4 - 1 = 3

[continlula]

Dark had always loved her mother, no matter if she couldn't do much. Ma was an elderly cat, in her late 90 moons. According to her two older brothers, Red and Ash, her and Ma almost died. Dark's early kithood days where spent playing with Ma in the mornings, eating the food her brothers brought in the afternoon, and playing with them in the evenings. It was an easy life, so to speak.

---

 
Dark woke up in the curl of her mother's fur. It was comforting. All she wanted to do was lay there for the rest of the day and bask in the peacefulness. Ma shifted, bringing Dark close to her face. Dark mewled, knowing what was coming. The coarse feel of Ma's tongue made itself known, determined to clean Dark. Ma wheezed with the effort. "Ma, I don't wanna be clean! Imma get dirty anyway," she cried, struggling to get free of her mothers paws. Ma managed to keep Dark in place despite her bones being slow and creaky. "It's... okay, dear. A healthy cat... was cleaned as a kit," she gasped, having to take breaths in between words. Ma isn't normally this tired, Dark thought, though she didn't keep it in her mind for very long.

[continlula]

Dark's mother let go of her, having decided that she was clean enough. "Do you wan to... play hide and seek," Ma asked, beaming at her little girl. Bouncing around, Dark squeaked "Of course!" Thus, the day was spent playing hide and seek. They had to have rests in-between each turn, though.

By midday, Red and Ash had come back with food. Red waltzed to to behind the dumpster, where Dark thought she was cleverly hiding, draped his twoleg scraps, and yelled "BOO!" Dark screeched, long fur flying as she scrambled backwards out of her hiding spot. Hissing, she leapt at her brother, clinging onto his shoulder. "The mighty Dark has caught the beast! Now to slay it!" Ash, unable to contain his humor, choked out "No!! Dark that's Red! Dark- wait, she can't hear us, 'cause SHE'S the beast," he claimed dragging Dark off of Red by her scruff.

"Alright, alright, it's time to eat," Red said, "Ma? Where are you?" Said cat dragged her way to the three, hacking and wheezing. "Ma? Are you alright," Ash asked, pressing himself to Ma, taking in her scent. "You don't smell good. Here, lay down." Gesturing the black twoleg bag they had made their home in, Ash guided her to it. Ash and Red had the fear smell wafting around them, setting Dark on edge. She just started to make the connection of what was going on. "Is Ma gonna be alright," she asked Red, who had curled his tail around said kit.