Well, maybe not perfect. Momma wished she could provide her babies with more and a better variety of foodstuffs then she could manage here in the high hills. For even though their nest site overlooked the peaceful valley that spread out below them and that was home to many farms and orchards. And while even having a small village just a short ways off towards the valley’s southern edge. Momma could not go down there to get food for her babies. Because of him; he was everywhere. And it seemed that whenever Momma would try to slip down from their hill, to get some of the abundant food sources that seemed to be everywhere in the lowlands. She would come across his scent and she would know that he was near. She had never seen him, but she knew what he must look like; a big dog, who was evil incarnate.

Dusk was just minutes away and there were no clouds on the western horizon that would lengthen the time of shadow and half-light. For tonight when the sun dropped down behind the distant mountains; darkness would fall quickly. Momma was a little restless, being anxious for the night to come. For today she had not been able to supplement her babies diet and she had been forced to nurse them several more times then she would have liked. Since she was trying too taper them off anyway. For Momma, the night would consist of many short hunting trips. But she would never go very far, while her babies were alone in the small nest that was concealed by some scraggly clumps of bushes that called the hillside home. Since the loss of her mate, she had to undertake the defense of the nest by herself, which meant that she was doing two jobs really. For normally she would be in charge of nurturing and obtaining food, while her mate would constantly guard the nest. But without him, life was different, for they all missed his smiling face and surly attitude. But mostly they missed the love that just sort of oozed out of him whenever he was around them. Momma remembered and sighed wistfully.

Momma got up and stretched, then turned to look at the sky above their hill. It was still light, but around them the ground of turning dark, especially in the valley below where it was already night. And lights had sprung on all over, marking the several farms and places where the humans had their homes. Mouschi came over and stood by her mother. Momma turned and noticed her, then licked her about her head and shoulders. "Momma, when are we going to go someplace else? There must be a place somewhere around here, where we can find some trees to climb, or maybe a stream to drink from," she said.

"Yeah, that’d be neat," Sebala said as he joined them. "I’d like to climb something besides the ground, anytime. When can we go?"

"Your still too young, to just up and leave here," Momma said to them as the four kittens gathered around her. "But it won’t be long, I’ll know when the time is right; it’s just not now."

"But we’re ever so big now," Sebala said as he pulled himself up to his full height, which was still pretty small.

"It’s not a matter of size," Momma said.

"But then what is it?" Micetto asked looking puzzled.

"There’ll come a time when I will know that I can trust you all, to react quickly and wisely enough in your own defense and in the defense of the family, for us to leave the nest. For then you won’t be babies anymore. But you will be young kits and kats and we can move onto the next step, which will be learning about life," Momma said.

"But we want to see all the amazing things you’ve told us about," Cymric said.

"You will, baby — just not yet," Momma said.

"But I hate it here — there’s nothing to do," Micetto said.

"I know baby, but it’s safe up here — the dogs don’t come up here," Momma said.

"Nobody would ever come up here, because there’s nothing to do," Sebala said.

The moon had risen early and it was still bright and mostly full. It back lit the several white clouds that hung in the sky overhead without much movement. Otherwise a dark and starry night sky spread out over them. And Momma, along with the kittens just sat there for a while, glancing up at the tranquil sky or down at the peaceful valley that spread out before them. After a pause, Micetto said, "Look Momma, the brightest star — we should make a wish."

"Yes, it’s much brighter than the others — it must be a special star," Sebala said.

"Make a wish, mother," Mouschi said. "Such stars are for wishing."

Momma glanced up at the eastern sky where a bright star seemed to hover and she noticed that it seemed to have a halo around it, like the moon sometimes did. She looked at it, then she closed her eyes, just for a minute, and a smile came over her. The kittens all watched her with their big round soft eyes and they smiled to themselves. Then Mouschi asked her, "What did you wish for, mother?"

"I wished that my babies would grow up to be as happy as I am, and to have lots of babies of their own," Momma said to them.

"Oh, you shouldn’t have said it out loud," Cymric said. Then when he realized the possibilities, he added, "But it still may come true, anyway."

"Yes, that’s right," Momma said. "Spoken wishes, are no wishes — but sometimes even such things can’t change what’s going to happen anyway."

"Well, I made a wish, too," Micetto said. "And I’m not going to say it — just in case."

