Silvertip Mountain The drum beats out of time

@Raissa but anyone else in the family can jump in if they like

In ways it was a lot cooler than he could have imagined.

With a small squeal of discontent, Mason Virtue Silvertip shifted his small legs. He was smaller than he should have been, but he had been the biggest of those held within that tight caress of womb, and now it served him well. Once matted with blood, his downy fur had been beautifully washed by a loving pink tongue. He had basked in that first touch - rough and firm, but at the same time it infused love deeply into his tiny body. Through the mottled colours of his feather-soft fur, adoration spread from this being he knew so well, until it settled inside him. This mother was his. Since he had been a part of her, he had felt it down into his very core; she was his.  The womb had been warm, but he had found that emerging into the world was much more exciting than he thought it would be. Fresh air fluttered against his fur, brushing it this way and that in a way he couldn't control. It was exhilirating and scary at the same time. He had never thought that it would be like this, outside of his safe and warm cocoon.

It was a lot bigger than he had thought it would be.

For a few moments he could feel nothing but cool air around his body. It scared him: had he emerged too early, too impatient? Hardly able to move, he still managed a small push with hind legs against the dry earth of their den. His body moved a bare centimetre with an effort that exhausted him. Exultant despite the fatigue, he felt warmth. Mama. A shudder of happiness spread through his minute body. "Meeeew." He squeaked, his small breath whispering against the soft fur of her belly. Mason was hoping against hope that she could understand the sentiment. Of course, he couldn't hear his own tiny voice reverberating in the darkness, but he could feel the echo of its truth in his soul.

But it was a lot warmer than he could have hoped for.