Kit Cuts

I am Ranga, leader of the newly evolved Tempest Wolves, a loyal companion to Master Rimuru! Along with the little fox kit master named Kayo. I could remember it like it was yesterday, the day I met my master and little fox who is not so little anymore. 

The great dragon Veldora had disappeared, causing the Great Jura Forest to become even more wild and merciless. It cost us our home, much stronger beasts had found our den and killed everyone who was not out on the hunt. Young and old, male and female, parent or child, those beasts killed every one of them. 

It terrified the survivors, my father and I being among them, but... mother and my new siblings... they were among those who were killed. I could feel my father’s rage, he had lost his mate and new pups he had only seen once. There had only been one runt among them, one with all black fur that was so small I had almost stepped on when visiting mother. 

It was amazing how small the pup was, how weak it was, and how cold both father and mother were to the little pup. They had asked me to throw it out of the den, far away, it wouldn’t have survived long. The other pups were too strong and easily knocked the pup away from suckling from mother, even if there was plenty of room for it to suckle, maybe even survive if given the chance. 

NO! 

That was their answer, they didn’t want the small black pup to bother them anymore. So, I did as I was told and picked up the black pup carefully, it could fit in my mouth in a single bite it was so small. Getting rid of my runt sibling was the worst thing father made me do. I was almost glad when he had been killed, submitting to the powerful slime and his goblins was a great thing! 

Master Rimuru gave me a name and I shared it with my pack, as it seemed like it would be the last blessing, we would ever have... only, I saw a familiar black runt next to my new master. If I had not gotten rid of my little sibling myself, I would have believed the little black fox next to master was them! 

No, this Kit had a name, two names even!  

Kayo Tempest 

That was the name of the little fox, once master had gone to sleep the little thing took over, telling the goblins and us wolves what to do. At first, we wolves were unsure of following a runt’s orders, unlike the goblins. However, they would take orders from me and the little kit was smart and seemed very close to our master. The way it curled its small tails around master protectively, golden eyes filled with determination and courage to face even me as I approached the little fox. 

We were very lucky to have met them both!  

Hunting became easier with new strategies and cooperating with the goblins. No one was going hungry in our new home. Well... all but the little kit who had been directing us the whole time, running the village for our master while he slept.  

Was the little fox still suckling? Could the little fox hunt? Did the little fox hunt? I had rarely seen it away from our master, sleeping with the little fox curled around him tightly as she gave quiet whines of fear that only us wolves could hear. These worries crossed my mind many times, and a cold panic came over me as I could hear the little fox’s stomach growling, demanding food even as she slipped past my pack who were already devouring their share of the hunt. 

“Master Kayo, are you hungry?” I asked her and the fox looked startled as I called out. She looked at me fearfully with wide golden eyes, shaking as she was not much bigger than my paw. I could have stepped on her if I was not careful. She was quick and quiet, blending in with the shadows as kitsunes were well known for. ‘N-no. I'm fine, I was just... going to head to bed.’ she told me, but her belly growled loudly again, exposing her lie. Her ears dropped in shame; it was almost cute but also sad to see the little thing starving while taking care of our master. 

Turning away for a moment, I picked up my share of the meat from the hunt. Now that I was the leader of my pack, I got the best of every kill. I had no issues with offering some of my meat with the starving kit. ‘Here. Eat this.’ I told the little kit, they were confused for a moment, looking at the offering that was as big as they were in shock. “What? I... thanks Ranga. I don’t think I can eat all of it.” The little kit told me, but I knew she would need to eat to get strong. I would make sure of it! 

To my shock, the kit could easily put away large meals, my pack was unsure of me giving her a large share of the hunt, but she was the reason we had been able to have this food! Never mind good friends and a master to serve when he finally woke up. Seeing the kit grow and thrive made me proud and a little ashamed of what I had done before I met them.  

What would have happened if my runt sibling had been nurtured?  

Would they have grown and become stronger like this little kit? 

I will never know. 

“I need a nap~.” The kitsune child whined, her small body feeling heavy after going around the small primitive goblin village, directing the groups of wolves and goblins to maintain their home. Having sent out a group of goblins out to hunt with their new wolf partners, a few to gather bounties from the forest, some to keep watch for any approaching danger, and those left prepared where to either rest or prepare food and water. Kayo had been teaching some of the goblinas to weave baskets from long strands of dry grass, now that she had fingers and opposable thumbs. A welcome improvement as the little kitsune had tried to take on a goblin or humanoid form and succeeded in the form of a 5-year-old child. 

Thankfully a goblina, Hanako, saw it fit to give the child some scraps of cloth to cover her nether regions and flat chest with. Having just brown rags for clothes, the little kitsune didn’t voice her displeasure with the lack of undergarments, looking a bit more integrated with the goblins. Only her tan skin, short curly black hair with white tips at the ends, and of course her black kitsune ears and two tails set her apart from the green-skinned, lavender-haired monsters. Even more so now that they have evolved and most had grown to the height of adult humans, the little kitsune was still the shortest among them, not counting the very young children that Rimuru had not named. 

“Master Kayo, would you like to return to Master Rimuru’s side?” Ranga questioned, walking beside the small child, his shadow casting her into a pleasant shade on the warm sunny day. “Hmm, I think he will be okay for a bit longer. I want to take a nap in the sun. You can guard him for me. Okay, Ranga.” Kayo smiled at the massive wolf who happily panted and started wagging his tail. 

