Have We Met Before, Curious Soul? [c]

He had been about to enter Thunderclan's land after being interrupted the day before, only to hear movement beyond the border. Nose twitching he picked up the fresh scent of a thunderclanner and... herbs? Regardless he darted into a bush soundlessly just as they approached the edge of the territory, watching quietly from the shadows with curious eyes. Though, as the wind shifted they caught his scent. Belatedly pulling his tail back into the shadows, he sighed quietly. He supposed today wouldn't go as planned either.

As the tom was called out he didn't bother hiding any longer, he had already figured out this particular clanner was a medicine cat. Slowly he padded out of the shadows, scarred visage lifting slightly in the light of the dawn. His sharp violet gaze remained on the feline. The loner moved to stand before her, sitting down and wrapping his tail around his paws just before the border seemed to begin. "Greetings," he stated cordially, dipping his head and smiling softly, his posture relaxed to show he had no intention of attacking... unless provoked that is. "I was merely admiring the view beyond your territory, I assure." His scent didn't pass the border aside from what bits the wind pushed beyond.

"I was a tad startled when I heard you approach," He chuckled sheepishly, one ear dropping slightly. The striking tom studied her then noting that she seemed tense, even stressed. It reminded him almost of how Cloverheart looked before her passing, though unlike the Riverclan medicine cat this one was present, aware. "What brings you this far from your comrades?" He asked, harmless curiosity in his captivating gaze.

Ah, so this was a smarter one. Really that just made it more fun. Yawning slightly, he scooted back a bit, before lowering slightly to the ground, tucking his back paws under him while he rested on his front ones. "Well I suppose it's none of my business, just trying to make idle conversation. You don't get much company as a loner you know?" He chuckled lightly.

He tilted his head at the next question though, violet hues bright"I've recently returned from a rather long journey, in all honesty, I was taking in the nostalgic views... though I suppose there is some risk, if your patrols consider that it's fair to attack me even if I'm still behind their border..." He hummed, "If that were the case though I'd simply retreat. I'm not here to start any fights." He gave an awkward smile at the words, shuffling his paws a bit. "Though sometimes they do find me I suppose." He joked, referencing the scars that were visible.

A frown then crossed his features, "Though while I was taking in the views I noticed... the forest is quieter than usual. I didn't even get a whiff of fresh squirrel when the wind blew towards me. It's a tad... unnerving, in all honesty. Even the neutral lands don't seem as abundant, even for leaf-fall." He murmured with a troubled expression.

He listened quietly to her words, ears twitching as his posture remained relaxed and open. His eyes gleamed with interest in what she deemed reasonable to share with him, fur drifting in the cold breeze. By the end of it he nodded thoughtfully, mind puzzling and examining the new information. There was a stretch of silence as he thought of how to answer. "It does seem rather unfair, yes." He agreed, gaze sympathetic,  "Why even bother reaching out to you if all they're going to do is make things more complex, and put you under more stress?" He sighed slightly at the words, ears drooping a bit.  "You seem to have a lot of weight on your shoulders, with these issues of communication on top of already dealing with a harsh season full of threats..."

The tom paused, thinking more on the situation,  "Really it seems pointless of them to even reach out in the first place if they just leave you with more questions than answers. I'd hardly call that guidance." He shifted then,  "I have quite a lot of experience behind me, even I can give you more useful suggestions than those riddles and I'm not even a ghost." He quipped, mouth quirking slightly into a smile,  "For us loners, if there's no food in the territory we lay claim to, we simply move on and leave those lands in search of better ones. Then, we return after some time to see if the land from before has recovered enough to live in once more. It might be more difficult with such a large number of cats, but it's better than risking starvation and conflict, no?" He smiled slightly, briefly lapping at his pelt as his tail lifted resting beside him instead of shrouding his paws. "If this Starclan insists on making you sort out the situation yourselves with no help, then do so, solve the problems that arise with your own mind, your own logic. If you need guidance perhaps elders can give you some based on their greater experience. When the dead are of no help to you, it's only natural to turn to the living for assistance instead, is it not?"