HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE HUMAN ⟡ deadly encounter

[FINNEGAN F.M.R.]

THE LESS I KNOW, THE BETTER

Sometimes having friends, is beneficial. They could keep you company, even keep you out of trouble... but sometimes, they can lead you to do things you wouldn't normally do on your own. With risks, come a cost...

Finnegan awoke to the sounds of pebbles getting thrown against his window, rising drowsily from his bed within his family's hut. In the early morning light, he could just make out the shapes of his two friends, waving to him from outside. Doing his best to quietly sneak out, the Roux child would pad up to his friends. "Hey, what's so important that you had to wake me up early? I was having a good dream!" He would huff in a whispered tone, ears slightly flattened. The other two kits would look at each other briefly before the black furred kitten would respond. "Listen Finn, we have a... challenge for you." He said, smirking. The other, gray tabby kitten would chime in as well, adding "Yeah! You know, this is how ALL captains prove their worth y'know. So if you wanna be one someday, you should totally practice early so you're prepared for later!" Imaginary eyebrow raising in questioning, Finnegan would respond doubtfully, "Okayy... so, what is it?" "Come on, we'll show you!" The black kitten said, starting off towards the jungle with the tabby kitten and Finnegan in tow.

---

"Are we there yet? Come on guys, I'm getting all wet!" Finn grumbled, a large raindrop sliding off one of the trees and landing on his face, causing him to hiss and shake his head wildly. His asthma certainly wasn't helping either, breaths coming up in small wheezes as he walked along. "Yeah! Not much farther!" One of the other kittens called from in front as they tredged through the undergrowth. Moments later, they would emerge into a small clearing, a small rock in the center with what looked like a large predator's tooth resting upon it. "Here it is!" The tabby kitten exclaimed. Walking forward, Finnegan would gaze at the tooth in wonder. "Woah..." The beta would say, touching it with a claw. "So, what do I do now?" He said, turning back to his friends. The two kits would exchange a look, smiling deviously at Finn. "Oh, now? Now, you're on your own! See ya!"  With that, they turned and ran off. "Wha- WAIT! HEY! COME BACK!" He screamed, starting to trot in their direction before he heard shuffling in the bushes behind him.

He froze. What was that? Slowly turning his head, he looked around, trying to figure out where it was coming from. Then, a loud growling noise came from somewhere behind him, causing him to whip around once more. "Guys... th... this isn't funny anymore! Cut it out!" Finnegan called out, tail between his legs. But it wasn't his friends... no, it was something much larger. More deadly. A flash of yellow eyes caught his attention and his fur stood on end, his paws feeling like stone. In that moment, something deep within him called out in a voice that wasn't his own...

"LOOK OUT!"

No longer in control, Finnegan's body seemed to move on it's own as he rolled sideways, narrowly missing the giant jaguar's grasp as it pounced on the spot he had previously inhabited. Furious, the beast whipped around to face him again and Finn would let out a scream, running in the direction he had come from. Behind him, he could hear the jaguar in hot pursuit, smashing through the undergrowth as it chased him down. Realizing he wasn't going to be fast enough on his own four legs, he would spread his wings and flap them as quick as he could, soaring through the tree cover and tumbling back out onto the beach. The beast, realizing where it was, slid to a stop. Typhoon territory. Growling in frustration, it let out one finally angry roar towards Finnegan before running back into the jungle.

Wheezing loudly, the boy would collapse, utterly exhausted and in complete shock. What the hell... no, what the fuck just happened!? How had his body moved on its own? He definitely didn't do that rolling thing back there so... who did? Before he could even begin to figure things out, his vision would go dark as he passed out, head flopping onto the sand. It seemed Finnegan had survived... this time, at least...

(( summary: finnegan is taken into the jungle by his "friends" on a challenge. they ditch him and a jaguar finds him, preparing to make him his breakfast. sensing danger, the other spirit that inhabits finn's body takes control, dodging the jaguar's pounce just in time. once again in control, finnegan tries to escape the jaguar, running and eventually, flying at top speed out of the jungle and back into typhoon territory. he is now lying on the beach, having collapsed from exhaustion and overexertion. ))

IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT? IS THIS WHO YOU ARE? I WAS DOING FINE WITHOUT YA, 'TILL I SAW YOUR EYES TURN AWAY FROM MINE

— Reggan

[Simon F.M.]

