Asha's Path Book 1: Famine

Chapter 1

The bright sunlight fell into the barn, turning it a shade of gold.

Snowy lifted her head, gazing at the small bundle of fur at her belly.

Memories came flooding back from the night before.

"Snowy, Storm will only take one. You know that."

"I know mom. But I just... I don't know if I should give her up. She's smaller than Asha."

"If I go to Lizz, Katherine will be fine. Lizz will care for her, I promise."

Snowy gazed at her mother with shining eyes. "I just wish Storm would accept both."

Minty's eyes clouded. "As do I, love."

Snowy sighed. "Alright, take Katherine to Lizz's."

"I'll be back by tomorrow." Minty replied, picking up Katherine and walking out of the barn.

Snowy licked the small kit's head as her mother padded into the barn, two plump mice in her jaws.

"Though you might be hungry."

She dropped a mouse at Snowy's nest and stood back.

Snowy twitched her whiskers and gazed back at the kitten.

"Snowy. Eat."

She glared at her mother. "Why? I'm just going to get die anyway. What's the point?"

"For God's sake, Snowy. Eat it or I'm going to take that kitten to her father right now!"

Minty was getting upset. Her daughter was still blaming herself for the fact that Katherine was gone.

"It's not your fault. We both know Storm only needs one child to lead the group."

"I'm aware, thanks. Just leave me alone." She curled her tail over her daughter and closed her eyes.

Minty growled under her breath. "Well fine I'll eat two mice that took me ten minutes to catch. Fine, I'll throw away my scraps."

She stalked away mumbling under her breath.

Snowy opened one eye and it followed Minty to her best where she dug into the smaller mouse.

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Hours later, Snowy heard the familiar creak of the barn door. A dark grey almost black shape walked in.

"Hello, Storm," greeted Minty with a smile. "How have you been?"

"Fine, thanks, Minty," he said grinning. "I hear my kit was born?"

"Yes, last night. Come, Snowy's been waiting for you."

The two cats padded over side by side to Snowy's nest. Inside Asha was curled up with her nose buried in Snowy's fur.

Storm nuzzled her. Asha opened her eyes. "Grandma?"

"No, little one," Snowy purred, nudging her ear. "This is your father Storm."

Asha instantly tried getting up. Her stubby legs couldn't yet hold her weight. She fell.

"Hi, dad!"

Storm purred at his amusing daughter. "Hello, Asha,"

"Are you-you- here to- to take me to the woods?" She asked, her new voice making her stutter as she formed the words.

"Yes I am."

"Is-is mama coming?"

Snowy chuckled. "No, love. Only your father and you."

"Okay, can we go now?" She asked eagerly.

Storm laughed. "Later on. I'm a little hungry, so I think I'll eat first."

Minty smiled. "There's some fresh mice I caught earlier," she said. "Asha, why don't you come help me fetch them?"

Asha nodded and propelled herself on her stubby grey legs and followed her grandmother.

"She's gorgeous. Reminds me of your mother's mother."

Snowy purred. "How do you know what Elena looked like?"

"I've heard. Don't forget, your mother's littermate was a part of my group."

"I know. I've never forgotten. She passed away from frostbite two years ago."

"That's why you're unsure about sending Asha to the woods with me so close to winter."

Snowy hesitated before answering. "Y-yes. Exactly. And before you say anything, I understand that you have a better healer now, and she's got a very intelligent kitten interested in learning medicine, but I still worry."

Storm nuzzled her ear. "I know, love. And I stand by your decision to live in a barn as a house cat. Veterinarian visits, warm beds, it's your life. Not mine."

"I know. I just don't want Asha raises in the woods. You have her for long enough that she chooses a mate, she grows up to respect the group's ways, the cat she's chosen is a good leader, she becomes pregnant with his kits, then she comes back to live here. And then the cycle starts all over again. Just as it has for years."

Storm nodded, gazing at his daughter trying to carry a mouse across the barn floor, but tripping over the tail and falling on her nose.

Storm purred and went over to help her, picking the mouse up by its tail. Asha hung onto the mouse's back with her small teeth as Storm swung her around gently.

When they got to Snowy, Asha dropped off the mouse and scrambled over to her mothers bed and curled into Snowy's soft pelt.

As Asha's gentle breathing filled the barn, Storm lay down, resting his head on his paws. "Perhaps I should stay here tonight,"

Snowy nodded. "She's not going anywhere until tomorrow," she agreed, gazing down at the sleeping kitten.

The four cats slept peacefully that night. United as one, thanks to the birth of Asha.

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That was chapter 1! Snowy is quite kind in a matter of speaking. Hehehehehehehehehehehe I have a Halloween special planned on my YouTube channel. Hehehehehe it gon be fun.

Hope you liked it!