It was too cloudy to see the moon at night.
But at least there was plenty of light to get by.
There weren't as many people at this time of night. Just the old lady who runs this barn and some people who come to ride their horses late.
But Codec thought the people who came would normally be asleep back at their homes.
Well, at east it was quiet.
Codec slipped back into the "tack room," which was almost empty. He slowly walked down the step and to the water bowl.
Did Codec really have to drink the entire bowl? The water tasted so different from what he was used to. Unlike the sweet water he enjoyed back when, this had a more earthy taste to it that made him queasy.
But, water is water.
Codec dipped his paw in the water and licked it, kind of like how he licked off dew from grass or maybe even hay.
He reached his paw back in to dab at the water again.
"Too dark out?" Came a meow from behind.
Startled, Codec jerked his paw away from the water, flicking a few drops. He whipped around to find a chocolate tabby sitting on one of those black boxes.
Codec sat back down in relief. "Sir Whiskers..." he sighed, "you scared me."
"Sorry," Whiskers chuckled. "Kinda funny. Wish you saw the look on your face?"
Codec broke his gaze from the larger tom, shaking his head.
"Oh, don't be embarrassed," Whiskers hopped down and stood beside the bi-colored cat. "I was just kidding."
Codec stayed quiet. He wanted to talk, but what if he fumbled? What if he mentions something he didn't want to?
There wasn't much to talk about. His sister, a black and white queen named Lynnex, was trampled by a horse. She dragged herself away, hind legs twisted and limp, and died suffering. Though that would never fully leave his physically scarred brain, he wasn't as worried.
What worried him the most was Turtle. She was mostly black with beautiful ginger splotches and deep green eyes. Ever since Lynnex died, Sir Whiskers helped him fight through it, and Turtle kept him good company when he wasn't enjoying time with the tabby. But earlier today, he felt a strange lightness in his paws when he walked with her. She had the sweetest purr and a sassy yet bubbly personality that reminded him of his kin.
"What's wrong, buddy?" Whiskers asked. He peered closer. "You look like how you did when we first got here. Sort of."

Aaaaaaaand lost motivation.