"Turf War" -- A Feli Story

[Ryuukokoro]

Disclaimers: The Feli adoptable is designed and colored by Leet. The Feli in the story are my own, unless stated otherwise.

~ ~ ~

Chapter 1: Same Ole', Same Ole'

Against all Kohaku's wildest hopes, a year had not matured Mango's personality much.

"YAAA!"

"Wuh!?" The older black-and-white Feli almost fell over with the force that plowed into him, despite the fact that he was twice her weight, if not more. Paws with sheathed claws wrapped around his neck and little needle teeth buried themselves in the thick fur behind his ear. A furious half-growl half-purr rumbled into that ear.

"What are--get off, you!" Kohaku swung his body around, hauling the small tabby Feli easily across the fake moss their Upright used on the floors of her Den. Mango hung on gamely for the ride, kicking at his belly with her hind legs. Her teeth shifted up and down until she all bit nibbled the fur completely off his ear itself. That was the point that Kohaku had had enough. He reached up with a front paw and smacked her in the shoulder hard enough to send her sprawling on the ground, then leaped over her prone body and up into the soft nest their Upright sat on to watch the Loud Box (mercifully off right now).

Panting, the young cat lay on the moss where she had fallen with whiskers bouncing up and down in mirth. "You should have seen your face!" she mewed.

"Grow up," grumbled Kohaku. He was too old to be a pouncing-toy for kitten-play. And Mango was almost two, far too old to be acting like a feather-headed kitten, according to his sensibilities.

"I think I heard your bones creaking," Mango chortled, blinking her amber eyes up at Kohaku. He turned his head away and didn't dignify that with a response. He twitched his ear, damp with Feli-drool, and started licking his paw in order to wash it properly. Kohaku ignored his housemate's continued sounds of amusement while he washed himself back to proper order, his gaze lingering on the bright light shining in from the outside world on the other side of the window.

When he was properly clean again and his dignity returned, the male Feli leaped lightly down from the Upright nest and sauntered out of the loud-box-room, tail held high. He didn't even twitch an ear when he heard Mango call out behind him to ask where he was going. Instead he kept his unhurried pace and strolled into the food-smelling-room, where their Upright was standing at the place where she made her food. He heard Mango's pawsteps behind him, but he didn't react.

For a moment Kohaku was distracted, but it didn't smell like the Upright was making anything good for Feli, like meat or cheese. Just boring green leafy smell, which for some unfathomable reason, the Upright Walkers liked to eat.

So he didn't pause much as he walked right up to the door and stared at it fixedly, his tail pointing straight up in clear Feli-language. Even though the Uprights couldn't speak the Feli language, they did manage to understand some things if he was insistent.

It didn't take long at all for her to notice him. "All right, I'm coming," said the loud, chattering voice of his Upright. She walked across the room and opened the door. Bird sound and sunlight flooded into the cool Den, and Kohaku walked outside with a purr of delight at the nice day.

"Not you, Mango," their Upright said quickly behind him, sticking out a foot to block the tabby's way as she tried to follow. "The last time you got out you were terrified and hid under the shed, and I couldn't get you inside for three hours."

"That's not fair!" Mango mewed in protest, staring in outrage at Kohaku.

He sat down on the sun-warmed porch, turned and gave her a triumphant "so there" look over his shoulder as their Upright closed the door, blocking Mango's escape.