"Kaz, it's getting late. Hurry up and go for the kill." Audi, a bronze Egyptian Mau cat, peered at the thin sliver of light filtering through the forest canopy.
"Sshh! Can't you be any louder?" Kaz stifled a growl, his ocean-blue eyes fixed on his prey a few yards away—a young, spotted deer.
"Louder? And what about you? You're too out in the open with that pure-white coat of yours. It's a dead giveaway." Audi rolled her eyes. He's ten times my size and an apex predator among predators, but he doesn't have a single idea what the word "stealth" means!
With an earth-shattering growl, Kaz's powerful haunches flexed, leaping at the deer—and missed as his startled prey heard him loud and clear while he was still in mid-flight. His "dinner" bounded away, disappearing in the thick underbrush.
Kaz hung his head dejectedly.
"What did I tell you?" Audi pronounced, shaking her head at the young white tiger. "Strength and speed don't amount to anything if you announce your arrival."
Kaz flicked a defiant glare at Audi. "I know, I pounce too high and growl too loud. I can't catch a squirrel even if it kills me. Even Dad was a better hunter when he was five!" He paused for breath.
Audi saw the hurt in Kaz's eyes and sighed, her heart going out to her master. What was I expecting, when he's lived most of his life as a human?
Kaz was one of the Kindred, a magical race of large cat shapeshifters—or rather, half-Kindred. His mother was human, while his father—Audi's hackles rose—well, his father was the most powerful, most feared Kindred in living history.
Although Kaz was twelve in human years, in Kindred years he was still considered a cub.
Audi reached up with her pink nose, brushing Kaz's pure-white cheek. "Your dad's circumstances were different," she reminded him. "He had to fight for his life at a young age, every single day, just to survive."
Kaz's bright blue eyes were wide with hope as he turned to her. "Audi, do you think—someday, I can be as strong as Dad?"
"Of course, master, you'll grow into your strength with steady practice and training." Audi nodded with conviction. I'll make sure of it.
Audi padded ahead of Kaz, then suddenly stopped, Kaz almost mowing her down.
"As a matter of fact," Audi swallowed nervously. "Now is as good a time as any."
Four timber wolves surrounded them, snarling. The two had stumbled into their den.
"You're the apex predator among predators," the Mau cat whispered. "You have my permission to be as loud and terrifying as you can."
"Gladly!" Kaz let out an ear-splitting roar, his eyes blazing like twin blue suns, fangs gleaming and claws fully extended.
With fearful yelps, the wolves slinked away, back into their den.
Kaz blinked. "Well, that was easy."
"You did look terrifying, master, if I do say so myself." Audi smiled proudly at her charge.
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Ink Prompt Round 4 Winner
Written for @alexmasonfics The Ink Games Prompt: Your character's pet starts giving them life advice. Word count: 474
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