It was dark out by the time Honey had been making her way back towards her home, the glow of the sparse street lamps a welcomed guide towards the ranch. The stars had been beautiful that night and with the short summer just starting she had wanted to get out as much as she could before the cold once more claimed the lands. Snow was beautiful to watch… from the inside of her cozy home. Lichen and early summer grass cushioned her paws as she merrily made her way and inhaled the lingering scent of nectar and salt.
It was Vermin who had spotted her first. Trailing along the ridge of rock and sparse weedy plants, his dark pelt helped him far more in the cover of night than her creamy golden one. He’d followed her for some time now, curious about a cat that was neither a wanderer nor a clowder freak. A solitary cat by mostly choice, he had no real interest in another cat unless it was for his benefit- and with a stomach that twisted in hunger and skin tight to his bones a well fed cat was a beacon to a place to find food. If he needed to bully her off or sneak food he would. Anything to ease the hunger. However he kept a distance, unsure if she was a threat or worth a fight… there were a few clowder cats that abandoned their birth home to live with humans after all, and they could kill him if threatened.
Watching the queen move he gazed towards the direction she was headed and spotted the faintly glowing lights of a small grouping of housing, possibly some sort of farmland as seen dotted throughout the lowlands. It was unlikely she lived in a barn with the way her pelt filled out so healthily, it was more than likely she was a human's house pet. Keeping low to the ground he moved along the ridge and towards the home, following a curve to cut off her path. Laying in wait the tom held his breath- hopefully she wouldn't be aggressive.
"Hello missus." The voice caused Honey to jump in surprise, her pelt fluffing up defensively as she looked to the dark spot now moving towards her, low and lean to the ground, amber eyes fixed on her. "I'm sorry for startling you, I just couldn't help but notice you, I don't see many other wanderers out here." She blinked at the stranger, equally as baffled to see another cat out and about; the clowders lived up in the highlands and she only really saw them when they came down for herbs and when she sometimes rode along up into that area with her humans. Squinting she took note of the massive scar on his front and the many that torn up his dark scruffy pelt and his obvious poor state. Sympathy flooded her chest.
"Oh- I'm not a wanderer. I live with the humans not far from here." Her tone was sheepish and embarrassed.
"Is that so?" The stranger moved closer to her now, raising himself up to meet her gaze, "They must take good care of you. It's not often I see a cat so... well fed. It's a nice look." The purr rumbled quietly out just at the right time to make the other cat blush. Good. She wasn't likely to chase him off, and if he spoke sweet to her perhaps she'd be a food ticket.
"T-Thank you." Honey wasn't sure if she'd ever had her looks commented on, the other toms she'd met had been a one off affair her humans had set up, "I'm sorry you haven't had as much luck. I take it you aren't fond of humans enough to live with them?" The stranger shook his head, solemn. "Um... why don't you come back with me? I can bring you out something."
Bingo. The sneer on Vermin's muzzle was softened by the dark sky as he slunk close to the queen and pushed before their pelts could touch. His sharp gaze watched her anxious shifting, her raised hackles, and he forced something sweeter to his tone.
"Really? Bless the gods, that would be so kind of you Miss...?"
"Honey. I'm Honey." He looked at her with confusion- the name was odd, as he was used more to the local names of the clowders. "And you?"
There was a pause and then Honey awkwardly began to walk, leading the way as Vermin stalked closely behind her. Soon the light of the ranch house washed over the tundra ground and the fat house cat, the wanderer watching as she vanished through a small flap.
That had been easier than he'd thought.
