I heard the wind roar and in the distance a bird alarmed. Something bad was coming. Suddenly all went quiet. I stood still under a bush and held my breath. 1, 2, 3, 4- I counted as my mother once told me. 5. BOOM. Birds flew in fear from the direction of the gunshot. I stayed hidden. The men who hunted in this forest were known to go after us beast-men. If they found me I could be next.
After a couple of hours I was sure they were gone. Who did they get this time? I ran through the forest, my tail behind me as my paws thudded. At the site I found one of the bobcats. She was a woman of larger stature, with short ginger hair.
"They took my daughter. The awful man tricked her. I warned her so many times, but she didn't believe me. He led them to her and now she's, now she's-" her grief overcame her. She laid on the ground sobbing, and I left her alone to grieve. I had to go reassure my younger brother I am safe.
"Rin! Rin! What happened? Are you okay? Was it someone we know?"
"I know you have lots of questions, but I just came in the door. I am okay. It was a stranger. No, she was not a fellow wolf or even a canine. She was a cat. And yes, I can make dinner now. Anything else?"
"What is for dinner? Oh- also, you never said what happened or what kind of cat."
"You are hopeless, little Miku. Dinner is a surprise, I don't feel like answering anymore questions."
"Why not? Is it jam and toast? Rabbit stew? Squirrel barbeque? Salad and berries?"
"Not answering."
"Awe..."
He started out watching me curiously as I pulled meat from the cooler, but his interest got drawn elsewhere.
Miku had the same eyes as me, father's blue eyes. He also had his grey hair, but I had mom's brown hair. We used to all live together in this abandon cottage, but the men took my mother and father died going after them. For years I despised him for choosing vengeance over his own children, as Miku was a newborn and I was only eight. After time I have seen how these men tear apart families, one by one they have all been destroyed and some species have even gone extinct. I no longer had it in me to hate him. I turned to Miku once the eggs were done.
"Fried pork and eggs! YAY!" He mused. I chuckled. If only I could be a kid again. To feel so much joy over just one plate of food. I miss it.
"Hey sis?"
"Yeah?"
"I didn't know what to get you, so I made you this. I hope you like it. Happy Birthday!" He handed me a charm bracelet. It's charms appeared to be wood engraved by hand.
"Thank you, little bro. I love it." I really did love it.