Howdy / Lokius

A crack in the ceiling

Mobius liked his life in the ranch. Like clockwork, he'd get up every morning at 6:00 A.M on the dot to feed and check up on the animals. Then, he'd go back inside and make himself some breakfast. "Egg whites and bacon," Mobius tells the ginger cat sprawled on the floor. "Doesn't get better than this."

It was a nice life, living and working on the ranch. It wasn't quiet by any means, not with the horses neighing, the roosters crowing, pigs snorting, owls hooting and half a dozen or so other animals making a ruckus of things. There was always something making noise and keeping him busy, but he liked it.

"I'm going to have to go into town tomorrow, maybe." He washes down his food with a cool glass of water. Whiskers blinks at him. "I took on enough horses for care that the hay and mix is running out mighty fast."

Caring for horses was the easiest way he made his cash. Everyone wanted a horse around here, but had no place to store them. Either that or they needed a place to have them taken care of while they were busy. So Mobius built his stables and people would leave their horses with him. On today's list: Wash and groom a stallion and two mares, check up on Doris, a pregnant cow, to see how she's doing. Continue on building the fence around the ranch and cut down some wood.

The heat during the day might be able to loosen the bristles on a wild hog, but at night it was as cold as a frosted frog.

Whiskers stands up with a stretch before lifting his tail and promptly turning away from him, striding out of the room.

"Rude pussy cat," he huffs out a laugh. The smile on his face lasts for a beat longer before it fades, and he's alone in the room once more. Mobius likes his life in the ranch, really he wasn't one to complain about living a comfortable life. But he was.. lonely. He had his animals with him, but the conversations tended to be one sided. If he was lucky, a customer would decide to make conversation or he'd have to wait till he went back into town.

He shakes his head at the thoughts, standing with a grunt, "No use in feeling sorry for myself when there's work to be done."

Doris is leaning into his gloved palm as he strokes her cheek, "You look so good, sweetheart." He coos. Doris looks huge, twins maybe.

Mobius is murmuring soft compliments to her when he hears it. It sounds like a small thump. He'd chalk it up to the animals accidentally tipping something over if it weren't for the loud skawks and barking that followed it right after.

"Crap," he murmurs and with a last pet to Doris he jogs out of the barn. The chickens are flailing about, the old german shepherd barking at a hole in the ground. "Pluto!" He shouts, getting nearer, "C'mon, c'mon boy get back."

Pluto woofs once, forgetting whatever's in the hole to rush over to him.

"What'd you find, bud?" Mobius scratches the dog behind his ears, slowing his steps as he reaches the hole.

Mobius blinks.

There's a sleeping man there.

A very oddly dressed man.

"Well, ain't this something," he murmurs to himself. Placing his hands on his hips, he looks at Pluto as if he'll have any answers for him. Pluto pants up at him, tail wagging, a tongue hanging at the side of his mouth.

Mobius sighs before looking back at the man and crouches down to get a better look, eyes roaming over the eccentric clothing. They look like robes, lined with gold and green. "Maybe an ace-high, drunk fella," he muses. The man's skin is starkly pale, contrasting against his clothing and dark hair. So, not from around here either. The stranger's sharp face is littered with bruises, blood drying on his cheek and chin.