Ever since I finally managed to get the whole walking thing mostly down, I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to explore, to learn, to see everything that existed in this place that was my world. The concept that there was something beyond the Throat, even something beyond the few corners of the Throat I had seen, was far beyond my comprehension. For now, this was all I needed.

I still hated the sand though. I hated to fall in it even though it was softer than the rocks, because it went everywhere. I had eaten sand already more times than anyone ever should and the grit hung around my mouth so that I could hear it whenever my teeth ground against each other.

On this day, our mother took us to the coast and there were shallow little pools that we could play in, that we could explore. There was still some of that nasty sand here but not enough to distract me, and not enough that I needed to be worried about eating it while we played. Mostly there was rocks and plants and water but it was all new so I was fascinated by every single thing. I wanted to look at it all but I also didn’t want to stray too far. Our mother was keeping watch nearby so I wasn’t worried about that - it was just that even the space of several feet was too much separating me from my brother.

I just didn’t know how to be without him there - didn't know what I was without my twin. I liked him to be close enough to touch - to feel him chewing on my ear or to press my head into his neck when I felt nervous. Ever since our mother had first nuzzled us both I assumed all contact was reassuring and although I appreciated mother’s comfort, I found that I felt cold without my twin within easy grasp.

Across the water there was a storm brewing but where we were, only a few clouds marred the late morning sky - the sun reflecting brightly into the pools that I cautiously splashed into.

In one such pool, a ball of bright red caught my eye and had me fumbling to a stop. “Cas! Fini hazi?!” The words come out in hushed awe as I lowered my muzzle close to the surface of the water to inspect the prickly ball - assuming that he, elder by a few short minutes, would have the answer when I did not.

Our mother’s subdued manner had a similar effect on me - I didn’t want to be too loud, too disruptive, and risk upsetting her even more when it was clear something was already wrong. I didn’t know what it was exactly that was troubling her. Our father and part of the family weren’t around at the moment but the connection between that knowledge and her sadness was not one I was capable of making just yet. I didn’t know a life with that father or sister and could not miss their absence.

So I tried to stay quiet, tried to stay good, so she might have one less thing to be sad about. Castor took a different approach but I honestly didn’t know which one of us was doing a better job. Still, she seemed to be okay with Cas and I exploring so I tried to stop looking back to where she was and focus on all the amazing things that I was finding.

Castor, with his superior knowledge, came at my call and proclaimed the discovery a ‘red sea-stabby thing’. Which, as his younger sister, was an answer I happily accepted as fact and stored for use later on. He leant in to check it out but got a nose full of sea water instead. With a powerful sneeze my twin went falling backward onto his rump in the shallow pool. My small, downy wings spread from my side in alarm, a precursor to instincts that would bid me fly from danger (or use them to strike it down) “Cas! Hash azisi?” Our mother would not be happy if he was!

This red sea-stabby thing was dangerous!

But still, I wonder whether it would have the same effect on me if I were to try. Filled with the combination of curiosity, bravery, and foolishness of my age I turn from my fallen brother and look to the sea creature again.

My red nose dipped into the water and closer to it.

Instead of a nose full of sea water, I was rewarded with a sting. I yelped in pain and shock and quickly scramble backward - two long red spines protruding from my muzzle, right on the white of the snip. I shake my head violently, trying to get them out. Although it doesn’t work, I keep trying all the same - alarmed at discovering the sensation of pain.