another installment in my (still untitled) warriors fic! :>
cw: referenced animal death (food)
“Kits, I’m back!”
“Mom!” Moon, Dawn, and Dusk squeaked in unison, tripping over their paws as they raced over to meet the ginger-spotted she-cat. Cherry’s eyes glowed like little amber suns, radiating warmth as she reached down to greet her kittens, purring.
“You were gone for sooooo long,” Dusk complained, dropping his entire weight on Cherry. She gave him a few teasing licks on the forehead before gently pushing him away. Dusk flopped over, rolling on the ground dramatically until his belly was facing away from Cherry.
“Where did you go?” Dawn asked, stepping between Dusk and Cherry. Popping his head over his shoulder, Dusk glared at Dawn. She puffed her fur out in rebellion.
“We’re hungry!” Moon whined, bouncing impatiently on their paws.
“Hush, now, little kittens,” Cherry soothed. “I had to go out and get some food.”
“Oh. Right.”
“Do you all think you’re big enough to finally try solid food?” Cherry asked.
“Yes!”
“I don’t know,” Cherry purred. “You all still seem pretty small to me.”
“We’re not small!”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yeah! You’re just big.”
“Big Mom, big Mom!”
“Well, then,” Cherry mewed, eyes twinkling, “If you’re sure.”
Gesturing for her kits to follow her, Cherry stepped through the entrance to her den. Dawn scrambled after her, Dusk hot on her tail, with Moon bringing up the rear.
Moon’s leaf-green eyes reflexively scrunched shut as they stepped into the dappled sunlight. Birdsong filled the air as the sunlight warmed Moon’s fur, a pleasant warmth sinking into their skin. Soft grass shining with morning dew tickled their paws and legs, waving slightly in the light breeze. As the wind tugged gently at their fur, Moon puffed out their pelt to savor the sun’s heat.
Cherry wrapped her tail over her forepaws as she settled down in the shade beneath a brightly colored tree, multicolored leaves dancing in the air as they fell from its branches. Dawn and Dusk bounded over to her, noses sticking awkwardly in the air as they tried to pick up on the fresh-kill scent. Moon gave their den one last glance before running forward to meet their mother and littermates.
Eyes sparkling with pride, Cherry pulled a small orange-and-white shape from a hole in the tree Moon hadn’t noticed before. Moon’s whiskers twitched as Cherry dropped it, eyes widening as they picked up on the warm, sweet scent radiating off the shape. Moon leaned forward, jaw opening as their mouth watered, utterly entranced as everything became about the delicious smelling shape.
“What is that?” Dawn breathed.
“It’s a squirrel,” Cherry purred, voice bubbling with humor.
“Oh, oh! I’ve seen one of those before!” Dusk announced. “But it was gray instead of orange, and it was chewing on an acorn. It ran away before I could show anybody.”
Moon extended their muzzle to take a better sniff of the limp squirrel, gulping up the sweet-smelling air.
“Go ahead,” Cherry nodded. “Try it.”
Dawn gave the squirrel one last sniff before taking a bite. Her amber eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly swallowed her mouthful.
“This is great!” she purred.
Dusk watched with a bit more uncertainty as Dawn took another mouthful of squirrel. Looking up to their mother for approval, Moon saw Cherry nod encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, Moon joined their sister and took a bite.
Warmth and flavor exploded on Moon’s tongue. It was the first thing they had ever eaten, besides milk – and the one beetle Dawn had “caught” - and it was new, and exciting, and good.
“Dusk, you have to try this!”
Dusk’s whiskers twitched. He shifted on his paws nervously before taking a small, hesitant bite.
“Oh, wow,” he breathed.
Cherry watched as her kits devoured the rest of the squirrel. Moon stepped back, realizing what they had done.
“We didn’t leave any for you!”
“Don’t worry,” Cherry mewed. “I ate earlier, when I was hunting.”
“I think I ate too much,” Dawn huffed, flopping dramatically to her side. “Now my belly feels all weird!”
“You should’ve saved more for me!” Dusk complained, swatting at Dawn’s ears.
“Just because you were being a scaredy-mouse-”
“Hush. You both got enough to eat.”
“Yeah...”
“Okay...”
“Now, c’mon,” Cherry mewed, stretching as she rose to her paws, “Back to the den so I can bathe you and get some rest.”
“But I’m not -” Dawn yawned, “- tired!
“Yeah, we just...” Moon’s eyes dropped for a second, “Just, got out... here...”
“Come on,” Cherry purred, nudging her kits with her nose. “Back to the den we go.”
