Twist watched as two kits scuffled in the grass, rolling around together. She smiled, her heart warming. Benny sat beside her, watching as well. The two little sisters reminded Twist of Dart and her so much that it almost hurt. She longed for her sister, even after years had passed on without her around. She still remembered the fox attack that had ended her sister's life. It was burned into her memory, and Twist doubted she would ever forget. She thought of the long recovery that ensued after, and how she had wanted Dart back more than anything else in the world. She remembered being sad on some days and angry on others. She also remembered feeling numb. To her, something unthinkable had happened. It almost felt fake. She had wanted to talk to someone, but Dart was gone. She had wished she was still around more than anything. She still wanted her back, but other things had come into her life to make her happy again. Things like Benny, and their kits. She focused back on the following, beaming as they played. Suddenly, one called out.
"Mom! Amber's too strong!" A little cream kit meowed. Her amber eyes shone with annoyance, but her sister's green ones shone with glee. She had managed to sit on top of her sister, her little ginger body too heavy to move. Twist smiled at the situation, but tried to stay stern.
"Amber, let your sister up." She meowed. Amber muttered something and rolled off, letting the cream kit rise. Twist still couldn't get over how beautiful she was. She was a pale cream colour, but had stunning dark ginger stripes running all along her back. Amber was beautiful too, but in a different way. She was a dark ginger colour, just like her father, but had a pale underbelly and green eyes, like her mother. Twist smiled, proud of her kits. They were perfect.
"Mom?" The pale kitten had padded up to Twist, and was staring up at her with shining amber eyes.
"Yes, sweetie?" Twist responded.
"Will I ever be as strong as Amber?" She asked. Twist wrapped her tail around the tiny kit.
"You'll be strongest cat in the camp, trust me." She said. "That's why you have the name you do."
"How is Dart a strong name?" The cream kit asked. Twist smiled.
"Dart is a name that only the strongest cats get." She replied. Dart smiled, satisfied with this.
"Okay! Thanks, mom!" She bounded off, ready to return to whatever game she was playing with Amber. Twist sighed, remembering how easy it was to pick her second child's name. She wouldn't know the real meaning behind it, not until she was much older.
Someday. Twist thought.
"Something on your mind?" Benny asked. Twist turned to him, her thoughts scattering. Even after years of being together, the sight of him still gave her a warm rush that she now knew as love.
"You were thinking out loud again." He filled in. Twist smiled.
"Just thinking about Dart." She said. Benny broke out into a smile.
"Which one?" He asked. Twist gave him a gentle shove. That was the one disadvantage of naming your child after someone.
"My sister." She clarified. Benny sighed blissfully, probably recalling the times the three had spent together.
"She was a great sister, wasn't she?" He said after a moment. Twist smiled fondly.
"Yeah." She murmured. The couple sat in silence for a moment, musing over memories.
"Mom! Dad!" Dart suddenly squeaked. "Auntie Petal's being mean!" Twist and Benny both sighed, looking over at Petal, who had joined the kits. She gave the two an innocent look.
"I was just playing catch with them!" She meowed defensively. Amber frowned, glaring at Petal.
"You throw too far!" She accused. Mitten proceeded to leave her spot on a picnic bench and pad over to assess the situation. She said something to Petal, who nodded.
"Okay, how about we play chase?" Petal suggested. The kits smiled, the previous issue apparently forgotten.
"I bet I can run the fastest!" Amber bragged. Dart narrowed her eyes.
"No!" She squeaked. "I can!" Amber opened her mouth to respond, but Mitten cut them off.
"How about we find out who can?" She offered. The two smiled again.
"Okay, three... two..." Mitten started counting, but Dart cut her off.
"Can't Mom and Dad play too?" She meowed. Benny grinned.
"If you really want us too..." he started.
"Yes we do!" Amber and Dart said together. Twist sighed, but couldn't help smiling. She already knew that both her kits would beat her, as she couldn't really run with only three paws.
"Okay, we'll play." She said anyways. Amber and Dart both cheered as Benny and Twist walked over to them, standing beside them in preparation for the race.
"Okay, three... two..." Mitten started again, but was cut off by Petal this time.
"One!" Petal yelled. The kits sped off, their tiny legs pumping. Benny waited a little before following, giving them a head start. Twist limped after her family, lagging behind. She didn't mind though, her disability no longer made her sad. It didn't matter that she couldn't do everything others could, it just mattered that she did what she could do with her family. Dart ended up winning the race, with Amber as a close second. Twist reached the end just in time to hear their conversation.
"I told you I could do it!" Dart bragged, beaming. Amber huffed.
"I'm still stronger." She muttered. Twist sensed a fight coming, and quickly cut in.
"It doesn't matter who won, as long as we had fun." She said. Twist sighed internally, realizing that it was the same line her mother had used on her when she fought with Dart. Twist leaned over and whispered her thoughts to Benny, who cracked a smile.
"Well it worked, so your mom knew her stuff." He whispered back. He was right, as the two sisters were now silent. They seemed to be pondering Twist's words.
"I did have fun..." Amber mumbled, half to herself. "But I'm tired now." Dart nodded.
"Me too." She said. Twist grinned at how quickly they had lost their focus.
"Do you want to go to bed?" Twist mewed, noticing that the sun was setting.
"Yeah." The sisters mewed back. Twist led them to the boilers, which was where the family usually slept. The kits curled up between Twist and Benny, closing their eyes almost right away.
"Goodnight, Amber." Dart murmured.
"Goodnight, Dart." Amber mewed back. Twist smiled fondly as they drifted off to sleep. The two reminded her so much of her relationship with Dart. She licked her kit's heads, ruffling their fur.
You two are so lucky. She thought. You'll always have each other. You'll never be alone.