The final installment to the Space Lion Trilogy takes place during Space Lion's childhood. Here we see the important life lessons, skills and morals he learns and develops while being raised by the mighty, noble mountain wolves.
The wee lion babe opens his eyes for the first time. He looks around, only seeing the trickling stream and the gentle sway of the forest brush in the midsummer breeze. A rustle in a nearby bush grabs his attention. Mr. Pepples, a plump, good-natured squirrel with a cheery smile and chipper spring in his step emerges from the bush to greet his new friend. Space Lion pounces! Mr. Pebbles falls before the mighty blow delivered from Space Lion's hefty paw. Snipper, a spry, curious young wolf cub, observes the impressive act by Space Lion from the thicket and exclaims, "Look Pa! It be Space Lion! And just he now nabbed himself a mighty thick Squirrel-folk!" Snipper approaches Space Lion, who's chowing down on his catch, and greets him with a playful nip on the bud, like all good young wolf cubs do. Space Lion is extremely taken back by the unfamiliar gesture. Why, never in all his days had such a creature bitten his buttock.
From that day forward, Snipper and Space Lion become inseperable friends. Always play fighting in the field, boasting over who got the best catch, and teasing the all the pretty girl wolves. Pa was a surly old codger, never paying mind to his son, unless of course it was to poke him violently with a stick or kick his sternum. Pa believed this was good for the boy, whom he often refered to as "faggot". Snipper was the tiniest of all the wolves his age. Space Lion was the only creature who didn't make fun of Snipper or play mean tricks on him. Soon, their friendship became very dear, and Snipper would not associate himself with any other creature.
One day, some time later, Space Lion was a mature lion, with thick mane and mighty stance. Snipper had grown none, either physically or mentally and was crippled by his growth disease. No longer could Snipper walk, and every day Space Lion would bring water and food to him, whom ate slowly and with great difficulty. They would have, small, childish conversations, most of which Snipper forgot. Space Lion would cry, listening to the incoherent babble from his dearest friend, who lie there, slowly deterierating. Unable to swallow food now, his throat swollen and cracked, Snipper managed to raise his paw, just enough to place it on Space Lion's paw, who stood faithfully by his friend. Standing there, holding Snipper's lifeless paw, Space Lion roared. Roared. He roared so that the mountain's shook and fruit's fell from the tree's. His roars called out to his only friends soul, expressing his deep grief. Space Lion collapsed and sobbed; he sobbed until there were no tears left, no more meaning, no more will. That night Space Lion lied next to his friend and dreamed, a strange, yet profound dream that he knew was a sign. A sign he must follow.
In his dream his saw the thicket where Snipper first stood. And within that thicket was his destiny.
The next morning, he took his friend's corpse and buried it in that thicket, and what took place after was a miracle that would guide Space Lion to again have purpose. For from within the soil that covered Snipper, arose a space helmet and rocket boots! Space Lion donned his new attire and with a tear in his eye, bid farewell to his mountain home. Rising in to space to set out on glorious adventure in the name of Snipper!
Yep, well that's the end to the beautiful Space Lion Trilogy, I hope you enjoyed.