Mom Libby was usually a calm and careful mother, known in the troop for her quiet ways and steady movements. But on this particular morning, something unsettled her. The forest was noisy, the troop shifting around for food, and Libby kept glancing in every direction as if she expected trouble. Little Lily, full of trust, stayed close to her mother’s side, reaching for her tail and trying to copy her steps.
In the middle of all the commotion, Libby made a simple mistake. She tried to move quickly across a branch, thinking Lily was right behind her. But Lily, small and slow, hesitated. When Libby turned sharply, her arm brushed Lily too strongly, and the baby lost her balance. Lily didn’t fall far, but the shock of it made her cry loudly, her tiny voice shaking with fear rather than pain.
Libby froze. She hadn’t meant to push her baby or scare her. The moment she heard Lily’s cry, she realized what she had done, and her expression shifted from impatience to worry. She scrambled back down, checking Lily carefully, sniffing her fur and touching her gently as if to make sure every part was safe.
Lily, still startled, clung to her mother’s chest. The troop quieted a little, watching as Libby held her baby tightly. It was clear she regretted the sudden movement, and she kept Lily close for a long time afterward, grooming her and refusing to let her wander even a few steps away.
Although the mistake had frightened Lily, the warmth of her mother’s arms slowly calmed her. And as the day went on, the bond between them felt even stronger—proof that even good mothers can stumble, but love brings them back together.
