I finally reached my third birthday. Finally, the wait was making my mind ache.

My third birthday however, is occurring inside a broken down shack, with my mother laying on her side, having a coughing fit. I can only stand there and watch her, as she often walks and works hard enough for 3 strong men.

We live off a street in some unknown area in Alaska. Despite the cold winters, we still survive to make it to summer. She works hard though, and I can’t help but admire that trait in my own mother.

She used to be such a beauty too, but she always rejected those wealthy suitors for me… Oh, it brings tears to my eyes. But since I am the only man in the household, I must protect it!

Currently, it is summer in Alaska, the temperature rising into the 60’s, if not higher. The chip in my head tells me it’s something else, but I can’t listen to that voice, since the weather is always unpredictable.

While I am 3 years old, I still look like a 2 year old. This is because of the replacement parts needed for my arm and chest plate for the energy coil. They reduced the rate at which I grew by ⅓, which is extremely beneficial until I am made fun of. Which is also another reason why my mother works so hard.

It’s all for me…

My stomach gurgles, announcing that it’s lunch time for me. Mother is sleeping on her cot, and seeing her getting her rest, I can’t find any urge to wake her up.

Time to go hunting! Now where did I put that rattle, I’ll need it to bash some heads in…

After I found my rattle, I march out of the doorway, the door already moving away from me due to its automated functions. The sound of the rattle always calms and makes me happy..

Ah! I forgot to say despite it being a shack, it’s still a metal shack, so the current technology is still connected to us through the house. Shiny, shiny metal doors…

Setting my feet onto the soft moss, as grass can’t really anchor itself atop of permafrost, I march forward lifting my rattle up and down, using the noise to scare animals out of hiding.

However, it doesn’t seem to work. But I continue regardless.

For 1 hour… 2 hours…

Bah! it’s taking too long. Damn, this forest is just too big! Where is all that meat!

Suddenly, I hear a growl behind me. Using that growl, my AI chip decides to let me know what I am having for dinner, or whom’s dinner I will become.

In the wilderness, anything goes! But I have a metal arm, bet it won’t like to chew on that!

I swiftly turn around like lightning, just in time to find a…

Is that a small wolf pup?

Oh, I can’t wait for this tender meat to be in my belly.

I inch closer to the wild wolf, and instead of attacking me, it quickly prostrates itself on its belly and then rolls over to show the belly to me.

...It’s a girl apparently.

I tell my chip to shut up with a quick face palm to my face, but with the wolf pup on the ground, I can’t help but begin to feel almighty and powerful. As if the world will not be able to stop me. I arch my back and begin to laugh out loud, when I feel something wet drip onto my forehead.

I slowly, and very carefully turn my head to look behind me.

A big, black wolf is standing right behind me, with its teeth pulled back in a very lovely grin, showing all of its magnificence in the form of sharp yellow canines.

I feel sweat begin to roll down my cheek. Or could that be spit?

Ignoring such thoughts, I begin to shuffle sideways very, very slowly, so I wouldn’t disturb the big guy. Nice and easy, I actually begin to talk! I would be proud, and Mother would be too if it wasn’t what I had just said.

“Oh fuck.”

With my chosen words, the big bad wolf decides to attack me, the innocent 3 year old kid. Luckily, being only a toddler, I fall onto my little baby bottom and roll backwards, away from the bloody mouth. Mr. Wolf looks confused as he expected me to already be dead.

But I only give him the satisfaction of my pearly white smile as I begin to teeter over to his face, his snout right in front of me.

Whoa! His stench is enough to almost kill me. I wonder why I never noticed before.

I then have the chip in my head pull up instructions for punching with my fist. Since I’m only three, it won’t work well on a grown wolf... much.

But this 3 year old kid has a trick in his arm.

Setting my feet down onto the ground, I raise my arms into a basic boxing maneuver. I activate my energy coil as I begin to extend my elbow, and while I bend my knees, I feel the electricity rush into my arm, frying my nerves slightly, but it’s a treat for my meal.

His last treat before the legendary knuckle sandwich!

I burst forward with all my might, the energy coursing to my knuckles, and my fist hits directly onto the jaw of the black wolf. I can almost imagine that guy’s head flying off from my awesome strength.

I then feel a little sticky from something spraying upon my face, and that’s when I realize I actually did punch the now-headless wolf’s head from its body.

The rest of the body twitches, and then collapses into a nice posture of obedience, the butt hanging in the air.

Pondering for a bit, I decide to fist pump in the air to show off my victory. All the while, my cute voice is yelling out some pretty colorful words.

After a few minutes of my victory dance, I look over to the wolf pup laying on the ground, her belly still turned to the sky. I turn down my coil’s output so it doesn’t overheat, and waddle on over to her side.

I bend low to the ground and look straight into the pup’s eyes, daring it to go against me. It looks away, and I believe that means I am her leader. So with my mechanical arm, I grab the still body of the dead wolf, leaving behind the she-pup.

Occasionally, I look behind me to see the pup trotting behind the dead body I am moving, but I give her no mind until the sight of Mother standing in the doorway makes me freeze in my tracks.

Apparently, I was walking in circles. And when I punched off that head, it went flying over to the shack… and it is lying right in front of Mother.

I begin to mechanically walk up to the steps of our quaint little home, hoping she doesn’t scold me for going out in a makeshift diaper. I wanted to tell her I didn’t shat my undies, but she blocks my mouth by rushing towards me and embracing me in all her motherly love.

Her death hug continues to kill the daylight out of me as I begin to hug her back. The wolf pup decides to trot up to me, and lays down at my feet. Mother gives me a questioning look, but I smile cutely and give her words she’ll never forget.

“Mama, oh fuck.”

“Tom! No! Those are bad words!”

I continue to smile, as I can only hope the worst will not come to pass.

Giving me a look of absolute horror, she drags my chubby little butt inside, the wolf pup still following along. I think the little pup has discovered who the true Alpha in the house is, as the sounds of my girlish yells hit the floor as I am spanked by the one I hold dear.

I just hope the wolf puppy decides to go home soon, before Mother notices her. Although sometimes, out of the corner of my eye, I see the pup getting some attention that should be given to me!

I will train that wolf to only listen to me though, as it followed me home and all. But I wonder, when will this torture end? It’s going to leave such a lovely red mark….

After several hours of love, Mother finally lets me go. But not without telling me off for saying such words.

I begin to waddle with pain clearly etched onto my face as I head towards the wolf pup, her tail wagging at my appearance. I walk straight up to her, and just stare at her. Thinking that I am mad, she lowers herself to the ground. Smart pup, but that isn’t the reason why I’m looking at you. I bend down low to look at her gray eyes once again, and ask a simple question.

“What is your name?”

Of course, I didn’t get a reply from the little pup, but rather a lick on the face. I had the sudden sensation to yell “How Cute!” but I decided to refrain from it. I can’t be spoiling her to oblivion.

“I’ll name you Pheobe!”

With a angry bark and a tackle, I fall backwards from her weight. I’m only 3, I can’t handle the pressure! I try my hardest to push the wolf pup off of me, but to no avail. Suddenly, the best name for a gray eyed wolf pops into my head.

“I’ll name you--”