Duskfire Glacier You got a good heart, but you're about as sharp as a marble.

This was not okay. 

Veteran abruptly awoken to the feeling of his mother's jaws closing around his belly and lifting him into the air. Veteran was used to being moved around in this manner, and it typically meant that Mom was shifting him closer to the teat. 

However, this time he had not been placed upon a pillowy teat, to be sweetly enveloped in warmth and milk. This time, his mother had walked several jarring steps before dumping him out in the cold. 

What had he possibly done to deserve this? 

Veteran had all of his senses now; his hearing had come in not long after his eyes opened. However, he had so far refused to take any steps. He had no reason to do so. Everything he would ever need was right there in his cozy little chamber. He was no dummy. He knew that once he started walking, his world would have to expand. People were always walking in and out of the bright light, which frightened Veteran more than anything. 

Nope, no sir. No bright lights for Veteran Duskfire. He was just fine without them, thank you very much. 

He had not anticipated that his mother would grow impatient with him, and that she would dump him outside their bedroom, effectively forcing him to walk should he wish to return to their nest. This was terrifying. The bright light was right there, and it was going to get him!

He scrambled to his feet, and he skedaddled. One would never know that these were his first steps, the way he flew across the floor of the main chamber.

In his effort to escape the light, Veteran had missed the opening to his own chamber and instead found himself in Tzila's chamber, which he hadn't realized existed. There was a mom here, but it wasn't Mom. There was a sister here, but it wasn't Sister. Everything was wrong. Had the light gotten him? Is this was it was like, on the other side of the light? 

He hated it. 

He stood, trembling in fear, and his eyes were drawn to one of the Other Kids. This Other Kid was moving around, and-- oh no!-- coming toward Veteran. Veteran scrambled backward, trapped between this approaching Other Kid and the terrifying, looming bright light.