(The Debate)

[Gosh]

"If innocent kits aren't born into this life, what life are they born into?" Spiderpaw asked. She tilted her head questioningly.

"That's true for the crickets, for the rats. That's true anywhere. The only answer is death." Bronzefoot looked at Copperthroat. 'He really is mad,' he thought.

"No," Frailheart meowed softly. "Death is not all there is to life. You could live a happy life if you chose to do the right things. Or at least a content life. And then you die, true. But dying is only the end of living, not the middle."

"If there was a Clan," Spiderpaw meowed, "cats would have happier lives." She could just imagine it - cats working together to get prey, and other cats playing and being happy.

[dfsfsd]

"One other then this," Copperthroat shot back, "Besides, death is the end- otherwise we'd be living even when we're supposed to be dead. And I know for certain that when a cat dies they don't return," He lashed his tail as Spiderpaw spoke once more. The she-cat's voice was starting to annoy him.

"If there was a Clan," Copperthroat grumbled, "what would you do with the cats who didn't want to be in it? Let them die? Attack them? I most certainly won't stand for that. Besides, who said every cat wants to work with others? What's wrong with being a solitary creature?" The questions poured from his mouth so quickly, Copperthroat barely had time to put thought into them.

[Gosh]

"There is no life other than this," Bronzefoot meowed. "Unless you would like to prove one to me?" He struggled not to smirk-this cat really wasn't making too much sense.

Spiderpaw shook her head. "Well, we definitely wouldn't attack the Non-Clanners. And when we had extra food, we would give it to them. And there's enough cats here that not everyone has to go on rat hunts all the time, I should think."

[dfsfsd]

"Can you prove that there isn't?" Replied the patch furred tom, his eyes glittering as he snorted, "Then we'd basically be in the debt of the clan. What cat would want that?" His whiskers twitched once more, "All I know is that I wouldn't join and I defiantly wouldn't accept from carrion eaters such as you."

[Gosh]

"Unless you believe in magic, there isn't any other life possible than this life inside here," Bronzefoot meowed simply.

"We wouldn't want anything back from you," Spiderpaw meowed. "So you wouldn't be in debt. I think that every cat should be fed when they are hungry, because every cat should have their chance to live. This could only happen with a Clan, or something like one."

[Ten]

Grimykit had been finishing off the final scraps of rat meat as the gathering of cats bickered. Now the bones were polished clean. "You's still talkin' 'bout this?" he grumbled, having no food left to divert him. "We all know it's every cat for hisself and anybody who's wantin' a Clan is jus' sayin' so cuz they's feelin' like they can't take care of themselves. Stupid she-cats oughta shut their faces."

[dfsfsd]

"That doesn't answer my question. Point is, cat, no one here knows the answer," He curled his lips and turned away, finish with Bronzefoot. "Clans are foolish. To be under leadership of one cat does not do anything and, besides, you can't speak for the future leader- how do you know what they'll do?" He did not wait for a reply, "You don't! So, young one, a Clan is rubbish, merely a story meant to quiet kits. You and the others are fools to listen and to take it to such a level that you actually believe in it."

When Grimykit spoke, Copperthroat nodded in agreemeant, "Yes, how do we know you aren't just looking for cats to care for you?"

[Gosh]

"Did I ever say I wanted a Clan? No. Annoying toms should watch their mouths." Frailheart scowled.

Bronzefoot sighed. "Point taken." He yawned and started to groom himself. 'I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.'

"I can take care of myself just fine, thank you very much," Spiderpaw meowed, ignoring Copperthroat. She felt odd, and it was a couple seconds before she realized that she was angry. Very angry. "All I want is to help other cats, and you call all she-cats stupid." She cuffed Grimykit's head with as much force as she could muster.

[dfsfsd]

Copperthroat was well aware that Grimykit could care for himself, but nonetheless he found his spine fur bristling and a hiss escaping his lips, "Watch yourself there," He snapped, "you speak of unity but here you are, hitting cats over the head as if you're better then them. I think you just want us all under your control."

[Gosh]

Spiderpaw turned to Copperthroat, fur bristling. "Well, he deserved that," she meowed. She was still furious. "Did I ever say I would be leader? No. Like I said, all I want is to help cats. But I can't really do that with him annoying me and everyone else." Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Frailheart smiling at her. Perhaps she had met with Grimykit's foul tongue as well.