The noonday sun filtered through the swaying trees, and Nen'tah grew ever bolder as he ventured deep into the farthest reaches of their territory. He felt safe in these woods, safe beneath the watchful eye of Iglux and the bustle of the pack as they wove busily through the underbrush performing duties he did not yet understand. But one day! One day he would follow them on strong, confident legs and earn his place as a worthy son of Cen.

That was not today, however.

Since the Great Awakening (or whatever you wanted to call it with the sun's return and spring suddenly bursting into full bloom around them), Nen'tah had noticed the very peculiar absence of his own shadow. Perhaps it would be an advantage one day as a hunter of Saatsine, but for now, it was a point of curiosity. He padded quietly through the dense forest with nose turned down, staring at the ground where he ought to be; but as he turned this way and that, there was still no evidence of his shadow to be found.

Maybe it was the dappled light from the trees that was interfering with it. He should try a field!

Now more determined than ever, Nen'tah trotted briskly toward the edges of the Elk's Crown and a large clearing he could spy just beyond some dense underbrush. Surely now he'd be able to find his shadow again beneath the full strength of the sun!

Nen'tah leapt out of the woods -

- And still, the sun did not take any heed of his presence. He stared, puzzled, down at the brightly-lit grass beneath and wondered with a small rise of panic if this meant he was simply invisible.

The sound of song caught his attention nearby. Maybe he ought to test this theory as well. Approaching the singer, he identified it as a little Monarch butterfly; while normally he might see it as prey and an opportunity to hone his reflexes, today he needed its assistance for an experiment.

Nen'tah said nothing as he walked toward the fluttering creature. If she didn't acknowledge him... then how would he ever explain this predicament to Mother?

Dreadfully, he waited.

The boy let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't invisible after all; for whatever reason, he was just... missing his shadow. At least this wouldn't be as much of a crisis for the Saatsine, though Nen'tah distantly wondered if such a power might have otherwise made him the most successful hunter of their line.

No matter.

The butterfly spoke in lilting song and curious rhymes, and although he did not yet understand the gift of poetry, the boy liked the way it sounded.

(He had never heard a butterfly speak, but he supposed if they did, all of them should sound like this one.)

Nen'tah smiled. He turned to the side and presented his red feather to the little creature, a gesture meant to invite her in if she wished to closer inspect the treasured possession. He was quite protective of it, but he didn't think a butterfly could cause much harm.

Every natural instinct raged against his stillness as the butterfly flitted ever closer. Already he felt urged to hunt, to chase and bite and conquer prey, even this small and insignificant creature - but Nen'tah remained utterly motionless in spite of his racing heart. Somehow this moment seemed important. He did not yet know why, but the defiant act of resistance toward his base nature had already begun to temper him.

She was so delicate, so careful. The little butterfly alighted upon his coveted feather, and he employed every atom of his being in the desperate act of remaining still.

How lovely her words! One in particular held more intrigue than the rest. Although the Saatsine primarily spoke Lanzadoii, Nen'tah was also being educated in the understanding of Common - so while he could infer most of her meaning, setting him aglow, there was just one sound that he'd definitely never heard before.

From who else might he ever learn it? He couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

He took a quick, bracing breath, and then -

... What's a wold?

His voice was soft, almost inaudible, but she would catch it. Were all butterflies so well-traveled and versed in exotic speech? Would that he could fly, too! Nen'tah glanced down at the place where his shadow ought to have been and wondered what other powers he might one day manifest.