Read on to see how a certain black and white housecat came to take in a very young, bright-eyed new kittypet as his own...
Smudge's POV
Chapter 1
Everything around me was exactly as it always was – the sun was shining bright in the middle of the sky, the birds were chirping, the grass below me was green, and the trees that loomed ahead were as tall and strong as they had always been.
At least, for now.
While everything in my immediate earshot and sight was normal, I was still filled with lots of discomfort by the sounds that I could hear from a distance. While all I could see was the forest ahead from the top of my wooden fence, I could also very easily hear the construction that was taking place deeper into the trees – the clacking and creaking of monsters, trees being shredded and falling to the ground, and the loud voices of Twolegs shouting at each other. I still had no idea what they were doing, but I knew that it meant bad news.
Would what they were doing in that forest ever affect me? There was absolutely no way – housecats were never hurt by things like this. But at the same time, I felt a tugging panicked feeling every time it occurred to me that these Twolegs were likely doing work right where the Clans lived – where my old friend, Firestar, currently lived. I worried for him, his family... every cat in ThunderClan, even. There have been times where I've almost considered checking on him... but I'm almost certain that the construction is going on right around where his camp is...
I then let out a sigh, twitching my tail anxiously from my spot on the fence. And if not, it's surely affecting them either way...
I then began to shake my head slowly, giving a shake of my fur before leaping off of the fence and back down into my yard, those nervous thoughts consuming me within just moments. I can't think about this stuff for too long, especially when it's all out of my control, I told myself as I began to pad towards my cat door that led inside, deciding to grab my mid-day snack that my housefolk always laid out for me. It certainly never does my belly any favors... but they always put it out for me... and I always eat it.
But just as I was poking my head through the door, I felt my ears flick as I heard a voice shout from behind me.
"Heya, Smudge!"
I abruptly stopped, backing out of my cat door to see my neighbor, Henry, making his way into my yard. The plump tabby tom was struggled to squeeze his way through a small gap in my wooden fence – an easy passage through Henry's yard to my yard.
But I had to suppress a purr of amusement as I ran up to meet the tom, grabbing his scruff in an attempt to pull him through. Well... not so easy for Henry.
Luckily, my fellow housecat was through the gap within seconds. And just as he always did, he didn't make anything of the struggle and simply cleared his throat and shook out his fur. "Gosh, I don't think I've ever gotten up this early," he murmured groggily to me, stretching out and giving a yawn. "Are ya proud of me?"
I continued to hold back laughter, cocking an eyebrow as I licked one of my paws and ran it over an ear. "Considering you typically get up just a bit before dinner time... sure?" Somehow you always make it sound like being fat and lazy is an achievement...
Henry then gave a snort and a lash of his tail. "Well, with all of those ridiculous noises from the forest ripping my ears apart, I think it'll be happening more often, those darned Twolegs..."
With those words, I suddenly felt another overwhelming wave of worry for Firestar and his Clan – thinking that maybe all of these sounds we were hearing were destroying them at this very moment. Aw, Rusty... it's times like this where I wish you had never left...
Although Henry annoyed me in several instances, the fact that he'd brought up the construction in the forest again suddenly made me feel as if a large, buzzing fly was zipping around my face that I wanted to shoo away. "You're telling me..." I muttered almost inaudibly before quickly changing the subject. "So, how do you plan to spend your extra time?"
I watched as Henry slowly padded deeper into my yard. "What I usually do once I wake up later..." He then plopped down onto the grass, just where the afternoon sun was able to fall onto his fur. "Absolutely nothing!"
I then couldn't help but give a small roll of my eyes as the tom continued to settle down. I suppose that I'm feeling too nice to leave Henry here by himself, and I suppose that the mid-day snack can wait...
I then brought my gaze back to Henry, forcing down my rising annoyance as he spoke again. "So, have you heard the news?"
I couldn't help but grunt as I tilted my head to the side. "News?" I questioned. "Since when does anything around here happen that could be considered 'news'?"
"Since all of our neighbors have been driving me crazy with their chattering about it," Henry sighed as he took another big stretch. "Apparently there's a new kitten that was just adopted near us – 'as cute as a button', they're saying. Do I care, though? All kits look the same to me."
I gave the tom a small shrug, actually somewhat fascinated by that news. "Huh, I guess that is a little exciting," I commented. "Where did she come from?"
