Mellifuous ✔

Chapter 5: The world was a puzzle

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Comfort and warmth were things the small pup had never truly known. His life had been filled with uncertainty, an endless list of "what ifs" that clouded his young mind. What if his mother got hurt? What if someone took their food? What if they couldn't find shelter for the night? Every moment of his day was spent anxiously scanning his surroundings, a mind too young to fully grasp the dangers that lurked, but old enough to feel them. The world was a place of perpetual worry and vigilance, and for such a tiny creature, it was a lot to carry.

He had never had time to simply be a pup. No playmates, no carefree games. His days were marked by a constant state of alert, never knowing when the next threat would come. The howling winds and distant snarls of other wolves were a constant reminder that he and his mother were always vulnerable, always on the run. His young mind couldn't fathom why they were alone, why other wolves would steal their food or, worse, try to hurt them. The world was a puzzle that didn't make sense, and the anxiety of it all made it hard to enjoy even the smallest of moments.

So, when he woke up to a world of comfort and warmth, it was like stepping into a dream. His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he was confused. This wasn't the cold, rough world he was used to. The soft feeling beneath him was unlike anything he had experienced before. It was as if he was lying in a cloud, though his young mind didn't have the words to describe it. He could feel the softness around him, the warmth that enveloped his small body, making him feel safe for the first time in a long while. The reality was that he was resting on a bed, soft white sheets and a fluffy duvet wrapped around him, but to the pup, it was a sensation foreign and surreal.

The room around him was simple but soothing. White walls, plain but comforting, with an air of calm that he hadn't known in his short life. He had never seen anything like it. To him, it felt like an extravagant den, a place of protection and peace. His wide eyes took in the unfamiliar surroundings, the pale walls that seemed to cradle him in silence. For a moment, he simply lay there, absorbing the warmth and comfort, his tiny chest rising and falling in contentment.

His gaze soon drifted to the window, which appeared to be the entrance to this new den. To a pup like him, with no understanding of human structures, it seemed like a grand opening leading into the outside world. A place to explore, to find his mama. He shifted and wiggled on the bed, his small paws feeling the soft fabric beneath him as he moved to the edge.

The distance from the bed to the floor seemed much farther than he expected, but his determination to find his mama pushed him forward. His little body squatted, his rear end high in the air as he prepared for the jump. With a determined wiggle, he leapt—only to land with a soft thud on the cold, hard floor. He let out a frustrated huff, sitting up and shaking his tiny head. He had tried so hard, and now, it seemed, he had failed.

But that wasn't enough to deter him. He wasn't going to give up. His eyes locked onto the window once more, his goal still in sight. He waddled toward it, the cold floor unfamiliar beneath his paws, but his determination remained. As he got closer, the full size of the window became apparent. He sat down in front of it, tilting his head to the side, puzzling over how he might reach it.

His attention turned to a small, dark brown bookshelf in front of the window. It wasn't much, but to the small pup, it could be his way up. He approached it eagerly, starting to climb the side of the shelf. His tiny paws scrabbled against the wood, slipping several times as he struggled to find his footing. But eventually, after a lot of effort and determination, he reached the top, panting and grinning at his small victory.

He could hardly contain his excitement. He was going to show Mama this new den, he thought, and maybe this could be their new home. He could already picture it: the warmth, the comfort, a safe place for them both. He was eager to tell her about his discovery, to share the joy of his tiny triumph. But just as he was about to turn and race off to find his mama, a voice startled him.