A Thief in Your Midst

[duckyaisha]

Dingypaw blinked, confused, and cocked her head to the side. "Something's a little off about this story of yours. I've met Dottedfoot, she's the softest-spoken, self-pityin' she-cat you've ever seen in you're entire life. An' she's about as old as I am, too. I don't see why she'd up and bite you for no reason whatsoever, 'specially since that limp makes sudden movements hard. Are you sure you didn't say anything that she might have found upsetting?" She chose her words carefully, knowing all too well that Shortwhisker could fly into a gibbering sort of indignant rage at any moment if the wrong words were spoken. For that reason, she glared at Patchfur and gestured for him to move back and be quiet. Patchfur sighed, but obliged, knowing that the elder probably had a reason for ordering his silence.

[Ten]

ooc| The last hunt seems so long ago... It's the experiment crew, so maybe it is the same group. Anyway, perhaps Redstream should order another hunt? It would be convenient if Orangestorm could try to implement Beetlepaw's and Grimykit's plan for said hunt.

bic|

"I was w-walking away f-from her when she d-did it! She was j-just mad b-because I didn't want t-to listen to her anym-more. Sh-she--"

Shortwhisker's eyes widened as a realization dawned on him. "D-Dingypaw... You th-think... You think I-I would lie t-to my leader?"

[duckyaisha]

"No, in fact I don't think you would lie to anyone, 'specially not any leader since you like 'em so much. I think you just forgot to mention what it was that made her mad since you were so worried 'bout the injury itself. It's just hard to understand what would've made her so mad. You just up and walking away don't really seem like the type of thing to cause a bite. But whatever, if it happened it happened and I'm not going to question you any more about it. I'd love to hear her side of the story, though."
Would this offend the tom? She didn't know, but the words were already out of her mouth. Truthfully, she didn't think Shortwhisker knew how to lie, or else he thought it beneath him. Either way, she knew he was telling the truth. It might've been bent a little though.

[Ten]

"Th-that's r-right, b-because lying is bad," he stated, the last bit clipping in a monotone echo of the numerous times he'd heard it. "W-well, why d-don't you g-go t-talk to her, th-then? She's over th-thataway." He frowned. "I hope sh-she doesn't lie ab-bout me."

[Cloud]

The gray and white she-cat finally managed to catch up, her determination to do so driven by the words of the conversation that came to her old but still working ears. She realized, grimly, that she would have to tell the truth. But she hadn't wanted to bite Shortwhisker. Well, yes, technically she had; but only in a furious and desperate attempt to get his attention, and she'd tried to do as little harm as possible. She hadn't truly wanted to hurt him...she'd just wanted him to listen. And that seemed the only way.

The elder felt genuine regret; and not only because this was sure to land her in trouble. Shortwhisker did not deserve to be hurt; but he did need to grow and learn. She resolved never to hurt him again. Now how to get him to listen...and convince the other Experiment members she was still trustworthy.

Puffing, she finally dragged herself into the little meeting.

She rested a moment, then looked at every Experiment member, and hoped with all her heart that they'd understand. She'd have to explain a few things to Patchfur afterwards.

"Members of the Experiment, and Shortwhisker especially. Shortwhisker does not lie. I bit him-" Here she lowered her head, in some honest shame but also for effect."-and I am sorry for it. I realize it was the wrong thing to do, and I will never do it again. I apologize to everyone for being so stupid, especially you, Shortwhisker. I offer myself at your disposal. What would you like me to teach you?" She dipped her head to the black and white tom.

Her humility and repentance were sincere, even with their determined motive behind them; the mottled elder could only hope her superiors thought so too.

[Gosh]

Spiderstripe listened to the elder. Shortwhisker could certainly be annoying - perhaps Dottedfoot had lost her patience. She decided instinctively that she would forgive the she-cat. But first, she would ask just a few questions. "...Your name is Dottedfoot, correct? I'm Spiderstripe, leader of the Experiment. Could you tell me what exactly happened that gave you the, uh, impulse to bite him?" I do hope we can reconcile these two, she thought. This Experiment has only just begun.

