ORIGIN - I am your Neighbour

Owlfeather I think it's time you found some frame of mind

The kitten stared downwards, at a small cluster of mushrooms nestled in the moss. She padded around them in a circle for a moment before she flopped down onto her belly next to them, fluffy tail curling around them like a mother defending her kits.

Owlfeather liked being here in Eridanus, a little away from the Monarch - but she was sure if she were to bother craning her neck back she'd see the other grey kit sitting by the mushroom, watching it and murmuring to it.

And if she were to look towards the Eyes, she was sure she'd see the black-and-white cat staring into the water. As Owl licked her paws she thought about what Dovefeather had said to her - she saw spots dancing around her. What did it mean?

She quickly shrugged it off, staring fondly at her mushrooms. This was her place, and no one elses.

"When I speak"

When I think

@Booker

Booker had wandered away from the trench after a while, still thinking over what the kitten had told him. A path. He snorted, shaking his head as he wandered aimlessly - after all, he knew the way back to his family, thanks to the spores he'd left strewn about their impromptu campsite. Honestly, it was a bit nice to be walking around again, feeling less helpless, able to keep up with the troupe of cats rather easily, even with his lame leg.

Lost in thought, the numbat stopped just a few feet from - another cat? The All Mother must really love helping kittens Emerge, he wondered, huffing in amusement to himself. This must be... Owl? Unless there're even more Sisters, Booker mentally added, snorting.

"Sorry 'bout that, Sister," he mumbled, smiling nervously. The little cat seemed to be peering at a patch of mushrooms, in much the same way he did, like they were something precious to be protected. "Need ta watch where 'm goin'. I'm Booker," the Gembound added with a twitch of his tail, sitting back on his burnt haunches, curiosity making his eye less glazed.

@Owlfeather

Owlfeather I think it's time you found some frame of mind

The kit's ears rotated somewhat and she turned her head towards Booker quizzically.

What a peculiar-looking cat, she thought, tip of her tail curling. The grey hairs parted somewhat, showing the white underneath. She didn't quite consider the fact that Booker might be, in fact, something other than a cat.

"Hello," she mewled hesitantly. He didn't sound like a sister. "... Booker?"

@Booker

Booker smiled encouragingly, chuckling at the curl of the cat's tail. He tried to mimic it with his own - to limited success, as a cloud of spores was released with the motion. "Hello, little Sister. What's your name?" She looked like the others, though she was fluffier, with piercing green-blue eyes - and, apparently, an interest in the mushrooms. "Can you connect to the mush-rooms, too?"

It was rare to find other Gembounds who could "see" the fungi like he could; so far, he'd only met one other: Giggle, the bone-loving hyena. This kitten was a lot less intimidating, more calming, like the other cats that gathered around the All Mother.

@Owlfeather

Owlfeather I think it's time you found some frame of mind

"Indeed, brother. I am Owlfeather," said the cat. She lowered her nose to the ground to show that she could, in fact, connect with the mushrooms she lay next to by amazingly, growing more.

Yet, a sharp pain went through her head. Perhaps they did not wish to grow? With a croaking whine, the cat lifted her head and placed a paw on her forehead. "I do not believe they wish to commune, Brother Booker."

@Booker

"Nice to meetcha, then, Sister Owlfeather," Booker replied, watching with ears perked forward with interest as the kitten leaned down, nose almost touching the cap of one of the mushrooms. He practically vibrated in place, exhilarated by the thought of meeting another who could do what he could, make the fungi grow at will, let them guide him - but she quickly retreated with a whine, paw flying to her forehead in obvious pain.

The numbat held back a small laugh, remembering his own failures to connect in his earlier days, and stepped closer, offering the cat a gentle sympathetic nudge with his nose, whiskers twitching. "'s alright. It happens, sometimes. Might be they're tired, might be you are, n' it might just be fated not to happen, right now. Happens to me too," he assured with a small, self-deprecating grin.

"Is that watcha do, here? Commune with the mush-rooms?" Blackfeather had said something about her Sisters, but it was always better to ask first-hand, the tiny Gembound thought.

@Owlfeather