Only to stop as he saw the panic look cross the little kitsune's face, his tail had already caused enough damage to the village already. 

“Of course, Master Kayo! Have a pleasant nap.” The wolf agreed, but something told him to follow the small child. Walking past the tent that held a sleeping Rimuru, Ranga stopped at the entrance and watched the fox child keep walking, mostly searching for a good sunny place to nap.  “Hmm~, this seems like a good spot~.” Kayo giggled, letting herself relax a little as she plopped onto the emerald grass of a rather open aera near the village, which worried Ranga the kit might have hurt herself.

Only her two fluffy tails started to wag as she cuddled the grass, stretching her small body to soak in the sun’s rays. 

*SKREECH!* 

The sudden ear perching noise started the primitive village, the goblins and wolves going on alert as some looked into the sky while holding their feeble weapons as a form of defense. The wolves growling and surrounding their green friends, only to hear a blood curdling scream in the direction of their savior's tent. 

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” 

Kayo screamed helplessly as a pair of large claws had suddenly grabbed her from the ground and hoisted her into the sky. The ground was far below her by the time she realized what was happening. “HELP ME~!” Kayo cried, terrified as she tried to break the tight grip of the large bird that had nabbed her, its talons sinking into her skin as she struggled. ‘No! No! No! Not like this! It can’t end like this!’ Kayo thought as tears built up in her eyes, her body chilled in fear as she tried to get out of the beast’s strong clutches. Getting further and further away from the goblin village and the ground. The goblins and wolves were only able to look on in horror as Kayo was taken away. 

“LET ME GO YOU STUPID CHICKEN!” Kayo yelled, tears ran down her face and eyes glowed strangely at the command. The bird suddenly let her go, only to be then struck by some black lighting right after, fried to a crisp by the attack out of the clear sky. 

‘Fuck! This is gonna hurt!’ The little kit thought as she saw the trees fast approaching, and with no way to stop or slow down, the height wouldn’t kill her, so she closed her eyes and spread her body in hopes of lensing the impact. Expecting the feeling of rough bark and soft leaves. Only to feel rough fur and strong muscles collide with her small body. On instinct she grabbed on tightly with her small hands, shaking from the fright and not moving. Her ears picked up on a strange noise and her nose was blessed with the scent of a storm and cotton? 

“Master Kayo!? Are you alright!? Are you hurt!?” Came Ranga’s voice reached her ears, worry clear in his voice before Rigurd can over to the two canines quickly. “Lady Kayo! Thank goodness you're safe! I’m so sorry we couldn’t do anything to protect you!” The large goblin cried as he fell to his knees in relief and ready to beg for forgiveness at his inaction. 

“I-it’s okay. Agh... that was... terrifying.” Kayo stuttered as she raised her head, just noticing she was clinging to the tempest wolf’s back, his fur held tightly in her hands as she desperately clung to him still. 

“Shall I call for some goblins to be your personal guards, Lady Kayo? I’m sure it would displease Lord Rimuru if you got hurt while in our care.” Rigurd suggested, nervously watching the little kitsune as she hid her face in Ranga’s fur again. He could see the child was still shaking from her ordeal. Even his own heart raced with worry: goblins being picked up by large birds weren’t unheard of, but it didn’t happen often since they kept away from wide open spaces while alone. 

“T-that’s not necessary. Agh~. I just wanted a nap~.” the little child whined tiredly into the wolf’s fur. 

“I will guard Master Kayo! You have nothing to worry about. You can nap peacefully~.” Ranga assured, feeling the kit’s grip get rather painfully tight before letting go. A quick bout of panic came over the wolf as he felt the child slip off him and land on the ground. 

‘I’m so useless.’ Kayo thought, feeling ashamed of her weakness as her ears lay flat on her head. Rigurd recognized the destressed look from raising his own sons, reaching out a large hand to the kitsune to try and pet her head. He frowned when he saw her filch when his hand got to close, jerking back into the tempest wolf’s body, her tails wrapped around her little legs in clear destress. The goblin frowned worriedly, not used to being feared as he watched the little black fox tremble in fear. 

“Apologies, Lady Kayo. Are you hungry? The others have returned with some sweet red berries.” The goblin softly offered and was relieved when he saw her ears pop up at their mention. “Sweet... red berries?” she asked softly, looking intently at the goblin... most of the fear already gone, replaced by innocent curiosity. 

“Lady Kayo~ the goblinas wanted you to try these. They are very sweet!” Haruna called out carrying a basket of familer bright red strawberries over to the small group. “Strawberries!” Kayo called out excitedly and ran over to the goblina in excitement, only to somehow trip and fall on her face rather hard. 

“Lady Kayo!” Rigurd and Haruna yelled in panic, shocked to see the kitsune just fall over, btu she did get back up. 

“Owwie~. Can I have some? Please Haurna?” Kayo asked the goblina excitedly, beaming up at her with big golden eyes with both her tails waging excitedly. The goblina could only smile and laugh at how cute the black kitsune was and offer her the basket of strawberries she ate with eagerness. Rigurd and Ranga were both relieved to see the fox kit was alright... unaware of the blue eyes watching the kit carefully from the shadows.