Kit Badger Rides (short story)
âNo, Starlingkit, this way! Buzzardkit, you can sit down later!â Grousemane couldnât decide if he wanted to huff in annoyance or laugh in amusement. The kits were still young, and now that they were able to sort of walk, they were eager to get around and explore.
Aspenkit, the only one that had stuck with her father, made a chirping sound, glaring at her littermates, who, at her noise, scurried back over to their fatherâs tail. âThank you, little one.â
They were on their way to meet Brownmouse for possibly the first time. Brownmouse had nursed them, then passed them to the poly once they were weaned. Grousemane wondered if they would remember him at all, or the older kits that were, shortly, raised alongside them. He was thankful that Brownmouse hadn't made his den too far, making it easier and safer to navigate the four small ones.
When he found the den, he called into it, and a moment later, Brownmouse emerged. His eyes lit up when he saw the kits. Starlingkit scurried behind Grousemane. Aspenkit sniffed his paw cautiously, while Duskkit hissed. Buzzardkit didnât seem to notice him, instead watching as a brown leaf fell from a nearby tree.
âTheyâre so grown!â Brownmouse gushed, lowering himself onto his belly. âWhat did you name them?âÂ
They hadnât received their names until after they were weaned. Grousemane had wanted the whole poly, especially Myrtlewing, together when that time came. âBuzzardkit for the one that looks like me, Starlingkit after scaredy mouseâafter my littermates, Duskkit for the angry one, and Aspenkit for their sisterâafter Myrtlewingâs littermates.â
âWow!â Brownmouse watched them as though his eyes could see nothing else, following their movements. When Aspenkit moved closer, he began to wave his tail in the air, and squealing, she leaped after it playfully. âWho would have taken Myrtlewing as the sentimental one?â
âHootpetalâs idea.â
âThere you go,â Brownmouse rolled his eyes affectionately.Â
The kits grew comfortable quickly after sniffing Brownmouseâs pelt. Clearly, they didnât remember himâthey were probably still too young to remember this moment one day eitherâbut by his scent, they knew that he was familiar, and that meant that he was safe.
âAre they here?â A kitâs voice, older than his own, asked. A moment later, a head popped out of the den entrance, joined by his brother, whoâs own head pressed his against the den wall to make room, squishing his littermate.Â
âKits!â The second cat, Minnowkit, exclaimed, pushing past Prancekit and rushing eagerly to the kits, who either hissed or scampered beneath Grousemaneâs belly.
Minnowkit frowned. âBut they know me!â
Prancekit padded forward more slowly. âWhen they were like a moon old!â
âThey should still know me,â Minnowkit stated righteously. âI was with them all of the time!â
Brownmouse nudged him playfully. âWhy donât you create another memory to help them remember?â
At Minnowkitâs look of confusion, he added, âtheyâre just big enough for badger rides now.â
âYes!â Minnowkit pressed his belly to the dry, grassy floor. âOn my back!â
The kits only blinked.
âLike this,â Prancekit told them, lowering himself as well. âClimb on, and we can run around! Donât you want to play?âÂ
âPlay!â Starlingkit squealed happily, scurrying to clamber on top of Prancekitâs back, who carefully raised up and began to stomp around. He was cautious and moving leisurely, the kit still too small for the faster rides.
âI said it first!â Minnowkit complained.
âShh,â his father told him. âTheyâre interested now, see?â
Aspenkit and Buzzardkit were watching Prancekit and Starlingkit with wide, curious eyes that they then turned on Minnowkit. Minnowkit eagerly returned onto his belly, and Aspenkit and Buzzardkit wobbled over hastily, pushing for a spot on. âYou can both fit,â Minnowkit reassured them. He couldnât move around as fast as Prancekit with the added weight, but that was just as fine. The steadier, the better, especially with two of them.
âDonât you want to play, Duskkit?â Grousemane asked his son, the only one that was not currently enjoying a badger ride. When Duskkit looked at him, Grousemane frowned. The kitâs lip was protruding in a pout, and wobbling. âWe can make space for you, you can play.â
Duskkit only shook his head, sitting with his head ducked. âAh, okay, I got it.â
âWhatâs wrong?â Brownmouse asked, searching the kitâs pelt.Â
âJust missing home, I think,â Grousemane explained. âTheyâve never been so far before, not when they remember.â He nuzzled Duskkitâs head. âDo you want to go home to mommy and daddies?âÂ
Duskkit nodded vigorously.Â
âOkay. Playing can stop for now.â
âWhat?â Minnowkit huffed from nearby. âBut we just started!â
âIt doesnât necessarily have to stop just yet,â Brownmouse suggested. âIâm sure the kits wouldnât mind a ride back home, after all theyâre legs are so tiny.â
âYes!â Prancekit and Minnowkit cheered. Grousemane noted that this would be their first time being at the Eye-out Thorns. He hoped Myrtlewing didnât frighten them too much.
âDo you want a ride, or carry?â he asked Duskkit.Â
âCarry! Carry!â Duskkit practically shouted. Obliging, Grousemane picked him up by the scruff.Â
âIt was great seeing them again,â Brownmouse said with a smile. âIâm sure they will grow into wonderful cats.â
Grousemane felt as though he were glowing, so full of love for the four. âYours too,â he replied, then led the way across the grass.
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