Nori wasn’t even aware just how much his world could change. Now that he caught prey regularly, he could think properly and he had more energy. He was growing faster than he had before, and he barely thought about his parents at all. Not even the curse of his eyes could send him into a slump anymore. In a matter of half a moon, he was transformed from a shy, secretive kit to one that was talkative and excitable. On a certain level, he knew he had Charlotte to thank for everything, but he wasn’t yet at the level where he could comprehend just how much.

Charlotte rested a short distance away while he chased a beetle that flew from a blade of grass. He swatted it down and held his paw above it, then crushed it slowly until it no longer moved. He learned since that he had to be merciless with prey if he wanted to catch anything, and he practiced when he could. He lifted his paw to look at the beetle, but his attention was quickly stolen by a leaf drifting down from a nearby tree. His eyes tracked it and he leaped into the air, claws snagging it before it could hit the ground. He laughed as he spread his claws to tear it in half. “Charlotte, Charlotte!” he crowed as he watched more leaves fall. “Don’t you want to catch the leaves? It’s good practice!”

Even if it was meant truthfully, Nori wouldn’t have taken it badly. He would have taken it as the truth. If Charlotte said he was hopeless then he was. She never lied to him yet—she wasn’t like his parents or the other cats he came across before her. He trusted her completely, since she was the only one who had ever cared for him. “Oh, of course!” he said brightly. He looked around and snagged a flower by his paws. He ran over to her then, taking care to avoid stepping on her tail. He was already growing used to the current den they called home, and it wouldn’t be unusual for him to run around by himself. He knew how to look out for danger now, and he was starting to learn how to defend himself too. He placed the flower in front of her. It was orange and closely matched Charlotte’s pelt color. He was about to speak, but he leaped back in surprise when a fuzzy yellow and black thing flew out from the flower he picked. “What was that?” he squeaked.

A bee... Nori stared in the direction it left in, thinking for a long moment until Charlotte continued. He looked over to her, blinking until he understood just what she wanted him to do. His moves? He didn't have anything coordinated, not like her, but he was learning quickly. He could at least swipe and dodge, but he couldn't string together complex movements accurately. Not yet, at least. He nodded once, rolling his shoulders, then without warning, he leaped at her. His claws were out and his teeth bared in a silent snarl. Nori gave her no benefit and no consideration--she wanted him to understand that he couldn't show softness to their enemies--and so, as she was his current enemy, he would show her no mercy.

Nori squirmed under Charlotte. He picked up on her words, but he wasn’t done yet. He jerked his hind legs quickly up into her belly, then rolled to the side to escape her grasp. Once he made sure there was enough distance between them, he turned to face her. “Like that?” he asked brightly. She always told him to keep his smallness in mind, and that meant slipping away. Like a fish, he remembered her comparison. He never hunted or tasted fish before, but if he was slippery as one, then he knew Charlotte would have to approve. Only when she approved would she show him more, and he hungered to know all he could.

The physical and verbal praise was almost too much for Nori to contain himself. He purred loudly and wildly, pressing into Charlotte for all he was worth. Her scent was familiar and comforting now, and it helped to wash away any worries he might have had. The memories of his parents were faint and growing fainter with each passing day. He struggled to remember what their faces looked like. Their scents—something like honey and flowers? He couldn’t be sure. Charlotte’s was better in any case, like wind and pine trees. The small tom took a step back once he’d had enough, still tingling with pride and pleasure. “Just fine!” he repeated like a chorus. “What are we planning today?” he asked after a moment, eyes practically glittering.

(Fin here?)