In the first autumn of his life, the air was crisp, cool, and faintly sweet.
The colorful leaves on the trees, layered upon one another, were etched against the vast, azure sky.
A cool breeze rustled his thick, glossy red fur. It felt like a thousand gentle scratches against his skin, making him want to open his mouth and let out a tiny, sharp cry.
The nearby warrens of wild rabbits had recently swelled, just like his own fur had thickened. He ate his fill every day until his belly was round. When he had nothing else to do, he liked to lie in the grass, using his nose to identify the greetings of other animals carried on the wind.
'Ah, stretching feels so—so good.'
The tip of his ear twitched. Xiaotai suddenly pulled back, his dark eyes darting around.
He shot up into a sitting position, his pointed ears swiveling like two detectors, aiming at the grassy patch ahead.