[Ten]

Shortwhisker watched Spiderstripe with high attention. She was asking for more information before making a judgment -- this impressed him as being very wise. Still, he was relieved that she hadn't declared Dottedfoot's attack acceptable (for if she did, that must mean it was true). No, there was still time to convince her that Dottedfoot was a radical, not safe enough to keep in the experiment.

"I d-don't want you to t-teach m-me anything," he squeaked, disgusted with the offer. "You've p-proven j-just what sort of c-cat you are. You're c-crazy. You think k-kits are as imp-portant as leaders, you th-think evil doesn't d-deserve punishment, and and you b-b-bite anyone who d-disagrees!"

ooc| It would be interesting if she hinted at the leverage that she has over him. Would Dottedfoot sink low enough to blackmail him?

[duckyaisha]

Dingypaw tilted her head in confusion, trying to understand Shortwhisker's logic, if he had any. "I'm confused. Why d'you think kits are less important than leaders? Kits are the future- without them, there would be no leader when the current one died. In my opinion, any good leader would lay down their life to save a young kitten, Spiderstripe prob'ly included. Kits' lives are more important than the lives of adult cats, s'pecially old folks like me. After all, their life has barely begun, and it ain't fair for them to die b'fore they get to experience everything." As she spoke, she felt a rare pang of longing for the kits she had lost, not physically, but mentally and emotionally. By separating herself from her kits and severing contact with them as soon as they reached adulthood, had she condemned herself to death? If she had been more nurturing, her kits might be taking care of her right now, catching prey for her decrepit body out of loyalty to a mother that had served them well. Did regular cats take care of their aging parents? Surely not, for wherever her kits were, they probably had a family to raise and no time to spare for dying mothers. There was no use lamenting about her lost opportunities now, though. At least the Experiment would provide the security her kits couldn't.


Patchfur was less polite in his disagreement and leaped out from behind Dingypaw, feeling ridiculous for letting the ancient she-cat prevent him from attacking Shortwhisker in the first place. "What would happen, cricketbrain, if kits were sacrificed to save the leader's life? Eventually there'd be no more kits and when the leader died, no one to take their place! Besides, a leader isn't more important than any other cat. Just because they have a fancy title doesn't automatically mean their life is worth more! So what, their parents taught them some diplomatic skill, does that automatically make their life more important? I think kits are the most important cats in a Clan- they are the future, like Dingypaw said. We were all kits once, so what if the kit who would've become the next leader dies because a warrior defends their current leader instead of the kit? You just lost a leader and a kit. Sometimes I wonder if your brain is made of rocks," he meowed scathingly, fur bristling with intense anger.

[Ten]

He snorted. How could they manage to talk so much while still missing the obvious? "You d-don't have t-to do what k-kits t-tell you to, c-cricket-brain." He directed this more at Patchfur, but it was in response to Dingypaw as well. "B-besides, you c-can have w-way more kits th-than you have leaders. D-don't get your t-tail in a t-twist. Honestly. I'm n-not the one wh-who attacked another cat." He shot a glare at Dottedfoot. She was the one they should be yelling at.

[duckyaisha]

For once, Shortwhisker had a point, at least in Dingypaw's mind. Dottedfoot had attacked Shortwhisker, and despite what his views were, he wasn't the one who had attacked someone. "I think Shortwhisker's right." This earned her a glare from Patchfur and as he opened his mouth to argue, Dingypaw continued speaking, raising her voice so it would be heard over Patchfur's. The last thing they needed was a fight, and if Patchfur said anything int he vicinity of Shortwhisker, it was sure to be an insult and it was sure to cause a fight. Her loud voice, however, was still barely anything more than a loud croak, as if her vocal cords had been burnt. "We need to figure out why Dottedfoot attacked him and what punishment she deserves."