Ay, Watch It

Hotate had only recently made his appearance in the more southern lands where his home was. Home, was such a strange concept to him now. He had stayed away for so long, he wasn't even sure what home was anymore. There was no place he felt truly happy in and it's why he kept moving from land to land. Maybe all he needed was to come back to Hemlock, but he couldn't allow himself to be open minded on the matter. He was too afraid of the emotions that would reveal themselves once he was inside. Where his mother died, and where he swore never to come back. Times could change.

He traveled through the dense forest filled with fog, roots, and thick vegetation. The air seemed pretty heavy here through the fog as well. And he thought he could be pretty masked had any of his siblings or father ventured out this way. Secretly at heart wanting to be found, but telling himself he had to keep hiding. How long could you lie to yourself?

It was while he was deep in the forest jumping across the lifted roots and occasionally splashing down into the puddles not caring of the mucky water beneath that he caught scent of prey nearby. The thought making him believe it was a good opportunity to catch a meal. He was pretty well off on his own, never needed much. Certainly would never beg a passer by. But as fate came across him, he would go for the treat. He would start scenting the air, but it was hard with the thickness of it. He had to rely more on his sight.

Total Word Count: 279 words

"Hotate"