Work Text:
“Arf?!”
Today, Sahpup was released outside for his daily run and patiently, he waited for Solnyan, but finds that the feline hasn't shown up anywhere at all. Dejected, Sahpup goes to his outdoor house to comfort himself with his pillows and bed, only to find a rather unexpected sight!
“Eow~.”
“Meow.”
There was Solnyan, resting on his cushiony bed like he was a king. Purring and swishing around his tail in a lazy manner. Such a sight wasn’t unusual for Sahpup as Solnyan had a habit of just taking Sahpup’s belongings whenever he pleased.
No.
What was unusual was the little brown kitten laying next to Solnyan mewing softly as the older feline meticulously groomed its fuzzy head. The thing was so small—tiny and barely the size of Sahpup’s leg. Seeing his companion being so affectionate towards this unknown creature greatly confused Sahpup and a whine he couldn’t quite control was let out.
“Warruu…”
“Meow.”
Such a cold and indifferent response. As expected of the feline menace. Still though, Sahpup felt it impertinent that Solnyan at least explain where he got this thing in the first place. Bring it here in their shared space without so much as giving a slight warning to Sahpup.
“Arf! Arf-Arf!”
Surely that will get the message across.
It should’ve.
But it didn’t.
“…”
Those narrow slitted eyes bore into sahpup’s soul after he protested. Commanding and as powerful as the day the dog met this mysterious stray.
“Arruuu…”
Having learned from prior experience, Sahpup had no choice but to relent and shuffle himself into the corner of the little house. Completely and utterly defeated with a whimper. Solnyan’s eyes never once took his piercing eyes off of the pitiful canine until he was further enough away from the feline pair. After making sure there were no more protests from the dog, Solnyan returned to grooming the kitten with a small annoyed flick of his tail.
‘This is unfair. I thought we were finally becoming close… why has Solnyan decided to invite something else into our space.’
Normally, Solnyan would be grooming Sahpup and they would just bask in each other’s presence out in the warm sun. A routine they recently managed to establish after Solnyan grew comfortable enough to play with Sahpup in the yard.
It would seem that times have now changed after these past few weeks. This time Solnyan appeared to be too focused on this random kitten he decided to bring into their lives without even so much as hinting about it to Sahpup! Where did it even come from?!
Solnyan refuses to say anything about this whole situation and it’s driving Sahpup crazy just watching the lovey scene in front of him.
Unless…
Could it be, does Solnyan have a secret mate??
But then where is that mate?
Why bring their offspring here of all places??
Would Solnyan move in this house with his mate??
Will Solnyan leave Sahpup?
“Grrr….”
Unintentionally, a growl started sounding from the dog as he glared at the fast asleep kitten. Blaming it for the fictional ruined marriage between him and Solnyan.
Suddenly, Solnyan stands up.
“…!”
The action was rather unexpected. Sahpup didn’t think Solnyan would want to move from his comfortable spot curled around the new kitten. The stranger part was how Solnyan was making his way over to Sahpup.
Was Solnyan finally deciding to come to Sahpup finally?
Has Solnyan grown tired of the kitten?
“Arr—!?”
Thrack!
A pain suddenly came on his head as Sahpup bowed his head down low to get away from the source of that punch.
“Hisssss..”
Cowed, Sahpup could do nothing but whine in confusion as Solnyan trotted back over to the sleeping newborn and curled around it once again.
…
…
…
Has Sahpup been replaced??
Sahpup has never felt so devastated in his entire 4 years of life. After all this time together, their first meeting that warm summer day, their misadventures among the trash cans and the evil hose, and most of all, the time when Solnyan finally slept next to Sahpup in the little house together when Sahpup returned home…
Does it mean nothing now?
Sahpup wanted to cry. Sahpup thought that if anyone was to be trusted, it’d at least be Solnyan. Was this too nothing more than the consequences of his naive trust?
“...”
‘Was that year together nothing to you, Solnyan?’
Sahpup did not receive an answer. Sahpup could do nothing but huddle closer to himself as he watched the two cats peacefully sleeping in front of him. His eye slowly falling close the further he drifted into the world of sleep.
-///-
“Meeeww…”
“….rooo?!”
Waking up, the first thing Sahpup registered was the lack of a black shadow that had once previously been there.
Gone.
Solnyan was gone.
“Meeeoow…meoow..”
The little brown furball was crying incessantly as Sahpup raced out of the house to desperately try to find Solnyan. Hoping, praying that Solnyan hadn’t run away again and was simply sunbathing on the fence as usual. The last time Solnyan left, he’d return with a deep cut on his side and barely survived the night in their house. It was the first time Solnyan trusted Sahpup enough to let him get close to the other.
