An Apocalyptic Invasion

i argue with my mate (which ends up in me spending time with him)

For a few months, I was bedridden. The khits suckled on me during that time, forcing me to stay in my den, watching over them.

Don't get me wrong, I love my khits. But I missed being able to run, catch prey, climb trees, swim in the ocean. Even though I have short legs, I could still run as fast as any other Catwing.

As I was giving birth, Jhaufyther arrived late. I was angry at him; he didn't even tell me where he was, and he offered no explanation as to why he was late.

I couldn't do anything since I was in pain, but I had to talk to him as soon as I recovered.

The khits grew fast and remained healthy. Just like their older siblings, they grew at an astonishing rate, although not quite as fast as them.

I began to take small steps outside the den every few days, and each time I took even more. Soon I was walking normally, although one time I tried to run and I got really bad cramps. So there was no use running yet.

I didn't know where Jhaufyther was, and I planned to look for him. I told the four to play in the den and not stray from the camp. They protested, but when I promised that I would give them their favorite meal-roasted squirrel-they gave in.

I headed out the camp and made my way to the forest. Opening my mouth, I scented the air. I could taste the saltiness of the lake, but no sign of him.

I went deeper and deeper into the forest until I came out of the trees on the other side of the lake. I smelled the air; now he was nearby.

I scouted the edge, following his pawprints left in the mud, until I saw him drinking from the lake, his tail touching the ground.

When he saw me, he narrowed his eyes. "We need to talk," I hissed before he could say something.

"Right now?" he asked. "I'm in the middle of something."

"You'll survive." I grabbed his tail and he yelped. "Come with me or I'll make you."

He growled but followed me into the forest, where I kept going until there was an open area. I sat down in front of him. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Why were you late?"

I could almost see him thinking Not this again.

"I was busy doing something," he said.

"Was that 'something' important enough to miss the birth of your khits?" I asked.

He wrapped his tail around his paws. "I didn't even miss it. Sure, I was late, but at least I got to see them actually being born."

"That's not the point," I growled. "You didn't even tell me where you were, let alone what you were doing."

The fur on his back stood up. "You gave birth a few weeks earlier," he snapped. "I can't tell the future."

"It doesn't matter that you didn't know." I was starting to get exasperated. "Why didn't you tell me what you were doing?"

He averted his gaze to the bush next to him. His tail was beginning to lash. "I was planning to, but then the whole thing began," he said. He met my gaze again. "I found something out yesterday."

"Yes, it's Tommy having cancer."

His jaw dropped. "You knew?"

I nodded. "He told me himself a few months ago."

His eyes became slits. "And you didn't tell me?" His voice suddenly went quiet.

"Are you mad at me? Because I'm mad at you, that's how this works."