Warpatober 2023

Digging through the trash, it was expected that the food within was far from what many would consider edible. Food waste in larger households was rare, only tossed if even the animals didn’t want to eat it. That didn’t mean Cipher was any less hopeful to find something in the dumpster and bins as his stomach rumbled for anything to eat. Sometimes he’d get lucky, finding packs of stale bread or cookies tossed as they were no longer ‘perfect’ after being left forgotten somewhere.

Lifting himself into the dumpster though, he didn’t seem to have any luck today. The food was rotten and smelled foul even for the street wandering gremlin who still didn’t know any social cues. Making a face, he kicked a few things around, though his tail lowered in defeat as he started lifting the lid to climb back out. Today was a hungry day for him, at least until later tonight when he’d get the chance to hunt nightmares and feed that way.

Hearing a call, he was suddenly alert, used to being chased away but the butlers and maids who didn’t like his trash gremlin antics. He never left a mess, but it was never a good sight to let street wanderers into the trash and leave that at it. Ready to run, he paused as the female didn’t seem upset at all, more so curious.

Lingering as Cipher debated should he run now, he watched as she vanished for a bit and returned out with something in arm. Treats maybe? He did like treats... Inching closer, he slowly took the sweet bread from her. About to grab and run, he was pulled back as she grabbed his hood. Panic set over him, though he didn’t pull roughly and only gave her the biggest eyes full of confusion.

“If you come inside, I’ll treat you to dinner. You will have to bathe, you smell absolutely foul.” Fanning her face, Cipher gave a nod as he could agree to that. He was already chewing through the plastic to eat the bread, prompting the other to take his treat away and open it for him before giving it back.

Maybe, this was safe enough. Treats, a bath, and dinner. Worse case he would just flee out the window and into the world beyond. Absolutely worse case, his spikes weren’t just for show. "I'm... Cipher."

"A pleasure to meet you, I am Umi'iro."