"Well, I guess it’s time for me to go and get you guys some dinner — why you all must be starving," Momma said. She turned to the kittens and licked several of them, then she stopped and glanced down the hill again at the serene valley. "Remember, when I’m gone, Cymric is in charge because he is the oldest. And you stay near the nest." The kittens all gathered around her and roamed around in front of her. Then she took several steps upwards and across the hill. And then when she had separated herself from them a little ways, she turned and looked back at them. Then she said, "And remember, if you hear someone or something coming, then don’t wait until you can see them — when you first hear them, you run to the old badger hole and hide in there until I come for you. All right?"

The kittens all stood there and gave her their best innocent laced smiles, then Momma turned, going up over the crest of the hill until she was out of sight. As she went, she passed a small bush and on one of the branches was a lizard. She saw him clearly but since his night vision was not very good, he had not seen her looking at him until way too late. Then he could do nothing but merely freeze when he should have turned and ran. But Momma was not interested in lizards, at least not yet. Lizards were not particularly good eating anyway. And Momma reasoned to herself that lizards were not the kind of prey that you took at first. No, lizards were the sort of thing that you caught on the way back if you had nothing else. So she moved on over the hilltop and beyond.

The kittens watched their mother leave, then they just hung on where they were for a while. That is until Sebala noticed that Cymric was not paying much attention to anything, including him. So he sprang forward, directly at Cymric and by the time that Cymric saw him coming, he was without choices. And could do nothing as Sebala veered past the front of him and then turned, leaping on his neck and pretending to administer a killing bite. The only thing that Cymric could do was to roll with the momentum that was created by Sebala’s charge. Which caused the two kittens to flop over onto the ground and be momentarily separated. Cymric scrambled to his feet, while turning to face his opponent. But when he did he found him standing there with a look of triumph on his face and a snickering gleam about him. Cymric stopped, looking at his brother, then he too smiled and he nodded his head in agreement. While somewhere on the tote board that kept the score between the two of them, a check mark was placed in Sebala’s column.

The girls stood there and watched their brothers, absentmindedly, for a while, then they noticed it. A smell was coming up the hill on the breeze that blew from the east, across and through the valley below. But this smell was closer then that. It was not just the history of some odor that was coming from far away. For this smell seemed to move, to get closer, and it was totally delicious. It must be food. For the four kittens who stood there breathing in the wonderful scent, could not imagine that anything that smelled that good would not be edible. So the kittens stood there, way too long. And they could clearly see the two people who were trudging their way up the hillside, before Cymric sprang into action and they all turned to run. But they were not running for the badger hole, where they stayed for safety and during bad weather. Instead they ran back to the nest and hid themselves within it.

The two humans came up the hill slowly, with the male in the lead. While the female following along behind him as if she was having trouble taking each step further. Finally, the male stopped and turned. When the female had come up to him, they both stood there for a minute, looking down over the peaceful moonlit valley that spread out below them. They were carrying things, especially the male, which they set down while the male spread out a blanket. Then they placed some of the things on the blanket and the male sat down. The female stood over him for a minute, then she sort of sank down onto the blanket next to him. Some of the wispy clouds that were floating around had been playing in front of the moon. But now the breezes nudged them out of the way and the moon shown forth, over the peaceful scene. Flooding the hills and their valley with a soft but lustrous light.

The kittens came out of the nest and they stood there watching the two people with fascination, while concealed behind a bush. They could still smell that wondrous smell and it was making them even more hungry than they would have been otherwise, it smelled so good to them. Finally, Mouschi turned to Cymric and said, "Momma’s going to be mad at us for not running to the hole, like she told us too."

"Never mind that," Cymric said. "What’s that smell? It’s some sort of delicious food — maybe they would give us some, if we went over and asked them."

"Momma will have a cow!" Micetto said with feigned disbelief. But they all found the suggestion appealing. It’s just that none of them wanted to be in a position to get blamed, if things went otherwise.

"I can’t stand it," Cymric said at last. "We could go and get something to eat — and be back by the time Momma gets back. She'll never know!"

"Maybe…" Sebala said hesitating.

"There giants — these people, how do you know they won’t just turn on us and chase us?" Micetto asked.

"Anything that big, can’t be very fast — not like us," Cymric said. "And if they attack us, we can just run away, hide in the badger hole, and it will be as if we went there to begin with."

"Your going to get us into a lot of trouble," Mouschi said but there was hesitation in her voice.

"Well, I’m going to go and get fed — you guys stay here if you want," Cymric said. "I’ll try to bring you something back."

"But what if it’s so big, you can’t carry it?" Sebala asked.

