[poppy]

Kit 2

The 3 moons she had been alive, she had been haunted. Haunted by how she, kit 4, was the only kit left. Out of four. They hadn’t passed Father’s tests.

She had though. She had passed. Barely, but at this point they had to take what they could get; she was the last of her litter.

They had been sickly. They had been weak.

Father had said they had deserved it.

Two wasn’t so sure.

Mother was constantly grooming her nowadays, and the dark furred kit was confused but she got into the routine.

”You have to be lovely, darling. Lovely. No one will love you if you’re not pretty, that’s not how it works.” Mother would say ritually every morning, cleaning her fur and fussing obsessively over any imperfections. ”You’re lucky you got my looks and your father’s fur, but you must keep yourself in perfect condition because our genes only get you so far.” Mother was beautiful.

How was Two supposed to look that beautiful?

”Kit. Come.” Father’s rough voice came from behind her. ”Training time.”

Dread sat in the young soldier’s stomach, but she turned around anyways.