The caracal walked through the snow that covered the cities floor like a quilt. It has patches like a sheet, but in all, it sat like a thick blanket. There wasn't another sole on the streets at the hour, minus a guard or two who were making routine. Herne hadn't seen another cat out in a few hours. Was likely just where in the city he was. He wore nothing at the time, so there was a chance he could get mistook as a stray, but he could handle himself easily. It had literally be one year since the death of his blood family. So he has chosen that on this day, he would not do anything that could result in a sense of violence. Even as far as not wearing any armour, even taking on a limp in his leg without his brace on. And ironically at the time, Herne's owner had taken what Herne had left of his armour from a number of recent caravan hiking, ever one of them went through Shadow Territory though, and he had another planned early the next day. So if he were going to sleep, he would need to do so soon, otherwise, he would likely get drafted into a night-watch like guarding the captured cats. Out of everything in a hunters routine, that was what he hated the most, no cat, no creature should have to be forced to endure that torture day-to-day. Though watching by and not seeming able to do a thing about it was it's own torture. Every now and then, he would walk under a torch that lit up the street, which did not do a lot since the moon shined brightly down on the snow. He would think a lot on his graving losses, but despite all of this, he would rather be here, where he is today, than to go back and rewrite it to where they were alive. He had gained family within the walls of the city, Alastor, his father. Ivory, his sure mother, and Roy. He's spent the least amount of time around Roy among the three, since Roy was always busy on his farm, and he couldn't track him down by scent, so when he wasn't around, he had no way of finding him. Herne definitely saw Roy as an older brother. He wasn't exactly sure what Roy thought of him. They've only truly done something together that was around training, otherwise, it be passing by the other heading to do some other task of the day. Though with the training he has done with Roy, Roy's both schooled him, and the other way has happened. Herne would love to CTF again with him, and win this time, unlike the first time. But hey, he was on his heels the whole time and this was from not not knowing the place and Roy knowing the place. If Herne knew the area, Herne likely would have won the first time around. The two had their major differences. Opinions on the Empire Cats was a big one. Herne just wants to know more of them, Roy didn't share that view point, but he denouncement to it seemed a bit too fast to Herne. Reminded him of his deceased brother Rowen. Roy and he were alike with a lot of things. Likely why Herne sees Roy as a brother. Alastor he is around daily, so he knows all there is to Al. He's hard to understand drunk, that's for sure, but he's always a joy to pester. He goes to Ivory a lot, and well, pranks, they're a must. She has her rough edges, but knowing them help a lot know her. She has something major against a tiger, Maximus. So that's always bounced in his head. However, on the flip-side... he's curious of Maximus too? He'd like to learn more of Maximus. Sooner or later they would get paired up for a patrol or something of the sort. That ought to be interesting. Then he knows Narreth, a younger tiger Herne has both saved the skin of, and when he was younger, before he was in the city, had almost killed out of revenge, something he couldn't carry through with doing over his families loss. He hopes Narreth gets out of the city one day or gets purchased. Then he has Estelle... she's a lunatic to Herne. Always a sass-master, nothing seems to upset her, unless you touch her kids, Coden and Faraji. Coden... is a thing? He's lazy and active at the same-time. Ironically the best cub-sitting day for Herne was because of Coden actually helping him out with not being a throw pillow, things got hectic really fast, since well, he couldn't hit any cubs, he would be killed himself if he did. So that was a hard game to play. They can beat you to pulp, you get to run for your hide. Coden was slightly larger than Herne when he met him, it's been a few weeks, so he ought to be bigger for sure now. Herne was definitely the runt of his family, so looking up to others was how it was. He's more fond of cubs, when it is one-on-one. Since he gets to meet them and talk to them. Thrakos was one of those. Coden and Thrakos are the only two he has actually spent time with solo, and they both are under his skin. He doesn't want anything happening to either of them. He wasn't exactly sure what to thing of Orion however. The caracal padded around a corner, and head further into the city, to return to where his owner was, as the sun peeked through the ocean's horizon, the moon sat well above, and a torch illuminated everything the sun and moon missed. Herne had three shadows casted off of him. He stopped and looked up at the torch. Fiery personality, hot-heat... Calypso... both his belated sister, and the cheetpard Calypso. Of every apprentice, she always seem to enjoy giving Herne a hard time, but he is always kind enough to return it to her. He thought a lot of her, likely more than everyone else. She was literally like his birth sister, even shared the same name? So she was always a blast. He needed to challenge her to a Flag Grab Contest. Simple enough. Jump to grab the flag from the highest flag pole. He smiled at that thought. At that, he continued on, and headed back inside, to where his owner was, who had picked a whole set of armour for the caracal. He had obviously spent money on it. It was all new stuff. Which was a nice change versus the old clunky stuff he would get often and it would break rather easily. So new shiny cobalt and iron were a welcomed change. Herne's armour was fitted and they head back to the farm from there, his owner had a day off. But Herne had to rush back with Al to get to another patrol, after taking off some of his new armour, since he didn't want to bang it up out of the gate, and headed back to one of the gates. But to his surprise his owner was back at the caravan. From there, he waited for the second cat that had apparently wanted Herne to go with him this trip? He was related to Calypso, but that was all the caracal knew. The caracal wanted his birth family around so bad, but at the same-time, he didn't. He would not be himself today. And he was grateful for that. He knows the feeling of loss, and with that, he can help others through. His time here in the city and living among the life is his second horizon.
The drawing is so beautiful! Probably everyone told you this, but your so good at what you do. And you should never stop no matter what, cause people look up to you. Including me. Your art-AWESOME!:3
![[SPEED PAINT] The Second Horizon](Art/08-11-2016_The Second Horizon of Today.jpg)
