Impulse the Great

So, today twas the very first day that I let Elsa's kittens outside.  It was sunny, slight breeze, nice and warm.  An irresistible day for kittens to be outside!

I put the kittens and Elsa in the outdoor cattery with Impulse.  I have the perfect view of the cattery from my office window.  As I was dusting the desk, I glanced outside at the cattery.  Impulse was behaving in a rather odd manner.  In fact....he was acting just like I have seen a hawk act when it has pray.  He was bent over in what appeared to be a domineering manner, and it almost looked like he was eating something

I went into panic mode.  "OH NO!  He's killing one of the kittens!"  I dropped my dusting clothe ran outside and turned the corner just in time to see Impulse carrying the kitten in his mouth by the scruff of the neck.  
I had heard of the male cat killing the kittens before, but not Impulse  he and the kittens always hang out.  However, he is older this year.  It is spring...maybe hormones took over.  

Of-course from my vantage point, the scene before me was that of a vicious killer.  He carried the kitten into the hidey-hole box I have out there for them.  Naturally, my imagination took over as I raced to the cattery door.  Impulse was still in the box....

Once inside the cattery, I walked very slowly, filled with trepidation to the hidey-hole box.  I absently wondered where in the world Elsa was and why she wasn't valiantly protecting her helpless 7 week old kittens.  When I reached the box, I held my breath fully expecting to open it up and see a sad, sad massacre.  

Instead, I found purring Impulse cuddled up with all of the kittens sleeping peacefully next to him and Elsa next to them.  Elsa didn't even bother to raise an eyelid when I opened the box.  Impulse on the other hand was beaming at me with pride.  Quite happy with himself for saving the the "escapee" from the big bad world, and returning him to the safety of the box.   I was skeptical, I checked over said purring kitten with  squinted eyes and accusing glances at the purring Impulse.   Elsa yawned at me and stretched out to show her disdain at the interruption of her nap time.   All kittens were in one piece and perfectly happy and healthy.  Dusk, the kitten in question was not even wet where he had been carried.  The jerking movements I had witnessed from the window were Impulse figuring out how to carry a kitten without hurting it.  

The kittens never did leave the box today.  I suspect that Impulse kept them in there for observation until I came back outside this evening to bring them back inside for the night.   He lay in-front of the box all day.  

They will go back outside again tomorrow.   So cool that I got to witness lion-like behavior from my little wild looking domestic cats!  Highlanders are awesome!  I feel like what I saw today is the epitome of the breed.