Maple was just a pup when she realized something was wrong. As she grew larger and larger, her siblings did not. They stayed the same boring small twig size. She tried to wrestle them, but it got harder for her as she grew bigger. She was still a pup when she had been the same size as her parents. Was something wrong with her?

One day, she snuck away from the den and went to a nearby spring to look at her reflection. The same long snout as her parents, yes. The same perky ears as her parents. Everything seemed the same except for her size and color. Her fur was a beautiful night sky black. Her family was entirely orange. She thought maybe she was just different. Maybe she was special.

It only came to her one night when the moon was crisp and clear in the sky. The fur on her shoulders stood up when she heard and eerie howl. But, somehow, deep inside, she felt the urge to howl back. The song was stuck in her throat, because she knew, if she howled, the wolves would find her family and kill them. But she couldn't hold the howl back any longer. The howl leaped out of her throat and reached toward the lupine gods in the sky. Suddenly, a sharp, burning pain ran through her tail.

"What are you doing, Maple!? Quit howling! You'll bring wolves here!" Her mother scolded.

No. Not my mother. She's not my mother. She never was.

Maple let out a snarl so savage that made the fox take a step back.

"I am NOT a fox! I am A WOLF! YOU pupnapped me when I was small and HELPLESS! THAT'S EVIL! PURE EVIL!" Maple growled loud enough for her whole family to perk their heads up.

I don't have to argue with a bunch of stupid foxes. I'll find my family. My real family.

She took off with a burst of speed, faster than any fox could sprint. She ran until her legs felt sore and her mouth felt like cotton. She took a break from running, when she saw a tiny spark heading across the field.

She quickly crawled toward some dry brush to camoflauge her. The dark pelt was certainly helping her blend in. It wasn't as obvious as a bright orange pelt. Her breath felt heavy as the fox drew nearer to her hiding spot. He peered at the ground and smirked. He then started sniffing around the brush and laughed uncontrollably.

"Oh, immature Maple. Hiding in some shrubbery? Seriously?"

She couldn't just stand here and wait for her pupnappers to come imprison her again. She bit the fox on his neck and blood splattered the dry grass. She ran away, hoping no one would know she did that.

As she ran off toward where she heard the howl, she felt more like herself.

"I'm a wolf," she whispered to herself. "I will find my real family, and I will be a wolf!"