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A trip to nature itself, a place Ole had barely any chance to take in. Why? Because he had been stuck inside a small cage for a very long time, longer than he could count. It has been a year but it was still somewhat surreal that his paws were hitting something else than the cold steel ground of the place he had been trapped in for a long time. His paws are feeling anything else… Something he had considered impossible. It was like a dream and maybe all of this was nothing but a dream he refused to wake up from. Even if this life had its downs, the taste of freedom was overwhelming, in a good way.
He remembered the first time he got to feel anything else but something cold. It was when his current owner had placed him down onto the stone ground which had been warmed up by the sun outside. Nowadays the texture as well as the warmth was something he was used to but back then it all felt weird. In fact, he had worried that he would burn his paws right then and there. Ann had noticed Ole’s distress back then and had him picked back up. “ Ah, sorry! I didn’t mean for it to be this sudden! ” They apologized and despite having been unable to see their face back then he felt reassured… Unbelievably calm.
“ Hey, don’t get too attached to the cat Exy–Chan. ” The smaller figure had asked of them, seeming to have been somewhat annoyed sounding in fact the voice awfully deep too… At least for his looks, as far as Ole could tell. But who was he to judge? “ Chuohku’s is going to decide what to do with him. ”
“ That doesn’t mean no one should look out for him in the meantime. You’ve seen yourself how he was treated. His file didn’t even have a name. I don’t think anyone would call their cat ‘Attempt #8’. ”
“ And next you will say that he didn’t ask for any of this, right? ”
“ I mean… He is just a cat. ”
“ It’s not often to see the Executioner all soft and caring. ”
“ You make me sound like a monster Amemura…”
“ You can be~ ” A small change in voice, a little more light hearted sounding. But it seemed to not really affect the other person. Their voice remained calm, somewhat cold, unchanging.
“ Thank you very much… ”
“ Aww, come on. You can handle a joke, can’t you~? ” The male teased, his voice taking on a higher pitch all of a sudden. One which made Ole pay more attention. It was a sudden shift, as if he flicked a switch inside his brain or something. It was a detail impossible to miss, even for this old timer.
“ A joke you say… And yet— ”
“ Don’t worry too much about it Exy–Chan~ ”
“ Alright, whatever you say I suppose. ”
The first proper conversation he heard. Or one of the first. And it was so interesting. Then again, hearing anyone else’s voice except for the scientist’s voice was a blessing of its own. This woman… Oh he hoped to never hear it again.
But ever since that day Ole had been granted more freedom, his paws being allowed to tap around wherever he wanted. Ann was not stopping him in any way… Unless they were worried, they knew that he could care for himself if absolutely necessary. And besides, both lived together for a year. The two could expect mutual trust at this point. He had always returned home after a long day after all, to drop into the comfortable couch or bed, snuggling against the sheets and enjoying the warmth. A warmth he never had before… Again, all of this is just surreal.
Breathing air on the outside also was something he had not been used to. Feeling the dirt, the grass, all brushing against his fur and paws… Oh he would have to clean himself when home but for now he was going to enjoy this.
One tap after the other… That was until his nose took in a scent… A scent which was unusual, to say the least. He flinched for a moment, stopping dead in his tracks. He turned his head in the way of the scent and his nose… Was not sure what to think about it.
The scent was something else. It smelled so odd… So very odd. It was unlike any cooking this cat had smelled. Then again, maybe he was just too used to what the city had offered him. It would always be a pleasant scent of several dishes, making him hungry on the spot. He would always dash over there quickly and look up at whoever had said food in their hands, looking at them with his big, wide eyes and wagging his tail eagerly, begging to have just a bite. Sometimes he would not be successful but more often than not he got a bite or two. Even a taste of butter sometimes! Truly, that it could be this easy sometimes…
But to move on with the current situation, Ole was staring and following this odd scent. Surely it would make anyone flinch. The taste was just that unusual, as if wildlife straight from the woods had been cooked and carefully prepared. And yet, it was also tempting to follow. Maybe curiosity had gotten the better of him and he just wanted to see who or what was behind this. Though he would stop once more when hearing a voice all of a sudden.
“Who goes there!?” A loud male voice, making the cat turn his head upwards yet again in one swoop. And there he came face–to–face with a young man, a stronger build. It was hard to make him out though, his clothes looked as if they were blending in. Then again, Ole’s own sight was a black and white one so it may as well just have been that.
A tall man wearing some type of uniform. His heart was pounding, something was a little off… Then again, it may as well just have been the sudden noise. He even let out a purr, though not the kind where he would feel safe and sound. Oh no, it was quick and hectic, alongside his own heartbeat. ‘ Do not make any loud noises or hesitant movements ’, even if Ole knew that he had already been spotted. Should he run? It would be his only option to flee, right? In case this man wants something from—
But once spotting the campfire with the pot stirring above it Ole was just panicking on the inside. Oh god, no! Did he run into a camper!? And that meant maybe he was also on the table now! After all, no one was here to indicate that he belonged to anyone! Oh god… So if it came to it maybe he would need to run before getting out the big guns! Or the microphone but that would count as self defense, it should be fine. Yeah, more than fine! As long as it was self de—
Though the worry would be almost blown away. Because the cat had noticed the man coming closer, kneeling towards him even. “Ah, just a cat.” He said, almost somewhat stoic. No, it was calm. And once hearing his voice like that the cat calmed down, lowering one of his paws and looking up curiously as well.
Who was this anyway? Ole had never seen this human before. Or he just didn’t seem familiar. At least not in person. And yet, he didn’t seem hostile from close up. Maybe his own sixth sense had just kicked in after a bit of thinking. Yeah, only at first glance did he seem dangerous.
And yet, you could of course never be careful enough. This old man knew so he only looked at the human yet ready to run off if he had to. Then again, no word had been exchanged there. Instead the man held his hand out, waiting for a reaction from the cat.
Ole hesitated, clearly, yet after a few moments of hesitation gave in. So he leaned his head a little forward, sniffing the hand in front of him. One sniff after the other. This man… He smelled like…
Wildlife itself. He must be out here a lot. Or was he? A logical conclusion for this cat, given this guy was smelling of leaves and mud. A little stinky maybe yet given that they were having fresh air it was not that bad. An honest man, that was the first impression.
Soon enough Ole seated himself, having just taken in the scent and looking up rather curiously, tail wagging. Who was this? He wanted to know. And maybe he would get his answer soon enough.
“Hm? Are you hungry?” The man had asked. “ Is that why you came here?”
And upon the hint of food being ready Ole could not hold back the ear wag of pleasure. That is what he liked to hear! He would not turn down free food! Being a cat had its benefits sometimes…
“Huh… I should have something to spare for you to eat. Wait right here.”
A quick ‘meow’ from Ole’s own mouth. Life surely turned around. He was old yet he had so much to see and experience. Not just that but so many people to meet…
Yeah, life has its good sides… And an interesting world to explore. He shall keep going while he still can.
But first, food!