Kindness goes a long way, but don't mistake it for weakness.

✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧༄🦋༄✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧

The dawn carried some expected overcast as Duchess was let outside, it had been rather damp as of late but the warm sunshine every now and again had been with it. At least to Duchess they had.

The bicolor she-cat took her time while walking toward a stone that got just enough sun to say warm, even in the overcast that had been happening lately, and sat herself on the stone, her perch was nothing like the usual kittypet, just simply a well groomed cat finding a warm place to rest when it hadn’t been so warm.

However, just because she was relaxed, that didn’t harbour a lack of defence. Her ears flicked occasionally, alert for any oncoming noises that might be a danger to herself, or just a danger to her well needed rest. 

Almost in an instant, her ears perked at a sound that resembled pawsteps drawing closer her cracked one of her hazel eyes open to investigate, a blue smoke tom that seemed lost, reasonably so, she hadn’t seen him around here before. "You! C’mere!" She greeted, tapping her tail on the ground beside her

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
⋆｡°✩ ⭒ ──● 𓄿 ●── ⭒ ⋆｡°✩

The wind off the river was sharp, carrying the scent of thawing earth, but beneath it lingered something subtler...sun warmed wood, fresh mulch, and the faintest trace of thyme. The scent of life, of survival.

Kosmo approached the Riverside Farm with careful steps, his half tail flicking in quiet agitation as his mismatched gaze swept across the sloped roof and moss laced beams of the barn. He hadn't set paw here in some time. Not since that strange, deliberate encounter with Duchess. But things had changed since then.

The rogue was still out there somewhere. He hadn’t been able to stop her. Not yet. And while his claws ached for justice, his thoughts kept circling back to one thing: what if she had come chasing barn cats?

He slinked low through the brittle grass edging the fields, green stalks cracking underfoot as he followed the familiar trail up toward the house. The herb garden lay just beyond it, nestled against the fence. If Duchess was alive, she may be keeping watch. If she wasn't...

He didn’t call out. Didn’t announce himself. He moved like a ghost, eyes sharp for any movement, any scent out of place. He was here to make sure she was still breathing. And if she was, maybe he’d check the garden for any herbs that might serve him well.

"Duchess?" He called out finally, voice low and even, slicing through the hush like a blade.

"zzZZzz"

───── /ᐠ - ˕ -マᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 ─────

Noah had struggled to hide his disappointment after Duchess’ sudden departure the other day. Even the humans taking care of him had asked him what was wrong and they could hardly read his mood. He must’ve seemed really down. So. The tom had made it his mission to visit her farm. He had been there before. It was where they had met back when he was still a full stray. Despite the cold the sun was shining with no clouds to cover it, the pale ginger feline’s long fur helping with the cold temperatures. Snow. He hadn’t seen this in a while.

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
⋆｡°✩ ⭒ ──● 𓄿 ●── ⭒ ⋆｡°✩ 

Kosmo lay sprawled across a sturdy branch of the oak, his sleek mink fur blending with the dappled afternoon light filtering through the thinning leaves. The autumn air was crisp, carrying the earthy scent of fallen leaves and the loamy earth.

His mismatched eyes were closed but peeked briefly in an out of sleep, his breathing slow and steady as he drifted in and out. The verys sligth breeze and the chime of dried leaves lulling him further into relaxation.

Above him, unseen but present, the familiar raven perched high in the tree’s topmost branches, preening its sleek black feathers. The bird occasionally cast a curious glance down at Kosmo, as though keeping watch over the slumbering tom. A gentle breeze rustled the golden leaves sending a few twirling down past him like whispers of the season’s change.

Kosmo’s ear flicked in response to the rustling, but he remained still, content to enjoy the quiet solitude of the farmhouse so near his territory There was no need for wandering or worrying - the presence of humans were becoming rarer and rarer until there was hardly a soul this past moon.

Just him, the tree, the sky, and the world beyond...

 

Moonlight danced across some of his grizzled ticked fur, but for the most part, the tom remained in the shadow of a beech tree. After rubbing against the tree to scratch his pelt, he rose up to drag his claws down the bark, then sprayed it for good measure after he finished. He was near a Clan border in the sense that if there were no trees, someone might spot him in the distance, but he wasn't near enough for his scentmark on that tree and the others around to threaten theirs.