Diya was, and always had been, an early riser. But, somedays, she chose to sleep in and enjoy the sleepy mornings next to her lover's side. This morning had been one of them. Perhaps if she had awoken earlier, had heard the small patter of pebbles against glass, she could have prevented what would unfold. She could have chatsized the kittens, sending them away and keeping her son firmly by her side. There would have been no encounter of the near deadly kind, no exhausted kittens. She would never know this, of course, as she had not been awake.

Instead, she had finally risen and slipped out of bed, enlarged canines glistening in the sunlight that filtered in through the windows. She would close her mouth with a smack, contemplating when the last time she ate was. Oh, had that been before the kids had been born? That was a problem, but she could deal with it later. For now, it was time she started to get up the kiddos for breakfast. She would start with where Finnegan should be and, seeing his bed empty, check where her other children slept, hoping he had spent the night with one of his other siblings.

Nothing.

Her stomach twisted, panic settling deep into her chest as she slipped from her home, tail lashing. Her head swung as she scanned the beach, searching for her spotted son. Her throat tightened as she heard a loud worry, fear grasping her mind. She lept from her porch, racing towards the sound in a panic. Sand puffed up in clouds behind her, pale eyes with failing eyesight struggling to find her child, vision clouded even more by the falling rain. It took longer than she would have liked to spot his form laying on the beach. She would slow to a jog, not wanting to stumble over the child, before slowing to a stop beside him, worriedly sniffing at his pelt.

"Mon nounours," she would say softly, gently running her young over the top of his head, hoping to wake him up. He seemed fine, no blood on his pelt and breathing acceptable. Her mind went to the roar she'd heard, wondering what beast had dared go after her poor son. Perhaps, later, she would find out. She'd need a meal soon, anyways, wouldn't she? For ow though, her attention was on her son, who she would once again nuzzle, attempting to wake. "Mon nounours, Finnegan dear, please wake up," she said softly, worriedly.

[roan ;]

SOOTHSAYER ❝ ROAN ❞ THE TYPHOON

In the back of his mind, Roan did know that he had friends. In fact, he had several friends throughout The Typhoon, whose love and support he appreciated, when he was actually willing to accept it. However, the male had also grown to know the difference between true friends, and friends. Friends who just saw you as a victim and an easy target for their jabbing and picking on. While he had never had to deal with that himself, even during his own kithood, he had seen it more than a few times. He had dealt with kits or apprentices slinking into the temple, asking him to quietly treat their bruises or scrapes that they acquired from their so-called "friends." It had always made his blood run hot, and his anger spike. He wasn't prone to bouts of anger – at least not often – but manipulative people just set him off, and made him want to shout with rage. Usually, that wasn't what he would do with little ones who came into the temple, though. He'd just patch them up, recommend they stop hanging around with those "friends," and then just send them on their way. After all, what else could he do? It wouldn't exactly be ethical for a medic to go around beating up mean-spirited children.

This time, however, was more than just a cruel little prank. This wasn't a bit of pushing around, or some light jabbing, or anything like this. Instead, it was a matter of life and death, with Finnegan only barely managing to come out on the side of life. Roan hadn't been in the jungle to see all that had happened, but seeing his little brother come bolting out of the trees and then collapsing was more than enough for him to make some assumptions. Immediately, the soothsayer felt his jaw clench, and his heart rate pick up unpleasantly. He had just wanted a peaceful morning, where he could go out and refresh his herb stocks... was that so much to ask? Instead, he was greeted with stress and anger, and unpleasant visions of Jaime within his head. Finn didn't look as though he was physically injured beyond the exhaustion, but... Roan wasn't willing to take chances anymore. He wasn't going to lose another brother, and that was something he could say with certainty. Mostly because... he couldn't. He would never be able to survive losing another person so close and so important to him. Losing family simply wasn't an option.

Short and quick strides brought the tabby over to where Finn had collapsed, reassuringly pressing into Diya's side before he spoke, "Don't worry... I don't see any side of injury. Just exhaustion." That was still very fucking far from ideal, but at least it was easier to deal with than if Finnegan was bleeding out. Stepping away from Diya, he began to check his brother over, nosing lightly at the other's fur as he checked for any injuries, or anything beyond minor scratches from rushing through the jungle. When he found nothing, he felt himself sigh in relief, turning back to Diya and muttering as his tail flicked back and forth, "Come on... if you can get him back to your house, I can make him some tea that should help with his energy. Then you can find out what caused this..." Roan's eyes briefly drifted towards the trees of the jungle, trying to spot anything within the shadowy gaps. He knew that the place was still dangerous and largely undiscovered, even if he ventured into it often for supplies. Why would Finnegan even be out there, especially all on his own like this?

