Hindsight 20/20, leaving at the start of Leafbare was a terrible idea.
It was cold, they were consistently hungry, and so far, they had not stumbled upon another soul. The forest was endless, Momo hadn't explored most of it for fear of freezing their bat-sized ears off. Still, there was something almost enjoyable about the discomfort and having to hunt for one's food and build one's shelter. A few hunger-driven mistakes had taught him how to catch the basic things, a few broken nests had taught him where to build - in suffering, he felt himself growing. He just wished growth wasn't so... malnourished... or frigid...
The oriental paused at an old tree stump, nostrils flaring at the new scent occupying it. The cream fur upon his neck stood to attention, and the taste of ash settled within his mouth. Some time ago, the bark had smelled of mildew and pine. Now, there was cat all over it, a scent marker. Stories of rogues immediately crossed the young tom's mind, their brutality towards anything that breathed and spoke as they did. He looked to the snow nearby where broader pawsteps trailed off towards the distance, cautiously, the long-nosed cat snorted.
'I'm so gonna get murdered. Killed. Deaded. Dieded.' Being there first didn't matter, it was survival of the fittest, a battle of strength and cunning that he could not see himself winning. Yet, as he assessed the pawprints, fresh as new grass, the anxiety strangling his heart seemed to renew excited thoughts within his head. Ones where he could learn from the rogues, join the rogues, learn how to survive like a savage wildcat. All he had to do was convince them he was worth keeping around... easy... right?
Momo followed after the pawprints until he saw the back of some cats, his ears twisting in opposite directions. Be strong, be brave, be intimidating, be worthy. "Um... excuse me?" He called out, eyes wide at the sycophancy. His household had taught him many things, but at that moment, he wished all lessons of grace and decorum had been abandoned in favour of talking like a brawler. 'Ok... maybe not bold... maybe... killing them with kindness?' They smiled, praying for the best. 'Please don't kill me... please don't kill me...'. "I just wanted to say that you had lovely eyes."