Four moons had gone by since Coal's arrival. He was funny and kind, not what Amber had expected from their first time meeting him. Everyone had grown accustomed to having him around. Even the Twolegs, who sometimes came to play with the kittens or stroke Catnip.
I wonder where Coal is? He said he would go see the sheep with me.
"Don't go too close to them. They don't pose much threat, but I wouldn't want one stepping on either of you." Catnip meowed to Coal as Amber waited impatiently. When they padded over, Amber ran out of the barn, Coal following close behind.
"I'm glad Catnip finally let us go see the sheep!" Coal panted as they slowed down. "Normally he only lets us stay right near the barn, in his sight."
"I guess he knows he's getting older and knows we are too. We're responsible enough to go out if his sight."
"Why didn't Smokey come? Doesn't he want to see the sheep?"
"Smokey would rather stay in the barn, where it's safer. He's not much in the way of adventurous." Amber mewed. "Look! There's the sheep pen!" Amber sped up and jumped onto the wooden fence that surrounded the many sheep.
"There's so many!" Coal meowed as he joined her. "They look like clouds on legs!"
Amber couldn't help but giggle. "Yeah, I guess they do!" she snickered.
After a little while of looking at the sheep, Amber noticed Coal seemed to be getting bored. "Do you want to go, Coal?"
"We don't have to go back to the barn.... but I am getting bored of just watching these fluff-balls."
"Hmm.... okay, how about we go see the horses? I heard that there's a new baby one." Amber suggested.
"I dunno.... maybe later. Right now I just feel like going for a walk and looking at the gardens, you know?" Coal jumped down from the fence with a small thud and a cloud of dust.
"Oh, well okay. Lead on, almighty Coal!" Amber hopped down after him.
Coal began padding along, breathing in the scents and looking around. "You know, sometimes it's nice to just look at the plants and walk, instead of running around all the time." He murmured.
"I guess...." Amber breathed in, the scent of flowers and corn bathing her tongue. It is nice. Especially with a friend.
The sun was climbing up into the sky as Amber and Coal returned to the big red barn, to be greeted by Smokey. "So, how was it? Were the sheep scary? Did they try to step on you? Are you okay?"
Coal seemed flustered by all of Amber's brother's questions, but she was used to it. "In order, cool, no, no, and yes."
"They looked like clouds on legs! But they didn't really do much, so we went for a walk." Coal added.
Catnip padded up to the three of them. "I'm glad you two are safe. You have demonstrated that you are mature enough to come and go as you please."
Amber felt joy from her ears to tail-tip. "Really? We can leave the barn without asking?"
"Just so long as you don't get into too much trouble, yes." The elderly cat nodded. "You are both around six moons old, after all."
"And when they go out, I'll keep you company!" Smokey purred.
I can't believe Catnip actually trusts me and Coal to go out whenever we want! This is awesome!

After seven sunrises of being allowed out, Coal and Amber had gotten very accustomed to the farm. Amber could find her way around in her sleep.
"Smokey, wanna come outside with me?" Amber called to her brother.
"Er...." Smokey looked back at Catnip.
"I'll be fine, Smokey. Go out and play with your sister." The old cat nodded to Smokey.
"Alright!" He scurried after her, trying not to disturb Coal, who was sleeping on a pile of straw.
Outside, Smokey looked around, as though he hadn't been outside all his life. "So, what first" he mewed after a moment.

"Well.... Let's check out the horses! I hear they have a new baby."
"Aren't they dangerous?" Smokey's​ eyes filled with fear.
"Live a little, brother!" Amber squeaked and dashed off toward the stables.
"Amber stop! Wait up!" Smokey dashed after her, catching up shortly. "I don't think it's safe to go near horses. Especially if they have young."
"We'll be fine. I'll protect you, Smokey." Amber smiled down at her brother.
When they reached the stables, the two cats creeped in through a hole in the wood. Inside there was a milky scent, followed by the high pitched whinny of the newest foal. Amber padded silently over to the pen where the baby was with his mother. "He's so cute!" She mewed excitedly. "I wonder what his name is."
"I'm sure the Twolegs have given him a nice name." Smokey assured her. "But I guess we could come up with a name to call him until we find out?"
"Well, he is dark brown. Sorta like an oak tree. Or a spruce tree. How about Spruce?"
"Spruce is a cute name! Let's go with that." Smokey agreed. Spruce whinnied.
Amber went up to the gate keeping Spruce and him mother in. "I wanna go in there." She whispered mostly to herself. She climbed up the wood and hopped down on the other side. The mother horse thrust her face down next to Amber's, her nostrils flaring, concern in her eyes. "Don't worry. I won't hurt your baby." Amber rested her tail on the mother's nose and padded over to Spruce. "You're a cutie!"
"Amber! What are you doing?" Smokey squeaked from the other side of the gate. "You shouldn't be in there."
"Oh, relax. They trust me." Amber retorted. She sat down next to Spruce, who was lying on his side. She curled up next to him, feeling his breath. His breathing slowed and he fell asleep. "Aww, just a tired kit." Amber mewed quietly and got up, walking past the mother horse, and hopping over the gate.
"What were you thinking? You could've been trampled, or bitten, or-"
"Smokey, look at me. Am I hurt?"
"Well, no- but you could've been!"
"You're just a scaredy mouse."
The two siblings walked back to the barn together, looking at the birds pecking at bits of corn, Twoleg kits playing, and even stopping to say hello to the sheep.
When they got back, they were greeted by Catnip and Coal. Amber told them all about what the two of them had been up to, and explained that they'd named the foal Spruce.
"It sounds like you'd be a wonderful mother when you're older." Catnip commented once she'd finished.
"Me? A mother? Ha! I doubt that." She snorted. But in her mind she was imagining being in a soft bed of hay, small little squirming kits by her side. If I did have kits, who would their father be?
She caught Coal's eye and felt her pelt grow hot. No way! He's practically my brother!
She shook her head. "No, I don't think so."
Catnip shrugged. "You may change your mind."
Amber could've sworn that out of the corner of her eye, she saw Coal mouth out "I wish".