The baby was delicate, like a little pottery set. Tiny flowers painted and swooping engravings on the sides. She shined like the sun against the river, reflecting bold blues and orange.

Her tiny legs stumbled through the forest. She was like a crystal in a dark cave. She was starting to learn how to run alongside the rabbits with their shimmering, glossy fur. They were the teaching her how to jump on the wobbly stillts that held her upright.

The mothers watched from a patch of flowers nearby, the group beaming at the sun. Spring in the forest, when times were redone.

You were so small when I got you But so cute And soft And silky And young So very young.

I always knew there was a reason you were so smart. But I never knew that that would backfire And eventually end you.

I got lucky I got so lucky to meet you And live my life with you And share so many memories and moments with you

It’s like I’m stuck in a dark room Locked up You hid the key And now I’m searching for it with the torch you left for me

Everyone expects me to be okay But I’m not I’m far from it

Everything feels temporary Like something’s going to happen to change everything up Like you’re going to rise from your grave And climb your way up to me And climb onto my head And then poo there Like you used to. When we were happy When everything was good

You were the glue holding me together Now I’m shattered So bloody shattered.

It emerged from it’s mother, fully formed, but extremely delicate. It’s eyes could barely open as it groped through the world, looking for something to snuggle against. It’s fur sticking up, spiky in that newborn way. It’s mother is incredibly gentle with it, never using it’s claws or teeth unless it needs to to protect the fledgling creature. The baby tries things out for the first time. It has claws, teeth, feet, a tail, all used to keep it moving, alive, the baby just needs to learn how to use them.

They shivered inside the carboard box, three miniature shapes, huddled together. Their black fur was damp, and they were still so new that their eyes weren’t even open. The delicate mews they made had drawn her to investigate the soggy cardboard box, and now she was staring down at the three kittens. She knew she couldn’t leave them alone. She picked up each shaking form and stuck them inside her shirt against bare skin. They wriggled, but then settled as they found one another again to snuggle against her chest. Tiny claws held her as she hustled for her car.

It immersed itself into the world with a feeble cry, as if it were acutely aware of its vulnerability. The eyes were shut against the morning's pallid light. It unconsciously exacerbated the mess of a creature that lay in the comfort of straw and grass. Blood soaked its minute legs, and the fur was matted with texture from the mother's womb. The sight was garish, and it held no sentimentality or pride. It was another machination of life, a product of what was expected of the mother. The ewe flapped its bedraggled ears, bleating its sombre song of melancholy anticipation.

What a peculiar thing. An ugly looking thing, rather. It’s pink rolling skin hanging below it’s belly like unfilled socks. It let out a feeble roar and stuck its head into the water, washing off the slime that helped it slip from its mother into the shallow pool by the ferns. His stumpy buckling legs shook as he tried to turn to the huge figure next to him. Enormous and bellowing, she kicked the water, warning off any nearby threats, showing her mighty jaw to any that might come close to her baby. He felt her ways too, in his premature might besides the fish swimming down river. It was the first air he felt, the first sunlight to warm his back. What a wonderful way to start life.

And she is still new to this world, dwarfed by her mother, her fur like fresh velvet.

What will she see in her short life? The headlights of a car, careening towards her? Down the barrel of a hunting rifle?

And she is so beautiful, with innocent eyes, and legs too weak to walk on.

She tries anyway.

And that’s the beauty of life, trying, even if you think you are going to fail. Because just like this beautiful and tiny child, who is trying and trying and trying, even though she will fail. Her life like everyone’s, is beautiful.

Her life begins with a six foot drop, the jolt of hitting the ground shocking her heart into a healthy rhythm. Her mother bends down her long, long neck to sniff at this miniature version of herself, slick from the womb, skinny and yellow, all her joints folded into a heap of legs. Slowly, the baby giraffe sticks out first one leg, then another. She wobbles up from the dirt, questing for her first meal and finding it against her mother’s belly. Soon, when she is strong enough to walk, the new family will join the rest of the herd.

Eyes the size of sunflower seeds. Filled with so much wonder it’s as if wonder is it’s food source. So void of fear which will soon eat them up. A yawn so minute it couldn’t be heard by the ants whose kingdom is down below but not to far from the newborns head. The newborns ears so fresh and beautiful, not yet tainted by the sound of gunshots. Legs so nimble they wobble as if the world is shaking. The new borns skin so smooth every raindrop glides to the ground. So fresh, so new, so beautiful, so much promise.

𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟸𝟽𝚝𝚑 Going through the woods. I stop hearing a sound in the leafs. It’s a fox. Quite strangely it came up to me. Not in a threatening way at all. It’s tiny ears moving in curiosity. We locked eyes both of us curious. It’s eyes were so big and brown. They were amazing. I couldn’t look away. Suddenly, it started to wrap around my legs kind of like a cat. I think it was a sign of friendship. I carefully squared down and backed up a little. After I sat down in the snow it slowly approached me. Reaching my hand out in kindness it sniffed it. Then rubbed it’s face against it. It was obvious this fox meant no harm. I wonder how long this fox has been craving attention. After gaining trust in the fox, it laid down in my lap. It was so warm and cuddly. However, I soon realized it was asleep. No problem, it can stay in my house in the warmth. Walking to my house, I made sure it was nice a cozy. It was so cute to see this tiny of a fox like this. Opening the door, I quickly made a comfy pallet next to my bed. Carefully laying it down I moved a bit then decided to go back to sleep. Then moving into my bed I was tired. I got knocked out from that day. 𝙹𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟸𝟷𝚜𝚝 I woke up to my face being licked. That’s when I knew who it was. Opening my eyes slightly, I saw Scarlett. Ever since that one November day we’ve been inseparable. Her warm fluffy white fur sitting on top of my blanket. Staring playfully at me, waiting for me to get up. Suddenly she started pouncing on me. I started laughing; she knew I was up. Getting up and she started going in circles in excitement. I love her so much. She’s the thing I had been missing my whole life. The second we met, we knew. We needed each other. No matter what I found my soulmate. My best friend for life, Scarlett.