The den is dark. I haven't opened my eyes yet, but I can't sense any light. I don't know what the world looks like, at least not quite. The den is cozy, and I shift around, trying to find a cozy spot next to Mother, who is fast asleep. I don't quite know my name, or my siblings' names. I don't think Mother named us yet. I think there are three of us, including me. I have felt and heard a brother and sister lying next to me, suckling on Mother's milk. Having nothing else to do, I curl up and fall asleep.

The next few months are the same. Every day I wake up, drink milk from Mother, and squirm among my brother and sister. I don't know how Mother can sleep through this all. She hadn't woken up since I was born. She hasn't eaten for months, and barely breathes. My brother says that Mother is hibernating. I don't know what that means or how he knows. He seems so calm and mysterious all the time.
I can now open my eyes, and I discovered that we are Polar Bears. Polar. That explains the coldness of the cave. Of course it was my know-it-all brother who told me.

A few weeks later, Mother suddenly stirs and opens her eyes. She yawns and looks at us for the first time. Her eyes are black, like my siblings', but they are full of love and lack the coldness my sister's black eyes contain. My brother's eyes are full of curiosity. He is always searching for something new to discover and learn, so he can boast to us how smart he is.
Mother wastes no time on greeting us. "We need to get moving if we are to survive the next winter. I'm hungry, and you need to eat as well. I guess we can fit a few hunting lessons in our schedule, too."
"What are our names, Mother?" I ask politely.
"That doesn't matter right now, Number One. You're Number Two, and you're Number Three," She says, gesturing to each of us in turn. "Careful, the ice is slippery!"
"That's what I want to be called! Ice!" My sister growls excitedly to me.
I growl at Mother's names, but she doesn't seem to notice.
"Hunting! Hunting! Hunting!" My brother yells, running towards Mother. He stops when he gets to the edge of a hole. Looking inside, I see a bunch of crazy-looking animals swimming underneath. Mother's ears perk up as one comes up to the surface, takes a breath, and dives under again. She strikes at the neck of the creature. It squirms, pulling her into the water, but eventually Mother emerges, with a dead creature in her jaws.
"And that, my cubs, is how it's done," Mother says triumphantly.
"You're a hunter! I'm a hunter! I'm Hunter! Hunter! That's my name!" My brother squeals to the white wonderland.
"So, is he loud and obnoxious or quiet and know-it-all?" Ice questions.
"I think both," I reply. I turn my head to Mother and ask, "Mother, what was that creature?"
"A seal. Delicious, if you ask me."
"Can I have some?"
"Help yourself." I tear at the flesh of the seal, and the blubber underneath the skin tastes delicious. It seems to melt in my mouth. Hunter's muzzle is red with blood already. Ice is barely picking at the skin, looking disinterested.
"Number Two, eat. NOW!"
"My name is Ice," She retorts, and pretends to eat. When Mother is satisfied and turns towards her other cubs, Ice stops eating.

Later that night, I saw the most alluring sight I have ever seen in my life. The sky lit up with light. Green and blue streaks danced across the sky. "Mother, what are those?" I ask quietly.
"I don't know. I've seen them before, but never learned their name." She replies calmly, then walks away.
"The Aurora Borealis." My brother chimes in.
"Aurora. That's me," I whisper to myself.
Hunter tips his head and asks, "What?"
"Aurora," I say, louder. "That's me. My name is Aurora!" For some reason I feel peaceful, now that I know who I am. I run towards Mother, who is sniffing around at the bottom of a hill. I trip over a clump of ice, and I tumble the rest of the way to Mother. "Mother! Mother! I know my name! Aurora!"
She stares at me for a second, then understands. "I'm glad you found your name. I was starting to worry you wouldn't find your name before you took to your own path. I never found my name until my first winter."
I suddenly notice I don't know Mother's name. "What is your name, Mother?"
"My name is Winter," She responds, her voice wispy. Her mind seems to be in another place. She let's out a wistful laugh. "I guess it explains why I never found my name until my first winter!" I laugh along, but I feel that Mother isn't being entirely truthful. In that sense, she seems to be hiding something from her past.