The stinging sensation that settled deep within the tom's nostrils as he drank in the acrid stench of the Thunderpath had slowly dulled his senses. Against the pale light of sunrise, his silhouette seemed to be that of some hunched and stumbling beast. And that was what he was in those moment. One paw twisted at an awkward angle. His other limbs ached impossibly so from bearing the extra weight. Behind the clearly battered frame of the young tom dragged a defeated tail. Ears had settled deeply into the sides of his skull, nearly indenting the shortened fur. Each breath came through a slow and exhausted gasp.
It was time that he considered that travelling for long periods of time alone was stupid. Perhaps if he'd listened to his mother, or considered the words of his father... their voices echoed in his head and prompted a short growl. They'd never understand him. Sitting cooped up in the padded nest did little other than get him yelled at for sharpening his claws. Chad had been bored there, miserable, and longing for a better life. His parents claimed they did too but neither seemed to care enough to fight hard for it. He'd waited for the moment and when the opportunity arose, snatched it in under a breath. There was no goodbye.
Chad wondered if they thought he was dead. And then, he wondered if he would be soon. The stone of the blackened path bit into the worn flesh of his pads. A claw had been uncomfortably wretched at some point. Pain had simply become second nature, alongside the gnawing of constant hunger in his stomach. Dry pelts almost sounded appetizing, even so, the thought made his pelt churn in the most sickening way. He swayed slightly before falling back on his haunches near a rather flattened patch of grass.
At that moment, he realized under the orange hues of morning light, the land next to him seemed to stretch endlessly into barren plains. Thankfully there were sparse trees and undergrowth ahead. Neither were particularly appealing to him. A moorland meant no cover and it would be harder to hunt. Trees would condemn him to getting lost in yet another forest. Out of the corners of his maw came a sound that was something akin to a growl and a sigh. While his eyes were narrowed in frustration, they also betrayed the pure and utter exhaustion beneath the surface. This wouldn't be the end, surely, he always survived somehow. But it sure was unpleasant.
Only a moment or two had passed and his eyes had closed slightly. Labored breathing had slowed slightly more. Jolting awake he sat up straight, wincing at various bolts of pain. As the loner's gaze refocused, he realized there was a shadow of a cat before him. Immediately claws were unsheathed and fur bristling as he dove into a half-stable defensive crouch. Spitting at the earth, he ground out, "Stay back. I won't hesitate to attack you." But he was. This was the hesitation. Chad was in no state to fight and he knew it.
