Sorry if this chapter comes off as rushed- I worked really quickly to get this one out!
I comforted the fox kit through what I perceived to be nighttime. Obviously, it was difficult to tell when exactly time passed, but for the sake of my sanity I tried to adhere to the passage of time. When I instinctively caught a second bat for Fallen Leaves, I fed it to the kit, and she ate ravenously.
After a little while, she began to warm up to me. Her dark eyes shone less with fear and more with admiration. It felt odd, knowing the kit would grow to be almost twice my size, and yet she looked up to me so. However, just feeding and soothing her was not quite enough. If I was going to play her mother, if only for a brief time, I would have to act like one. I let her chase and pin down my thick, squirrelly tail, and when she stared up at me expectantly I would toss a small stone or dried leaf for her to fetch. It was a little mind-numbing, but it felt good to take care of something for once. But one of those times, when I was hesitant to throw the stone again, a searing flash of pain shot up my leg.
When I glanced down, I saw the kit's needle-like teeth sunk into my flesh and shook her off quickly, letting out a low growl to, hopefully, communicate my pain to her. And then I realized what should have been obvious. Even at such a young age, a fox can be dangerous. It feels silly saying it now, but I had named her Firekit, after my grandfather and, once, my leader. When a couple hours had passed of me wandering through the tunnels, still calling for Fallen Leaves, and of Firekit following me loyally wherever I went, I decided it was nighttime. Instinctively I shied away as she attempted to burrow her small body into my fur, but I eventually gave in and let her take in my warmth.
We slept through the night.
I awoke to see a half-see-through tom standing over me, pale green eyes dark with concern. My heart fluttered. "Fallen Leaves!"
We embraced briefly, but only after we were separate did I notice the worry in Fallen Leaves' wide eyes. When I inquired what could be the matter, he chuckled sadly. Even as I tried to gauge his expression, he did not look at me, as if he was ashamed of his own concern. "When I ran off, I discovered an opening, and, well… I got worried. You were nowhere to be found, and I… I thought about how lonely I would be if you were to leave."
While I had sympathy for the sorrowful spirit, at the same time it felt as if he was trying to… to sentence me here. I needed to respond in a way that made clear that this tunnel life was temporary while still comforting him. "You don't need to worry." I placed one paw on his shoulder in an attempt to soothe his nerves. "I'm here because I wanted to get away from the Clans. I can't stay here forever, but I'll only leave when I feel I'm ready."
Though tears still sparkled at the edges of the dappled tom's eyes, he nodded, and shrugged off my paw. "I get that. No mortal cat can have a real life here, I know that much. But… it's good to know I'll have company for a little while yet."