(The Debate)

[dfsfsd]

Copperthroat stepped away from Spiderpaw and sat down, regaining control of his emotions for a short time as he forced his bristling pelt to lie flat. Sliding his claws into their sheathes, the cat sighed, "Yes, we're debating whether or not a clan is needed here."

He growled, "There's plent to disagree on! You think a Clan is our future, huh?"

[Gosh]

Spiderpaw sat down, feeling calm at last. "I'm sure these four can tell you," she meowed, nodding to Bronzefoot, Frailheart, Copperthroat, and Orangestorm. "I suppose there was some hostility, as you put it, but I believe it's over now."

"Yes, you missed all the entertainment," Bronzefoot meowed gruffly. "But that's aside the point. Cats are doing just fine now. Why would we want or need a Clan?"

[Ten]

Woodstripe glanced and Copperthroat. "Ah, I see. What you are discussing here is whether or not a Clan should be formed. No cat knows the future, good tom. However, I do have my opinions on what the future should be like. First tell me, though, the established evidence for and against."

[dfsfsd]

Copperthroat narrowed his eyes- she was too formal for his liking. It was strange, after being raised to be the rudest cat he could be. Shaking the thoughts away, Copperthroat mewed, "I'm against Clans. Cats are doing fine as it is and why should we listen to one cat? Even if we got to elect leaders, we may not always like them and I can see a Clan bringing more blood shed then peace."

[Ten]

"Oh? This is a theory I am unfamiliar with.... Pardon me, I do not know your name. As for mine, it is Woodstripe." She dipped her head, then resumed eye contact with the orange-and-white tom. "How do you propose a Clan would cause more bloodshed than peace?"

[Gosh]

"Well, a Clan would help cats in need. With a Clan, cats would work together more often, and less cats would starve. We could give prey to the needy and still be full if cats worked together more." Spiderpaw smiled a genuine smile. "And, perhaps there would not have to be only one leader? Perhaps there could be two, so if one turned greedy, there wouldn't be chaos."

Bronzefoot meowed, "There's no need for a Clan and every cat should hunt for itself. Or, in some cases, every family for itself. That's the way it has been and that's how it always will be. The stories of the old Clan are rubbish; I don't think there ever was a Clan." This said, he continued to groom himself.

"Not every cat will agree with the idea of a Clan," Frailheart began. "There is no need for one. Not many cats will want the idea of change. And even if you took away a lot of the other problems with Clanhood, what if a crazy cat became leader?"

[dfsfsd]

"My name is Copperthroat," He grunted in reply, not bothering to dip his head. "A Clan would cause more bloodshed because lumping together cats who love to contradict each other is just asking for a fight. Besides that, not every cat wants to be in a clan. And I know for certain I wouldn't give up anything to a Clan- that could cause fights in the long run," He snorted as he glared heavily at Woodstripe, waiting for her reply. But Spiderpaw's mew made him look away.

"Two leaders?" He echoed Spiderpaw in disbeleif, "What if they don't agree? Then you'll have the leaders of a Clan arguing. And, as the other cat said," he jerked his head towards Bronzefoot, "things shouldn't change. Cats have always cared for themselves or for kin."

[Darky [Megan]]

Orangestorm and Redstream had been silent throughout most of the debate. Redstream's ears had certainly perked up when Woodstripe had arrived and the she-cat was instantly seized with an urge to join in. "I am Redstream. In my opinion a clan would mean peace, and in time to come, possibly freedom. By working together we could reach much greater milestones, cats won't become hungry as often and we'll all learn teamwork in an agreeable atmosphere." She looked at Copperthroat. "It would not be a clan if it were only made up of cats who are fond of arguing. We're not planning to force every cat to do one cat's bidding. A clan is supposed to resemble a large family, with the head of the family who's supposed to guide us through difficulties. You seem to think it's just like one dictator controlling an army of mindless creatures!"

Orangestorm decided he would rejoin the argument too, and stated, "I'm Orangestorm. Copperthroat's statement is perfectly agreeable. We've been 'ardened through the decades we've spent inside the walls. It's not possible to change all that in just one discussion. Non-clanners will put up a mighty fight, I'm sure, and blood will stain the sand for moons. We've got a fine system going on here and I'm sticking to what works."

"I believe what we honestly need is an adept mind to head the cats," said a new voice with a rather snappy tone to it. Speckledclaw had been listening not far off and decided to participate in the talk, since she'd just eaten and had nothing else to do. Besides, this seemed interesting. The speckled she-cat trotted over and sat herself down, continuing, "I'm willing to support any cat who can prove themselves capable of enforcing unity within these walls in a way all of us can agree on." Speckledclaw shot a narrow-eyed glare at Copperthroat. "If we stick to the same old thing we'll just have more cats dying of sickness, cold and hunger. We'll eventually be wiped out, and though our knowledge is limited I think we can all agree that we're the most intelligent beings in the whole of this blasted desert."

ooc Gaaaah. o-o Long post.

[Gosh]

Spiderpaw shrugged. "It was only a suggestion. But, Redstream, I agree with everything you say. A Clan would be like a giant family. Oh, and I'm Spiderpaw."

"I'm Frailheart," Frailheart meowed. "I agree with Orangestorm. Change will bring even more death than usual. And I have something to add: If many cats die, there will be less kits, and less kits mean less surviving kits. Try to change the way it works now and you may wipe out the most intelligent beings here - us."

"I'm Bronzefoot, and again - we're doing just fine now," Bronzefoot meowed. "You speak of helping cats, Spiderpaw, but not many cats need help. You see, the cats who need help usually don't make it past kithood. The stories of how the old leader brought us to ruin - well, those stories have a moral, even though they are rubbish. The moral is this: Clanhood will bring bad things."

[dfsfsd]

Copperthroat snarled at the she-cat called Redstream, “Because it would be a dictatorship,” He snapped, “Besides, who said all the cats want to be in a ‘family’? I’ve done fine on my own and I most certainly won’t join up with a bunch of cats just so they can catch my food and find me shelter.”

The patch-furred tom revealed his yellow fangs as Speckledclaw spoke, “So what are you going to do with those who don’t want to join? The fact that we wouldn’t be forced has been touched, but what about land? Will you allow us to stay where we’ve been for countless moons? Or will you merely give us a small stripe that you find sufficient?” Not waiting for an answer, he went on, “One cat spoke of freedom and gaining more milestones. That cat is crazy. We’ve been stuck here for so long, we’ll never gain freedom. Having a clan doesn’t guarantee more gets done, either.”