<Episode 6>
"Jackal, I'm sorry for lying. I told you I threw away the things, but I couldn't bring myself to do it."
Karis spoke while gently stroking a cat small enough to rest in one palm.
"Instead, every time I remembered her, I bought more things a girl might need. Even when I see real girls, I think of her... though I end up scowling."
Jackal silently stroked Karis' back. The weight of his touch eased her tension.
"Watching this child grow will remind me of our lost daughter. It'll be painful."
"......"
"But......"
Karis gazed at Kitty with tender eyes. Though scrawny and undersized, the child radiated living warmth. With each breath, the small body rose and fell.
When Karis petted the squirming form as if soothing a dream, Kitty twitched and mumbled indistinctly. Her drowsy muttering blurred the line between sleep-talk and conscious speech.
"Mmm... I don't taste good. Just my tail......"
The thin tail swished, its missing tip leaving a visible scar. Karis gently brushed the damaged appendage. "With a tail like this, pretending to be a wolf will be difficult."
"Everywhere is dangerous for her. Let's protect her until she can stand alone."
Jackal's unusually lengthy reply made Karis realize he'd seen through her heart. She feared the guilt of welcoming new family while haunted by their daughter's memory, yet the child's adorable sleep-mumbling softened her resolve.
If our child had lived... if I'd watched her grow... Would this be how it felt? I want to see this little one's future unfold.
"...A temporary family, then."
How you frighten and delight me, Malangson.
Smiling unconsciously, she rubbed the plush pink paw pads. "Then only until the outside world becomes safer for her."
Karis hugged Kitty closer. Jackal wordlessly embraced her shoulders. For a moment, the woman who once joyfully stroked her pregnant belly each morning overlapped with the woman cradling this foundling.
'Mmm... So warm and cozy.'
I nuzzled deeper into the soft bedding, savoring my first natural awakening after deep sleep in ages. Street naps always left me wearier, but today my feather-light body felt restored after proper food and rest.
Time for a good stretch!
S-t-r-e-t-c-h!
I extended all four legs, ears, and tail to their limits. Mom always said stretching helps you grow tall. A laugh floated above me just as I finished.
"Someone's in high spirits."
"Eep!"
I jerked upright to find Karis smiling down at me in loungewear. Memories flooded back - the Gridwolves' return, my bath, collapsing asleep in the hallway.
'What happens now? Wait...'
I glanced at my hands. A bedraggled puffball stared back.
'Oh no! I'm stuck in cat form!'
As I flailed in panic, Karis chuckled. "Forgive my laughter. It's been years since I held a wolf pup. Theo and Deon outgrew cuddling long ago."
Thank goodness - she thinks I'm a wolf! And since she scowls at girly girls, my tomboy appearance must help.
'I'll act mature! To stay here as a wolf and get revenge on Jerian, I must prove myself capable.'
I sat up primly, but Karis extended a hand. "Your fur's tousled from sleep. May I groom you?"
"Y-yes, please."
I leaned forward expecting rough wolf paws, but her gentle strokes felt heavenly.
'Stop enjoying this like a kitten!'
"Does this feel nice?"
"Yes! Right there... Ah! More please!"
"I'll give paw rubs too. Theo and Deon adored them as pups."
Paw rubs! YES!
I flopped onto my back, splaying all four pink jellybean toes. Some cats hate paw touches, but firm kneading melts my stress. Karis seemed equally enchanted.
"Now I understand Deon's 'Malangson' nickname. Such delightfully squishy pink paws."
"I'm glad you like them! Yesterday I thought you hated my Malangson."
"My heart was too heavy then. We'll fatten you up properly from now on."
Her "from now on" made my heart leap, though I hid it. The massage left me bonelessly content.
'Ugh, I regressed to kittenhood...'
"Shall we eat? Everyone's waiting."
"Okay! My full name's Kitia, but Kitty's fine."
Karis repeated "Kitty" like savoring candy as I transformed back. Carried to the dining room, doubts resurfaced.
'Are they keeping me just because I passed out yesterday? What if "from now on" means one day?'
Still, one warm day beat nothing. Gridwolf employment seemed unlikely - they'd think me too small. Adoption? But my cat traits would surface eventually...
The savory aroma interrupted my worries. Theo and Deon slumped at the table, exhausted.
"Malangson! You're safe!" Deon perked up instantly while Theo sighed in relief.
They'd apparently been punished with twenty training ground laps for upsetting Karis. Jackal's grunt cut off Deon's complaints, reminding me of his boulder-like presence.
'How huge must his wolf form be? I'd look like loose thread beside him!'
The chef served mushroom cream soup with crispy salmon. Karis warned "Eat slowly, Kitty," making Deon pout.
"Mom's using a nickname?!"
"With permission. You wouldn't presume, Deon?"
"Tch... Malangson, let me too!"
"Of course! You've both been kind."
Their childish rivalry amused me until I noticed Jackal's intense stare. His demanding gaze pinned me in place.
