04-07-2020, 09:46 PM
Moonlit strolls were, for the most part, a common occurrence for Alaric. He partook in them often, as they provided ample opportunity to reflect and clear his mind of whatever he happened to be worrying about on that day. Not that he worried about much—seldom was it that he cared enough about an issue to put more thought to it than he believed was necessary. Today had been quite unremarkable, if he was being frank; there hadn't been much going on that was of any interest to the tabby, who was, honestly, somewhat nosy. There was always something going on, because it seemed that he was always in someone's business but his own. Not today, though.
On this particular night, the tabby took it upon himself to venture back out into the swamp that he hated so much because of its noxious, putrid scent. He had been hoping to perhaps hunt down a midnight snack or two, but to his dismay, prey was making itself scarce. A sigh rolled past his lips as he settled down for a moment with the vain hope that maybe a piece of prey, stupid as they tended to be, would scuttle past his striped paws, so unaware of his presence that they would not offer the wide berth necessary to avoid their demise. This, however, did not happen.
Despite its stink, Alaric had been able to develop an appreciation for the mire. A somber ambiance permeated throughout the swamp, fostering a tranquil atmosphere rivaled only by Tanglewood's shore. The only sounds that could be heard were the quiet gurgle of water and the chirping of the various insects that called the marsh their home. That was, until a not-so-distant howl pierced through the silence, startling Alaric and sending him stumbling to his paws.
What the hell? the tabby would think to himself, his body pivoting to face the direction from which the sound emanated. Did he want to go investigate the source of the sound? Not particularly, as he was sure that the sound could only mean impending doom. He couldn't shake the thought that one of his clanmates might be in danger, though. Despite the nagging feeling in his gut, he decided to make his way over, skillfully and speedily navigating through the weald.
Within time, Alaric came to arrive upon the scene. He certainly had not been expecting what he saw, though.
A massive, serpent-like, spine-covered creature stood there, near a body that seemed to be injured based on the coppery smell of blood in the air. He could not make out exactly whose body it was just yet, but the creature seemed to be intensely despaired by whatever had happened judging by the fat tears running from the serpentine animal's many eyes. The... thing was not the only animal that had arrived, though; a kitten whose voice Alaric was unfamiliar with was shouting at the thing to go away. The tyke had referred to the body on the ground as mom, immediately narrowing down who it was to two possibilities: Moth or Aurum. This body was not big enough to be Aurum, so it had to have been Moth.
As the tabby deduced Moth's identity, the kit began screaming at whatever this thing was to go away before he hurt it. This would have been amusing were it not for the fact that there was absolutely no way that the child would be able to fend it off, and yelling at it may have been akin to him begging for his own death.
Another game of mental tug-of-war was occurring within Alaric's mind. He was not strong enough to protect the child either, but he was smart; if this creature was capable of reason, perhaps he would be able to talk it out of the violence caused by its despair or rage or whatever the thing was feeling.
Emerging from the shadows, he would move to stand in front of the child protectively, directing his stare at MAMA's foremost eye. "I don't know what you are or why you are here," he started hesitantly, "but I'm sure neither of us want any more violence than necessary, hmm?" Fuck. Perhaps that wasn't the best thing to say, but what exactly are you supposed to say to a creature of this size and power?
On this particular night, the tabby took it upon himself to venture back out into the swamp that he hated so much because of its noxious, putrid scent. He had been hoping to perhaps hunt down a midnight snack or two, but to his dismay, prey was making itself scarce. A sigh rolled past his lips as he settled down for a moment with the vain hope that maybe a piece of prey, stupid as they tended to be, would scuttle past his striped paws, so unaware of his presence that they would not offer the wide berth necessary to avoid their demise. This, however, did not happen.
Despite its stink, Alaric had been able to develop an appreciation for the mire. A somber ambiance permeated throughout the swamp, fostering a tranquil atmosphere rivaled only by Tanglewood's shore. The only sounds that could be heard were the quiet gurgle of water and the chirping of the various insects that called the marsh their home. That was, until a not-so-distant howl pierced through the silence, startling Alaric and sending him stumbling to his paws.
What the hell? the tabby would think to himself, his body pivoting to face the direction from which the sound emanated. Did he want to go investigate the source of the sound? Not particularly, as he was sure that the sound could only mean impending doom. He couldn't shake the thought that one of his clanmates might be in danger, though. Despite the nagging feeling in his gut, he decided to make his way over, skillfully and speedily navigating through the weald.
Within time, Alaric came to arrive upon the scene. He certainly had not been expecting what he saw, though.
A massive, serpent-like, spine-covered creature stood there, near a body that seemed to be injured based on the coppery smell of blood in the air. He could not make out exactly whose body it was just yet, but the creature seemed to be intensely despaired by whatever had happened judging by the fat tears running from the serpentine animal's many eyes. The... thing was not the only animal that had arrived, though; a kitten whose voice Alaric was unfamiliar with was shouting at the thing to go away. The tyke had referred to the body on the ground as mom, immediately narrowing down who it was to two possibilities: Moth or Aurum. This body was not big enough to be Aurum, so it had to have been Moth.
As the tabby deduced Moth's identity, the kit began screaming at whatever this thing was to go away before he hurt it. This would have been amusing were it not for the fact that there was absolutely no way that the child would be able to fend it off, and yelling at it may have been akin to him begging for his own death.
Another game of mental tug-of-war was occurring within Alaric's mind. He was not strong enough to protect the child either, but he was smart; if this creature was capable of reason, perhaps he would be able to talk it out of the violence caused by its despair or rage or whatever the thing was feeling.
Emerging from the shadows, he would move to stand in front of the child protectively, directing his stare at MAMA's foremost eye. "I don't know what you are or why you are here," he started hesitantly, "but I'm sure neither of us want any more violence than necessary, hmm?" Fuck. Perhaps that wasn't the best thing to say, but what exactly are you supposed to say to a creature of this size and power?
♔ don't do love, don't do friends