Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Wolfstrike

     The kit slowly opens his eyes, finally seeing things for the first time.  Things were different without sight, he observes, for his mother's warm, musky scent didn't tell him the color of her eyes, or if there was a scar on her left ear, or a flea on her right flank.  He used to smell the sweet, damp forest outside of camp, and the warm, milky smells of the nursery.  He could smell the wet rain and the moist clouds getting ready to release it.  But now... now he could see these things.  His mother is a light brown, the color of the forest tree trunks, tabby with black tips on her ears, and occasional black splotches around her.  The nursery's look is a soothing, comfy den, with soft moss for nests, which is gray.  And the sky outside the nursery is a charming blue, with a few white clouds splattered here and there.  And soon he will know what the rain looks like.
"Welcome to the world, my kit." A soft, beautiful voice surrounds him, trapping the kit in love.  Mother.  The kit gently purrs, pressing against his mom.
"How are you, my Wolfkit?" His mother asks.
Wolfkit.  So that is my name.
The kit opens his mouth slowly, trying to mew a reply.  His tongue grasps the words he wishes to express, not wanting to release them.  His mother chuckles.
"Let talking come naturally," she says.  "You'll get the hang of it."
The kit opens his mouth again, not thinking about talking.
"M...m... Me... Meow..." The kit says slowly.  "Meow!"
"Can you say, hello mother?" His mom asks him after another grin.
"Hello mother," the kit says, putting effort into each letter.  His mother smiles.  She is very proud of her one kit.
"Say, my name is Wolfkit," his mother instructs him.
"My name is Wolfkit," he says, this time with more confidence.  Wolfkit Nd his mother continue this for awhile.
"What is your name, Mother?" Wolfkit asks.  He is curious, for if his name is Wolfkit, surely his mother's isn't Mother.  If so, then why would he be Wolfkit and not son?
"My name is Deernose, my kit.  But you can call me Mom."  Wolfkit nods.
"Ok, Mother," Wolfkit replies.   He smiles up at his mom, taking into detail how her face looks, and what her scent smells like.  She smells of fresh mint leaves and roses, and other plants.
"Where is father?" Wolfkit asks, catching both Deernose and himself by surprise.
"Father can't make it, dear," his mother says sadly.
"Why not?" Wolfkit asks.  His mother sighs.  It's obvious the kit won't stop asking until he gets the answer he wants.
"Can we talk about this another time ?" his mother asks.  The kit now sighs, and gives up.  He doesn't want to upset his mother on such a wonderful day.  After all, she's done a lot to make him happy.  Wolfkit understands that.