"Word's going around that she was at the shelter all by herself – no mother to speak of," Henry answered, his eyes slightly widening. "It shows; apparently she's also pretty shy. No one's heard her say a word."
I then flicked my ears in surprise as I saw another tabby pelt suddenly appear out of the corner of my eye, and I turned to see Princess, one of my other friends and neighbors, leap up to the top of her side of the fence. "Oh my goodness, she is absolutely precious!" she then exclaimed, joining into the conversation as she flashed me a warm gaze in greeting. "She lives just a couple of houses down from us, Smudge."
I couldn't help but tilt my head at that. "Aw, really?" I murmured. "Have you gotten to meet her?"
Princess then gave a shrug before leaping down into my yard. "Well, I tried to, but is just a bit shy. Not rude or dismissive by any means – I'm sure that she just didn't know what to say," she began to explain before giving a purr of amusement. "I think I startled her, the poor thing. She was peeking through every nook and cranny of her yard when I called out to her."
She then sat down, wrapping her tail around her paws as me and Henry exchanged an amused glance. "But anyway, I'm sure that she'll open up once she meets some more cats and gets more comfortable with the area."
I then was nearly startled as I felt Henry's tail touch my flank from behind me, and as I flashed him an annoyed glance, he then meowed, "Smudge, why don't you go over and say hi? You seem like the type that kits would love."
I then shook out my fur, simultaneously shaking off my irritation. "Aw, please..." I breathed, for some reason suddenly feeling a bit apprehensive. "I'm no better than anyone else."
Princess seemed to see right through my humble white lie, running up to me and giving me a light nudge. "Hm... I'm not too sure about that, Smudge," she muttered teasingly, giving me a wink. "When my last litter was born, my kits were plastered to your fur whenever you came to visit – and you didn't seem too mad about it, either."
I then let out another sigh, bashfully scratching at one of my ears with one of my back paws. "Well, I suppose that you're not wrong about that..." And giving the kits piggy-back rides and watching them while Princess ate her meals all of the time doesn't help my case either... I admitted to myself. I can be great with kits when I want to be, but what if this one is a lost cause? I don't want to scare her! Plus, I was more comfortable with Princess and her kits...
I then pulled myself out of my worried thoughts as I caught Henry exchanging a humored glance with Princess. "Ya know, cats have been saying that this kit reeks of the forest, Smudge," Henry then commented, furrowing his eyebrows. "Didn't that Rusty you were friends with go off to the forest all that time ago?"
As you would expect, this certainly took my full attention.
And I could do nothing but stare back at Henry in awe as Princess then spoke, her green eyes narrowed. "That 'Rusty' being my brother, who is now a leader of one of their Clans? Yes, I'd say that he found some success and prosperity in the forest..." she purred sarcastically.
I then watched as her eyes slowly widened, her gaze quickly shifting towards me. "Is there a chance that this kit came from one of the Clans? Goodness, would that be neat!"
I stared back at the she-cat, my head slowly nodding as so many thoughts swirled through my mind – a cat in the Twolegplace who has possibly crossed paths with my old friend... "It certainly would..." I murmured before shaking my head slowly, trying to think more rationally. "But what are the chances of that? Warriors don't come anywhere near here!"
"True, however..." Princess went on after a moment, lashing her tail in the direction of the forest, "we'd probably say the same about Twolegs, yet they've been out there in that forest tearing things apart!" Her green eyes then briefly flashed with worry as her tail began to lash back and forth. "It would be awful if that little kitten was snatched away from her home..."
I then looked back at Henry as he let out a huff. "You two are making something out of nothing," the big tom groaned, rolling around so that his belly was facing the sky. "She could have been the kitten of a stray, or maybe wandered into the forest one day before she was found by Twolegs."
I then slightly narrowed my own eyes as I noticed Princess still staring back at me, her eyes now full of excitement and mischief. "Hm... well, I suppose that there's only one way to find out!" she then purred, giving me another nudge. "What do you say, Smudge? Do you want to take a peek with me?"
She then noticed my alarm and took a step back, flashing me a reassuring look. "You don't have to at all, but I know that you'll just love her!"
Just seeing the eager look in Princess's eyes for some reason made all of my nerves suddenly go away, and all of the curious, excited feelings I'd been trying to suppress finally came out as it continued to set in that this little kit that had been brought into our neighborhood just might be a little Clan cat. It's not likely... however... what would it be like having a former Clan cat in our midst? Someone who maybe crossed paths with Firestar? "Alright, let's do it!" I then looked over my shoulder at Henry, who was still lounging in the same spot. "Are you coming, Henry?"