DON'T ASK FOR HELP, YOU'RE ALL ALONE
YOU'LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO YOUR OWN PRESSURE!

— Reggan

[ROXANNE R.]

me dejaste, me dejaste en un tango

Roxanne usually slept like the dead for the most part but the sound of a roar in the distance made her rise with a frown on her maw, both ears perked up only to glance over to her children. She had been ready to comfort them all until she realized that one of them was missing and Diya wasn't at her side anymore, Roxie immediately leapt down from where she lay and was already outside the door. There was Roan, Diya, and Finnegan as she hurriedly made her way over with narrowed pupils about ready to snap at whoever had put her son in danger. Hearing that he had no injuries helped soothe the mother as she let out a soft sigh "Just wait until I get my paws on those culprits." She hissed with anger before aiming to pick up Finnegan by the scruff ready to take him back home, her eyes shifting over to the rain forest.

"I'm sure they're not far either..." She growled as she basically glared daggers at the foliage that was surrounding the forest itself, the Quartermaster looked to both Diya and Roan before beginning to make her way back to her home deciding not to utter another word. She would have to be more cautious around those who befriended her children, she couldn't imagine what could have happened if Finn had not left that rain forest. It only made her claws sink into the sand as she stepped through the door only to lay Finn on the couch after hopping on top of the furniture. She curled around him protectively nuzzling his head feeling relieved that he was here with her.

EN EL ALMA SE ME FUE, SE ME FUE EL CORAZÓN
YA NO TENGO GANAS DE VIVIR, PORQUE NO TE PUEDO CONVENCER
QUE NO TE VENDAS, ROXANNE

— Reggan

[Simon F.M.]

Diya felt roan lean against her, returning the pressure for a moment before focusing back on her son. She would listen intently to what he was saying, grateful he was there to console her shaking nerves. She would open her mouth to speak, to reply to the information she had been given. She paused at the sound of pawsteps, turning her head to spot her girlfriend, anger clear on the quartermaster's face.

Diya gave a soft sigh, taking a step forwards to brush her muzzle against Roxanne's shoulder but making no move to stop her. She would watch the chocolate-colored feline pick up their son and nod a hard resolve setting in her eyes. She would watch as her girlfriend and child left before returning to Roan. "If you don't mind tending to them, Mon étoile, I have something to take care of," she would say with a wink, brushing her muzzle against his ear as she turned. The use of a nickname for him had slipped out, not planned, or even registered in her distracted mind. Her gaze would flicker to the forest before returning to the tabby for a moment.

A grin on her face, she nodded and stood. "I'll be back soon," she'd say as she turned away, following the direction of where she'd seen her son come from. As she went, her body began to shift and grow, tail shortening into a bob as she went. By the time she reached the tree line, she was a midpoint between feline and bear.

//out, off to hunt down the panther for lunch!

[roan ;]

SOOTHSAYER ❝ ROAN ❞ THE TYPHOON

Roan found himself glancing up at the approach of his mama, relaxing even further in her presence. She wouldn't allow anything else to happen to Finnegan, and that was a relief – even if he knew that Diya wouldn't let anything happen to him either. He dipped his head to Roxie, his tail twitching behind him as he spoke, "I'm sure they won't get off easy, trust me mama." He then watched as Rox carried his little brother inside, a grumble leaving the soothsayer before he looked up upon hearing Diya. He found himself snorting, an amused but tired smile on his muzzle as he responded, "Don't worry, I'll make sure that he gets the best care." He then found his whiskers twitching in surprise at the nickname, his blue eyes briefly widening. Mon étoile. He didn't have any idea what it meant, but she said it with such affection that he was sure it was something sweet. He found his smile growing a bit, a loving chuckle leaving him before he nudged his forehead lightly against her shoulder. He watched her go before he turned, heading towards hers and Roxie's home.

Slipping silently through the front door, the medic watched his brother and mama on the couch for a moment before he spoke, "...I'm going to make some tea for him. I'll be back in a few minutes." He then carried his satchel along into the kitchen, placing it down on the floor and sifting through it until he found what he was looking for. A mixture of several different herbs, as well as some preserved honey – they were perfect for the tea he intended to make. Hopefully, it would be able to provide a little pick-me-up for Finnegan, considering how exhausted he seemed to be from his mad dash out of the jungle. It would also probably provide Roxie with some kind of comfort, considering how worried and rage-filled the quartermaster was at the moment.

DON'T ASK FOR HELP, YOU'RE ALL ALONE
YOU'LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO YOUR OWN PRESSURE!

— Reggan