A Den of Memories [ semi-open ]

[duckie]

[ Will become closed after first response to avoid flooding ]

Rook
__________

It had been... a while since Rook had ventured back to the den where he grew up. Nestled in a grove, the main hollow lay tucked in the roots of a tree and had been expanded over the moons to account for their growing family. It was too big, now. The underbrush lay heavy in this area once, and it had begun to grow back, but the trees were still charred from the fires and his old home was now more exposed than ever before. Slipping down into the hollow, Rook took a deep breath, shaking as he exhaled. Stale scents hung heavy in the air, some familiar and some not. It was clear nobody had been here in a while. Harrier, he knew he wouldn't find but a small part of him had still been clinging to the idea that perhaps he would come back and find his mother and brother sleeping soundly in the den. It was a fool's hope. Maybe they would run into each other again one day but today wasn't it. Rook settled down in the center of the empty den, in the scattered remains of an old nest, and let the old scents wash over him as he curled into a ball.

[Terrestrial]

Silent paws lurked throughout the hollow as light blue eyes spotted a loner in some roots curled up. Lucky slowly approached the black and white tom, he didn't plan on killing this one. Hell, they looked so young! Maybe apprentice aged? "Well hello there." Lucky mewed standing a few fox-lengths away from where Rook lay.

@shortstack

[duckie]

Rook
__________

Rook jumped up at the sudden voice, letting out a small yelp of surprise and backing up until he hit the wall behind him. His fur bristled with apprehension. Why hadn't he caught his scent before he approached? Heard the pawsteps moving through the brush? Well, it didn't matter now. He was cornered with an unfamiliar feline staring down at him. Not an optimal position to be in.

Shaking his head, Rook did his best to regain his composure, "... Hello." he replied, clearing his throat, "I'm not intruding, am I?" It certainly was a possibility - someone moving into the space in the moons it had been empty. The hollow didn't seem particularly occupied but... who knew?

[ @Wolfie ]

[Terrestrial]

"Intruding? You're not intruding! I was just out on a walk." Lucky laughed, he wondered why the smaller tom had gotten so scared. Was it the scent of death and blood that clung to his pelt? Or was it the psychotic hint in his eyes? Lucky had no idea why Rook had jumped, oh well, he was already there, standing before the smaller tom. "Well, what are you doing here by yourself?" Lucky was curious about the tom.

@wnder

[duckie]

Rook
__________

'Just out on a walk? Who just goes out on a walk along and decides to accost random felines laying under a tree?' he thought, still wary of the other tom. His laughter sounded hollow and his eyes... They felt unnatural. By now the scent of death had reached his muzzle and he wrinkled his nose. Was the scent coming from the stranger or the hollow? He couldn't tell. Everything about the scenario screamed 'wrong'.

"I..." Best not to tell him he was always on his own. That didn't seem safe. "I was scouting. For my group. We've been looking for a new place to stay."

[ @Terrestrial ]