Burning

One

They start off as cats just saying in case it confuses anyone 😅

"Hey Tree Sap!" I called out to the heavily patterned young cat who was currently messing around in the trees.

The leaves stopped rustling and I saw my cousin's grey and brown head pop down from the trees.

"First, why do you call me that? It's Minnow. Second, what?" He snapped at me.

My tail whisked around behind me and my ears flicked with slight annoyance. "You know why I call you that. And second, Mom and Dad want you back home."

Minnow sighed. "Vexi and Bracken aren't my parents." He mumbled.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah yeah, but Ripple and Kern aren't coming back any time soon and you know that."

Minnow lunged down from the tree and landed inches in front of my face. "My parents will come back."

I flinched at the sadness in his blue eyes. "Yeah.. sorry." I lowered my head. "But still, you've gotta come back soon. We're worried about you Sap." I admitted. "Just because your parents went missing and left you with us, doesn't mean you can spend all your time hiding away in the trees."

Minnow huffed. "Sure, I'll come." He padded past me and back in the direction of our village. His ears were flattened and his head and tail hung low.

I felt a pang of sympathy for my cousin. His father, Kern, was my mother, Vexi's brother. His parents disappeared a few weeks ago and our family took him in. No one knows what happened to Kern and Ripple, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they had just left Minnow here. It's sad, but they never really seemed to care that much about their son.

I sighed and followed after Minnow.

-mini time skip-

I sat down at my usual shaded spot in the corner of the village. I watched as Minnow ducked his head as he walked through the lichen that draped over the entrance to our little household den.

Just as his stubbed tail disappeared through the lichen, my littermate Stripes padded over to sit beside me.

"He's back?" My brother asked me.

I leaned against the course bushes beside me. "Yeah, and it seems you are to." I shot him a look. "How was the sky last night Starry Boy?"

Stripes' fur bristled and his green eyes flashed with embarrassment. "Shut up.. just because I like the stars doesn't mean you have to call me that." He snapped at me.

I gave him an innocent look, lifting a paw to my chest as though struck. "But Starry who would I be without my nicknames?"

He gave me an indignant look. "Well you'd still be a prick that's for sure." He growled.

I put my paw back on the ground and smiled at him. "Aww thanks!"

He rolled his eyes and looked around. "Hey have you seen Em?" He asked me.

I thought for a moment. "No, not since this morning. Why?"

Stripes huffed. "She's been hanging around with that Ori character too much." He complained.

I nudged my brother with a smile on my face. "Don't worry Stripes, she's still a kit. No harm is gonna come to her in this village, we've been the most peaceful village in this forest for ages!" I exclaimed.

Stripes lowered his head. "It's just that she's a bad influence." He growled. "I don't want my little sister hanging around that maniac."

I pushed his head away with one paw. "Hey come on! Ori is just like Mel. She's my best friend and look how I turned out!"