Henry snorted, rolling back over onto his stomach. "That's hilarious," he meowed sarcastically. "I'll just live vivaciously through you two."
I also let out a snort at that comment. You don't do anything vivaciously...
"Anyway, if you're going to find out if this little two-month-old kitten is a forest cat, then you're probably just wasting your time," Henry then went on. "It's not like she's going to tell you her life story or anything – if she even remembers it."
"Oh, please!" Princess then exclaimed after a sigh. She then gave me yet another light nudge. "We know how to detect a warrior by now, don't we, Smudge?"
The determination inside of me continued to rise as I exchanged a thrilled glance with the tabby she-cat. "We sure as heck do! We know a pretty darn special one," I meowed enthusiastically. "I'll take my chances!"
Beside us, Henry then took one last stretch before very, very slowly getting back up on his paws. "Well, good luck," the tom breathed as his mouth opened up into a yawn.
He then began to make his way back towards the crack in my fence. "I'm sure that you'll catch her sharpening those little claws on old bones – that's the clincher right there!"
Oh, come on! I scoffed to myself, watching as Henry struggled for several moments before finally being able to fit his way through the fence, reflecting on all of the tales he had told me and Firestar all those moons ago about the Clan cats – all of which had been proven wrong since then. And even if sharpening his claws on bones is something that Firestar does, at least he still has the courtesy after all this time to not tell me about it...
Princess clearly was thinking the same way I was, purring with amusement as she leapt back up onto her fence. "Oh, of course; I'm scared already!" she called back to Henry. She then looked down at me, lashing her tail as if to beckon me up. "Follow me, Smudge!"
Oh gosh... here we go! I thought excitedly as I jumped up onto the fence behind Princess. But as we began to carefully walk ahead, I couldn't help but let out a quiet amused snort. Gee, why am I so excited about this? It's as if I'm about to discover another little Rusty or something...
I then let out a huff as Princess quickened her pace in front of me. It's just a shy little kit you're welcoming into the neighborhood, Smudge. So, just absorb Princess's excitement and then be done with it!
Chapter 2
Although I had just tried to talk myself out of my excitement just moments ago, I still felt a buzz of anticipation as Princess led me past each house next to us. While Henry had probably been speaking rationally about the little kitten having nothing to do with the forest, or just being too young to be able to recall it, if so, I couldn't help but feel excited at the thought that this kit possibly came from the forest. And I'd know someone else that has potentially experienced the Clans!
I then let out a snort. While I've already experienced a lot of the Clans, with Firestar still coming to see me every once in a while, Princess giving one of her kits to them, and me receiving dreams from StarClan that told Firestar to find a lost Clan is a lot for me to handle, however...
I then felt my stomach practically hollow out with excitement and apprehension as I noticed Princess begin to slow down after the next house we passed, flashing me an eager glance from over her shoulder. As I then slowed down myself, I watched as Princess suddenly seemed to be making her movements more slow and intentional, as if to keep quiet.
We had arrived, I was sure of it.
Princess then completely came to a stop, looking back at me as she began to very steadily lower down her belly and haunches. She then beckoned to me once again with her tail, her eyes slightly warning as if to remind me to be quiet.
So, I very, very carefully creeped up so that I was next to her up on top of the fence, and I felt her fur brush against mine as I finally peered over into the yard with her. Moment of truth...
I flicked my ears in surprise, not having to look for very long at all; my eyes had immediately fallen onto what I assumed to be the very kitten that we had come to see – a brown tabby-and-white little she-kit. Well, I'll be...
I honestly had to hide an intrigued and amused purr as I began to watch her. She very clearly exploring this backyard that was likely still very new to her – she seemed so comfortable with the environment, yet it was clear that nothing here was familiar to her. Her little pink nose was up in the air with her little paws trotting around the area, just as Princess had said that she usually did.
I very steadily leaned over and pressed my muzzle to Princess's ear. "She doesn't want to leave one stone unturned, does she?"
Princess then let out a quiet sniff as she looked back at me. "Well, there'd be no way to find adventure if she just sat around!"
Adventure... I repeated to myself as I looked away from Princess, and back down into the yard. She's barely been here and she already seems to want adventure... those Clans cats can never seem to sit still...
