should i or nah [open]

[Bintang]

   His thoughts lingered on the pack of Nardir, filled with wolves and where his father he never knew was buried. Bintang had spent so long looking for his father, Bulan, only to find himself too late. The pack his father was apart of had a righteous image of his father, and Bintang couldn’t ruin it. But he also knew that Nardir is not where he belonged. When he had returned to his home, the entire clan was gone, nothing to signal where they could have gone. Stoneclaw was the last resort Bintang had. His father might have been able to find peace living among creatures not like himself, but his child could not. Even though Stoneclaw was his last resort, he did find it a nice, peaceful place. The only issue he was finding was his lack of social connections that would make him feel more at home.

   Bintang had not aligned himself to the any of the clans that made up the pride of Stoneclaw. He didn’t know enough to make such a decision. It even felt taboo for him to choose yet, as if he were still an outsider. Not until he felt at home could he decide more to do in his life. But he also knew that not planning any goals out would make it harder for anything to happen. His mind was racing constantly, torn on what to do. He wanted to get involved, but he didn’t want to get involved because he didn’t feel like belonged yet. He was stuck between his thoughts, unable to decide on what to do. During the time, though, he had learned the lay of the land. He had explored every section of land he was allowed to explore. If he saw anyone from the pride it was only in passing; he still knew not names neither faces.

   The day was growing towards an end, the sun still in the sky but slowly falling downwards. Bintang had been walking all day, as if a plant or rock might tell him what to do. His thirst was becoming more and more of a nuisance, and he finally let himself stop for a drink. He had learned that the main water source for the clan was a lake dubbed Croc Lake. As Bintang leaned over, lapping up the water, he kept his eyes peeled for any crocodiles. He had heard that there were no longer any crocs that inhabited the area, and the only trace he might find was their remains, but he did not know the land enough yet to fully accept the information. He took deep sips and he wondered what to do in this pride.

[hikaru]

The time since his return from Tortuga had been spent in preparation of opening his own shop and organizing items for trade with their allies. Days were growing longer now and hotter as well, making the hours in which it was comfortable to traverse the plains short and nearer to dawn and dusk. Although the burned Black Plains was no longer a main area for the pride, allowing for travelers to come and go as their pleased, there were still many useful things out there.

As the sun began to set, Hikaru decided it was time to call it a day and headed in toward the main pride lands, thick with foliage and massive red woods. Black soot from the Plains still clung to his pelt and even in his throat. Lapping at his nose, the young prince decided a bath was in order. In the shadow of the forest, he stretched, taking one last look behind him to the Plains behind him.

Life was beginning to return in some places, arriving as little sprigs of grass among the ash. It would take many years for the Plains to regrow, but Hikaru had no plans of moving back there to the Old Lands. The forest had been his home since he was a cub. He could still remember the long journey here, and although he understood why his father wanted to preserve the pride's way of life, Hikaru was a different kind of cat now. He was of the forest.

Golden eyes grew up to the canopy as he walked along a well worn path toward water. Above, he could see life all around, from birds to squirrels, darting between the branches. Soon he caught the scent of another feline and he smiled, his tail flicking behind him. The dark male strode forward, picking up the pace at the prospect of interacting with another pride mate. There weren't many of them, but Hikaru wanted to know them all, as his father had in the Old Lands.

"Hey there." He greeted, walking right on into the water, the dark ash washing from his fur and drifting downriver. "Name's Hikaru. What's yours?"

[Bintang]

   For some reason, it can to him as a surprise that someone else in the pride might be wandering around. Bintang had for some odd reason thought that anyone with a rank would rarely be doing anything other than their job. Reflecting on such thoughts, he knew it was rather stupid to assume so. He had a job in the past, and he had free time as well. Why would that differ here? No matter, he thought, as he peered over towards the other that came close. There was the tiny voice in the back of his head that screamed he knew no one, and that he couldn’t tell friend from foe. But a foe wouldn’t be so calm and appear so friendly.
 
   ”Hello there.” Bintang dipped his head in a friendly greeting, watching the soot covered feline pad into the water. The tiger hadn’t seen an area where one could get covered in so much ash, but he also didn’t know the area that well. ”Name’s Hikaru. What’s yours?” For some reason the tiger felt his throat tighten. It was as if he hadn’t spoken to anyone in years, but he cleared his throat, trying to get his mind settled down enough to speak. “I am Bintang.” He dipped his head back towards the water, where the ash hadn’t spread. He took another sip, then peered up once again at Hikaru.
 
   “Was there a fire? I did not smell one.” If there had been a fire recently, he would have noticed, for sure. He also knew that lands which had been burnt down took time to rebuild, and the soot clogged the land for possibly moons after. He suspected that if there had been a fire, it had been before he had joined Stoneclaw. That also meant he had some history to learn. Whatever had happened to his new pride, he most likely needed to know, in order to help keep everyone safe in the future. Plus, then he would have less chances of looking like a fool in front of others.