This was an illustration requested on my patreon for $5! This was the illustration for January 2026.
giggleshitter on patreon requested "Crane and Scout" So I wanted to draw their first meeting. AND! I wrote a one-shot for it. What a perfect time too with Scout just recently showing up in comic lmao.
Scout flexed his claws into the solid oak branch he was perched on. He’d been trying to stalk little birds for most of the morning—honestly too much of the morning—and he was finally in clear sight of one. A plump little robin, its belly the same shade as the leaves surrounding it. He stifled a yawn, lest the songbird hear and fly away.
He’d woken up late without the chittering of his family and a tongue combing through his fur. He didn’t regret leaving them; though the weight of his eyes and the grumble in his stomach made him think twice sometimes. Especially with winter mounting in a month or two. No old fox den willed with warm bodies and soft fur for him this year. He huffed.
He just needed to catch something. Then he’d feel better.
The songbird chirped away, pecking occasionally at its branch. Scout tensed his muscles, eyes locked on, and kept his tail still (He’d lost too many meals to rustling leaves). Too many stupid mistakes and too many failed efforts. Scout supposed that was the cost of living outside a colony. He lowered himself, just about to pounce—
A flash of white fur appeared from another tree, and the stalked bird vanished with a final tweet.
Scout blinked. He stood up, tension released in the least satisfying way and looked in the direction of the flash.
A couple branches over crouched a pretty calico molly, the bright belly of the robin dangling in her mouth. A purr escaped from her throat. Scout watched silently as the molly dropped the robin delicately on the branch and began grooming her face. Guess she didn't see him.
Another cat probably meant he was probably on a colony's territory. The smart thing to do would be to leave the molly alone, scramble on down the tree, and skedaddle his way out of there. She probably wouldn't chase him. Not after just making a kill—
But the stab in his belly made the final choice for him.
He purposefully swished his tail through the trees. The molly immediately went on the alert, ears and eyes scanning the tree before locking on to Scout. She squinted her eyes and Scout heard a growl build in her throat. He stood still, offered her a sly smile.
“Good catch,” he said, tucking his tail over his paws. “I’d been looking at it for a while though.”
“Don't smell your scent on it,” she hissed. “So go before it coats my claws.”
“Oh, calm down.” Scout scratched behind his ear. The molly’s body grew taut at his movement, but Scout made no move to attack. He wasn’t planning to. “I’m not looking for a fight, darling. Just a little meal. See, I recently left my folks, and I’ve been having trouble keeping myself fed. You look rather fed yourself, so it’s only fair.”
“Sounds like some arrogant kitten left his parents too early then,” she hissed.
Scout frowned. His parents had been more than happy with his streak of independence. He wasn’t very good at his namesake, and he preferred to make himself scarce at big family gatherings. They probably didn’t even know he was gone. Not that it bothered him. Would be a much bigger hassle if his absence had caused a bigger ruckus.
Not that he was going to tell this molly any of that.
“Well,” Scout said, sliding back into his nonchalant register. “I like to see it more as they gave me the freedom to do as I please. Colony life can be so stuffy, you know? So many rules and people telling you what to do.”
“And living like a thief is better?” she said. Scout didn’t miss that lack of a growl in her tone. He smirked.
“Sure, from your perspective I’m a thief. From mine I’m just a beggar asking a pretty thing for a little bit of pity.” Scout laid down and lounged on his branch, showing off a little bit of his belly to her. “I don’t got any power in this situation.”
That seemed to have struck some kind of nerve with her. Scout watched as she eyeballed him, her fluffy tail thrashing behind her. Usually he didn’t even try to resort to flirting to try to get something; his belly must’ve really gotten the better of him. He wasn’t a fighter, and he’d been trying all morning for just on. He was tired.
And it’s not like it was hard for him to flatter her. She was a pretty little thing; striking green eyes, clear confidence, with beautiful white fur that fell over her round body in billows. Someone Scout’s dad would tell him to pursue and start a family. He wasn’t sure about a family, but the ghost of his dad didn’t need to tell him to chase. Maybe it wasn’t only his belly hunting for something in that moment.