But Solnyan wasn’t on the fence. Nor was he on the window sill with all the flowers. Not even the shed held any traces of his beloved companion.
“Arf Arf! Arrrroooo!!”
He tried calling for Solnyan as loudly as he could. Perhaps Solnyan was lounging in one of the neighbor’s yards instead? Sometimes Solnyan, when upset, would leave to the house next door to rest on their outdoor chairs. It happened whenever Sahpup did something to make Solnyan mad.
Was that it?
Is Solnyan ignoring Sahpup now because he growled at the kitten?
Seeing as Sahpup could do nothing more than wait and hope for Solnyan's safe return, he trudged back to the house defeated. Upon returning, Sahpup was greeted by the kitten still crying out. Its eyes were closed and likely unable to open due to how young it was. All Sahpup could do was stare at the small pathetic creature. Such a weak pitiful thing was able to create such a big rift between him and Solnyan just by merely existing.
It was best to get rid of it.
It would benefit all of them if the thing was gone.
“Mew…”
Its cry was annoying.
Crying and crying and crying and crying.
All it could do was cry and be weak.
“Grrr…”
The anger from the night before was slowly making a home for itself within Sahpup again. The confusion, the grief, the loss, jealousy, all of it was starting to boil over him the closer he got to the little lying in the middle of the bed.
Their bed.
The bed Solnyan and Sahpup shared countless times before.
This thing had no place within it. Had no place coming here out of the blue and taking away solnyan from him. It had NO RIGHT TO—
“!!!”
As Sahpup was right up against it, the kitten curled itself around Sahpup’s leg, softening its pathetic mewing.
“…?”
What is this?
Why was this thing curling itself up to him as if he was its mother?
Sahpup was male. And disliked infant animals. Especially this one, for taking away Solnyan from him.
“Mew, eoww…”
It was still crying out but it seemed somehow less distressed now that Sahpup was here. It seemed…weak. It is weak but something was off. The crying was still as annoyingly incessant as ever but it seemed to be getting much softer the more Sahpup stared over the kitten.
Was it..Was it dying?
It would certainly explain why it wasn’t wriggling as much anymore? But it seemed fine as far as Sahpup was concerned earlier in the day. Clinging to solnyan and kneading its feeble paws into his soft belly. The same belly Sahpup only recently was able to bury his head into. To think such a pathetic creature was allowed to do so with so little effort on its part. A thief of an infant cat.
“Hrrrrr…”
A small little noise was suddenly picked up in his floppy ears. Just on his paw, Sahpup could feel a faint trembling from the thing clinging to him. The smallest little sound from the smallest little beast Sahpup has had the displeasure of encountering.
‘Is this thing…purring? Right now?? When it’s probably dying?’
No wonder why it was dying. It’s too stupid to realize that the one before it was wishing for its death and disappearance, and yet it still clung to him like he was its protector against the world.
How foolish.
How utterly pathetic.
How…
“Mew..”
Perhaps, even if Solnyan doesn’t return, Sahpup and this kitten can be together in their loneliness for the time being. It seemed to have lost its home and doesn’t have anyone else anymore. It reminded Sahpup of his own upbringing and current situation.
‘How unlucky for you…though I guess it’s how unlucky the both of us are huh.’
Growing tired of just hovering above the kitten, Sahpup decided that it’d be simpler to just lay down on the bed as well. It wasn’t like the thing took up much space. So Sahpup laid just beside the still purring kitten and attempted to close his eyes to go back to sleep.
“Meow..!!”
A yelp was screeched from Sahpup’s side. One so distressed and sad as the kitten struggled to make its way towards him. It clumsily moved its tiny pink limbs in a way half imitating a real life being. Waving wildly and trying as hard to come closer to the warmth it felt.
Sahpup contemplated moving away from it. It looked like a little alien with how it attempted to walk, if one could even call it walking, towards Sahpup. Pink and turning darker from the exertion the more it struggled to lift its enormous head off the ground. A few times, the kitten would lose strength and fall back to the ground, mewling pitifully for someone to come save it.
But no one was going to help the kitten.
Certainly not Sahpup, that's for certain. If the thing wanted to be close to someone, it would need to work for its goals with its own strength and endurance. Having made up his mind, Sahpup just plopped down on the other side of the kitten and laid his head down, paying no mind to the small ball of fur weakly making its way towards him.
“Meeww..!”
