[ Chapter Four ]

  A Pool Of Shallow Blood

  The kitten zipped over to the body, but Mother held him back, “They are already too far gone.” She said mournfully. The kitten slipped out of Mother’s grasp, running back over to the body. He pulled grass from the earth, weaving it together. He began to press it into the wounded cat’s injuries. Mother put a paw on his shoulder, but the kitten pushed her away, shaking his head. The cat opened its eyes, a long gasp escaping its lips. The kitten wrapped the last injury, and began to press one of his pulps into the most serious injury: a long gash ran across the cat’s head, as if a lightning bolt had skimmed its face. Mother appeared in the kitten’s field of view, he hadn’t noticed she had left. She laid a ball of reeds, dripping wet, next to the kitten. He pressed it into the injured cat’s mouth, squeezing moisture into its throat. It was all the kitten could do, he had applied every pulp, wrapping, and morsel of information he knew, all that was left was to wait. The kitten retreated, Mother pressing close. “I’m sorry you had to see this,” She said, almost apologetically. The kitten was bewildered, why would she be sorry about this? The kitten thought, but gave up. Mother nodded her head thoughtfully, before pulling the injured cat’s body onto her shoulders, and back to their home.

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  ~0~

  The night was quick approaching, owls had begun to hoot. The crickets' soft dance had begun to lull the kitten to sleep. Mother was in the other nest, tending to the injured cat. Her white pelt stuck out like a snowflake in the forest. The injured cat had begun to wake up, only being able to answer a few short questions before lapsing into sleep. Dash, the kitten repeated to himself, it was a trick he had taught himself to remember things. Dash wasn’t exactly old, nor was he young. The brown male was quick to anger, but just as quick to accept the family’s help. The kitten giggled to himself, and closed his eyes.