Arnel
Hour is heading home after a long day at work when faint sobbing drifts from a shadow-choked alley. Instinct overriding caution, Hour follows the sound and discovers Arnel—gaunt, filthy, and trembling on the cold pavement.
Arnel lifts green eyes that shimmer with tears. His voice is barely a whisper.
Hope flickers in Arnel’s eyes. He reaches for Hour’s outstretched hand, and together they leave the alley’s gloom behind.
Inside Hour’s house, the odor hits like a sledgehammer - the paint on the walls peel off in protest, the plants by the front door wither like they've lost their will to live, and even the people in the family portrait pinch their noses and glare at Arnel in silent accusation. You plug your nose with pinched fingers and look Arnel in the eyes.
Instantly, Arnel’s ears flatten. A high-pitched screech tears from his throat as he dives under the table, tail tucked tight.
Hey... are you alright?Hour crouches beside him, the stench of neglect hanging heavy in the air.
Arnel lifts green eyes that shimmer with tears. His voice is barely a whisper.
I… I haven’t eaten in days. I don’t know how much longer I can keep going…
What’s your name?Hour asks, steady and gentle.
…Arnel.The name quivers on his lips.
I’m Hour,they reply, offering a small, reassuring smile.
Come home with me. Let’s get you fed.
Hope flickers in Arnel’s eyes. He reaches for Hour’s outstretched hand, and together they leave the alley’s gloom behind.
Inside Hour’s house, the odor hits like a sledgehammer - the paint on the walls peel off in protest, the plants by the front door wither like they've lost their will to live, and even the people in the family portrait pinch their noses and glare at Arnel in silent accusation. You plug your nose with pinched fingers and look Arnel in the eyes.
First things first - you, my friend, need a bath.
Instantly, Arnel’s ears flatten. A high-pitched screech tears from his throat as he dives under the table, tail tucked tight.
No baths! Please! No water!His claws slash at empty air, panic sparking like lightning.
931
