The cub weighed less than a pound and was smaller than one of her mother's paws. She had a blonde back and chocolate-colored legs. All winter, Chocolate drank her mother's rich milk and grew bigger and stronger.

By springtime, the den was getting crowded. One day, Chocolate's mother dug away the snow that still covered the entrance. The little cub blinked in the bright sunlight. It hurt her eyes at first. But exciting new smells reached her nose and Chocolate was curious.

Chocolate's mother was still sleepy after hibernating six months. But Chocolate wanted to look around. She turned over rocks and tossed sticks up with her nose. She ran up the snowy slope. She lost her footing and slid back down on her bottom. It was fun. She climbed back up and did it again.