Its weak legs had given out at some point after taking a few pitiful steps and it was once again back to crying for attention. Attention that Sahpup had no intention of giving. He simply looked at it and grunted to indicate that he was still here. As soon as the kitten heard the sound, it was like a spark of determination ignited within that small wheezing chest. With a bit more strength in its no doubt flimsy bones, the thing dragged itself across the soft cushion of the bed slowly but steadily—crying out when it got tired but not stopping until it finally reached Sahpup. Upon reaching him, it flopped down and started burying its face into his stomach.
Honestly, Sahpup very nearly wanted to bop it on the head for struggling as much as it did just crawling across from the bed. Seeing it flop all over on the way to him was both highly amusing and almost unbearable to watch. He couldn’t even begin to comprehend why Solnyan wanted to take in this ugly thing. It certainly wasn’t for its looks.
Sahpup is dozens of times cuter than this squirming creature.
“Eowwww…”
There it goes again.
Stop crying already. It’s making Sahpup have trouble sleeping! The sun was beating down on them from outside the house and his companion just ran off to who knows where! If it wanted to cuddle up to him, Sahpup won’t push it away but at least be considerate enough to not make any noise.
“Grrrr…”
Not bothering to hide his irritation, Sahpup decided to really show how he was feeling about this whole ordeal. Warning the kitten against agitating him even further.
But, unexpectedly…
“Meew.”
The kitten wasn’t afraid at all. It was trembling for certain but it wasn’t due to fear—it was mostly due to its own fragile existence of who knows how long now. It only replied with another weak mewl to his show of dominance and cuddled further into his fur.
A truly baffling response.
Whatever.
It wasn’t causing anymore trouble any–
“..!?”
“Pprrrrrrrrrrrr~.”
.
.
.
What is happening right now??
“Prrrrrrrr~...”
This thing was making the same purring noise as Solnyan does sometimes and it’s doing that weird thing to Sahpup as well even though Sahup hates this thing!
What is this!? This thing is definitely not Solnyan. Why was Sahpup feeling…so..
“....?”
“Rrrrrrrr…”
The kitten was doing something. Another weird thing. Something Sahpup saw it doing earlier with Solnyan. Its face was still tucked into his stomach like it was trying to hide from the outside world. That wasn’t anything new. This kid seems like a total coward unlike Sahpup, but that part wasn’t the thing nearly had him batting at the thing.
Knead, knead knead.
‘What are you doing!?’
It was faint–barely detectable through his thick fur–and if Sahpup wasn’t as sharp as he was, he would’ve never noticed how this kid was pushing its tiny paws into his stomach as if to feel around for his insides!? Those microscopic claws can’t even latch onto the bed beneath, much do any real harm to Sahpup through his layers of curly fur.
This thing really is stupid!
It was honestly too pitiful to push away and at the current size. It couldn’t do any real damage to him if he were to let it continue doing whatever it was doing. Solnyan was much more typical of what a cat should be like with claws. Deadly weapons that could do real harm though Sahpup rarely sees the other use them for such purposes.
Had it been Sahpup with claws like that then he’d surely use it to fight back against the bad people inside the big house. The ones who mistreated Noona. The only nice human.
As of now, all he can do is wait for her return from this place the other humans called a ‘hospital’. There was a loud noise on the day she was taken away—the kind that rang for hours in his head after hearing it—and Sahpup wasn’t really sure what happened.
Thinking about Noona made Sahpup sad…
It’s been a long time.
Perhaps Solnyan is a liar as well. Perhaps Noona left as well. Perhaps they all left because Sahpup was bad and they were not. Perhaps because Sahpup is a bad dog, they didn’t want to be around him anymore and left for a better home.
It was certainly starting to seem that way in any case.
“Prrrrrrrr……”
Knead, knead, knead.
The kitten continued to do its strange kneading ministrations on Sahpup’s belly, completely ignorant of the troubles it was now going to face and the troubles plaguing the one right next to it.
After a few moments of stillness, Sahpup’ eyes once again closed themselves, worries for the future still on his mind but instead choosing to curl up around the kitten. He didn’t realize that he did it but the kitten had fallen asleep before him and it seemed so pitiful.
It was unsightly.
‘You better…be grateful. Don’t get sick and die… it’s just.. us…now.’
And so went away his worries as the last vision he saw was the kitten's pink mouth right up against Sahpup’s own snout fading away into darkness.
-///-
Bap.
“Arrruuuu….”
“……”
BAP.
“ARU—?!”
A familiar pain burst from the top of his head as Sahpup jumped up from where he was sleeping and got into a defensive position. He was prepared to fight off whatever had invaded his home before realizing who that invader was.
