The Pride of White Mane (Werecats Book 2)

Chapter 11

-Kenji's POV-

"Come on slow pokes, we don't got all day" I laughed as Remi and Phoenix hurried after me to leave the cabin. 

We were leaving early in the morning so the triplets wouldn't complain that they were being left out. Spiros would be taking them to play at Charlie's house with Gina. His new job for the mayor allowed him Saturdays off sometimes and the cubs were thrilled. 

"Come on dad its too early" Remi complained rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Still in her pyjamas. 

It was fine though, we didn't need clothes where we were going. 

"Yeah dad, it's still dark outside" Phoenix added, a quiet hiss at the end of his words. 

My heart always melted when they called either me or Spiros, dad. So I just smile at their complaints and leave the cabin. Shifting quickly after removing my clothes. Shaking the chill of the early morning from my fur. Remi follows through the door already in her cheetah form. Phoenix follows after in human form to make sure he closes the door before his form wavers and he shifts too. He shakes out of his clothes and both spotted cats look at me. 

"This way, its a bit of a hike, so keep up" I chuffed excitedly into the mind link, ear twitching. 

Taking of at a slow walk my tigers chuffs in my mind happily. After being denied this kind of life for most of my childhood, I always revelled being in my tigers form. Wild, free and deadly. The leaf litter crunching under my feet signalling the start of autumn. Strange to think the triplets have been in school for two months now. 

"Are we nearly there yet" comes Remi's voice through the mind link.

"Just a bit further" I promise.

We got to the grassland area just as the sky was starting to light up. There was still about an hour before the sun rose though. Perfect hunting for cheetahs, this way they'd have less of a chance of overheating. Looking around the area I chuff, Flat land filled with grass and wilting wild flowers. Even better is the herd of deer just across the field. 

"So you two, are you ready to try" I asked as I turned to face both adolescent cheetahs. 

"Your not going to help" Phoenix startled reply is immediately. 

"No, not for the first go Nix, I want to see how well you two do and if you need help bringing it down just call" I explain softly before sitting down and waiting for them to talk out their plan. 

Remi whack's me in the face with her tail as she starts stalking. Phoenix follows in the other direction. I suppose I deserved that for waking her up early. Their progress is slow and unsure as they stalk. Paws light on the ground and low to the ground. Every time the herd stops to look up both cubs freeze. I yawn my tiger itching to help them. The caw of a crow flying over head has both Remi and Nix springing into action. Their claws digging into the dirt as they go zero to seventy in the blink of an eye. 

The deer bark at the fright before they run. I watch with baited breath as they get close to a doe several times and when they finally manage to trip it I spring into action. Eyes trained on them as they struggle to get a grip on its face or throat. Growls and chirps coming from them as they got more and more distressed. 

"Help" Remi's voice in the mind link sounded strained.

I got to them five seconds after her plea and pounced. Using my heavier weight to topple the deer and aiming for its throat in a killing bite Blood washed over my tongue quickly and my jaws clamped harder in response. I stayed like that till the doe stopped moving before I dropped its neck. 

"You both did well, more practice and you'll be able to kill on your own" I praise, chuffing reassuringly. 

"Why do we need to learn how to hunt anyway" Remi hissed, her cheetah nudging at the belly of the doe. 

"Every shifter needs to know how to hunt, its just part of who we are" I try to explain. 

"But that's not an answer" Phoenix chimes in still panting from the chase.

"It's say, if you want to live wild as a roamer, or if you fall on hard times financially, You'll still be able to survive if you can hunt" I respond thoughtfully.  

"Shifters choose to live wild" Remi questions lifting her head and tilting her head to the side.

"Some choose too, some are forced to, take regular lion prides for example. Young males are often cast out by their fathers, young females too sometimes" I answered. 

"Is our Papa going to kick us out when we grow up" Phoenix chirps distressed as his tail flicks back and forth. 

"No, no, he's not. He's different from most male lions or so I've been told" I sooth quickly bunting my head into his to stop his thoughts spiralling. 

"So what are we doing with this" Remi asks, changing the subject as she paws at the doe's carcass. 

"We eat it" I proclaimed growling softly. 

Two heads jerked to look at me like I was odd. Chuckling in my mind I lay down and begin eating the deer, ripping open its stomach. Watching the cheetahs be so unsure I almost feel bad for dragging them out here. But with all the cubs we have at least one of them could end up wanting to live wild. 

"Tim made his first kill the other day and ate without reserve" I goaded, growling softly as my tiger enjoys the meat I'm eating. 

That did the trick and the both dived at the organs, instinct taking over. If I was in human form right now I'd smiling in triumph. I won. I'd say this was a successful first hunt and I couldn't wait to tell my mate the good news. But we'd have to wait for him to get back with the triplets from their playdate. By the time we would get back I reckon they'd have just left for Charlies.