For most of the time that Princess and I had been watching the kitten so far, her brown tabby back had been facing us, so I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows in curiosity when the little scrap finally turned around in a way that I could see her face. I couldn't help but feel the smallest twinge of warmth as I got a look at her. All kits may look the same to Henry, but the other cats in the neighborhood weren't wrong! I thought to myself. She really is as cute as a button!
And not to mention, her eyes were one of the strangest things that I had ever seen – a captivating brown-green color that practically glowed in the sunlight. "Wow..." I couldn't help but whisper to Princess. "Even if this kit doesn't come from the forest, her eyes sure look like you're staring into the reflection of it."
"They're gorgeous, aren't they?" Princess whispered back to me, keeping her gaze on the kit below. "I've never seen anything like it."
Then, from there, the two of us kept completely silent, not wanting to alarm the kit as she continued her journey around her yard. I was trying incredibly hard to hold back my purrs as I watched her sniff around, hop on and off of rocks, and even stare intently at the little bugs that waddled around in the grass. While many kits have a sort-of curious nature, there's something about this kit's instincts that seems just a bit different... I thought as I continued to watch her. She's fascinated, but wary about everything, and is prepared for anything to possibly be a threat... certainly not how I behave.
I then nearly flinched when, after several moments, Princess leaned closer to me again, as if she could almost hear my swarming thoughts. "So, what's the consensus, Smudge?" she then meowed softly to me. "Is she a vicious warrior like Firestar?"
Before I could even answer my friend, or even think of an answer to begin with, a call sounded from a few houses away – the way Princess and I had come – that I was certain was a Twoleg.
And I looked back at Princess to see her flicking her ears and letting out a small, annoyed hiss. "Aw, shoot!" she then whispered, beginning to back away as she looked up at the sky that was slowly beginning to turn orange with the lowering sun. "I completely forgot that my housefolk are taking me to get groomed tonight!"
I let out a quiet, amused snort as I poked the she-cat's shoulder with my tail. "Good gosh, it's about time!" I quietly exclaimed, giving her a wink. "No wonder the kit didn't want to talk to you before!"
I had to hold back laughter once again at Princess's reaction to my teasing as she gasped, poking me back harder with her own tail. "Please – I'd still smell better than you after not grooming for an entire year!"
I then couldn't help but let out a quiet purr at that comment, and I then closed my eyes for a moment as Princess then gave me a quick lick on the cheek and then began to pad back along the fence to her house. Just by the regretful look in her eyes, I could tell that she hated that she had to leave in the middle of our observation. "I'll see you later, Smudge! Tell me if you make any more discoveries!"
I gave the tabby she-cat a nod, as well as a reassuring lash of my tail. "Will do, Princess!" I won't let you down.
I continued to look over my shoulder back at the she-cat, watching her go and flashing her an affectionate look before creeping up just a few more pawsteps. I had to admit, I was a bit bummed that I couldn't joke around or exchange theories with Princess anymore, but my curiosity quickly made me forget her absence as I continued to watch the little creepy-eyed kit.
As she slid through the bright-green, freshly-cut grass – now seemingly pretending to hunt beetles and every once in a while gaping her mouth in the air as if to catch scents – I continued to be amazed by how familiar the movements looked. From the way that I've seen Firestar act since he's joined the Clans... it definitely looks familiar.
I then let out a quiet huff as I looked over my shoulder towards the forest. But I could be overthinking all of it. Cats have instincts, right? I've been told that even the laziest, dumbest housecats would know what to do in the wild if needed. But I still can't help but wonder... has she at least observed a forest cat before this?
I had been so caught up in my thoughts, that I nearly fell over the fence in surprise and alarm when I looked back towards the kit's yard to meet the little kit's vibrant brown-green gaze – also reflecting all of the surprise and alarm that I felt.
Shoot! I thought angrily to myself. She's going to think that I'm the biggest creep!
Urgently wanting to get out of sight as soon as possible, I somehow found my footing up on the fence, not even caring how loud or quiet I was as I then began to back away, trying to flash the kit an apologetic, kind glance.
But before I could back away completely out of sight, I was surprised to see that the kit's fear had quickly washed over with intrigue, as if she had quickly established that I wasn't a threat. Because I'm most definitely not...
