Minty Fresh [Everglade Fam]

Dawnkit was proper and perfect, looking down her little nose already so snootily at her rambunctious siblings. She held her back straight, fur perfectly smooth and tidy, and her tail up and curled elegantly as she made the act of looking up at her mother as regal as she could. A small, chirpy little scoff made its way out unbidden from Dawnkit's mouth as she regarded one of her more rambunctious siblings, Harrierkit, with disgust at his blatant aggressive attitude. She would never sully the good names of her parents by acting like that! The young she-kit picked up her paws clearly from the ground so they didn't drag, her head once more tilted up as she padded after her siblings and mother to find their dad.

Cinderkit looked up sleepily at his mother's call, blinking in the warm light of Sunhigh. He'd been napping on a rock just outside the nursery's entrance, not far from his mother and littermates. He loved them all, but it was starting to feel very cramped in the nursery.

The gray, thick-furred kit yawned, and got to his feet. He wasn't actually certain what his mother had said, but his littermates seemed excited so that was enough for him! He trotted over to where they were gathering, and nuzzled happily into Mintglade's warm fur. He didn't ask what the plan was; he was sure it would become clear soon, and he didn't want to admit he hadn't been paying any attention.

Sunfire greeted the camp guard with a flick of an ear as he passed through the tunnel, ignoring the bewildered look the other cat gave at the sight of him. It was an unusual thing, he admitted to himself, to see a cat carefully carrying a mass of woven grasses in his jaws, but Sunfire didn't think too hard about it. He had a goal and that goal involved his mate and his kits, so it was to the nursery that he headed the moment he was on the other side... but he didn't have far to go before he realized that Mintglade had already gathered them outside the nursery. Padding over to greet them, Sunfire sat the grass-pile down at his paws and greeted his mate with a slow blink and a heavy purr.

"Kits, I have a surprise for you." Sunfire took a claw and began to deconstruct the tangled grasses. Layer by layer, he peeled it apart, until the grasses gave way to what looked like a mass of wriggling fur. "Look." He sheathed his claws and brushed away the fur, revealing nearly a dozen tiny, squirming mice. Their eyes were still closed, but they were covered in gray-brown fur, and the moment the cold air touched them, they separated and began to look for warmth with barely audible squeaks of protest.

With a soft paw, Sunfire guided the micelings one by one towards each of the kits, until all seven of them had a mouse at their paws. The remaining four went in a singular pile in front of Mintglade, and he settled down at her side, waiting and watching to see what they would do. Sure, he could give instruction, but that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted to see their natural instincts, wanted to groom their natural instincts. He could have brought them fresh kill for their first real taste of meat, but there was nothing quite like making that kill yourself. Would they?

Murrs and chirps of warmth and delight came from the large silver tabby as her kits charged forth, filled with excitement at the idea of getting to see their father. Truth be told, she shared in that excitement herself, even to just be able to share the responsibility of having to keep an eye on the bundles of fur for a few heartbeats. Most of them charged ahead, and she leaned to nuzzle Cinderkit as they had stayed close to her side. "Come come, Cinderkit, let's go find your father." She chuffed, the purr adding a rumble to her words as she knew the rest of her children were undoubtedly looking for the vibrant sunny pelt that could easily be spotted amidst the forest.

As Mintglade locked eyes with her mate, she returned his greeting with one of her own. The slow blink and purr equally met, and even added onto as she made right for his side to rub her head against his own. "Not working too hard, are we?" Light danced behind her mint-green gaze, even if she could feel the exhaustion that simply came from motherhood forever tugging on her.

She looked with a curious gaze as he revealed his gift to their kits, undoubtedly licking her maw at the sight of food. It wouldn't be her first choice given how small they were, but... in near-newleaf, prey was prey. It wouldn't hurt for their kits to get the head start on their hunting skills. The four that were sent her way were eaten in a singular swipe of her maw, another purr rumbling in gratitude. Curling her tail around her site as she settled down by her mate in a similar fashion, she mostly opted to observe. Something in the back of her mind found it a bit odd to present food to the kits in this manner, but... it would have its purpose. They would have to figure out their hunting instincts sooner or later.