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Post by Rachel on Apr 14, 2010 19:10:08 GMT -5
The black and white tom wandered on, completely lost. His long fur was tangled into clumps and wiry from his tumble in the river and his pampered stomach protested loudly at its lack of food. He was confused, and his head hurt. He could only recall certain things, like his name for instance. He knew without a doubt that he had been dubbed Elmo, but he could not remember who had given him the name or where he had gotten it. He knew there was someone he loved, and who loved him, out there, but he had no idea who this cat was or what they even looked like. He had no memories to drive him on, just a name.
At that moment he heard a scuttle from underneath a bush. He froze, not sure what to do. Instinct told him it was a mouse and to catch it, but he hadn’t had the slightest idea how. Almost unconsciously he sunk down into a crouch, but he had no clue why, it was just his muscles remembering something from a past life. Perhaps someone had taught him this crouch, perhaps someone had fixed his weight distribution with a gentle paw and a smirk, perhaps someone had cared about him, but if someone had they were gone now. He was alone, relying on what his muscles were able to remember.
He jumped forward claws extended, but he was much too slow. The mouse looked at him, almost mockingly, before it scurried away. He had landed sprawled out on the moist ground, and he made no move to get up. Instead he just curled up in a ball and mewed pitifully, “I have a name, but I have no one. Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?...” eventually the mews changed into incoherent sobs. The tom shuddered violently, he was alone, scared and confused and for all he knew no one was coming to get him.
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on Apr 16, 2010 14:13:53 GMT -5
The rhythm of paws pounding the earth lulled the black she-cat into a serene trance. Her logical, sharp thought patterns lay dormant for the moment, instinct reigning strong. Scents and sounds formed the vigilant guideposts to her hunt.
There. Abyss tore off after a mouse, scrambling to a halt when it did not seem to notice her. It snuffled around at the base of a bush, small forepaws rooting around the debris for seeds. Its ears twitched, not toward her, but toward whatever lay on the other side of the bush. Another hunter- presumably feline- crashed into the bush, and the mouse ran.
The loner ran after it, long strides overtaking the small rodent. She dipped her head as she ran (something that had taken her moons to perfect) and broke its spine. Abyss traced her own scent back to the bush, ears pricked at a faint sound, which bore a strong resemblance to... sobbing?
“I have a name, but I have no one. Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?...” Her ears fell flat against her skull. Though the black loner did not often acknowledge it, she did indeed have a mother's instincts imparted to her at the conception and birth of her kits.
She sighed and picked her way into the clearing. A black and white cat, a tom by the scent, lay crying by the bush he'd clearly pounced on. "You are yourself. What else could you be?" His questions seemed almost gratingly illogical to Abyss. But those instincts nagged at the lean she-cat, and prompted her to pad over to the tom.
Abyss did not bother to await his response to her query and simply began to smooth out the clumps in his fur with her tongue. It rasped in a steady rhythm that she remembered her own mother using to comfort Void, her brother, when he was frightened or sad.
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Post by Rachel on Apr 19, 2010 19:12:04 GMT -5
Elmo looked up at the voice. It's tone seemed almost cold and detached, but he detected a little bit of tenderness in it. He couldn't really see the form of the she-cat, his eyes were blurred from crying, but he could tell that she was black at least. She reminded him of someone, but who he did not know, with her analytical voice and almost-fond detachment.
"Your right," he mewed miserably, "I am myself, but that doesn't mean I'm whole. I only have bits and pieces, and nothing makes sense! I'm scared, and I don't know anything, not even about my own life!" He realized a second too late that his statement probably made no sense to the other cat, seeing as she didn't know any more about him than he did, however he was to exhausted and upset to continue. He just laid his head down and allowed himself to be comforted by Abyss' rhythmic licks on his fur.
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on Apr 19, 2010 19:40:22 GMT -5
The crying tom lifted his head to look at the black loner, eyes blurred and wet with tears. "You're right, I am myself, but that doesn't mean I'm whole. I only have bits and pieces, and nothing makes sense! I'm scared, and I don't know anything, not even about my own life!" She frowned.
Abyss's mind zeroed in on one aspect of his words. Not even about my own life! Logically, that implied that he had encountered a situation that caused his memories to fade, become inaccessable, or the black and white tom had amnesia. Given his near-hysterics, the she-cat reasoned that amnesia seemed most probable. Without a solid foundation upon which to build, what would she do? She didn't know, and that irked her.
