Chapter Text
The pride was settling down after a successful hunt. It had been many days since Quick had left his gift for them. The lionesses and cubs were enjoying themselves as they ate.
All of them except for one…
Fire frowned, looking away. He hadn’t touched any of the food. Instead he had simply been staring off into the horizon.
Powerstrike noticed this.
“Are you alright my little fire?” She asked, nuzzling him affectionately.
“I’m okay…” Fire answered.
“It’s just….Remember how that no mane appeared a few days ago-”
“Oh Fire….” Powerstrike soothed, pulling him close.
“I know that must have been very scary for you. I’m sorry that I wasn’t faster-”
“I’m not scared mom!” Fire insisted, shoving her away.
“I’m upset! Seeing him bring us food…..it…it reminded me of dad….” He explained.
The others stopped eating upon hearing this. Smoke swallowed, then frowned.
“Yeah…Dad would always let us eat first….I really miss him….” She said, moving closer to her brother. Fire moved to rest his head against hers.
The lionesses frowned. They all missed Starmane too. The pride hasn’t been the same without him. Even though it had been many days since he passed his absence was still noticeable.
“I believe….” Sharptongue spoke up after a moment of silence.
“That when we miss our loved ones….we should focus on the good memories we had of them….”
Smoke frowned, thinking. She then smiled.
“Hey mom….do you remember that time when you were sleeping and dad snuck up and lightly bit you on the butt?” She asked.
Powerstrike laughed. “Of course….I never woke up so fast in my life!”
“Yeah, and you nearly clawed dad’s face off too. It was so funny.” Fire added.
“Well it’s his own fault, he should have known better than to sneak up on a sleeping huntress” Powerstrike claimed, smiling.
Soon the pride began to share more stories. Sharptongue spoke about the time Starmane had tripped and gotten his head stuck into a hole. Powerstrike retold the time he had tried to impress her by catching a warthog, only to accidentally get his butt poked by its tusks.
Fire and Smoke laughed loudly as their mother and grandmother told them stories of their dad. While still missing Starmane, the cubs felt much happier, remembering what a total goof he was.