“Yieeeee!” Swoosh! Josh was after it before he even knew what ‘it’ was. “Red snapper!” he crowed as he chased the smell around the room. Red snapper was a rare treat in the rebel hideout; if he managed to get any fish at all, they were tiny sardines tasteless from too long in a tank. His tiny body crashed after the darting object while his mouth drooled from the smell alone.

A toy! It was a toy!

Pounce! The small ball darted away. Josh felt a spark of mana as one paw brushed against the edge of the new toy and then it was rushing away again. “No! Come back!” Josh nearly rolled over trying to switch directions and ignoring Kit’s soft chuckles. Later Josh would realize that Kit was using hover magic to float the toy and ‘play,’ but right now his little kitten mind couldn’t think of anything but “yummy fish!”

Swipe! Claws out and mouth open, Josh almost squealed at the excitement. He had a toy! That was a thrill all by itself. Who cared if it was a tiny thing that would fit in an infant’s palm? His inner cat (and inner child) was elated. His heart was about to burst from joy!

Or was that the pounding of adrenaline and exertion? Was his he just excited, or having a heart attack? Four little paws were too short to keep up with the shiny! Kit was challenging Josh’s ability! “I can do it~!” he growled out as the rug practically slid out from under him on a wild turn.

Josh wasn’t just some random weak little kitten. He was a beastkin. That snapper was his!

One bad push through a decorative sash had Josh yelping and tangled. “Owie…” he moaned while Kit gave a soft chuckle and helped him get unstuck. There was a scent on Kit’s hands that said he was eating, but Josh wasn’t interested in Kit’s food. He could hunt his own!

“Are you happy?” Kit asked while unwrapping Josh’s tail.

“Yep!” Josh chirruped. “Let me go, I gotta catch it!” He was off as soon as his paws hit the floor. The ball was hovering and waiting for him, and started darting away when Josh got close enough. Kit’s magic was too quick sometimes, but Josh’s paws were starting to brush against it more and more often and he was almost there!

Wiiieee. Yes, Josh was happy! This was the first time he’d ever been able to really play. He’d taught the other kids games and entertained them, but that always felt more like work. This was just for him. His heart beat fast and his lungs felt like they were going to explode before he finally gave up. His legs almost collapsed under him and he gave a small whine as he looked back at Kit.

“You’re too mean,” he accused as he laid his head down on his paws. “I hurt.”

Big hands scooped him up and laid Josh on the next of clothes Josh had claimed from the closet (back before wards had declared the area off-limits). The little ball floated closer and right into Kit’s hand.

Josh had never had a cat toy before. Even human toys - just plain, silly toys - weren’t just for him. Everything was shared. Even his parents hadn’t just been his. He wasn’t sure if this was really ‘fun’. He was heaving and panting with legs that felt like wet noodles, and he wasn’t even able to catch the ball.

It was exciting. Thrilling, even. A good chase.

Josh yawned and smacked his lips together, imagining the taste of red snapper. “You know, if you let other people win sometimes they wouldn’t send me on missions. How am I supposed to do what I need to when you’re so much better at everything?” He yawned again and laid his head down on the fabric.

“All tuckered out, huh?” Kit asked as he gave Josh a good rub between the shoulders. With one hand he flicked open the latch and showed Josh the bit of fish he’d been chasing. “Ready for a treat?”

“I didn’t earn it,” Josh grumbled, “but I’m hungry now, and since I’m your pet then you’re supposed to feed me. So I’ll take it.”

Kit gave Josh a firm rub down the back that ended in tail scritches and made his butt wiggle a bit. “Just stay out of trouble,” Kit said gently. “Do that and I’ll play with you all you want.”

Josh huffed as he nibbled at the treat. He was a kitten. Cats weren’t known for staying out of trouble. They were expected to cause it.

Still, after Kit left all Josh felt like doing was napping. It wasn’t like he had to search right this minute, right? Sleep was important too. Healthy, even. He fell asleep with his paw across the open hinge of the latch just in case Kit thought to steal it before he could lick the last bits out.

Kit gave it to him so Josh wasn’t going to give it back until he was ready.