[monfang]

Originally Posted by Noire

The more she sat there waiting, the more the she-cat grew impatient. She was about ready to search for the young kit, hoping to locate some type of scent and follow it. But she never been that type of cat. She only known dogs to do that truly. To use their snouts, put it on the ground and see if they could go to the scent. The thought disgusted her. Why ever would she want to put her nose to the ground where there was so much bacteria and other disgusting vermits? Nope, nope, but she had to find him. What if he was hurt? No, he was fine. She kept reassuring herself that he would be alright.

‘’But, if he doesn't come soon, I’ll just--’’ And, like that she heard the little rascal’s voice and bounded up to him. The sight of him repulsed her...if she were being honest. She stood there speechless, not know what to say or react, but he was crying. He was telling her everything, and in that moment, Darling only pulled him closer, scared to touch him because she feared she would hurt him. His face was scarred---terribly. His shoulder was bleeding, his ear...was torn. Darling did not know how to react to this, so she stayed quiet. She let out little ‘’Hush…’’ to calm the kit down. She allowed him to bury himself into her thick pelt, but she felt light headed at the sight of blood.

‘’Oh, Rascal.’’ Her first words that she said since she saw him from his accident. She bent her head down to look at him, a pang in her heart. ‘’This is why you’re not suppose to leave. You’re a kit! You can’t just expect to act like you’re exempt from the world’s dangers. Because you are not.’’ She tells him, sincerely. She always, at one point, thought that danger didn’t follow her around. She knew karma was real. She thought karma was her friend, but it turned out that she wasn’t exempt either. She was bait to this world like she was a predator to most small critters. She needed Rex to take that into understanding as well. ‘’I thought you left. I thought you went back to your clan...you know you should. The wildlife is no place for a kit as you.’’ Partially, the she-cat felt like it was her fault. After all, she built up his confidence: calling him brave, and explorer, feeding it to him, and allowing him to get full from it. He was nothing of the sort. Not yet, at least. He was simply a kit.

As Daring examined him further, she didn’t know how to take care of his wounds. She could only imagine how much pain they must had been in. She narrowed her eyes, ‘’Maybe I should go after these cats, and teach them a lesson, eh?’’ Though she might not win. Everything was always easier said than done, anyway, but she was furious. How could anyone ever attack a kit? What was wrong with this forest. ‘’Oh, about we just clean you up a bit, and allow you to rest?’’ She suggests, hoping to lead him to the river to clean his wounds, and get him to sleep inside the hollow. If she had enough time, she would be able to practice her hunting and bring him back something to eat.

Rex pressed against her, whimpers still arising from him. The pain surging through his shoulder, his ears, and his muzzle was almost too much for him, but being him he managed to handle it. The caring way she said his name, how she tried to comfort him.

Then, when she said he should return to his clan, he thought a moment, actually considering it. But he couldn't, not yet. He was brave, strong, look at what he survived! Sure, he was a kit, but he was no ordinary kit. And although she worried about him, he worried about her. He was old enough to know she needed him, and if he did return back to his clan she would probably starve, get lost, or get killed, and he didn't want that to happen to her.

He didn't speak as she spoke again. He just nodded. He needed his wounds cleaned and dressed, and he needed to rest, and he was tired. He nodded slowly, and limped into the hollow. He went to a small, slightly dug out spot that he did early that morning, and layed in it, wincing as he let his body slowly fall to the ground. Pain surged through his sore muscles, the gash on his shoulder still bled, his muzzle sticky with the drying blood, his ear was like his muzzle. He looked towards the entrance, and waited for Darling.