Sunni lies nestled among her siblings, their tiny bodies pressed together in a tumble of warmth. No fur yet, eyes sealed, they wriggle in silent contentment, relying on each other for comfort against the spring chill. Each breath is a soft whisper of survival, their world confined to the gentle embrace of their makeshift nest.
One by one, eyelids flutter open. For Sunni, everything is strange—a vast blur of color and movement, the forest looming and beautiful yet intimidating. She hesitates, nose twitching as she senses the shift; the milk is gone, replaced by seeds and clover scattered nearby. The taste is unfamiliar, but hunger nudges her forward.
Sunni darts between shadows, her movements quick and jerky. She learns to freeze when owl wings whisper overhead and to slip between roots when she hears the soft tread of a fox. Her whiskers quiver as she explores, brushing against rough bark and cool stone, gathering information from the world in ways no human can imagine.
Sunni is now a blur—a flash of brown among the green. She zips from burrow to bush, cheeks stuffed with seeds, tail flicking for balance. Each day brings new lessons: where to hide, how to spot danger, and the best places to stash food. "If I move fast enough, nothing can catch me," she thinks, heart pounding as she narrowly avoids a swooping shadow.
Adulthood brings purpose. Sunni digs her own burrow, carefully lining it with leaves and grass. She gathers seeds—acorns, grains, and bits of clover—stuffing her cheeks until they bulge, never dropping a single one. Each trip spreads seeds across the woodland, ensuring new growth will sprout come spring. "This place is mine, and I’ll keep it alive," she muses, content in her work.
Sunni huddles in her burrow, nestled against the cold. She doesn’t sleep the winter away; instead, she moves through her tunnels, nibbling on her stash and listening for the muffled sounds above. Her tail helps her balance, and her whiskers sense every vibration. Outside, the world waits, but inside, she is safe—smart, resilient, and ready for spring.