"Your reaction is not without merit youngling. Without a basis of knowledge that should be second nature, you are left, figuratively, in the dark. If you would like," Abyss continued to groom the upset tom as she spoke, voice an even monotone. Blackie had once joked that when the lithe black she-cat spoke in that tone, she could put any cat to sleep. "I could help you regain your memories and care for you until you wish otherwise."
She finished with the task of grooming the tom's body and moved forward to carefully lick the untidy tufts present back into order. Abyss gently lapped at the moisture welling in his eyes and sighed. "It is up to you, youngling. I shall not force your paw."
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Post by Rachel on Apr 26, 2010 18:46:40 GMT -5
Elmo hiccuped as he looked up at the she-cat grooming him. She would take him in? Why was she being so kind, it was obvious that she could shred him if she wanted, but she hadn't. Instead, she had consoled him and offered to help. He sniffed a little bit and then nodded, "Can I really come with you?" he whispered.
He was afraid that she was teasing him, offering him what he really wanted just so it would hurt more when it was pulled away. However, she didn't seem to be the cat that would do that, her offer seemed genuine. But why? Why was she willing to help?
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on Apr 27, 2010 16:14:55 GMT -5
"Can I really come with you?"
Abyss regarded the sniffling tom for perhaps a split second before replying. "Of course you may. I would not have offered if I did not wish for your company." There was much to why she wanted his company that the black loner would not tell him presently, and maybe not ever.
He reminded her of Night and Day, to an extent. Her own kits had been tiny little newborns, Day mewling in a high pitch and Night's quiet breaths rasping in the manner of a cat who'd nearly drowned the last she'd seen them. Kin, an accquaintance that had also delivered the kits, had taken them to a kittypet, and freed Abyss to care for herself. The wilderness was no place for delicate kits with one protector. She would not have been able to provide for them by herself.
Sometimes, she still regretted letting them go.
Perhaps this young tom was her instincts, the part of her that had irrevocably been changed into a mother calling out and demanding to be sated. Abyss would sate her instinctual need to care for another feline, and aid the lost black and white cat.
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Post by Rachel on Apr 27, 2010 16:25:20 GMT -5
Ooc: I just saw that smiley and REALLY wanted to use it, sorry! I couldn't help myself! Elmo heart lifted dramatically as he heard the she-cat tell him he could come for real. He even forgot himself for a moment, and rubbed his head against her paw the way a kit would do to their mother after being comforted. In his mind, she was the only one who cared for him. Whoever had been in his past must not have loved him, if they had, why hadn't they come back for him?
"Thank you," he practically cried, "my name is Elmo" he tacked on as an after-thought, realizing he hadn't told her his name. He hoped she would tell hers, but he wasn't going to ask anymore of her. She had already given him more than enough for a lifetime.
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on Apr 27, 2010 17:28:24 GMT -5
Something in Abyss's empty green eyes melted just the tiniest bit when the young tom nuzzled her paw. It reminded her distinctly of the sole time Night had cuddled up to her before being taken away by Kin.
"Thank you," he practically cried, "my name is Elmo."
She smiled at Elmo, the gesture automatic from her days as a kit, naive enough to believe that she and Void would live forever. "I am called Abyss. Would you like to return to my den? I believe I may have a mouse there." Abyss dipped her head to rub the top against Elmo's.
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Post by Rachel on May 9, 2010 18:23:19 GMT -5
Elmo looked up at Abyss with a look one may give to their deity. He nodded eagerly and struggled to his paws. It took him a moment, the days without food and shelter had drained him of his strength, and when he finally managed to get his paws underneath him he still shook unstably.
He had one other question he wanted to ask her, but felt somewhat silly asking it. His eyes shifted uncomfortably before he muttered, "Do you have anything that would make me remember? Is there a way?"
He doubted she would be able to help him with his query, but he had to ask. Their was someone, or something he almost remembered loving him, but he couldn't remember what it was. In his mind, it just felt like this memory was something more than life. He had to know.
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on May 10, 2010 14:42:16 GMT -5
"Do you have anything that would make me remember? Is there a way?" Elmo staggered to his paws, shaking. She tipped her head to one side, a frown tugging at her muzzle. He'd need to eat and rest as soon as he could, to rebuild his strength.
Abyss efficently ran through her thoughts, sorting knowledge and contacts. The black loner had no personal experience with amnesia, though she knew a cat who did. Kin may be able to help Elmo, and Rosethorn- if she still remained with the much smaller she-cat- would make excellent company for the black and white tom.
