WITHOUT THE MASK, WHERE WILL YOU HIDE? // Stranger..?, Open

EVERY GRIN WE SHARE IS LIKE.
"speech." . 'thoughts' . attack

the pain of abandonment was never easy, and it never went away, even if there came others to replace the one who abandoned you.

the sound of ares' screams had reached him in whatever mindless pursuit he was doing, bringing the tom closer at a quick pace until he heard her words. pressing himself against the trunk of a tree some distance away, ears swiveling softly, realizing that he didn't need to barge out and cause more of a scene. hearing her rage against her mother, he listened without thought to her words, his heart clenching in his chest. he hadn't been here when all of this had happened to her, he'd only been there more recently, though, he could only fathom the pain that she felt. his heart ached for the girl she had been and for the woman she was now, wondering what his own children thought of him after all these years, where he'd struggled to live and they'd gone off on their own. swallowing dryly, the grim would push himself from the bushes when the raised voice had fallen silent.

shaking leaf litter from his pelt and tugging out a stick, he let ares know that he was near by the amount of sound he made to announce himself, voiceless ever still. coming to stand next to the other domestic feline, attempting to run his tail over her flank soothingly, offering his shoulder to lean against if she so wished. he couldn't offer her any comfort through words, only his presence, and he hoped that it would help to make up for the pain that she felt. little made up for the ones that one missed, even at those times when others tried to help. turning his gaze to watch the retreating form of ares' mother, wishing he could take away the turmoil that she must surely feel inside.

A PRAYER COMMITED TO THE SONG WE SING.
aesior opheles of tanglewood. -- grim - feline shifter.

credit @/teef