(The Debate)

[Ten]

"I wouldn't know how most hunt plans are made, as I only have knowledge of the ones I am involved in and those have plans for the majority. Perhaps we should hunt together some time?" Woodstripe offered. "Making gains for oneself does not make imperative that you deprive others."

[Gosh]

"Hunt together some time?" Frailheart meowed, raising her eyebrows. "I have not hunted a rat since I was a kit." She was getting bored of this talk of Clans. It seemed to be only her and Woodstripe who were speaking up; she could see no point in continuing this discussion much longer. Frailheart yawned inwardly.

[Ten]

"Yes indeed, Frailheart. Wouldn't you like to do so after all this time? Your skill perhaps might have dwindled some over time, of course, but the rush of the hunt is good for heart, blood, and body. Don't you miss the thrill and the pleasure of laboring for a meal? While you hunt, perhaps you will take notice of the way working together aids us in achieving our means."

[Gosh]

Frailheart blinked. "You have more confidence in me than I expected. But no, I don't miss it. I don't miss it at all. I don't think I mentioned that the last time I went on a rat hunt, I was the only survivor." She stood up. "I think I will have to go as well. Good day, Woodstripe." She swiftly turned around and padded away, turning her thoughts to finding some water.

[Ten]

"Confidence is a powerful tool," Woodstripe informed her, not planning on letting the yellow tabby escape. She kept pace with her at her side. "I think that's quite impressive that you alone lived through the hunt. You must be a resilient cat. Think, though, about how more may have survived if the Clan were intact. Seeing that they were in danger, more cats would join in and help. While we know that rats are powerful creatures, we also know that a few rats are no match for a dozen noble felines. Of course, this would not be the only useful aspect of a Clan. Being bound as such, ideas, news, and information could spread faster, with more efficiency, on simple but important matters, such as... locations of water."

[Gosh]

Frailheart did not stop walking but she made no effort to get away from Woodstripe, either, thinking it would be pointless. "There were three cats in that rat hunt and one rat. There was me, my brother, and my father. My brother was bitten and died from his bite, while my father succumbed to the illness that lurked inside the rat. I do not put emphasis on the fact that I survived but rather on the fact that should I have been less weak, my brother might not have been bitten." She scowled bitterly, but did not attempt to respond to the second part of Woodstripe's speech - they actually made a bit of sense.

[Ten]

"That is a true misfortune, Frailheart; I am sorry for your loss. Did you have a plan or strategy during this hunt?" Woodstripe asked. "Whether or not you did, clanmates could prevent this sort of tragedy in the future."

[Gosh]

"I'm not sure," Frailheart admitted. "It was a long time ago." She did not even glance at Woodstripe while saying this; instead, she scoured the area with her eyes, looking for a pool of water.

[Ten]

Her green eyes brightened. "Ah, that brings something to mind. With a Clan in place, would not it seem likely that having such a collection of minds bound together would cause more stories and events to be remembered? Our history could become more accurate, our future more certain. We...." Woodstripe cleared her throat. "Frailheart, are you listening?"

[Gosh]

"Of course I'm listening," Frailheart muttered. "I have ears, don't I?" After a minute, she added, "If there were many stories remembered, a cat could make up stories and they might be considered real. Stories that denounced the good ancestors of cats."