"Then I’ll eat it all myself!" Cymric said to them. And this kind of logic is a certainty to every kitten. Besides when you factor in a healthy dose of curiosity, things begin to look less awe-inspiring.

Cymric came out from behind the bush that was concealing them and the other kittens followed along a little behind him. He slowly and carefully made his way across the twenty yards or so that separated them from the place where the humans were nestled together on their blanket. The kittens got close, closer than they ever dreamt they could, since they thought that they were making quite a racket. But the humans seemed not to notice them, that is until Cymric got close enough and softly meowed, a couple of times. He was barely a yard behind them, when the young female human turned her head, continued the move by rotating her shoulders, and turning at the waist. When she did this maneuver, her long hair spilled down around her and hung down her back. And as she turned she placed her hand down on the ground to balance herself as she looked behind her. It took just a moment for her eyes to pick out what she was looking at. And the kittens all had a moment of paranoia, as they held their breath, waiting to see what her reaction would be. Then her eyes focused on Cymric and she saw him, and a look came over her face as if she had just found a lost valuable. Her eyes and face took on an expression that the kittens all knew instantly. Because they had been seeing it all their lives, for their mother looked at them that way, always — a look of love laced with wonder that anything could be so beautiful. Cymric opened his mouth and gave a soft meow. In reaction to this, the human lady reached behind her, slowly, and by taking her two hands she cupped them around Cymric and lifted him up. Then she brought him in front of her while inspecting him with her large round eyes. The other kittens did not wait, they did not want to miss out on this incredible good fortune. For kittens are love hogs, they take all they can get, from whatever source. And one by one the four kittens all approached the humans, each to be welcomed. In fact, it was as if the human female had four arms and hands, for she petted and stroked the four kittens while they roamed all about her and climbed on her. Who was gladder to see whom, was a valid question.

Momma came over the crest of the hill and almost at the same time that she saw the two humans nestled there amid the shadows, she smelled them. She hunched down, looking around but she could see nothing else that seemed threatening. So she began to look and smell for her kittens. But there was no clear scent. She made her way across the face of the hill to the little outcrop where the old badger hole was located. But there was no recent scent of her babies here. She stuck her head inside and called them, just to be sure, but there was no answer. Next she backtracked her way over the hillside until she was at the nest. And here there was a recent scent of her babies, but no babies themselves. She turned and stepped out from the bushes, looking in the direction of the two humans. She just tasted the breeze with her nose and there, amid the smell of food and humans, was the scent of her kittens. She went back across the hill so that she could approach from the dark. And then she silently moved into a position near where the humans had spread out their blanket. The two humans were sitting there on their blanket and around them were her kittens. At least she could see three of them who were laying on the blanket on both sides and between the humans. She could not see Micetto because she was laying on the female human’s lap, and was being petted even as the two humans spoke softly together. Momma moved a little closer and then she called to her babies by making a small sound. One that the human’s probably could never have heard, but that her kittens should. As a result, Sebala who was laying to the side of the human female, turned his head and pointed an ear in the direction that the sound had come from. Momma called softly again. This time Sebala reacted by turning his head and his eyes popped open. Then when he saw his mother there in the shadows, he jumped up and came over to her. Momma noticed right away that he could hardly walk, because he was so stuffed. She had not seen her babies so full since they were little one’s who would nurse until they could barely lift themselves with their thin legs. Momma was very pleased, but she was also apprehensive because she did not know what to make of the human’s. But they had clearly fed her hungry babies and that was a good sign.

"Momma — they fed us," Sebala stammered as he came up to his mother in the dark shadows. "I’m sure there’s some left — you could have some too."

"Yes I see," Momma said. She kept her head down and she licked Sebala, then the other kittens heard them and they got up to came to their mother. That is, except for Micetto who was oblivious to everything and she remained where she was on the human female’s lap. But when Mouschi and Cymric got up to go to their mother, the human female noticed and she turned to look behind her. Momma and the human female looked directly at each other, for just an instant. Then the human shifted her eyes away and continued to turn completely around.

"Momma! Momma, we had the best food," Mouschi said as she stood before her mother and looked alternately between her and the human. She noticed that her mother was apprehensive and she tried to reassure her. "Don’t worry, Mema," Mouschi said. "She loves us and she’ll love you too. And she has enough food for everybody."

"Perhaps we should go…" Momma said as she stood there and tried to make up her mind about what to do. She had a basic lifelong mistrust of humans, but then to be fair she really had never know one. And her kittens were happy and sure — why she had not seen them this excited, in some time. "What to do?" she sighed.