“...You're lucky I’m out by myself, my mother wouldn't be hesitating like this,” the molly said after a long moment. “She’d have clawed your hide off by this point.”
“And thank you kindly for that hesitation. Your mother runs a tight ship, huh?” Scout replied.
She didn’t respond. Silence was a good enough answer.
Boldly, Scout stood up and took a step towards the molly. Scout watched her fur bristle as padded onto her branch. Her body was still rigid, but her ears looked forward.
“What would your mother think about you even talking to a tom like me?” He ventured. He tried to speak low and keep himself serious, but the growl of his stomach betrayed him. Embarrassment itched at his pelt, but the molly just purred a chuckle.
“She’d call you a thief just looking for food,” she said. “She’d also be ashamed of me for letting you get this close…” Her voice trailed off. Scout watched her claws work in and out of the bark beneath them.
Hesitantly, like she thought he would vanish at her touch, he put her head under his and purred. He felt it vibrate against his throat.
“Well, it seems you like this thief plenty.”
“I do,” she said, pressing closer to him.
He licked the top of the molly’s head, and he felt a shiver run down her spine.
“You wanna see what else this thief can take?”
—
“I’m Crane, by the way.”
Scout lazily opened his eyes. He was cuddled up right next to the little molly—Crane. They’d moved to the inside of a tree hollow—away from any possible eyes—the bone scraps of their meal scattered outside. Scout had just been basking in the afterglow of their engagement; Belly full, warm, tired. He hadn't expected any conversation. He hadn’t wanted any conversation.
Crane seemed earnest about it though, looking right at him with her sweet green eyes.
“Scout,” he said. “Probably should've asked for that before…you know.”
“Yeah, haha.” She pressed herself closer to him.
The touch was pleasant, warm, but Scout already felt his paws itching to leave. He’d had his fun, gotten his meal; it was time he headed elsewhere.
Crane clearly had other plans. Her fluffy tail wrapped around his own like a serpent, paws draped over his own, and head tucked gently under his.
“Thought your mama would be mad if she knew I was here,” Scout asked. In part because he was curious, but mostly to fish for an excuse to leave.
“Not like I’m not covered in your scent now anyways,” She playfully said. Then, she grew quieter. She let out a huff. “She hounds me about everything. Your parents gave you all this freedom, so don't I deserve something that’s just mine too?”
Mine. The word pricked like a thorn in the back of Scout’s skull. The last thing he wanted was something planting him here. Though, maybe he should’ve thought of that before he let his stomach—well, it was more than just his stomach—make the decisions for him.
And then he thought of home. He could tell himself he didn’t care, but without their stability he’d been struggling ever since. He’d had flings before, silly little games to get a quick bite, but the other party always left just like he did. Crane wanted him here, for some reason he couldn’t imagine. Maybe she just wanted to get back at her mother…but maybe she did genuinely like him too. The feeling left an odd pit in his stomach.
Crane was looking expectantly at him. He did like her. She had a fire in her bones that many cats didn't, including himself. It scared him but the flames were also so inviting.
What could it hurt to stay here a bit longer and have more fun?
“Yeah,” Scout said, nuzzling into her cheek. A purr erupted from her throat. She looked so happy. Scout could even feel a little bit of it himself. “I suppose you do.”
I sitll don´t know how to do ligths and shadows in Krita so i gave up
Anyways at the end InkyPetals are two monsters that try to convince themself that they are not so...
(I will gave them a more MOTM design later . . .)
And now whit this some stupid things i tougth to figth whit how much suffering are we getting from MOTM
"Growing Up"
NOW that we have a much better handle on their characters(shelly sounded so y/n im so sorry SOBS), AND that me and @nortsauce's artstyles have improved, here are some updated character cards!!!
2087
kianamaiart
prguitarman
gummygunk
