A deep sigh resonated from the chocolate colored chakat. Shi pulled off the stuffy helmet and shook hir copper red hair. The smell of fresh air was refreshing compared to the constant smell of plastic and compressed oxygen. Emberspot loves hir job as a pilot for the Federation, but the helmet is one thing shi could go without. The kat stared up at hir fighter, placing a paw against its metal exterior, thinking about the conversation shi just had with hir superior. Shi’s going to be leaving with a group of fighters to escort a cargo vessel. The trip will be 3 weeks long, and shi’ll be missing hir cubs 5 year birthday. How is shi going to explain this to hir mate?

Just then, a familiar warmth filled the troublesome chakat, like a gentle hug from afar. Emberspot’s ears perk as shi turned suddenly, chiming gently, “Patty!”
A small caramel colored chakat cub bounded up and attached hirself to hir sire’s front, “DADDY!” An older grey tabby striped chakat followed behind her, a loving smile across hir muzzle.

Emberspot picked up the young cub in hir arms and hugged hir tight, “Hey there, Cookie Monster. What’s the special occasion? You never visit me at work.” Shi leans in and kisses hir lifemate.

“We were in town and decided that we’d kidnap you for dinner.” Patternpelt kissed hir softly as shi chuckled. “Also, this little one wanted to see your secret lair.” as shi laid a hand on hir child’s curly copper colored hair, the same color as hir sire’s.

Emberspot set the energetic Gingersnap on the ground and handed hir the helmet. “If you come into the secret lair, you’ll have to dress the part.” And with a shrill squeak, the cub put the oversized helmet on hir head and raced off, making buzzing noises. Shi was a pilot like hir sire now, fighting off monsters and pirates and saving the day. Hir imagination took hir to the stars, flying high without a care in the world. Shi ran past another pilot climbing out of hir fighter. Shi chuckled as the cub raced by.

Patternpelt approached hir mate and unzipped hir jacket, “What about me? Does this fit the part?” As shi slips the jacket off and discards it on the ground, revealing a sexy red strapless top.

The leopard spotted chakat growled softly as shi pulled the seductive chakat close, “Hmmm. Nope, we’ll have to discard of it immediately.” Shi chuckled, only partially joking as shi nuzzled into tabby’s curly hair, inhaling hir sweet scent. God, shi is going to miss hir.

“Oh, you’ll have plenty enough time to do all of that when we get home.” commenting as Patternpelt placed a paw on hir horny mate’s chest to gently fend hir off.

Emberspot sighed softly, realizing that shi’ll have to tell them both eventually. “Patty, about that…” shi reached out and placed a paw on the energetic cub as shi made another pass around them. “Hey slow down there, Cookie Monster!”Gingersnap stops and turns to hir sire, head tilted to the side. Emberspot crouched down and smiled gently at the cub, “Daddy is gonna have to leave for a while for work…”

Gingersnap’s eyes sparkled with youthful delight, “Oh! Are you going to go fight off monsters and pirates?” Patternpelt sighed sorrowfully at the thought.

“Well, let’s hope there aren’t any monsters or pirates. But if they decide to show their ugly faces, I’ll show them another thing coming!” as Emberspot throws a couple of punches at the invisible enemy. Shi paused momentarily to gather hir thoughts. “But… I won’t be able to be here for you birthday, hun.” The small cub smiled and wrapped hir tiny arms around hir sire with a hug.

“As long as you come home safely, that’s all that matters.” Patternpelt said softly, as shi nuzzled into hir mates neck. Emberspot leaned in and kissed hir gently, reassuring hir that everything will be alright…

Everything will be just fine…

……………

………

…

But Emberspot never did return home. They said that the enemy came out of nowhere. They said that many pilots survived. But Emberspot never returned home. They said it was a tragic loss. They said that it was a great honor to die for a cause. But how do you explain to a 5 year old that hir sire is never coming home, that the monsters and pirates came, and were defeated, but daddy is never returning home?

How do you tell a child that hir hero is dead?

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This is the story that I had going on in my head as I drew this picture. Nothing all that special :P

Art and short story © TheCatnamedFish

Updated the lineart. Refresh to see!