The rainy season had arrived again.

It actually felt good right now, though wet. The air, and rain, was just warm enough to not chill. So as long as one stayed in the rain, and kept soaked, it wasn’t too cold.

Plus… it made the quiet world just noisy enough to be calming.

Walking along the edge of the house, I carried the bundle of thick leaves and branches towards the section of the house that needed attention.

Usually I’d be getting yelled at, for being slow to gather such materials… but right now I was alone.

And I’d been alone for some time.

The last person I’d seen lately had been grandmother… but that had been a few days ago.

I’d blame the rain, but reality was most of the family had been absent lately.

Sisters only returning once in a moon. Brothers who hadn’t returned in several. Parents who I hadn’t seen in many.

I’d be worried if not for the fact that it was actually very comforting to be alone.

No beatings. No yelling. No snide remarks or glares.

Let them all stay busy, doing whatever it was they were doing.

Less stress for me.

Reaching the section of the house with the severely leaky roof, I clambered up onto the raised floor of the building and headed for the stack of supplies. I dumped the armful of leaves and branches on the pile, adding to what was likely less than half of what I needed.

With a sigh I glanced around at all the dripping streams of water. There were dozens in this area.

Which wasn’t good, since both the kitchen and my parent’s room was nearby. They’d not care for this room, or any one else’s room, but if they returned to find their room or the kitchen destroyed?

I shivered at the beating I’d likely receive because of it.

But it wasn’t my fault! The rains had only started a few days ago. I’d been busy preparing food for myself, and by the time I noticed the leaks it was too late.

It wasn’t like I was allowed near their rooms… or even the kitchens anymore. So how was I supposed to notice?

Yet all the same I’d have to fix it.

Stepping away from the pile, I returned to the outside and headed for the forest. I had left the twine I had spent the last morning making near the big tree nearby. I knew the gathered branches and leaves weren’t enough to fix the leaks yet, but there was enough there to get started. I’d at least patch the bigger holes and…

“What are you up to, child?”

I jumped, nearly skidding in the wet grass, as I spun to find my grandmother.

Breathing a sigh of relief at the sight of her, I wondered how the heck she had snuck up on me like that. The ground was soaked, wet and mushy. Footsteps were noisy right now, yet I hadn’t heard her at all.

“Trying to fix the leaks,” I said as I pointed to the house.

“Ah. I see. Yes, we’ve been neglecting the house haven’t we?” she said as she frowned and nodded.

As she did I noticed the way her thick hair, and the patches of fur on her cheeks, glistened thanks to how they were wet.

I wonder if they were warmer because of their fur than I was. I bet it kept them warmer. Must feel nice.

“There’re a few bigger ones. I’m focusing in them first,” I said.

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“Hm… please do. I’ll come help you later after I’ve finished fishing,” Grandmother said as she turned away.

Watching her go, I noted the way her tail twitched in the rain.

She was either annoyed, or on the hunt for something particular. Maybe a certain fish had caught her fancy.

I turned away, since I knew better than to bug her more than necessary.

Lately everyone has become a little… touchy. More than usual.

Ever since father had been beaten by uncle and our elder, the whole family had become a little…

Well…

Angry, to say the least.

It was likely why so many of them weren’t coming home much anymore. No one wanted to argue and fight with each other, so they all just stayed at a distance.

At least, I was hoping that was all it was.

Entering the forest, I ignored the heavier and larger raindrops that fell upon me. Some fell on one of my ears, or even into them, and made them spasm in annoyance.

The trees were dense, so the rain always clumped together and formed larger droplets. Yet right now there was also an odd mist all over… like a haze or a fog…

“Maybe it’s because it’s warm,” I wondered as I headed for the large tree.

It wasn’t too far away, but it still took a moment to get there. Mostly thanks to the way the forest wasn’t as flat in this area as others. It was hilly, with lots of huge roots and thick bushes to round and circumvent.

Stepping over a large rock, I approached the large tree and glanced up it. Only for a moment though, since the heavy raindrops were even more numerous here. Thanks to the large tree itself, likely.

The huge tree had these long vines that hung from its thicker branches. They were perfect to make twine out of. They easily came apart, being shaped from an arm thick vine to many smaller pieces of rope and twine as thick as a finger or even smaller. Those smaller pieces didn’t tear or rip easily at all, even when great effort was put into trying.

A very large clump of the vines, that I had gathered the other day, was next to a smaller pile of prepared twine and rope. I went to gather up the smaller strands, which I’d then take home and use on the roofs. I’d tie the new branches and leaves to the roof, to cover up the holes and form a new layer and…

A heavy branch snapped and I looked up, hurriedly focusing over the pile of vines at the source of the sound.

At first I didn’t see anything out of place… but very quickly movement drew my eyes to him.

My elder stepped around a tree, silently, as he approached.

The giant cat walked with such surety and quietness that made it clear the snapped branch from earlier had been on purpose. It wouldn’t have done that otherwise.

This forest was his domain. Not even my older siblings or my father were as sure footed in this forest as him.

Relaxing a little, since his attempt to warn me of his approach told me he wasn’t here to hurt me, I stood up straighter as the giant black cat walked up to me.

He stopped a few feet from the pile of vines, and glanced over at them. I noticed the way his large eye studied the pile.

“I’m fixing our roof,” I said carefully.

The giant eye blinked, and I noticed his scarred eye on the other side didn’t move at all. As if it was completely dead.

Shuffling the twine in my arms, I wondered if I should put them down or not. Did he want something…? I didn’t see or smell uncle anywhere nearby… usually they were together.

“Is uh… is anything the matter?” I asked.

The elder focused on me, and I noticed the way its ears shifted.

They were a lot more rounded than my own. They were more like my parents and siblings ears. Mine were more pointy.

He then made a small noise. A tiny growl, which I knew was an actual word for him. It was the sound he made when he spoke to uncle.

I however couldn’t understand him at all.

“Um…” I shifted, and glanced around. Where was uncle?

The large cat shifted, and stepped away.

At first I thought it was just going to leave… but after a few steps it paused and glanced back at me.

“You uh… want me to follow…?” I asked.

An ear fluttered, and its tail twitched.

Right.

Okay.

Sure.

Slowly putting down the twine I had gathered up, I kept a groan inside as I went to follow the giant creature.

Just great. I wonder what it wanted. Maybe uncle had summoned me or something, and he was the one to find me.

I could think of a few reasons my uncle would summon me… but none of them were good. Odds are, thanks to the rain, it was something troublesome. Like hard work, or disgusting work like gathering up giant piles of fish for the elder.

I’d much rather be working on the roof, alone, than anything like that…

Still I had no choice. Especially when it was the uncle and the elder who had summoned me.

Sighing lightly as I did my best to keep up with the giant cat, I followed it deeper into the forest… away from both home and the giant tree.