“……”
“Arf!? Arf Ar!”
Sitting firing before him with the same blank stare, was Solnyan. Elegant and proper as he always was just watching Sahpup barking away at the newly found feline. The canine was in near hysteria at the sight of his companion whole and here right before his eyes. Coming up immediately to the cat to sniff and jump onto him in his excitement at their reunion.
Which only resulted in Sahpup getting smacked in the face once again by a black paw.
BAP.
A rather pathetic whine erupted from Sahpup following the failed tackle hug and he could only stare at Solnyan in betrayal at the mistreatment. His paw raised and that blank stare was still boring in Sahpup’s very soul.
But, judging from his tail, Solnyan didn’t appear to be too upset.
He seemed relaxed for the most part.
Hopefully Sahpup doesn’t get beat up this time.
Seeing that Sahpup was frozen in place, Solnyan seemed to lose interest and looked over at the kitten lying next to the dog. It wasn’t quite awake but it wasn’t asleep either.
In fact…
It was holding onto something so strange Sahpup half wondered if he was dreaming.
A large tube of some sort about the size of the kitten itself with a yellow end filled with a white liquid. It seemed like it was milk? The kitten was suckling on the yellow end while twitching its tiny ears like a butterfly. Solnyan was just watching the kitten as it drank whatever was inside the tube as if ensuring it was properly taking it all in.
“……?!”
‘What is that?! What sort of item did you bring back this time, Solnyan?!’
One couldn’t help but question how Solnyan kept getting so many strange little trinkets and tools to use. Anytime they spent together in the past, Solnyan more often than not had a new gadget to play around with that ended up being what saved them or getting them out of whatever trouble they landed in.
This specific item has to be one of the weirdest yet. And so specific too. It seemed to be an item for feeding infants. How Solnyan got his claws on it, Sahpup will likely never know.
“grrr…Arf!”
Why was Solnyan suddenly back? Why did he leave in the first place? Was it to get food for the little squirt? Then he should’ve at least informed Sahpup about it before just up and leaving out of nowhere.
Sahpup half expected Solnyan to just ignore him like he usually did. But today seemed to be full of surprises.
Solnyan, taking those large, red eyes off of the suckling kitten and turned them onto the upset canine. Sahpup couldn’t read his expression at all. He’s never been able to but at that current moment, it felt as if he would get sucked into those round orbs with how intently the feline was looking at him. Just staring for a brief moment that seemed to carry on for ages.
Nothing but silence and a faint sound of the kitten eating away between them.
It wasn’t that fast but it certainly felt like it at the time but Solnyan suddenly leaned closer towards Sahpup’s face, startling the pooch. Sahpup flinched and nearly stood up in surprise but he was then rendered frozen by Solnyan’s next actions.
“!!!”
A lick.
One on his snout.
It was so unexpected that Sahpup was stuck processing the action for a moment and completely caught off guard once again by Solnyan licking him again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
Over and over again. Solnyan repeated the motions of grooming Sahpup all over his furry face while Sahpup just laid them stunned by the strangely affectionate actions that seemingly came out of nowhere.
It reminded Sahpup of how the two of them usually spent their time before.
Just them, in their sweet little home.
While Sahpup really liked the attention, it was odd that Solnyan was grooming him right now when Solnyan was mad at him not too long ago. Sahpup himself still isn’t sure why Solnyan became mad at him in the first place. The reason was still unclear.
Was it because of the kitten?
That same kitten was making the rumbling noise again as it ate. Its eyes were closed in clear contentment and drowsiness. Occasionally, Solnyan would pause in his grooming to inspect the kitten before returning to cleaning Sahpup.
It was rather strange…in a good way?
Sahpup could feel himself slowly feeling calmer and more at peace the more Solnyan showered him in affection. The earlier confusion was fading away. He couldn’t help but lean closer to Solnyan, butting his head towards the other in a rather overeager manner. But the feline didn’t seem to mind too much and continued with his grooming.
Slow and yet so firm in his actions.
Meticulous and somehow so straightforward with his intent.
There were times Sahpup questioned whether or not Solnyan actually enjoyed being around him, such as when the other hit him earlier, but then it was moments like these that reminded him that Solnyan didn’t usually do things that he didn’t want to. He was honest even if he never openly expressed what those wants were.
Solnyan left a lot. More times than Sahpup would care to keep track of. But no matter what, he always came back. Sahpup isn’t sure why it is that this cat always seemed to come back to this tiny backyard with nothing but a stupid dog in it, Solnyan never really made it clear what it was that he was looking for when he first stumbled into the yard, but Sahpup would like to think that part of the reason for his constant return was because of Sahpup himself. That maybe–just maybe–Solnyan was lonely as well and liked Sahpup enough to spend time with him instead wandering around.
