don't drink the water if it's not from my stream (nifty)
Jul 2, 2019 21:47:39 GMT -6
Post by gingerluna on Jul 2, 2019 21:47:39 GMT -6
Charlotte found her time with Nori even more pleasing than she'd expected.
The kit grew into a fine young tom, always cheerful, always determined to prove himself. Even when he failed, Charlotte couldn't bring herself to be angry with him. He adored her, worshipped the ground at her feet, and it was the closest thing to happiness she'd known since her mother's death. She didn't want to grow attached to him, she knew he could die any day, but she had. It was done, and now she had to figure out how to proceed.
She could abandon him before the affliction grew worse. It would be painful, yes, but certainly less painful than watching him die. But then she'd be alone, wandering these godawful woods with a hollowness that wore at her soul like water on stone. She couldn't do that again. She'd waste away into a ghost.
The only other option was to build something permanent around this cat who'd wriggled his way into her heart. She wasn't keen to go out searching for friends, but what if they could make a group together? A family? What if she had children to train, children who would stay at her side and adore her, just as she'd adored her mother, just as Nori adored her. If she just...protected them, she could be happy. She knew what mistakes not to make, and she'd train them strong. It was simply a manner of coaxing Nori into parenthood.
They'd found a new den, a deep cave beneath a rock ledge at the base of a mountain. They'd have to move before snowmelt, but for now, it was perfect. There was plenty of prey, and no other cat scents to be found. She'd just finished up a hunting trip with Nori. Between them they'd caught two mice and a large bird, practically more than they could eat. As they lay curled in their den, night falling around then with bellies full, she looked over at him. Her gaze shifted into one of pure adoration. "We have everything, my darling," she purred. "Prey, a home, safety, plenty I've never known."
The kit grew into a fine young tom, always cheerful, always determined to prove himself. Even when he failed, Charlotte couldn't bring herself to be angry with him. He adored her, worshipped the ground at her feet, and it was the closest thing to happiness she'd known since her mother's death. She didn't want to grow attached to him, she knew he could die any day, but she had. It was done, and now she had to figure out how to proceed.
She could abandon him before the affliction grew worse. It would be painful, yes, but certainly less painful than watching him die. But then she'd be alone, wandering these godawful woods with a hollowness that wore at her soul like water on stone. She couldn't do that again. She'd waste away into a ghost.
The only other option was to build something permanent around this cat who'd wriggled his way into her heart. She wasn't keen to go out searching for friends, but what if they could make a group together? A family? What if she had children to train, children who would stay at her side and adore her, just as she'd adored her mother, just as Nori adored her. If she just...protected them, she could be happy. She knew what mistakes not to make, and she'd train them strong. It was simply a manner of coaxing Nori into parenthood.
They'd found a new den, a deep cave beneath a rock ledge at the base of a mountain. They'd have to move before snowmelt, but for now, it was perfect. There was plenty of prey, and no other cat scents to be found. She'd just finished up a hunting trip with Nori. Between them they'd caught two mice and a large bird, practically more than they could eat. As they lay curled in their den, night falling around then with bellies full, she looked over at him. Her gaze shifted into one of pure adoration. "We have everything, my darling," she purred. "Prey, a home, safety, plenty I've never known."
