(DISCONTINUED) Together Again (A Shelter 2: Paws walkthrough\story)

Into the Forest

It was the next day and Inna was excited to go out and explore. All her bad thoughts and dreams the previous night had vanished. It was a new day, and Inna would make the best out of it.

She wandered after her mother, blankly responding to her calls whenever she asked them to do something. Is this exploring? It's really boring! 

Inna's mother waved her short, stubby tail. She stood there confused. What does that mean? Inna also saw her siblings playing around. She had tried to memorise their names.

Frost was the shy one, always sticking close to their mother. Berry was the extrovert, always wanting to play, though sometimes she was a little too rough, in Inna's opinion. And her only brother, Flame, was nice, but sometimes he would mischievously try to run away from the others. Together they made up her family, including their Mum, and she loved them a lot.

Oh. It must mean we get to play. Great. Now I feel stupid that I didn't figure that out sooner. Inna let out a sigh of annoyance. Her mind was blanking today. Maybe it's all the forest smells!

She saw a patch of mushrooms and leapt into them. Uh oh. I hope they aren't poisonous. Well, I don't think they are. Some exploded, bursting into puffs of smoke. The smoke smelled like...well...mushrooms! As she shifted through more of them, she saw a odd circle made out of mushrooms. She stepped into it and felt a weird sensation. It was like she was reflecting on what had already happened.

Like a memory. Inna hoped she would find more of them. She walked out of the mushroom patch and slammed into Berry. She toppled over, and Inna let out a laugh. "I'll get you for that!" Berry said and started chasing Inna around.

Once the "situation" had calmed down, and Inna wasn't being chased, she saw some butterflies. They're beautiful, I wish I could be a butterfly, so careless and free. But then again, I wouldn't have my family.

But, lynxes are meant to catch their prey! She leapt on top of a light blue butterfly, catching in her mouth. She swallowed it with a gulp. It's okay, but I could find much more preferable food!

Just as Inna thought that, her mother called her with a loud meow. Once the cubs had gathered around her, she dropped the same thing that Inna had thought was a monster last night. Rabbit!

Without hesitation, Inna lunged forward, pushing between all her siblings, until she smelled fresh blood. She bit into the rabbit, and plethora of flavours entered her mouth.

Delicious! I hope Mum finds more of these! Inna licked her lips and tugged at her mother's paw. "No more, Inna," Her mother said. "Maybe later."

Inna let out a scowl and sat down, trying to digest her food. As her tummy made weird gurgles, Flame pointed to her and said, "Look at Inna!"

She ran over to him and toppled him over playfully. Flame licked her ear to show there were no hard feelings.

Their mother let out another meow, and the cubs assembled at her feet. "Today I will show you the hunting crouch," Inna's Mum said. "Crouch down like this, and fix your paws to the ground without moving your tail. It might seem small. But it is an essential part of hunting. Then creep across the ground by sliding your paws forward quietly, and move stealthily over the ground. Each of you show me your crouch."

As each of Inna's siblings were struggling, Inna somehow understood what her mother said and crouched down, planting her paws to the ground and moving across the ground quietly.

As Inna's Mum came to her, she gasped in amazement. "Inna, that is nearly perfect! Just fix up this..."

As her mother adjusted her crouch, Inna noticed the sun dipping below the horizon. Her Mum stood up and yawned.

"Oh dear, it's getting late. Everyone, you did a very good job today with your crouches, especially Inna," Her mother said, turning towards Inna. "Follow me back to the den."

Slowly and carefully, they made their way back to their den. As Inna settled down, she noticed something. Peace. Hopefully the peace would hold, but Inna knew that life had its obstacles and secrets.

Above all, Inna knew that a small cub like her couldn't avoid the twist and turns of nature forever. Eventually, danger would come, and Inna's world would never be the same.