Almost and as if in answer to this, the human female turned, rustling with some foil, for a minute. Then she turned back around and she held in her hand a piece of baked chicken. She tried to get most of the slightly charred edges off of the piece (she was still learning to cook). And then she broke it up into several small bite-sized pieces. She started to reach out, offering these to Momma. But then she hesitated and re-turned half way around to pick up a paper plate. Which she turned onto it’s edge and shook off several leftover shards of food that had been on it. Then she brought the plate around to set it down about halfway between her and where Momma and the kittens were watching. On this plate she put the pieces of chicken. Then she looked at Momma and with a small shove of the plate she offered this to her. Momma took a small half-step forward, but then she paused and looked up at the human. The human reacted to this by sort of withdrawing and turning partially around. But she did not take her eyes off of the cats as she watched to see what would happen. Momma moved forward, following Cymric who went on ahead, up to the plate, and sniffed the chicken. Then he turned, giving his smiling encouragement to his mother. Momma moved closer and smelled the heavenly aroma coming from the delicious food. But before she would eat it, she glanced at the humans who were furtively watching her. Then she tasted it. It was heavenly. It was the first cooked food that she had ever tasted and she decided right away that nothing could ever compare to it. While she ate, the kittens milled around her, encouraging her, and even Micetto got up and came over to join the festive mood that accompanied this meal.

The moon continued to smile down on this peaceful scene. Bathing the hillside in a pale but lustrous light that was bright enough to give those things that could, their own shadows. But where the pale light could not shine, the dark was absolute. Momma and the kittens continued to lay on the blanket with the humans for some time after everybody had eaten. The stuffed kittens were soon nodding and they drifted off to a peaceful slumber that was marked with occasional contented sighs. After Momma had washed and gotten the babies settled, she had turned to cleaning her own face. That was when the human female had slowly and gently reached out, placing her hand on Momma and softly stroking her. Momma was a little apprehensive at first but she soon found that being petted was pretty nice. Not as good as being licked by your mother maybe, but this was not bad either. After a while Momma moved closer to the humans and even the male human reached over, petting Momma and an occasional kitten. But the main thing that won Momma over was the look of love and rapture that was evident on the face of the female human. She looked at Momma with a look that Momma had not seen lately, not being able to see her own face. It was one that reflected the warm and comforting look that all mothers possess, and show to the children. There is no way to hide, or fake it. Momma knew this look that adorned the human female’s face. And as the human looked at her, Momma could see her own mother’s face, superimposed on and within that beautiful woman’s face. Such things cannot be doubted.

Later that night, after a whirlwind of firsts — first touching, first carrying, first car ride, and first being indoors. Momma and the babies found themselves laying on the big wide bed that the human female used to sleep on. It was warm, plush, and was covered with thick comforters, that revealed a kind of softness that the cats had never experienced before. Nature not being particularly soft. Momma lay on the end of the bed while the kittens all found positions that were comfortable around and on the human. Who had gotten finally into bed with them after seeing off the male human and then securing the rest of the house. The human lay on her back amid the covers and she picked up several of the kittens, holding them up at arms length over her and beaming at them. There was a window in the wall at the top end of the bed. And although there were curtains across it, they were open only just enough to allow a view of the night sky. Which was still being subtly lit by the moon that was off to the left and out of sight. Micetto got up and stood on top of one of the large thick pillows that were on that end of the bed, near where the human laid her head. Micetto looked up and could see out of the window, then as she stood there half-looking, she saw it. The special star — it twinkled there outside and over the world, and as she looked at it she remembered her wish. "Thank you," the little kitten said to the star. And a smile came to her that revealed all of the wonder that this small animal beheld in her world these days. Momma looked up when she spoke. And Micetto looked at her and the two of them smiled at each other as they shared the pleasure that they were both feeling. Finally the human turned her head while craning her neck and looked over at the small kitten. Then she grinned at Micetto while reaching out with her arm, pulling the kitten down next to her. Micetto found herself on her back amid the comforter and just to the side of the human’s neck. Next the human pursed her lips while reaching over with her head, then she kissed the little animal with her lips on the top of the kitten’s forehead. Micetto looked up at that smiling face, then she kissed her back, by just reaching up and touching her face with her nose. A gesture that was not lost on the human. Then the human curled up, closing her eyes, and Micetto laid her head onto her paws, both ready to sleep. But before slumber could take them, and in keeping with the situation, they both sighed contented sighs; and the peacefulness of the world shown around them.

The End 

William Berry