03┊Kinoko's Story - Contest Entry

Instructions

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀╔∘ ★ ∘═══════════════╗ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 03┊Kinoko's Story - Contest Entry ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀────── ★ ────── This is my entry for the amazing design of Strawberry! I knew that I had to enter when I saw the amazing design despite having too many characters. I've written about the character in the next two sections, the next section containing a bio and a backstory in the next section. The personality is in the notes and credits. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀────── ★ ────── Name: Kinoko Nicknames: None Gender: Trans Male Pronouns: he/him Orientation: Demisexual ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀────── ★ ────── ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kinoko's Story He watched with satisfaction as he placed another mushroom in his woven basket. It was a delicate weave, one woven with pieces of wood thin enough to be bent and shaped into a basket. There was a red and white checkered cloth lining the inside of the basket, and many mushrooms within. In technicality, Kinoko was not supposed to be in the mushroom grove. But he could not have wanted to be anywhere else, for it was his idea of adventure. He had never traveled beyond the land of the Tribe. "Kinoko!" A sharp voice penetrated Kinoko's bubble of happiness, a voice that Kinoko recognized as his mother, Ichigo. Ichigo was a Tribe Healer, and positions were passed through heritage. This meant that Kinoko trained as a healer apprentice under his mother's tutelage, and his father sorted the healing herbs. The civilization appeared somewhat perfect- everyone did their job and there was no difficult choices involved. The Tribe was kind to outsiders, so kind that nobody ever left. Kinoko wondered if that was really a choice. But it was /perfect/. He certainly didn't feel perfect, it was a strained and forced perfection. Everyone seemed happy except for him. "Coming, Mom," Kinoko sighed. It did very little good to fight his mother, as she was... stubborn, to put it lightly. She felt as though the rules were perfect, just like everyone. Ichigo watched with satisfaction as Kinoko approached her, then turned and let Kinoko trail behind her. The healing den wasn't far from the mushroom grove, and the two healers reached the den quickly. Kinoko was a healer by trade and by label, but not at heart. "Fetch the comfrey," Ichigo demanded simply. "And the marigold. I'm working on a poultice for Ayuko the Fisher." Kinoko entered the haze that he usually was in when he worked as a healer. He was listening, in a way, and he did as he was told. But his mind was constantly elsewhere. Deep in his mind, Kinoko wondered what the world was like outside the lands of the Tribe. The perfect world was small, it had a mushroom grove, a small field, a forest where only the Hunters went to hunt, and a village with dens. But what was beyond? Outsiders who arrived told great tales of wonders and dangers, but never seemed enthusiastic about leaving. Kinoko had wanted to leave for a very long time. So why hadn't he? No cat ever left. There were no guards, nothing was stopping them. Outsiders spoke of the outside world so fondly, but never returned. Why? Suddenly, Kinoko's head was spinning. What could possibly be keeping cats from leaving? It was almost as if there was some sort of invisible barrier that let cats in but not out, and dulled their wants to leave. Kinoko decided that he had to test it. After he finished his healing work, he walked to the outskirts of Tribe land, intent on leaving. The closer he got, the more doubt he felt. He simply... didn't really want to leave anymore. He took a few steps back. Yes, he did. It was so odd, like a mental pressure pushed him back whenever he got close. Catching his breath and regaining his resolve, Kinoko pressed onward. Could he leave? The Tribe's border was marked by scent, and he stretched out a paw tentatively towards it. He flinched a drew it back. Something was pushing on his mind, some odd barrier of sorts. Kinoko stepped back. It seemed less terrifying to leave. He closed his eyes. Suddenly he didn't know quite where he was, and he couldn't see the border. The barrier was solely mental. He walked a couple of steps forward. He opened his eyes. Kinoko gasped. The border was behind him, he had done it! He had managed to leave the land of the Tribe, and he was free to explore! He felt some sort of pressure lift off of his mind and smiled. The world was perfect, even though it was untouched and imperfect too! The End... For Now ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀────── ★ ────── ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Adios! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀╚═══════════════∘ ★ ∘╝