"I do not know. But, I have an accquaintance who does. She is a healer, and there is a she-cat with her who I believe to be about your age." The she-cat braced Elmo against her flank. "I shall see if I can locate her."
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Post by Rachel on May 12, 2010 18:23:10 GMT -5
As Abyss braced herself on Elmo's side, the tom felt a rush of gratitude. It seemed that in every way possible she was taking 'the weight' off him, and she had just met him! A purr, unstable at first, began to build in his throat as he looked at Abyss, the only he cat he remembered that had ever shown him any kindness.
The news about her friend, and the other she-cat just served to further elate his mood, "So their is hope! And I can have a friend! Oh thank you! Thank you!" he mewed joyfully. Then a thought occured to him, "Maybe I've met them? Do you think I could have? Maybe I'll see them and remember them! Wouldn't that be grand!"
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on May 12, 2010 18:39:57 GMT -5
"So their is hope! And I can have a friend! Oh thank you! Thank you! Maybe I've met them? Do you think I could have? Maybe I'll see them and remember them! Wouldn't that be grand!"
She arranged her muzzle into an indulgent smile. Though Abyss doubted that Elmo had met Rosethorn, he'd certainly remember her if he saw her. The white she-cat's large size- especially next to her tiny black foster mother- was unforgettable, even more so when teamed with her differently-colored eyes.
"Perhaps. Come, we should return to my den first." Abyss nudged Elmo slightly into the direction of her den, padding slowly forward. Her short black tail swayed gently, and the loner scented the air. She had chosen a tree with a hollowed-out trunk to house her for the moment, and it was maybe a moment's run from the clearing.
A familiar scent drifted her way on the breeze, and the black she-cat gave a brisk nod. That would lessen the number of trips she needed to make, then. But, what were those two scents, unfamiliar, yet seeming like she should know them?
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Post by Rachel on May 13, 2010 21:16:09 GMT -5
Elmo was beyond scenting random scents. Even if he had been in prime health he probably would have missed them. He had the distinct feeling that the life of a feral cat had used to be a game to him. His hunting skills showed a cat that had messed around, but that never had tried to survive alone before. He also had the distinct feeling that someone had always been their to make sure he never lost the game, but the question was who it was.
What he did notice however was the change in Abyss. As he leaned against her even the slightest tensing of her muscles was noticeable. She didn't seem on edge, just like she was confused. He looked up at her, confused himself, and whispered, "Abyss, what is it?"
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on May 14, 2010 22:41:11 GMT -5
"Abyss, what is it?"
The black loner frowned. All three scents seemed like ones she should know- Abyss did know one of them. Kin. She should have known that the manipulative healer would miraculously find her the moment she decided to find the other she-cat.
"Scent the air. On it are three cat-scents. One belongs to the healer I spoke of. The other two are her companions." Abyss hoped they were. Things would just be so much easier if the two puzzling scents were Kin's newest pair of lackeys. "We shall see." She padded forward at the same pace.
After a longer time than she'd expected, Abyss arrived at the tree that sheltered and was her den. Kin lay outside its entrance, orange eyes half-lidded. On either side of her sat two ghosts from her past. One appeared as a more emotional copy of herself, sitting by the rogue's tail. A golden tabby tom sat by Kin's head, eyes holding a familiar, lazy confidence and charm.
"Abyss. You've been busy since last we met." Kin regarded her with unreadable eyes, muzzle twisted into the barest of smirks. "It seems we have boons to ask of each other." Her eyes had found Elmo, and the cats at her side- were they truly Night and Day?- cocked their heads to the side as one.
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Post by Rachel on May 16, 2010 12:10:26 GMT -5
"Scent the air. On it are three cat-scents. One belongs to the healer I spoke of. The other two are her companions." Elmo did as he was told and sucked in a deep breath of air. He could scent the smells of the three cats, but he had only remembered Abyss talking about two.
He looked up at Abyss, "I thought you said their was only a healer and a she-cat... doesn't that mean their is an extra scent?...I'm confused..." he whispered softly. He had been excited to meet the new cats, but now faced with it he was terrified. He pressed himself closer to Abyss.
As the new cats came into view he wished he could be quieter. However, his paws dragged the ground, causing a racket that could probably be heard a mile away. He looked down, embarrassed, but looked back up again when, for the 2nd time, he felt a change in Abyss.