He’ll never know for sure though.
Because Solnyan and Sahpup can’t understand each other. Not like how Sahpup could understand other dogs or how Solnyan could understand other cats.
“Prrrrrrrr…”
As Sahpup was about to drift to sleep again, a rather loud noise punched through the air. Momentarily startling Sahpup but upon discovering that the heavy purring sound was coming from Solnyan himself, he settled just a bit. The whirring sound was still going on. Taking control of the air like a fog. But instead of bringing in cold and misery with its appearance, this sound made Sahpup sleepier, even a bit happier the more he listened to it.
Like a louder and more refined version of the weird sound the kitten made earlier.
Solnyan was still grooming Sahpup but maneuvered around until he was sitting right next to Sahpup. The little kitten was lying in front of them as they curled around it right in front of the entrance of the house.
If Sahpup allowed himself to be delusional enough, he could almost fool himself into thinking Solnyan had brought that kitten to raise with Sahpup as his partner. But that would be an absurd notion, right? Surely not. They were both male and had no need for pups. They only recently started spending time together without upsetting each other enough to storm off.
Sahpup as a provider would be just impossible.
He used to think Solnyan was similar but seeing how careful the other was with the little thing, he’s never been proven more wrong about the cat. Unlike Sahpup, Solnyan seems to be a pretty good provider.
It’s rather strange that Solnyan picked Sahpup’s house of all places to bring the kitten to. Perhaps Solnyan had a kitten with another cat and left that cat afterwards?
Did cats usually stay together after mating?
Sahpup had no way of knowing. Solnyan was the only frame of reference for cat behavior that Sahpup really had. The kitten was too young to know anything and other cats Sahpup encountered just mocked or ignored the pooch whenever they passed by his yard.
Solnyan was initially like that before sticking around more permanently.
“Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…”
The strange noise was still going on around them. The sound was even more clear in his ears now that Solnyan was even closer to him.
Similarly…
“Prrrrrrr……!”
A smaller, much more familiar rumbling was heard as well. Coming from just beside him as the kitten stopped eating and made its way to cuddle between them. It appeared to be much rounder than before so it struggled to carry itself closer to the two older.
Sahpup wasn’t going to pay it much mind but Solnyan had stopped grooming him and was now giving his attention to the kitten again!
How dare—!?
The kitten was clearly enjoying the attention as well as it was much closer to Solnyan now and doing that strange kneading motion into his stomach while turning its back towards Sahpup.
Sahpup was quite devastated by this turn of events.
He flopped dramatically onto Solnyan’s paws and pushed his furry head into the sleek black fur of his companion, hoping to get the other to go back to his previous motions.
But as always, Solnyan ignored him and continued to care for the kitten. The sleeping kitten which had stolen Solnyan's attention when it was Sahpup’s first!
Sahpup whined at the injustice.
Solnyan just carried on with his task.
The little rascal that was the kitten was none the wiser of his elder’s envy towards it and just basked in the warmth of two bodies huddled around it like a little family.
Throughout it all, the rumbling from the two felines did not stop once. Not even a pause.
In this tiny little house, filled with old cushions and pillows, tucked away under a large tree in an equally as small yard, homed three lost souls who have now found each other.
A world just for themselves closed within these four walls.
Bonus!
“Meow.”
Solnyan sat elegantly on the bare porch. His long black tail swayed behind him in a relaxed motion as he stared at the giant man before him. Pieces of paper were being held under his right paw.
“Very well then. Please wait here while I get your goods.”
“Meow.”
The giant man went inside the house and disappeared momentarily before coming back with a small bottle filled with kitten formula.
“The item you requested. Thank you for your purchase.”
“Meow.”
The cat lifted up his paw and pushed the pieces of paper towards the man and took the bottle with a small nod of thanks. The man likewise nodded back and took the money given to him and headed back inside the house without much further fanfare.
‘This should help the little one, right? The strange human seemed to think so if he gave it to me.’
Picking up the bottle was a bit of a chore but Solnyan was able to do so after a few attempts and slowly made his way back to the house with food for the little one. Hopefully Sahpup was taking care of it without causing trouble.
‘That guy better not have made the little one cry while I’m out here doing work.’
Carefully, Solnyan leaped through the many other yards and fences with the bottle firmly held by his tail. Careful to concentrate to maintain the hold he had on this precious good.
‘I’ll be home soon.’