Ruby describes her first day of life to Uncle Ivan, Uncle Bob, and Aunt Kinyani. Her mother supported her with her trunk as she learned to walk. Nearby, her brother Reth ran around. She was aware of the forest and of the rest of her herd. Ruby’s mother announced that her name was Nya, and there were trumpets of joy.

Ruby remembers messily eating her first meal. It tasted delicious and sweet.

There were sixteen elephants in Ruby’s herd. The savanna was beautiful and vast, and sometimes dangerous. The herd walked constantly in search of food and water. As a small elephant, Ruby was especially vulnerable to predators, but her herd protected her.