WON'T MATTER TOMORROW ☆ o, missing

[FRAGGLEROCK.]

Quiet. It was deathly silent in the main cavern, around the area of where Fragglerock's nest laid. The pile of bedding laid undisturbed and abandoned, with the scent of the boy that had once inhabited it being a day old, at least. Unfortunately, it would be some time until the rabbit – or lion, depending on the day – would come to inhabit it once more, unless something was done.

That morning, a group of NPCs from The Golden Eye had left the territory, following after the scent trail that Fraggle had left behind. The day before, Fragglerock had told said group that he was heading out to explore, explaining that he wanted to see just a bit outside of the territory. The NPCs had initially been hesitant, but the cub had reassured them that he would be back soon, and that they could come after him if he wasn't back within a few hours. Needless to say, he hadn't returned within a few hours. In fact, the night had come and gone, and there was no sign of the pebbleclaw's return. So, the group of NPCs had set out, following the slowly deteriorating and stale scent trail of Fraggle as it led past the border of The Golden Eye, and into the neutral lands. It only seemed to keep going and going, until eventually it came to an end – but not where Fraggle was. Instead, the group found themselves frozen at the edge of a desert, the smell of another group heavy on the air. Nearby, Frag's scent lingered, along with dried blood staining the sand.

The rush back to The Golden Eye's territory was frantic, with the NPCs practically stumbling over each other as they scrambled to reach the rocky plateaus once more. The entire group was panting as they re-entered the main cavern, with many others nearby looking at them curiously, wondering what had them looking so panicked. There was a certain amount of hesitation on the air, before finally the leader of the small group of NPCs stepped forward. His voice shook as he called out, sounding anxious and distraught, "Arlo! Aesior! Everyone... Fragglerock is missing. He... he went out beyond the border to explore, and we were able to track his scent, but... someone took him. We got to the border of a desert, and there was... there was blood on the sand, and his scent led deeper inside. We believed that The Pitt may have him." It was dreadful news for one to deliver, especially when said NPCs were partially responsible. Still, it needed to be reported, or else there was a chance that Fraggle would never be returned. That he would end up another skull buried beneath the sands of The Pitt's desert.

☆ — what of the meek, the mourning, and the merciful?