Little Lions

Huffing his way down the street, a kid sized warpa was making their way downtown out of the nicer city area. Slipping his head through the gates for the rest of his small body to follow in true cat-like fashion. The bright lights were blinding to tourists, but for the young Thatcher, they were the colorful stars that lit up his gray concrete sky. Making a game out of kicking a rock down the sidewalk as he went, he was trying to forget the promise so easily broken an hour ago.

Streamers, confetti, a whole stack of gifts, and of course a birthday cake waited for him in the dining room. He wasn't the only little rich kid whose busy parents couldn't make it to yet another party, but he was in his own little world. Hissing at the servants who tried to console him with the usual excuses of how they were doing their best to give him a nice life. But he didn't need nice! He wanted to see them ON his birthday, not a week later, or flown out to wherever they happen to be. This was his home, and damn it, he wanted their attention here.

Acting out of spite, he gave the servants the slip as they thought their young master Thatcher locked up pouting in his room another year. No no, this time, he was going to go celebrate with exploring and rock kicking games all on his own. Letting the time slip away from him, it was a couple hours later when his... eleventh? Maybe twelfth, rock, was kicked between the bars of a metal fence. Telling himself a thirteenth would be the most unlucky rock of the century, it looooked like he could still reach with a little stretching. Not really caring about his surroundings as he stuck a paw through thwap at the ground just an inch away from his rock. Just a liiiittle more...

Hissing as he was tossed outside, the young male was starting to learn how to evade and dodge his ‘caretaker’ after 5 long years of being with him. He tumbled but was back to his feet and able to dodge one of the kicks directed at him, though took the second to his stomach as he still had to focus on the speed aspect of it all. Whining, he laid on the ground in his more ‘submissive’ state, but it was all just show as the adult went back inside and slammed the door behind him. He’d be left outside for a while now, but he was coming to enjoy these times alone and left to his own devices. He was only 8 years old, but he lived through more than he ever wanted in those years. Outside though, despite the elements, he was free and could explore all he wanted.

He could sleep in small areas to keep safe and warm, chase down birds and small city creatures that roamed, and even see what the territory was like if he made it through it all. He knew that he was meant to take over for his father, something his mentor reminded him of often and was the most upset about as HE wanted to be the one to be in control of the area when his father stepped down. Asterix was indifferent about it all, knowing he was trained to take over but he only did what came naturally to him as of now.

For now though, he laid on the ground with his ears back and hidden in his very fluffy hair. He laid and looked around the yard before slowly creeping around close to the ground as he went. If he was out of sight, he was out of mind. Perking up as he heard what sounded like a rock hitting the fence, he was still as he stared big eyed at the darker skinned individual staring into the fence. Reaching into the gate for the... stone maybe? He just stared for the time being, watching them stick his hand in towards it while Asterix just watched his attempts.

Bapping the ground, Thatcher wasn't aware of the eyes on him at first. His young mind was not as sharp to the dangers of the outside world yet as he was just starting to roam out into it more. Having the bright idea to try smooshing his head through the fence, it was when he started to wiggle in that he first felt like he was being watched. Not thinking much of it, he popped his tiny cat head past the bars before looking around. And then jumping in surprise to find he really was being watched. By another animal looking thing with a lot more fur than him. They were crouched close to the ground, but Thatcher was still surprised enough by the 'sudden' appearance of something else nearby to flail around with his head still stuck in the fence. "Master Thatcher!" This time freezing at the sound of a familiar voice, he growled at one of the servants gently tilting his head to get him unstuck and lifted. Not ready to leave just yet, he struggled against them, but was far too small as the servant easily set him under their arm and hurried away from what they at least knew as a more dangerous area to be playing around.

Slowly inching closer as this strange but new person was doing his best to get in, Asterix knew they either didn’t care or were too young and too dumb to know they shouldn’t. He was fine with either option, moving slowly like a cat stalking its prey and waiting for that perfect moment to tackle or bap at them once they were in. Hearing another, and more louder, person enter the scene made him puff up. They didn’t seem to have interest in him however, picking up the one who smooshed their face in through the gate bars and was trying to wiggle in. Whisked away before any play time or curious touches could happen, Asterix settled back down as he stared at the stone, picking it up and holding it as he looked after whoever tried to enter the yard. Looking at the fence, he put the small rock in his pocket. Looking back towards the house to make sure no mentor was coming out after him, he then wiggled a bit before hopping up and over the fence. Off to start his own adventures in the world beyond his home.