Username: ataraxic_king | Cat Name: MiloSkip | Cat gender: Male | Link to Thread: Tacenda
[listen while reading on low volume]
[listen while reading on low volume]
Ripples flowing through the plane of existence, like if a stone had dropped into a puddle, muddying the perspective of all who observed through eyes. Eyes that in reality saw everything upside down, fracturing a perfect sight, not once, but twice. As was the nature of the mind, nothing shone through perfectly. Reality itself disallowing it even before the mind had it's turn at twisting the world in knots.
There was a grace in seeing the way the world way it wasn't. Hills and pastures, forests and valleys all skewed in wonderful colours that he wasn't sure anyone saw the same way he did. There was a vivid pulse to the world around him and as he slipped through the cracks of reality, through the fabric of space into another place, he found himself always met with the same but different spectacle of shining brilliance- lungs working overtime to make up for the way his breathe was constantly stolen from him.
His name was without consequence, one he had chosen from the plant he found cultivated in the fields from time to time. Milo. He had to give something to the faces he passed daily in conversation before moving on with a restlessness that would never let him stand still or sit down.
There in one of the forests, tempting the creatures of the forest to come out to play he found his life tilt on an axis. A figure approached from behind, silents amongst the trees but not silent enough to avoid the attentive ears that Milo had trained to the side of his skull.
A small sound caught in the throat of someone behind him and despite his own curiosity Milo held himself firm, giving his back to the stranger.
"I never thought I'd see you again"
A voice echoed out from behind him, turning to face them now, he saw a face that was familiar in all the ways it wasn't. A stranger to him today, a friend perhaps in another life. As the cat spoke their own words seemed to catch them off guard and they sucked in a deep breathe, approaching with a cautious bravado that could have fooled no-one.
They looked worn down, like someone who had travelled without break for far too long, without care for themself only some long standing mission and yet now they looked relieved.
As they got close, flirting with the idea of stepping into Milo's personal space he got a closer look at the cats eyes, watching as something ancient roamed behind those orbs of green. He knew what it looked like to carry that sort of demon with you. He stepped forward catching the other tom cat off guard, sending them back a few paces as Milo sought through his usual apathy to present a smile.
They were the same. Two shattered pieces of a paradise that existed centuries ago. So Milo afforded himself the permission to be kind, just this once.
"I know."
Milo said, hoping that in some way this tom would know that he did understand even if it was just a vague memory of a memory. This served to be too much and after a long breathe that had been punched out of the strangers chest, they began to weep.
<>
KitSong. That was the name that this cat went by, he was stubborn and had a soft voice and a softer heart hidden under manic tendencies. Milo supposed that the best of them were like that, he couldn't think of another reason why he had been so restless with exploring beyond that itch to keep going and make something of himself even if it was just the stranger that no-one would ever see again.
KitSong had interesting things to say. Like a name that Milo had let rest in the back of his mind for the longest time. PinePaw- Now PineLeap. Milo hadn't so much let his mind wander when the name had been spoken as much as the leash had been snapped and broken, letting his thoughts run wild without his will behind them.
Memories of a time in the past when that name had for a brief moment made an impact on his life, just like the ripples that thrummed through the universe, just like the ripples that passed through a puddle. His entire experience had been made a mess of bright colours by that simple impression a stranger had made on him. Very little time had gone by that he didn't think over that encounter and wonder about what could have happened if he stayed.
"He needs to see you again."
KitSong said with a resolute tone, something that almost hid the note of desperation behind his words.
"Maybe."
Was how Milo replied.
<>
Kit had left him to his own devices, returning home sullen and withdrawn having taken maybe as no. Which it could have been, for another cat but maybe to Milo had always meant the same thing. Yes but give me time.
He would find himself slipping through space, using his unnatural powers to find himself somewhere familiar that hadn't graced his sight in a long time. The plain visage of a forest clearing had never before enacted such feelings of nostalgia. His heart knew why he had needed to take that time. Stepping towards the path that would lead him closer to the place that KitSong and PineLeap called home.
A small slice of destructive paradise for their own shattered sense of self.
The small chatter of cats caught his ear and his heart twisted sideways when it was neither of the cats he had come to see. Still he found himself speaking his next words without any hindrance of regret or forward thinking. He'd never thought himself capable of kicking his habit of adventuring and exploring, more concerned with keeping moving than ever stopping to see the world for more than it's first impressions.
Still. He found the words.
"I'm here to join your ranks"
It came out sweeter than he'd expected and judging by the look on the faces of the strangers he had just blindsided it wasn't one they were used to hearing. Pine needed to see him and if he was honest with himself, once they saw each other again Milo had a suspicion he wouldn't be leaving. The plain visage of this ocean side territory would only get plainer as the days went by, but for once he supposed he wasn't just living for the sights.
