A cat eat cat world [social]

Perhaps it was selective inattention, or love-induced blindness, but Koji failed to notice the sudden uncharacteristic intensity in Topaz's stare towards the stranger. Instead, the eldest Nyctores responded only to his brother's affirmative.

"It's decided then! Thank you kindly for your offer." He nodded solemnly to the lady, who proceeded to hobble on her knobby cane towards her house. "My name is Koji and this is Topaz."

Koji gently unwrapped his jacket from Topaz and rebuttoned it on himself as he walked after the woman, his paw holding his brother's.

Notorious B.I.G.

Koji remained silent throughout most of their journey, allowing Topaz to seize the reigns in developing some rapport with the woman, Mrs Wetzel.

A bittersweet smile crossed the woman's wrinkled mien that Topaz's innocent inquiry. "Dear child, my beloved once lived there too. With him, and his memories, it doesn't get too lonely." Her tone was content as she spoke, but Koji could taste a hint of grief still tinged in her reminiscing.

"My condolences," He said lamely, harbouring an awkwardness that prevented him from adding anything more meaningful.

At length, a quaint little cottage with a thatched roof rose into view, moss and vines crawling across its cobblestone walls. The oak door groaned on its hinges as Mrs Wetzel entered her household, gesturing for her guests to wipe their muddy paws on the fuzzy welcome mat.

"Take a seat at the table. I'll make us some tea. Cream and sugar?"

Koji slid slowly into the chair beside Topaz. Given the human-proportionated nature of the furniture, his hind paws hovered a few inches above the floor as he tried to make himself comfortable. "Same." He nodded towards Mrs Wetzel.

As the woman disappeared into the kitchen, Topaz spoke up. "What? Uh. Sylvia?" He scrambled in an equal hush, caught off-guard by the randomness of the observation. Momentarily discarding his caution in favour of engaging with his brother, Koji propped an elbow onto the worn wooden table and mused over the statement. "I suppose, hm… oh!" His ears pricked up upon the realisation.

"Our mama…" He murmured softly. "It hadn't occurred to me because she was always 'mama', and not 'Sylvia Nyctores'. Yes, she was prettiest person in the world."

Further speech was ceased by the reappearance of their kind host, holding a copper tray with three steaming cups of tea alongside a flora teapot. "Make yourself at home, boys."

Picking up a cup, Koji sniffed it experimentally. It didn't smell too suspicious. However, after the connection had been drawn between the woman and their own mother, the Exceed could not deny the growing trust with the stranger, that came so easily to Notorious B.I.G..

Koji bit back a smile upon seeing the irony of a Fire Slayer waiting to cool down a hot drink. Paradoxically, Koji didn't mind the scalding down his throat as he took a generous sip. Mrs Wetzel followed suit, smiling at the felines as though they were her own grandchildren as she made herself comfortable on a floral seat before them.

"You boys remind me of when I was young. Before The Calamity."

At the mention of the apocalyptic event, the his ears perked up again, pulling at the pockets inside of his orange hood. Curiosity seized the better of him. "You were alive back then?"

Much like his brother, Koji listened with rapt attention as their host recounted the world before it had ended. As she spoke, the Exceed was lost adrift a dreamscape of an impossibly beautiful haven. It was difficult to imagine such a place had ever existed, much less that it was what preceded the very lands they roamed now.

He inquired where appropriate and sat respectfully silent at other times. As beautiful landscapes were constructed in his mind, a seed of determination began to plant within Koji's mind. He desired to bring about such a world again. A world where both him and his brother were able to thrive peacefully without the horrors of scavenging for scraps just to survive. But that seemed so grandiose and the impossibility loomed before him, threatening to shatter such an aspiration.

"Woah." Koji echoed, albeit his voice was more subdued and thoughtful. Comfortable silence followed as the trio mused over their cooling cups of tea.

At length, Mrs Wetzel rose from her seat and shuffled towards the fireplace. Her ancient hands trembled as she handled the flint and steel. Koji only watched her absentmindedly, still adrift in this wild fantasy of his, not noticing that their host was experiencing trouble with getting the firewood to spark.

Upon Topaz's departure from the seat, Koji was pulled out of his daze to watch his kin assist in lighting the fireplace.

He would have more preferred his brother to lean more on subtilty, but at the same time, he was thankful for Topaz's assistance to the woman who had done nothing but help them. The effect of the lit fireplace was immediate – the room was bathed in a warmth Koji hadn't realised he needed until now.

He bit his lip at Topaz's frank explanation for his abilities and shut his eyes, as though trying to revisit his constructed utopian landscape. But it was a futile attempt.

Perhaps interpreting the closure of his eyelids for sleepiness, Mrs Wetzel rose back to her feet with the help of her cane and offered. "It must be long past your bedtime. Come sleep by the fireplace. I'll settle in for the night too. Feel free to knock if you need anything."

With that she shuffled away from the fire and entered the nearby bedroom, closing the door behind her.

"Good night boys."

Notorious B.I.G.

Koji followed his brother's stead in removing his outer garment, slipping off his yellow jacket and revealing the bare black and white fur of his head, neck and back. Courtesy to the rain, it was still rather damp, although thankfully not sodden.

"You can say that again." Koji agreed wholehearted. Now in the absence of a stranger, the exceed felt himself relaxing even more, joining his brother in lounging beside the fire. He let a contented sigh escape his jaws as he curled into a ball, adopting a sleeping manner more reminiscent of their quadrupedal cousins.

"I think…" He began slowly, as though musing over the solemnity of his next words. "…That this place is a lot less beat up than we could have ever hoped for." His tails flicked happily behind him. Against his will, a rumbling purr began to emanate from his chest.

"We even got a bedtime story to boot." Koji mused, his eyelids growing heavy. "I bet it was your adorableness which got us here. Nobody can resist that." He touched his nose to Topaz's cheek. "It's a superpower on its own."

Notorious B.I.G.