The forest floor was littered with many branches and sharp rocks that threatened to pierce their tender feet. but under the girl’s careful management the two survived, persisting off berries and blackfin that grew in sparse areas. The two lived like this for a week growing more and more complacent, wishing to return to the warmth of their home.

The boy helped stave off the cold, his ever-curious nature helping them to find a cave. the cave stretched deep into the ground, capable of housing more than just the two. The size made it troublesome to heat, but they found large branches that still had leaves on them and fashioned a makeshift door. They had to crawl through the rough needles to get in, but otherwise it was their new home.

The two children began to stockpile food, eventually being able to explore further and further away from the cave. Most times they found little to nothing, but others they found treasures, the most important of which was a river.

The children’s first source of meat came from that river. The boy fashioned traps from sticks and debris, while his sister killed and carried them. The boy had gotten inspiration for the trap from when the fish would get stuck between rocks or get trapped in the branches of a fallen tree.

The boy’s intelligence did not end at traps and the two soon had a basket. The construction was poor, but as it was made from sticks, of which the forest had plenty it was no problem. The boy also wound together several sticks to make a pole. The pole was meant to get down fruits from the forest’s rare few softwoods, but it could also be used to fend off animals.

With even more food, the two began to become more brazen with their searches. When they went particularly deep, they found something far greater than food, it was another child. The boy had crimson ears and lay on the ground, struggling, their mouth agape and parched. Once back at their cave the boy nursed the red-haired wolf kin back to health.

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A new routine was set for the boy, his sister would still go out for food, but he would nurse the other child. It was through such nursing that the boy discovered a sharp rock within one of his patient’s wounds. The boy took inspiration from the rock and fastened a similar one to a long stick.

With the new weapon and the luck brought by their new member the boy’s sister soon returned with a squirrel. The meat was tender, but there was hardly any of it. If he could the boy would have wanted his patient to savour some, but even after a few days they were yet to stir. The squirrel meat seemed like a delicacy to the boy, for so many days they had had similar meals, again and again.

The days seemed to be growing shorter, with less light many things became difficult. When the two found another victim of the forest they were overjoyed, that was until they found even more. The number of children in the cave grew and grew, but there was no quibbling. The pillar and leader of the cave was undoubtedly the boy’s sister, her strength hushed any argument.

Simple things became joy in the children’s little community. The red eared boy seemed to have more energy and smiles could be seen whenever something new was on the menu. Fear however still lingered in the camp, and fire was taboo.

The boy got bored from time to time, and thus decided to do something. A grand room carved from the walls of the cave, solely dedicated to their grand leader. Although most agreed that the boy kept them sheltered and managed the group well, his sister kept them safe and fed. In the room he tried his best and fashioned a bedframe for fallen lumber. The bedding was dead leaves and mulch, although unappealing, it was comfortable enough, and far greater than the floor.

The boy quickly rose to be the mind of the group while his sister was the brawn her strength outmatching even the boys older than her. The cave thrived under their management and the by even started excavating places of the cave where the dirt was softest his ambition to make their little home perfect brought a smile not only to his face but those around him.