Well, she had instinctively backed away, but her glowing eyes were kind, and she had actually given me a small nod as she walked more deeply into her yard. And she continues to surprise me... I thought, straightening up and watching as the kit's brown tail disappeared into a bush. Gosh, can I not wait to tell Princess about all of this!
I then continued to back away, not wanting the kit to think that I was still watching her as she simply tried to enjoy exploring her yard.
However, I couldn't bring myself to fully leave yet when the little kit suddenly emerged from the bush she had disappeared into, slowly making her way towards her side of the fence that faced towards the forest.
I raised my eyebrows and kept completely still once again as I then watched her glance her little head up at it.
I actually felt my stomach twist up into a knot as her strange eyes then seemed to glitter even more in the sunlight – it was like she was staring at a freshly-filled bowl of food. At least, that's definitely the face I make when I discover that...
In this situation, however, I didn't think that was a good sign. What are you up to, little one?
I then felt my heart drop as she then crouched down, then proceeding to jump up, cling to the fence about halfway up, before climbing to the top of the fence.
And to my complete dismay, it looked as if she were about to leap again, but not back into her yard.
Golly gosh, what the heck does she think she's doing?
I was immediately overcome with fear, and I instinctively stood up once again – not caring one bit about "hiding" anymore. And I most definitely don't care about scaring her again!
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what the heck do you think you're doing?" I shouted to the kit, grabbing her little body in my jaws and placing her on a more stable part of the fence. After I did so, she simply stared up at me in alarm, so I went on. "Were you about to leap over the other side of the fence?"
I then simply watched, the adrenaline and panic still rushing through my blood as the little kit slowly began to back away, her eyes so wide that I thought that they would fall right off of her head. "I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she eventually squeaked, my eyebrows raising at hearing her speak for the first time. "I-I was just going to take a peek..."
"That doesn't matter!" I retaliated, my anger and surprise still driving my words. "A kit as little as you are does not need to be going anywhere near the forest, especially right now!"
I then was shocked to see the kit's ears flick, and her eyes widen even more, but this time, not from fear - but curiosity. "W-what's going on in the forest?" she asked, the answer to her question seeming to be the only thing that mattered anymore.
I managed to feel a small twinge of amusement at this reaction, causing my anger to slowly diminish as I answered her. "A bunch of gosh-darn Twolegs are going through and chopping down trees, digging holes, and basically destroying everything in their sight," I explained to the little kit, feeling a small chill running down my spine. And explaining it to you only makes it feel more real...
And to my surprise, the little kit seemed just as dismayed as I felt, her eyes still wide as she turned to look out into the trees ahead. "That's awful..." she then whispered, almost too quietly for me to hear. She then looked back up at me. "But... why?"
I gave her a shrug as I began to shake my head slowly. "I couldn't tell you, and I'm glad that I don't know," I answered her, beginning to pace back and forth along the fence. "If I had to guess, they'd either hurt you with one of those massive machines that they have, or one of the Twolegs will take you away!"
I then paused in my pacing, about to say something else to the tabby-and-white kit as I looked over my shoulder, but I quickly cut myself off as I quickly met two large narrowed eyes, staring back at the forest once again with her gaze suddenly very dark. What in the name of... I thought, slowly and hesitantly turning back around to face her. If she is from the forest, is she remembering it for the first time? Is she actually remembering a time that she was in a Clan...?
"Wow... that does sound scary, I suppose," the kit murmured before I could even let my thoughts spiral out of control any more. I then completely brought my attention back to her when she actually took a step closer to me, her head tilted to the side and her eyes inquiring. "But is it okay if I just watch from the top of this fence?"
I then couldn't help but feel a wave of affection and a purr begin to rumble in my throat as I realized that this little kit, for some reason, had established myself as an authority figure to her. Well... I guess that yelling in her face about her potentially leaping over the fence might do the trick... "That is more than okay," I meowed warmly to her. "I do it all of the time!"
I then nearly let out a mrrow of laughter as she then immediately set her haunches down on the top of the fence, seeming perfectly satisfied with that situation.
When I then settled down next to her, she didn't object. "So, you were hoping that you could get a glimpse of the forest, huh?"
The kit then began to shift her paws back and forth as I anxiously awaited her answer. "Most definitely," she answered honestly, her eyes almost beginning to shine as she continued to stare out into the forest. "The trees are so pretty , the grass looks so soft, and there's so much freedom!"
