"Emerald and Oak have opened their eyes, but Autumn has not. What if she never does?" She whimpered, nuzzling her mate.
"She'll be fine. Lots of kits take a day or two longer than their siblings. She's strong and brave." Jake murmured. Straightening up, he turned to the other kits. "Emerald! Oak! I'm your father, Jake, and this is Rusty and Princess."
Emerald was pretty and small, with snow-white fur and vivid green eyes. Oak was plainer, with light brown tabby fur and darker green eyes. The fur on the back of his ears was darker than the rest of his tabby pelt.
"Hello!" Oak mewed. "Have you been outside? Nutmeg says that Jake will take us out tomorrow!"
"Yes, we were just out there." Princess exclaimed. "The fresh air feels so nice! But stay away from the pink-flowered bushes!"
"Let's play a game!" Emerald sqealed.
"Like what?" Rusty snorted.
"Why don't you kits play wild-cat?" Jake suggested. "There's some mouse toys I can get from the other side of the den. I'll hide them and you see who finds them first!"
As the kits sqealed in agreement, and Jake went off to find the mice, Princess found herself wondering about her father's words before. Until you are old enough to have dens of your own. What did that mean?
"All right! I hid the mice! When you find one, sneak up at it and pounce!" Jake's words shook Princess from her thoughts.
Rusty set off first, following Jake's scent trail. Emerald raced past him, finding a red mouse next to the little fish. Oak sniffed under the soft rock and pulled out a blue mouse- but three were left! Princess checked near the red door, but there were none there. She glanced around all the smaller soft stones, but the mice weren't there!
"Found one!" Rusty called loudly. He was holding a bright yellow mouse between his teeth.
In the corner of her eye, Princess spotted something green. Turning, she spotted the green mouse hidden in the folds of the blankets themselves! Snatching it from the hiding place, she meowed triumphantly.
"Where's the white one?" Nutmeg asked softly. In answer, Rusty pulled it out of the shadows.
"I got two! I'm the winner!" Rusty sqealed. "I'm the best hunter!"
"Good job. Now, kits, Jake has to go home for today. It's your bedtime." Nutmeg purred. The kits dutifully crawled into the soft basket.