The sun reached its zenith, bathing the camp in warm, golden light. Silentsong and Harekit had been playing moss ball for a good while, their laughter ringing through the clearing as they enjoyed the simple pleasure of the game. Harekit's energy seemed boundless, and Silentsong found herself momentarily lost in the kit's infectious enthusiasm.
After a particularly lively bout of play, Harekit's stomach began to rumble loudly. His small paws clutched at his belly as he glanced up at Silentsong with a sheepish smile. "I'm really hungry, Silentsong," he admitted, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "Can we get something to eat?"
Silentsong nodded, her mood lightening. "Of course, Harekit. Let's go see if there's any fresh-kill left. I'm sure there's something you'll enjoy."
They made their way to the fresh-kill pile, where Silentsong selected a plump mouse for Harekit. The kit's eyes widened with delight as he accepted the offering and settled down to eat. Silentsong watched with a soft purr of approval as Harekit dug into his meal with gusto.
The kit's appetite was impressive, and Silentsong couldn't help but smile at his eagerness. She took a small piece of prey for herself and began to eat, trying to push away the lingering shadows of her earlier worries. For a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the warmth of the sun and the contentment of a full belly.
As Harekit devoured the mouse, he began to make little noises of pleasure, his tiny paws moving eagerly as he stuffed himself. His stomach rumbled with satisfaction, and he let out a loud, satisfied burp that echoed across the clearing.
Silentsong's ears twitched at the sound, and she glanced at Harekit with mild amusement. "You certainly have a hearty appetite today, Harekit."
Harekit's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he gave a small, apologetic giggle. "Sorry, Silentsong. I didn't mean to be so noisy."
Silentsong's amusement faded quickly as her mind returned to the troubling thoughts she had been trying to push away. She felt a flare of irritation rise within her, a sharp contrast to the warmth she had felt moments earlier. The noise seemed to amplify her unease, making her thoughts spin in frustration.
Harekit continued to eat with unabashed enthusiasm, his little belly expanding with every bite. After finishing the mouse, he reached for another piece of fresh-kill, his eyes still sparkling with hunger.
And then it happened again—a loud, emphatic burp that seemed to go on forever, followed by an even cuter, more innocent-sounding "Oops!" from Harekit.
Silentsong felt her frustration boil over, her fur prickling with annoyance. She tried to suppress it, but the constant burping, the way it seemed to mock her unease, pushed her past her limits.
Harekit looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Is something wrong, Silentsong? Are you mad at me?"
Silentsong's heart sank at the kit's worried expression, but her irritation was too strong to ignore. "It's just... you're eating so much, and burping so loudly. It's really distracting, Harekit," she snapped, her tone sharper than she intended.
Harekit's eyes filled with confusion and hurt, and he looked down at the remnants of his meal. "I'm sorry, Silentsong. I didn't mean to upset you."
Silentsong's anger quickly turned to guilt as she saw the hurt in Harekit's eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "I'm sorry, Harekit. It's not your fault. I'm just... feeling a bit out of sorts today."
Harekit's tiny whiskers twitched with concern. "Is it about Oakstorm? I heard some of the older cats talking. They said there was something wrong between you two."
Silentsong's heart clenched at the mention of Oakstorm. She had hoped to keep her worries private, but it seemed that even the youngest of the Clan had picked up on the tension. She tried to smile, but it felt forced. "No, it's nothing like that. Oakstorm and I are fine. It's just that I've been having a tough day."
Harekit's gaze softened with sympathy. "I'm sorry you're having a tough day. Do you want to talk about it? Maybe it will help."
Silentsong's resolve weakened as she looked at the kit's earnest face. She knew Harekit meant well, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to share her feelings, especially with someone so young. "Thank you, Harekit, but I think I just need some time to myself right now."
Harekit nodded, still looking a bit worried. "Okay. I hope you feel better soon, Silentsong. I'll be here if you want to play more later."
Silentsong forced a warm smile. "Thank you, Harekit. I appreciate it."
As the kit resumed eating, Silentsong's mind raced with turbulent thoughts. Her earlier conversation with Oakstorm replayed in her mind, the anger and frustration she had felt now magnified by the unresolved tension. Harekit's innocent burps, which had seemed so trivial moments ago, now felt like a symbol of everything that was wrong in her life.
She stood up, her mood souring as she watched the kit continue to eat with innocent oblivion. Her heart ached with a mixture of frustration and guilt. She had tried so hard to maintain her composure, to keep her feelings in check, but the weight of her concerns was beginning to feel unbearable.
As Harekit finished his meal, he let out another burp, this one less enthusiastic than the others. Silentsong watched with a sense of detached irritation, her earlier fondness for the kit overshadowed by her growing frustration.
When Harekit finally seemed satisfied and ready to return to play, Silentsong felt a surge of relief mixed with regret. She had allowed her anger to get the best of her, and now she felt a pang of guilt for snapping at the innocent kit.
"Let's go play some more, Harekit," she said, her voice lacking the warmth she had hoped to convey. "Maybe we can find a new game to try."
Harekit's eyes brightened, and he hopped to his feet, his earlier sadness forgotten. "Yes! Let's play! I've got a new game I want to show you!"
Silentsong managed a genuine smile as she followed Harekit out into the clearing. The game they played was simple but filled with Harekit's infectious joy, and as the sun climbed higher in the sky, Silentsong found herself caught up in the kit's excitement once
