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.