The Hovering Ingress: The Hidden World

Chapter 21

Worrier

Three Sune Cycles Later

Marsh gazed at the setting sune, relaxing at the feeling of the cool evening breeze on his pelt. It was getting colder and colder over time, probably because there was only a ninth sune before the beginning of autumn. It would be an interesting change to see how things would be on the island when autumn did come around. How would foraging and hunting work on the island? Would the food pile slowly decrease? What would the ophoree eat when food became scarce? Morning Flower did mention something about gathering in the exotic region whenever winter came around. Would the hunting patrols go there too? Only a sigh escaped the lynx and he shrugged. He would find out when it happened.

Looking back at the others, he smiled a little. Xengu was sprawled out on the stone-cold floor of the cave, and Favi was chewing away at her food. It must have been good, whatever she was given, because her eyes were closed with content. The sight of the lynx being happy was nice. However, as the lynx turned to look at Jasar, he flinched back a little. The light gray male hadn't even opened his food sack, staring at the ground deep in thought. Whatever it was, the cat didn't like thinking about, as he had a frown on his muzzle.

Nervously Marsh scooted closer to the blue marked male, whistling a little as he let out a breath.

"Sune looks nice, doesn't it?" The lynx said, giving Jasar a smile.

The cat looked up at the sky before humming and looking back down. He hadn't said a word. Already the brown male's plan was backfiring. With a stutter, the long-eared feline tried again.

"Surely you're hungry? You haven't touched your food."

All the tom did was shake his head with a blank stare.

"Can't eat."

Well, now Marsh knew that he was at least making some progress.

"Why not?"

The cat furrowed his eyebrows as he stared at the ground a little more before looking at the lynx.

"Why do you want to know?"

The nervous smile spread a little and the male looked to the side, feeling his fur dampen with sweat.

"I'm just worried, that's all," the brown male stuttered.

Jasar gazed at the male for a short while before sighing and shrugging.

"Thanks, I guess."

Silence continued between the two, the cat going right back to looking down in deep thought. The orange marked lynx frowned at this and cleared his throat.

"What will get you eating? Getting things off your mind?" He asked.

The blue marked male sat there with a gaze of consideration before shrugging a little.

"Maybe. I can't stop thinking about it since three cycles ago."

A sigh escaped the cat and he put his elbows on his knees as he rested his head in his hands. Marsh pursed his lips and furrowed his eyebrows.

"And this is the only time it's kept you from eating?"

There was hesitance with Jasar's response, but slowly he shook his head. A frustrated huff escaped the lynx and he faced the cat, moving him to face him.

"We can't allow something to bother you to where you can't eat. You should know well enough that you can talk about these things with someone."

The light gray tom nervously nodded, anxiously looking from the brown male's green eyes to the ground. Figuring he should let the cat be, the lynx released his grip on the cat and stood up.