[ Chapter Two ]

  Sunset to Sunrise

  The kitten blinked open his eyes, slowly. His head felt fuzzy and mushy, and his paws felt like stone. He mewled, hoping for his mother’s soft embrace. All he felt was air, and another feeling. He shuffled around, eyes still weak. A voice seemed to fill the air around him.“Hello, little one.” The voice said, her voice full of warmth and gentleness. The kitten squirmed a bit, before wincing. He felt a large jab of pain coming from his legs. “Hold still,” The voice said. Before lifting her paw off of the kitten. A long white clump covered his hind-legs. The voice, now a cat, he saw, began to pull it off, soothing the kitten. “You were hurt pretty badly,” She said. “Do you have a name, little one?” The kitten shook his head. “You must’ve been pretty lucky to survive that, considering it was just you and me who did.” The cat meowed, slowly so the kitten could understand. Her voice was full of pain. The kitten suddenly began to sniffle, tears welling in his eyes. “Are you hungry?” The cat asked, trying to change the subject. The kitten didn’t respond. The cat stood up, and padded out of the make-shift den. The kitten began to cry softly, all he had ever known was gone. His throat felt scratchy, his mind whirled. He remembered his tiny little toy, his Small One had given it to him when she had gotten him. A mouse, I think she called it. The toy’s warmth seemed to be here with him, as if it was really here. The kitten whimpered, but the sobs eased.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The cat returned later that day, something clamped in her jaws. She used her claws to cut a bit off, and pushed it towards the kitten. “Have you ever had prey before?” She asked gently. The kitten shook his tiny head, taking a tiny nibble. It was amazing! The kitten began ravenously eating his tiny share, small bite by small bite. “You really are hungry!” The cat laughed, before eating her share of the food, tearing off bits for the kitten every so often. When the prey was done, the kitten’s belly full, he curled up into a tiny ball. The cat did a circle and curled around the kitten, all of his sadness replaced by happiness and comfort. The cat knew it in an instant, she would defend this tiny kitten with her life. The calm crickets lulled them both to sleep.