Prompt #1- Luca (Pt. 4)

Part Four

The morning was bright and beautiful. Luca stepped out into the light and yawned. The waterfall sprayed mist onto him, and he shivered. Despite the warm weather, the mornings were still cold.

It was six months after he and Ash became mates. They were happy together, but they didn’t want kittens. Not yet.

Bella had grown a lot. She was very beautiful, with midnight colored fur and amber eyes. She was almost ready to go out into the jungle and learn to hunt and fight.

Two months ago, Garrett had died. He had dies bravely. He fought off a crocodile, killing it to save his family. But his wounds were too deep to heal. Even Jade couldn’t save him, and he died a few days after the fight. It still sent a shot of pain through Luca every time he thought of it. He had never thought of Garrett as his father, but he was a good friend, and he felt deep compassion for Ash, Raja, Sula, and Kasha.

Sula still hadn’t found a mate, though she had started going out late at night and not coming home for hours. Everyone thought she was seeing someone in secret.

“It’s freezing out!” Ash exclaimed, coming up behind him and pressing up close to him.

“I know,” Luca agreed, nuzzling Ash’s cheek. They sat beside each other in silence for a few moments, and then broke apart. “I should probably hunt.” Luca meowed. “We have cats to feed.”

“Alright,” Ash said, still sitting. “I’m going to stay here for a while.”

“Alright, goodbye then.” Luca licked her head and padded into the jungle.

The hunting was average that day, and he came back with a good pile of kill.

“Amazing!” Kasha praised him. “Very well done!”

Luca shrugged. “It wasn’t that much.”

“Yes it was!” Sula smiled. “Look at all of it!” She gestured to the prey. Luca blushed, embarrassed.

“Thanks, Sula.” Luca meowed.

“Anytime!” Sula purred and curled her tail happily.

Luca grabbed three small birds and brought them to where Raja, Jade, and Bella slept. He dropped the birds next to them. “Freshly caught,” he said, nudging a bird toward Bella.

“Thank you, Luca.” Jade smiled, pulling a bird toward her. “Bella, say thank you.”

“Thanks, Luca!” Bella said sweetly, looking up at him. Then she dug into her bird.

Raja took a bird for himself. “Thank you,” he purred. He bit into his bird.

Luca decided to eat with them. He grabbed a mouse and sat down with the small family.

“So,” Jade said, looking up from her meal. “When is Ash going to have kittens?”

Luca shrugged. “I’m not sure if I want kittens yet.” He took a bite of his mouse, and swallowed. “And I don’t believe that she wants to, either.”

“Well, I’m sure the time will come very soon for you to want to be a father.” Jade meowed calmly, watching Bella finish off her bird.

“I guess…” Luca sighed. “But, I don’t know, the thought of being a father is kind of scary.”

“It’s not so bad.” Raja meowed. “In fact, it’s amazing.” He looked at Bella lovingly.

Luca smiled. “Well, thank you for letting me eat with you.”

“Thank you for the meal!” Jade replied, purring. “Goodbye!”