Linus

Linus was huddled inside her nest, looking out for any of the large predators that might like to make her a meal. Her parents were constantly warning her to get to the nest when the light fell and she was starting to think they just like to have her in bed early. She’d never seen any predator wander to close to the clan at night. Linus stuck her head just outside the enclosed nest to look up at the sky, it was dark and lined with thousands of winking stars. Honestly, she didn’t understand why it wasn’t just as dangerous during the morning. After all the only light that breaks through are the random beams of sun that are daring enough to break into the perpetual twilight of her home, and even then it’s usually not enough to deter a true predator.

Her eyes shifted from the night sky to her parents a few feet away. They were helping another family spin a new nest higher up in the trees. She always thought it was neat how they spun that golden thread. Linus couldn’t do it yet, but her mother assured her that one day she too could make the magical golden spit. Oh the beautiful nests I could weave with it, she thought.

“Linus!” The shout cut through her daydreaming and brought her attention over to her older brother. He waved another sibling over with the light orbs their parents keep tucked away in the nest. “There’s movement down below,” he said. She rolled her large eyes around in her head, but didn’t hesitate to move further into the opening of their nest. After she stood straight her brother set those light orbs near her belly. The resulting reflection from her shinny tummy acted like a spot light, which her siblings used to examine the forest floor.

“Ack! Cubs turn off your sister’s belly!” It was Elder Rosso caught in their beam of light. He was collecting insects for the morning’s meal. The orbs were removed immediately as her brother apologized to the Elder. Linus went back to her comfy spot to finish daydreaming. One day, she thought, I’ll be a grand builder and not just a search light.