EMPIRE ANTS ⟡ o, seashell hunting

[FINNEGAN F.M.R.]

WATERFALLS COMING

OUT YOUR MOUTH,

WHAT THE HELL

ARE WE DOING NOW?

draconic feline . minnow . he/they

Head turning at the sound of his brother's voice, his tiny tail would wave in greeting, a grin spreading across his muzzle at Torsten's request. "Sure! Let's see..." Finn would turn, walking a few feet before stopping. "Oh! Here's one! I think I found a green one!" Luckily, this one wasn't buried too much and it was fairly uncovered, thanks to Keona's help. Picking it up, a small, yet beautiful, minty green spiral shell was clutched in his jaws. Making his way back over to his brother, he gently set the shell on the ground. "How about this one?"

At the approach of Roxanne, Finn would scamper close, attempting to nuzzle into her fur affectionately. "Hi Mamma! Thank you! Do you want one too?" He would ask cheerfully, a small purr emanating from his tiny chest. Even if her praise was one of bias, it still made him extremely happy to hear his mother's approval. Before she could answer, another's words cut through his happiness like a knife.

"Don't you know how to shut up?"

Turning once more the kitten's happy expression was gone as he looked at Aphra, pain flickering in his violet orbs. Rarely did he ever physically show his happiness aloud, and the one time he did, he was cut down for it. It didn't last long however, as he felt something like bravery well up inside him, the pain in his eyes turning to ice instead. Imaginary brows furrowing, the boy took a small step forward in the queen's direction. "How about you shut up? When did I ask you anyways?" Finnegan would retort, wings flaring and tail lashing before he turned back to his mother, ignoring whatever answer she had for him. Hopefully he didn't scolded for that but what right did she have going around and being mean all the time? He wouldn't stand for it.

"Hi Roan! Ooh! Gifts... yeah! Or I could set up a lil' store maybe... 1 shell for 1 gold coin each!" Finn would respond to his older brother, giggling at his potential profit. Finnegan wasn't exactly driven by money, but he did like to collect old things. Coins, gold or not, intrigued the kitten. While he was still learning to read things like dates, he knew many coins were old and it made him think- how many paws had these old coins been passed through? What was it like in the time period they were made? History was so cool... and he wanted to know more. He hungered for more.