I then narrowed my eyes, giving her a gentle nudge. "That yard of yours doesn't do the trick?"
"It's beautiful, but... I just wanted to know what else was out there, I suppose."
I tensed up, now staring forward but flashing glances at the kit every few moments.
But I could feel her curious gaze burning into me once again. "Are Twolegs always out in the forest with their big machines?"
I let out a long sigh, looking down at the kit once again. "As a matter of fact, not at all," I replied. And even if you aren't from the forest, I am still more than happy to tell you about it, I realized to myself, intrigued by this little bright-eyed, curious little kit whether or not she had been born as a Clan cat or not. "Did you know that cats actually live out in the forest?"
The little kit's eyes widened once again. "They do?"
I gave a slow, hesitant nod, not sure if I was satisfied with her surprise. "Yes, they do."
"All of the time?"
"Indeed, they do."
"Wow, that's neat!" the kit then exclaimed before proceeding to tilt her head, her ears giving a flick. "How do you know about them?"
I looked out to the forest yet again, feeling a mix of heartache and pride as Firestar crossed my mind once again. "Well, I'd only heard rumors for a while, but then one of my friends went to go join them – it was one of the stupidest, bravest things that I had ever seen," I nearly whispered, my voice growing thick with emotion.
But when the kit stared up at me in awe, a certain glimmer in her eye, I couldn't help but clear my throat and meet her with a hard stare. "But you're much too young to ever consider doing something like that."
The kit then lowered her head, and I almost could sense her disappointment. "Oh... I wasn't..." she murmured quietly.
Aw, well, shoot...
Before I could give her any sort of words to comfort her, she shook her head quickly and looked back up at me. "What do the wild cats do?"
I furrowed my eyebrows, genuinely having to think for a moment about what Firestar had told me so far. "I believe that they all live together in big groups..." I began. "They hunt for their own food, and they fight over territory." Geez... it's definitely never a life that I would enjoy living... but I've never seen Rusty... or Firestar, happier.
"Wow..." the kit breathed after a few moments, pulling me out of my thoughts. I then looked back down at her to find her shaking her head slowly in amazement. "I bet they're awesome."
Hm...
I then cocked a single eyebrow, trying not to get excited the more that the kit spoke. While she hasn't shown any direct indication that she's from the forest, I can't help but think... are me and Princess being proven right? She reminds me so much of Firestar at that same age. "So, what's your name, little one?"
The kit looked brightly up at me, her strange eyes warm as she enthusiastically answered me. "My name is Lily!" she exclaimed. "What's yours?"
I gave Lily a small nod, as well as a soft nudge on her shoulder with my tail. "I'm Smudge. I live just a few houses down from you," I answered her kindly before flashing her a sheepish, apologetic glance. "Sorry if I startled you a bit earlier – all of my friends are excited about your arrival, so I wanted to see what all of the buzz was about!"
Lily then gave a small purr of amusement, her gaze shy, but kind. "That's okay," she meowed. "I'm sorry for startling you, too. I'll just watch the forest from the fence, I promise!"
I then widened my eyes and gave a flick of my ears, hating to make little Lily think that she had to be so restricted. "Hey, I mean, you're more than welcome to explore the area," I reassured her quickly before giving a wink. "The forest might be just a little too much for you right now, Lily."
I then stood up, nodding towards the houses that stood behind me. "If you wanted to, I could take you around the Twolegplace – introduce you to some of my friends, and we could do some exploring?"
I then nearly stepped back as Lily gasped, her little paws beginning to knead into the ground. "Oh my goodness, that would be wonderful!" she nearly squealed in reply. "Right now?"
I snorted, briefly pointing my nose up to the sky, where the sun continued to fall closer and closer to the ground. "Well, we should do it before it's time for you to eat dinner!"
I then bent down, gently grabbing Lily in my jaws and then plopping her down in front of me on the fence. "I'm right behind you. I'll tell you where to go next."
Then, as Lily let out another little squeal and proceeded forward, I couldn't help but shake my head slowly in amazement as I watched her go. Wherever she came from, she's certainly not like many kits I've seen before... I thought. Maybe she was born just like any other housecat, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if that's warrior blood running through those veins.
I then let out a sigh, running up to her and making sure that she was keeping her balance on the fence. Wherever she's from, she's got a heck of a blazing little spirit, just like Rusty did all those moons ago, and I can't help but feed it.