Whitebark Stream My whole life I felt like a burden; I think too much and I hate it.

"Dawn's not here right now," he responded to the girl's announcement of having brought an offering of food, and shot her an encouraging smile as she ducked her head to enter the den. "She will be back soon, I'm sure."

Minnow's gaze swept over the four newborns bundled together in the nest their mother had made for them, cooing and mewling as they nosed around at one another. Her observation earned a proud sweep of Artyom's ivory tail and, moving in closer, he hovered over each pup's downy back while he introduced them: "this is Storm, Frost, Juniper..." he poked the fourth gently with his nose. "And Winter."