The Cub

He was born with 5 others in the cave at first, blind, small and helpless relying on his mother for his needs just a little ball of fur and limbs Swiftly he grew, doubling in size weekly now taking an interest in his surroundings tumbling and rough housing with his siblings learning all he would need to know His mother started to bring back prey still alive so they could practice their catch and kill skills each day he explored a bit further away excited by the sights, sounds and smells. At six months he left his mother and siblings now he was on his own with territory to find he was not yet strong enough to fight others so prime territory, at present, out of question Becoming nomadic he ranged far and wide returning sometimes for a day or two just biding his time as he filled out the following spring it was now his time. He returned to the valley and challenged, soon met by the male who ruled here they fought very evenly matched for hours At last our cub was the victor of all Not knowing that his rival had been his dad for such is nature, red in tooth and claw savage yes, but the fittest must survive To ensure the prosperity of future generations. I have deliberately not said what animal I wrote this about but left it open to reader interpretation.