The two cats that hadn't spoken seemed to be the direction of Abyss' attention, but Elmo dare not ask why. He just looked back and forth between Abyss and the others.
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on May 19, 2010 14:50:37 GMT -5
Kin ignored Elmo, though Night and Day's eyes drifted to him for a moment. They snapped back to Abyss when the small healer spoke. "I have come to ask a favor of you." Though they sounded assured and calm, the green-eyed loner could faintly hear the bitten-off quality of her words; Kin did not want to ask for help.
She twisted her muzzle into a soft smile, nodding to the three. "And I planned on requesting your assistance. We may trade, if you like."
The little rogue observed Abyss and Elmo for a moment, then glanced at Night, Day, then back to their mother. She nodded once, firmly. "That would be agreeable. These are your kits, Night and Day. The three of us shall be staying with you temporarily."
Night and Day exchanged bewildered glances. That empty-eyed loner with a frightened young tom at her side was their mother? Abyss sighed, and bowed her head briefly. "I would not deny you shelter, Kin, you know that. Even if you did not bring my kits with you." She glanced at them, sorrys and forgive me?s on the tip of her tongue. Elmo's presence at her side stopped Abyss.
"I only request that, in return, you help Elmo regain his memories."
Kin smirked at her old accquaintance, and gestured lazily with her tail. Night and Day relaxed, padding over to inspect Elmo. The youngest black cat smiled warmly at him, green eyes curious. For all that she appeared to be a carbon-copy of her mother, Night was very different. "Heya!" she chirped. "I'm training to be a healer; oh, and my name's Night! The big lug beside me is my brother, Day."
Day mock-glared at his sister, shoving at her with one shoulder. Night tilted to one side, but long practice allowed her to stay upright. He turned cornflower blue eyes to the other young cat, and grinned smoothly. "Like the bubble-head said, I'm Day. What's your name?"
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Post by Rachel on Jun 2, 2010 9:53:57 GMT -5
Elmo looked at Night and Day. They seemed nice enough, so why was he shaking so much? "M-my name is Elmo..." he whispered, looking up at the two at first.
He could tell Night was a kit of Abyss by her pelt, but not from her personality. From the few moments he had known Abyss he had pegged her as one that has a cool exterior, but a secret affectionate interior. Why else would she have helped him? Night on the other had seemed happy and excitable. Maybe Abyss was like her though, perhaps finding a half-dead rogue didn't bring out the best in her, but he believed differently. She had cared.
Day on the other hand looked nothing like Abyss, but he was almost less intimidating. He didn't speak so loud, when Day had it had made him jump, and he seemed more calm-natured. Yes, it was much less disconcerting to look at Day. He focused his eyes on the tom, but leaned more into Abyss.
The one cat he refused to look at was Kin. Kin seemed to hold the same monotone nature as Abyss, but without the affection. It scared him to think that his memories would be placed into her hands. Elmo was a friendly cat, and he did not get a friendly vibe from Kin.
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on Jun 4, 2010 14:36:06 GMT -5
Kin's orange eyes rested on Elmo for a moment, and flicked away impatiently. She met Abyss's eyes and rose in a single fluid motion. "I shall have to fetch herbs for his treatments. Night and Day will assess the severity of his condition. I trust you will be present when I return?"
The black loner dipped her head in aknowledgement of Kin's words and the reference to the time she'd bolted after the smaller rogue had applied healing salves to a wound on her flank. "We shall all be here. Please do not make any enemies on your outing." With one barb exchanged for another, Kin left.
"M-my name is Elmo..."
"Well Elmo, d'you know how old you are? Me 'n Day are about twelve moons now." Night was very confused. Rationally, she knew she should loathe her mother for abandoning her and her brother. Instead, she felt indifferent, though curious as to why Elmo found such comfort in her presence.
Day scoffed and gave his sister a cuff on the ear. "We just want to know how much you remember about yourself. There's different herbs and treatments for different levels of amnesia."
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Post by Rachel on Jun 20, 2010 12:40:13 GMT -5
Elmo looked up at the two cats addressing him. His age? Herbs? It was all over his head. He was actually about 8 moons old, but he could not remember such. The only length of time he remembered is the time he had been alone until Abyss had found him. And herbs, what the heck were herbs? He had never thought of flowers of any other flora as anything other than something pretty to look at and smell. Would they be able to bring back his memories with flowers?
