It has been two days since Everen's letter and reappearance in the great outskirts of the village backwoods. This morning I awoke in the dead of night with a chill down my spine, but I thought nothing of it. Today, it was my turn to make the trip to Nestor.
It was eerie. Normally there are other not-cats about, all saying hello. Normally, at least one floating eye gazes softly at you as you approach. Normally, Nestor returns your greeting.
Standing at the base of his hoof stood who I thought might have been Mob. It wouldn't be the first time I've seen him around; that talkative mentor of his is always getting them into strange situations and investigations. That could explain part of why Nestor's grove felt so strange - maybe he was here to scope things out.

But when he turned around, the same chill enveloped me. His eyes were wide, blank, and saddened, much like how people described Everen's spectre. His aura was a brighter blue, shaking and swaying in the wind, enveloping his body. The button on his mantle was black instead of gold.

The not-cat's tail briefly flicked down and back up behind its head. Its head tilted slightly, and the tail flicked again. Its eyes did not move. I greeted it the best I could, though my nerves made it more of a pathetic chirp. It bowed its head, tail lowering with it, before going back to its usual rhythm. I suppose that's how it blinks.

"Go?" A sweet, lilting voice echoed. I fear admitting that it sounded like Everen, but that might have been my nerves mixing with faint memories.

"Go... where?" Was all my brain could muster for a response.

"Go home," it replied. "Old home in backwoods."

I don't fully know why I nodded, or why I started to lead the way. I just know that the prospect of leaving on my own with a disappointed apparition left behind felt worse.

This village remains a very strange place. So many of our residents feel out of place, like they're from neither the old Earth nor not-Earth. That includes Mob. And now, a spirit that looked like him but sounded like a not-cat migrated from Earth wanted to return to the oldest and most untouched part of our village as its apparent home.

As we approached I noticed Everen's spectre winding about through the trees. She had basically taken up residency in the ruins to keep an eye on us. She noticed me, but did not acknowledge my new companion. Before I knew it, she was leading me back to the rest of the village.

When I looked back, all I saw was a golden fantail pigeon hopping around the ruins.

The strangest thing happened today. It’s been a few days since Everen’s reappearance as a spirit, and Mob approached me with news of another discovery.
There was a mimmicking spirit he had accidentally summoned while trying to reach Everen. It apparently had lived in the ruined house of the “backwoods” long before anyone’s return to this world. The main forms it takes is that of a golden fantail pigeon, and a not-cat similar to Mob, but with some encouragement it shifted into a decent copy of myself! It appears to have no ill intentions, so I hope to connect with it further.



Day 3
It seems I've overwhelmed our friend - they flew away in their fantail pigeon form at first but morphed back into their not-cat-like form shortly after making eye contact with me. However, their long tail - which seems primarily used as a form of expression, considering their face stays the same despite other body language - was generally low and still. I offered to either leave them be or stay a while in silence, and they agreed to the latter. We spent the better part of the day simply laying there, listening to the woods around us.
I think I did something similar to this long ago.

Day 5
Yesterday I had asked the spirit if they had a name, or really anything they wanted to be called by. Their tail curled behind their head and stood still, which I've since concluded is their general thinking expression. Unfortunately I was pulled away for another task before they could give an answer, but when I returned today, I heard their "voice."
"Not Everen, not your Everen, different."
I jokingly supplied Neveren, and their tail curved into something akin to a big smile behind them.
Neveren it is.

Addendum: inquiry of pronouns resulted in a shrug and full-body sway. Was content to sit the rest of the day with no further conversation.

Day ??
A great storm ravaged Nestor's Wood last night, and the wind has remained strong. I went to check on Neveren, but as I neared the ruined house, I could just barely hear the crack of a tree beginning to fall. Before I knew it, Neveren had raced past me and was putting their weight against the trunk.
The damned tree fell in the direction they shoved. I was nudged back to the village with a "Still dangerous."

Being asleep for such a long time
Less fun than expected

This creature not me, but all I can see

Why am I awake? Someone calls
I see now, this creature what I was like

Him I remember
Long time it has been, he cannot recognize

Many of them, so many, too many
This one, feels familiar
This one, takes me home

Someone at home, do not recognize
A combination of creatures I remember
Drags this one back away

The caller I see
Explains a letter of unfortunate state
Why the call was sent, I was not intended
But I am happy to return

So many creatures home now
Only the caller doesn't mind, that's okay
Think I looked similar then

the one eyebrows raised emote. u know the one