It was a long trek from beach to misty woods, and then back to his den in the Starlight Forest. He picked up some herbs from all over, then deposited them in his cavern after many back and forth trips: that was his life. Lonely, but there were ways to curb that loneliness. He wished he didn’t use so much catnip and poppy, but it was a tempting smell and hard to resist when his nest was in close vicinity.

He loved his cave. It had a cozy room in the back where his bed resided, though opened up into a spacious atrium where two large boulders rested against each other in stony embrace. The perimeter boasted so many nooks and crannies to organize and stow his herbs. Some dark, cool spots perfect for storing, and some hot, sunny spots perfect for drying towards the entrance where warm sunspots floated in. Roots from a bushy tree held his rock and earthen walls together.

It seemed like paradise, but how could it be if he was the only one in it?

He rolled up onto his side, feeling the deep bedding of his nest cradle his body in the darkness. A soft sigh escaped him, and after what felt like hours, he finally pulled himself to his paws and made his way into the atrium, and from there, outside.

After he slipped out of his home, he felt both sun and shade speckle his fur through the branches. He could hear the plant life rustle in the breeze, song to his ears. The taste of the mountains rolled down the hillside that rose up behind him. His den was hidden in a maze of rock, undergrowth, and trees. His paws have touched every stone and plant along the hillside, except the ones who have not risen from the soil, and even still that could be argued. There was even a nice little trickle of a stream that ran down the hillside, so he never was far from a drink. He could hear it from his cavern. A wet paw rose to comb his whiskers.

After weeks of restocking, he finally had a day to himself. He mostly busied around his cave, organizing herbs, filling a few turtle shells with water so he didn’t have to leave his cave for a drink…though not much time passed before he moved to sunbathing atop his abode.

The heat felt nice, daylight wrapping him in a motherly embrace. He lost track of time, dozed, then came to.

He suddenly felt hot and let out a labored huff, pulling himself to his paws. A soft leap from his roof started his adventure to cooler places, the tom making his way through the woods towards the Shimmering Lake. It will be a long walk, but it was a nice day to dip his toes in the water.

It was a joyous journey, and he caught a couple of meals along the way. A mouse dangled from his jaws as he carried it to his destination. It would be nice to have a snack after a hot day at the lake.

He felt forest loam shift to pebble and sand beneath his paws. The aroma of lake-life overtook the smell of the forest, though the scent of another cat rose from under both. He set his mouse down and swiveled his ears.

“Hello,” He shouted from afar with a smile and wave of his tail. “Enjoying the view?”

He always prided himself in finding good company.

“You should have come down the other side of the mountain!” He started cheerily as he sensed the cat approaching. There was no need to move, and the last thing he wanted was for glee to interrupt his balance. “Much nicer over there, but my opinion on the matter is swayed by the place that houses my creature comforts.“

The eyeless tom felt the unfamiliar’s distance unchanged for several moments.

“Where are you from?” He inquired. “A trek through the mountains is not done on a whim. Perhaps you would like some sustenance after your travels?”

He rest a paw on his caught mouse and dipped his head respectfully. Another cat grew close and made a presence at the outskirts of their conversation.

“It is-“

Dreaded.
Eyeless.
Lonesome.
Fool.

He swallowed hard, trying to ignore the lump of resentment in his throat, the words of the second stranger roiling in his mind like a nightmare. He did not acknowledge the rude one other than a brief ear flick, and continued on with his interaction.

“It is plentiful at the base of the mountains.”

He glanced towards the new cat. Younger. Movements and brazenness smooth and unhindered by the weight of time.

“Wouldn’t you say?”

For the first time in a long time, the eyeless tom’s common greeting was unsaid.

Shadedtree chuckled lightly, "Perhaps I should have. But the sound of the lake makes for good resting, I think." Shadedtree's heart dropped when the eyeless tom asked about his origin. The former not yet healed from the mental wounds the fire left him with. He looked down at his paws and flexed his claws into the sand and gravel mix.

Lichen had a sly smile as the eyeless cat glanced his way. "Oh, I'm not from this area," he yawned, reaching down and stretching his front legs, claws flexed,"the mountains sure look beautiful, though. I couldn't imagine missing out on this view." He couldn't help but jab at the eyeless cat. Growing up, the only other cats he was exposed to was his mother, and his estranged friend. He's never been exposed to anything else, and finds an eye-less cat like the gray tom so interesting.

Lichen slowly stalked towards the two toms, his tail high and swishing back and forth. "Say, that's a swell idea," he chirped to the dark tom,"a free meal with two nice strangers? Can't ever say no to that." He was now in front of both toms, staring intently at the dark tomcat, his sly smile now a wide grin.

--
Bleakfur Shadedtree

He liked this older cat. By the sound of it, the tom had a good head on his shoulders and a fair bit of courage. Losing the foundation on which he built his life? He could only imagine the tragedy. At least he did have his daughter though. Where was she?

It does seem like this cat loses things a lot. Good news is, although eyeless, he was pretty good at finding things.

“Feel free to share, though I only brought one.” He meowed, whiskers twitching with amusement as the other tom encroached.

In the company of others, he felt fulfilled. He remembered the mouse in his mouth as it was carried and let out a nervous chuckle. It was very satisfying being able to feed others, and he hated anyone leaving his company without a full belly. That mouse was a snack for a full grown cat and in no way a meal for two.

“You know, why don’t I go catch us some more lunch.” He piped up. “I’ll leave you two be for a bit to catch up.”

Hopefully when he returned they were still hungry!

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