesh was dangling and the arm was throbbing. He looked up the cliff to see how far to the top and considered wether he can make it. That is, until he actually tried to climb with his cut up arm. The pain was intense and when he flexed to pull himself up it leaked a lot more blood.

He didn't know what to do with this but he did know that his blood isn't supposed to leak like that. Hurriedly he dug another small hide hole into the side of the cliff and shuffled his body inside. Staring deeply into his wound, he could see it oozing slowly and it throbbed with a rhythm he didn't understand.

'Skin… I need more skin'… thinking for a solution he glances at the leaves he had been using to stay warm draped over his shoulder and back. He began to tare one free of the weave he made so recently. He pressed the leaf over his wound and the bleeding stops leaking as fast.' Ok that works but I can't climb and hold this.' Having only enough of the leaves and ivy with him to keep him warm at night he decided to break it and build another one later.

He could reuse the leaves to pad his arm wound and wrap it over and over with the thin ivy. Tying it into a knot and cutting it with his sharper teeth he moves his arm around to check for more bleeding.' This is working!! It still hurts so bad, but maybe that will go away soon? Oh I hope so.'

'I guess that means there are some predators out here. I should be more careful.' He considered if he needed to fend off something with claws then maybe he would need to cover his arms to prevent this painful mess. A problem for the top of this cliff. Rest came rough that night inside the small alcove he dug into the cliff face. Worrying something would fly up here and he would have to fight another winged beast off the side of a damned cliff made sleep difficult.

The sun woke him after what seemed like no sleep at all. Grumbling to himself frustrated with his drowsiness he checked on his arm wrap. Removing the leaf covering he foundnd it somewhat stuck to his wound, but it was no longer leaking any blood and has a sort of rough covering over it. Still tender and without much strength in his arm he began to ponder this climb. Looking out of his alcove and up he could see the top. It's not so far. He thinks to myself.' This is NOT going to be fun.'

Every reach and grab with his injured arm sends pain through him. He kept pushing on for what seemed like ever. Before the sun reached its peak in the sky, he stretched his injured arm over the edge of the cliff. With a throbbing arm that started leaking some blood again, he shuffled to the wood near the edge of the cliff and started gathering more leaf coverings. He copied his previous arm wrap and even gathered some sticks and ivy to make a harder cover for my forearms.

Hoping he could fashion something to protect them in future clashes with wildlife. Forgetting his own curiosity about the top of the cliff for the time being, he began searching to find food and some place to sleep again. This river bank has both more and larger slabs of rock making it impossible for him to dig a hide hole very close. He moves further into the wood to find a tree with big enough roots to hide his next hole well.

It doesn't take long to find a good tree as these things are much bigger than the ones beside his last few hide holes. This makes him wonder why they get bigger the further he travels up river. Another mystery of the world sure to be discovered someday. So much to learn. Exhausted from the long climb, he sighs as he tries to get comfortable in his new larger hide hole. With a small smile he makes favorite noise one more time before falling asleep.

"BLICK." His smile grows a little bigger.