Boost walked through the debris that littered the battlefield—well, after completing their mission, of course. He had been ordered to scout for anything of potential use.

His steps faltered as a faint noise pierced the silence. Glancing over his shoulder and scanning the surroundings, he found nothing. Shrugging it off, he resumed his search through the wreckage.

The sound emerged once more, a persistent echo that tested his patience. Exasperated, Boost crouched to investigate beneath the rubble, peering around distant objects in an attempt to uncover its source. Suddenly, he paused, his eyes widening as a particular piece of debris captured his attention.

His gaze fell upon a Tooka cat, and a small smile spread across his lips. He cautiously extended his hand, allowing the creature to take in his scent. He detected the Tooka instantly—he could recognise them anywhere, and not because of his secret passion for animal study…

Just then, a jarring beep from his comm broke the moment, snapping him from his reverie. Frustration stirred within him; he had become so engrossed in petting the feline that he had almost forgotten his duties. With a resigned sigh, he pressed the button on his arm, bracing himself as a voice crackled through.

“Yeah, I’m looking around… found nothing yet. Might be a while.” Internally, he cursed himself for sounding like such a di’kut. He knew they wouldn’t truly care; after all, the mission was officially over.