Connected

Ethan lay on the ground, terrified after what had just happened. Shadow, seeing his fear, asked calmly, "Ethan, do you know what an Awakened is?"

Momentarily forgetting his fear, Ethan sat up and replied, "No, what is it?"

Shadow explained, "It's what's happening to you right now. Some people, when they turn sixteen, go through something called Awakening. They either develop incredible strength or, like you, begin manifesting powers. It varies—some may only gain one ability, while others develop more, depending on their potential."

Ethan scratched his messy hair, still trying to process what he was hearing. "But what do you mean? My dad, mom, and sister are completely normal."

Oliver, who had been quietly listening, chimed in, "It depends on the generation you're born into or the potential each individual has. Your family may not have been Awakened, but that doesn't mean it won't happen to you."

Ethan looked at the two kittens, trying to make sense of it all. "But how do you guys know all this? You're just kittens, and you hatched, like, hours ago!"

Oliver responded, "That's true, but before an egg hatches, if the parents pass away, they transfer all their knowledge to us. It ensures that we're not defenseless when we're born. We hibernate and absorb the information before emerging."

Ethan's confusion deepened, but he slowly started to connect the dots. "Okay, but what about that cat Leo? Why did he leave you two here?"

Shadow shook his head. "We don't know who Leo is. But from what we do know, an egg only hatches when it finds its rightful owner. You, Ethan, are that owner."

Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief. "How can you be so sure of that?"

Shadow and Oliver exchanged glances, and in that moment, Ethan heard both of their voices in his head, Because we're connected.

He sat back on the bed, taking a deep breath. For about five minutes, he tried to process everything, surprisingly accepting the situation more quickly than expected. Looking over at the kittens, he noticed them now playfully bickering with each other on the bed.

"You shouldn't have told him everything all at once," Shadow muttered to Oliver.

"Better he knows now than be kept in the dark, Shadow," Oliver replied defensively.

Ethan couldn't help but smile slightly at their squabbling, despite the overwhelming situation he found himself in.

Ethan cleared his throat to break the tension. "Stop it, both of you. I get it now. It took me a bit to process everything, but I understand."

The kittens immediately ceased their argument, their eyes turning to him with curious anticipation. Ethan looked at them, now behaving, and continued, "So, I'm your owner, huh?"

They nodded in agreement, their little tails twitching with excitement.

Feeling a newfound sense of responsibility, Ethan stood up from the bed and declared, "Alright, I'll take care of you. But please, take good care of me too."

As he glanced at the clock, a sense of urgency hit him—school was starting soon. Ethan turned back to the kittens and asked, "I have to go to school, but you said you can't stay away from me for too long. So, what are we going to do?"

He scratched his head, trying to figure out a solution to the dilemma. He felt a mix of anxiety and determination. What if they got into trouble while I'm gone? He paced around the room, his mind racing with possibilities.

Shadow perked up, sensing Ethan's concern. "Don't worry, Master. We can stay in your room while you're at school. We'll be fine, and we'll keep an eye on everything."

Feeling a bit more at ease, Ethan nodded. "Okay, I trust you. Just promise you won't cause too much chaos while I'm gone."

With that, Ethan grabbed his backpack and headed toward the door, feeling a mixture of hope and uncertainty about the day ahead. As he stepped out, he turned back to see the kittens curled up together, their eyes sparkling with mischief and affection. He smiled, feeling a strange bond forming between them as he whispered, "See you later, guys."

As he walked to school, he couldn't help but think about the unusual turn his life had taken. A talking cat, powers, and now two kittens that depend on me? What's next? He shook his head, chuckling to himself.