“Olivia, you need to get out of here,” Noah the qinling panda said harshly “Don’t you remember what happened the last time Charlotte saw me with another female? She ripped her throat out and almost killed me too.”

“I know I know, but I did not see any markings on the trees. How was I supposed to know it was your territory?” Olivia said. I knew I should have also peed around our land. Noah thought to himself. 

“Just leave before she sees you, please,” Noah pleaded. 

Ever since the mating season had started girls were everywhere, but when Noah saw Charlotte he knew she was the one. They had been trying to mate for the last few weeks and were just starting to see results. But Noah missed his old life.   When there was no one within a mile of him. He missed being able to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and most of all he missed the peace and quiet.

“I have been looking for someone to mate with for so long but there is no one left,” Olivia said sadly

“You're only 6. You still have one more year until you have to mate. Go live your life by yourself while you can. You're going to regret it if you don’t.”

“NOAH! Who are you talking to?!? Get back here now and bring me some bamboo while you're on your way.” An angry voice shouted from not that far away.

“Whatever you want honey,” Noah yelled back to his mating partner. “Olivia please get out of here.”

“Ok, fine but mark your territory better next time,” Olivia said before turning and walking away.

Noah quickly peed in a line and then headed off to get some bamboo for Charlotte.

“Mom!” the little dik-dik exclaimed, running towards their family’s territory, “I found some acacia! It was so good.”

“That’s great honey, but we need to talk about something,” the mother replied.

“What?” the little one said as he followed his mother into the bushes.

“Your dad and I were talking while you were gone,” she said, “you’ve lived with us for almost seven months now, and that means you’re ready to leave our group. You have to be your own adult now, find your own mate and have your own family. It’s how it’s always been.”

“But-” the little dik-dik started.

“No, there is no debate little one, your father is coming over right now, so you should get ready to run,” she said, “goodbye.”

Just then, the little dik-dik’s dad came out from the deeper bushes and began to chase the little dik-dik away from their territory. 

The little dik-dik went on into the shrublands and found himself his own mate, that he’d spend the rest of his life with, and his mother and father’s family grew more.