Finally he mumbled out, "I'm n-not sure how o-old I am... and I don't remember much.. " He thought about his past, and just saw flashes. First he remembered rolling on a soft ground. It was all white, and not too warm or hot. Glints of sunlight rolled through the windows, sometimes cut in half by... he could not remember anymore of that life. And then he could remember being cold and shaking on bare concrete...then he was not alone, but there was no setting or face to put with who had come to him. That was all he could remember and he relayed it to the two cats watching him,
"I remember being in a giant giant box, way bigger than this cave...There was something soft beneath me and there were things blocking how to get out, but the sun still came in... and then I remember an ally. I was hungry and alone, I'm sure of it...but then I wasn't," however this was the barest of all of his memories, the one he wished to know above all others, "I had someone, but I don't know who..."
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on Jun 25, 2010 11:26:46 GMT -5
"I'm n-not sure how o-old I am... and I don't remember much... I remember being in a giant giant box, way bigger than this cave...There was something soft beneath me and there were things blocking how to get out, but the sun still came in... and then I remember an ally. I was hungry and alone, I'm sure of it...but then I wasn't," however this was the barest of all of his memories, the one he wished to know above all others, "I had someone, but I don't know who..."
Day and Night exchanged another glance, and each adopted their own expression of thoughtfulness. Abyss sat a small distance away, watching the trio with unfathomable eyes, so unused to holding emotion.
Night's bright green eyes were squinting, her tail thrashing back and forth. Her body hummed with energy, and her right ear flickered from upright to pressed flat as she thought.
Her brother's cornflower blue eyes were distant, and he sat still as a statue. Day frowned and tipped his head to one side, golden tabby fur gleaming in the light he'd automatically caught.
"Kittypet." Night offered.
"Yes, but it sounds like he became a loner, and he had another." Day's black sister nodded along with his statement. "That means, that if we can find this other cat- who's likely looking for him- then the sight or scent of them might trigger his memories."
"This is great news, Elmo! We've got a few contacts of our own, and Auntie Kin has even more. We can find your friend in a heartbeat." Night beamed proudly at Elmo.
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Post by Rachel on Jul 17, 2010 18:53:55 GMT -5
This news made Elmo manage a smile. He was still on edge do to Abyss' aloof attitude, however these cats said that they could help him get his memories back! A small purr rumbled in his chest as he though of who it would be that would make him recall his memories; perhaps it would be a relative, not that he would remember them at first, or maybe even a mate! How happy it would be to actually know them.
He beamed up at Night and Day happily, "Thank you so much! You don't know how much this means to me...you are giving me back my life!" He shook his head in wonderment, and then, as if it was perfectly natural for him to do, he walked over to Abyss and rubbed his head against her, "Thank you so much for saving me... If it hadn't been for you, those two would have never been able to meet me or save me. Thank you..."
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kin
HAHA LOSER.
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Post by kin on Jul 20, 2010 5:07:36 GMT -5
"Thank you so much! You don't know how much this means to me...you are giving me back my life!"
Night and Day exchanged glances, swelling with pride. They'd labored under Kin's not-so-gentle tutelage for seven moons, and it was good to finally hear some praise. Especially praise of such a caliber. Giving someone their life back? No wonder Kin was a healer! Day was surprised by the power they had, and Night was practically vibrating with satisfaction that Elmo was happy. The siblings watched him pad up to their mother and nuzzle her side like it was something he did every day.
Day frowned. Their mother may not have been in their life, but why should some random tom be more comfortable showing affection than they were, when they'd known her for roughly the same amount of time, and with the siblings having a blood-bond to her? It didn't make sense in his mind.
His sister was still confused. She found she didn't really care one way or another about Abyss, the older loner's apathy showing as a sliver of matte green eye peeking out from under shuttered lids. Night invested emotion in everything... except her bond with her mother. Abyss was simply that, an abyss that she didn't care to fill. Her absence was a natural part of Night's mental landscape, so why should she have to change?
"Thank you so much for saving me... If it hadn't been for you, those two would have never been able to meet me or save me. Thank you..."
They nodded as one and each lifted their right forepaws and washed them. Synchronization was not common, but Night and Day occasionally acted as though they were one cat. Kin hated it, and they loved it. It made other cats feel outside their "connection" and aware of their aloneness; the siblings were all but "twins," as twolegs called them.
Abyss twisted her head and nosed Elmo's ear. She was satisfied that her contact could restore his memory, and that she'd come in contact with her kits. As far as the loner was concerned, life was panning out well.
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