The Protectors

Long Lost Memories

Quick steps, keep them low and steady. If you mess about too much you'll lose your focus. Don't look away, keep off the down wind. Remember how much practice was put into this. To finally prove yourself worthy to keep up with your brother. Take another approaching step making sure your body was under the line of tall grass. One more step until you can leap, nice and slow-

"Long!"

The sudden voice stitched him out of his thoughts, loud enough to set the mouse scampering away into the bushes. "Darn it! I nearly had it!" Long perked up with a curse slipping past his mouth. Amused enough his mother scolded him for that, a quick scuff around the ear did the trick. "Maybe if you weren't late to dinner you would've caught it." His mother snickered in his ear before stepping back to settle her words. 

"You also don't blend well." 

His attention switched onto his brother who came scampering behind mother, he could mistaken him for a badger if it wasn't for his stripes. "Now you're a professional at camouflage." Long mumbled sarcastically. His brother was always good at everything he did, practice was rare for him unless father wanted to go rant about how special he is. Standing up straight they made their way off back towards the camp to share their meals. Hopefully there was enough to have them stuffed. Most youngsters their age would want to rely on their mom's milk yet it disgusted the both of them at the fact they don't choose to have their own meal. They didn't make  friends easily.

"A hare and a squirrel left, how wonderful isn't it?" Mother complained slimly. The fighters always took up the majority of the food, leaving the others to have the leftovers. Unfortunately the scouts haven't came back yet or it would be empty by now. Not letting time be spared Mother dragged the squirrel along with them back to the smooth rock hang where the sun glared on handsomly. "Eat your food fast before the scouts come back. I don't want to pick another fight with your father over this." His mother ushered.

Food was too scarce to complain so the brothers fastened themselves to eat as much as they can, leaving nothing but bones behind to be covered for later. "Aren't you going to have some mom?" His brother Frost lifted his head to eye her out. She was getting too skinny it started to concern them how fast she was losing weight. Mother only offered them a smile of reassurance, urging them to continue eating. "I'm not hungry." 

Eventually the scouts had came back, bringing a level of tensity to the families. His mother instinctively brought her youngsters closer to her wrapping her tail around for extra protection. "Remember what I told you how to behave, unless you want mom to have a new set of scars." Mother drew a low snarl once a familiar face came towards them. A heavily musclular cat walked long prideful strides towards his family, his eyes never once wavering off from them. He glared as if the sun was him himself. He only scoffed at how they looked so pitiful all huddled up in defence. 

"Do you need something?" Mother drew her fangs, pearly whites. She hadn't learnt to fight when she chose to be an early mother. She expected it to be a happy life teaching happy children how to live in their tribe, only to have it forced onto her to take care of bratts and a pestering tyrant. Father stopped only a few steps away from them letting out a long sigh. "You know what I want dearest, and you'll give it to me whenever I demand so. That's the deal we made no?"

From what Long had seen words can easily defeat all the attempts you've made to stand up for yourself. His mother broke away from them, sliding back into the shadows the way his father liked it best for her to stay and rott in. 

Grinning the tide of day his father collected himself onto the ledge. If you thought he wanted both of them, you'd be wrong. Not one sliver of attention was given to Long once Frost was born. It was as if his father went crazy, only focusing his training on the poor rascal.