[mal du pays]

Thread for mystoxxiide !

Dunalino with mitted white & badger ; Astral (alt expression)
[NR] Head tuft, colored whiskers, scarring (ear tear) [LIM] alternate magic expression

[mystoxxiide]

The midday air was cool despite the warm sun as a tiny kitten wandered through the lush green forest. On a particularly warm day, most of the colony had settled down to nap and enjoy the sun, leaving the curious kit with time to figure out how to escape the nursery and go on the adventure they so desperately desired.

After finally finding a hole in the camp wall to escape through, they had plodded around the tree-filled area for an hour or two, slowly getting lost without realising it. It was only when they’d begun to panic a little that their path had opened up into a clearing.

It was simply a place where trees and grass had grown less, allowing the kit to move freely about without feeling choked and swallowed by the lush plant growth. They simply enjoyed the sun shining through the canopy for a bit, tottering around and investigating all manners of stones and bugs they found.

Then they turned, and saw it.

The massive maw of the cave loomed over the kitten’s tiny form. They stared up at the huge black hole dwarfing their small, scruffy form, whiskers twitching. They sat there, imagination running wild as to what could be inside, deliberating on whether or not to enter before making up their mind and slowly stepping forward.

When they approached, something made an unknown noise at them from the darkness. It sounded like a giggle, or even a cackle. It was similar to a meow, but different, almost as if it were attempting to mimic feline speech patterns. Out of curiosity, the kitten continued to creep closer.

A huge orange triangular face leered out of the darkness, stopping the little cat in their tracks. Ears and tail pricked, they stared up at the creature with a mix of terror and curiosity. Said creature made the same alien copycat noise back at them, filling the kitten’s stomach with dread.

They kept eye contact for another long moment before the fox’s ears flicked down and it bared its lips to reveal a violent snarl. The kit let out a cry of fear, backpedaling as it advanced. It stalked closer and closer until it was only a tail’s length away, lowering its head to leer into the kitten’s face.

However, the sound of rapidly approaching paws made the fox look up, questioning. Before it could react, a feline form leapt from the bushes, clearing the kit’s tiny body in a huge jump. The fire storkatten stood over the kit’s trembling form, growls low and threatening. The fox was not impressed, and barked back at the cat in challenge. An impressive spurt of fire erupting from the storkie’s mouth made it reconsider, however, scrambling to retreat as the flames singed its fur.

The adult storkie watched it retreat into the den, before turning to look at the kitten. “Are you okay?” They questioned with worry and affection. “A queen noticed you were missing. The whole colony’s been searching for you.”

The little kit, still trembling, stared up at the bigger cat before bursting into tears.

517 words.