Cannibalism?

[Darky [Megan]]

Orangestorm's eyes widened at Patchfur's reply. He hadn't thought that fellow cons would be in the experiment too! Even less so being nominated for leaders! He couldn't resist giving Patchfur a grin that looked rather rakish, but still undoubtedly a grin.

The grin vanished, however, at Patchfur's question. "Redstream 'appens to be my sister, which is why she shares my coat, as much as I'd like it for myself." He sniffed the air disapprovingly and turned to Batkit, but his mind was made up.

"You weren't answering my question properly, but nevermind. As for 'oo I'd like for leader, well, I ain't so sure yet, but I'll no doubt come to a conclusion sometime soon."

That done, Orangestorm got onto his four feet and flicked his tail a little at Patchfur, indicating that he wanted the tom to follow. "Just a little chat, mm? One that I'm sure you'll find in'tresting, though."

[duckyaisha]

Patchfur looked at Orangestorm in confusion, but followed him. He was sure the tom wouldn't attack, since they were surrounded by cats. But if he tried, Patchfur could always run away. "I think you should vote for Bronzefoot," he replied. Maybe if more cats like Orangestorm showed up, Bronzefoot would stand a chance of becoming leader.

[Darky [Megan]]

Orangestorm settled on to the sand a little way behind the crowd of cats and looked at Patchfur expectantly. He opened his mouth, about to introduce Patchfur to the Rebellion, when a thought suddenly struck him. This cat had said he didn't like leaders and that seemed enough for Orangestorm to consider him a con - however, he still had to exercise proper caution. After all, Patchfur could simply be a cynic and it wasn't impossible for a cynic to want a Clan.

"So, from what I've 'eard, you disapprove of leaders? Are you a con?" Orangestorm asked, "or simply a cynic? It's a pretty rude word to use, but I'm afraid I'm at a loss o' vocabulary at the moment.

"By the way, I'd like to know more about Bronzefoot. Is 'e strongly against the experiment? All this out o' curiousity, o' course," Orangestorm added hastily, as an afterthought.

[duckyaisha]

"I do think a Clan would be a good idea, to keep cats safer and more well fed, but I also think that having a leader is a very bad idea. That's why I joined this experiment, so I could have firsthand proof that all a leader does is boss you around and make you do all the work. So yes, I guess you could call me a cynic. And Bronzefoot- I don't know. I just know that he's a con, so I think he'll be less controlling," Patchfur replied. He narrowed his eyes. Why did Orangestorm want to know this? Sure, he said it was just out of curiousity, but Patchfur wasn't so sure...

[Darky [Megan]]

Orangestorm listened to Patchfur and thanked his instincts for reminding him to check first. So Patchfur was a cynic. But he was a Clanner. A Clanner who could've spilled the beans first thing after learning about the Rebellion.

Of course, Patchfur had said he didn't mind the Experiment being ruined. And the Rebellion existed simply to corrupt the Experiment, yes? Perhaps there might be some use in Patchfur after all.

"So aside from that 'e's a con, you don't know much else about Bronzefoot? Well anyways, that's no matter. I find I agree with yer thinking about leaders. Put one cat in an all-powerful position and you're just asking for trouble.

By the way, won't voting Bronzefoot for leader have less of an impact on your reasoning that a leader's not good? I mean, if Bronzefoot is as less controlling as you s'pose 'im to be, then other cats will think a leader's a good thing, right?"

[duckyaisha]

"I want Bronzefoot to be leader because I think he would be the best at it. I don't want to suffer while I'm here, though that cricketbrain Shortwhisker already took care of that," Patchfur muttered. "But I have two plans. My first plan is, if Bronzefoot gets elected, I'll ask him if he can be super-controlling for a few days just so other cats can know how bad a leader actually is. Plan two is if another cat gets elected. They'll probably be controlling, so I'll still have good evidence," he added, hoping Orangestorm understood. Then again, he seemed quite intelligent, with his comment about leaders. Personally, Patchfur thought that every cat who followed a leader blindly was a dumb as a rock, and couldn't think for themselves.

[Darky [Megan]]

"Don't you think cats would question the sudden change in leadership methods after them 'few days'? If they know you've told Bronzefoot to act super-controllin', they'll prolly assume it ain't fair. also, if you don't mind my asking, what do you find so bad about Shortwhisker?" Orangestorm had a pretty good idea of why Shortwhisker was so greatly disliked, but he wanted to hear it straight out of a cat's mouth.

"That is quite likely, your plan two, but what're ya gonna do if the leader isn't controlling?" He hoped Patchfur would give an answer that would allow him to discreetly suggest the rebellion to him.

[duckyaisha]

"I'd probably have him change it slowly. I know Bronzefoot's smart enough to avoid a situation like that. If he changes the leadership style gradually the excuse can be that the power got to his head, which I know would happen in a real Clan where the leader is leader-for-life. Oh, and Shortwhisker! I hate him. I almost left when I heard he was going to be participating. Mostly because he's so obsessed with leadership that whenever anyone tries to point out the tiniest flaw in the situation, he freaks out and starts insulting him because he's too stupid to create a good argument. He also thinks that a leader is always correct no matter what they do. In his eyes, once a normal cat is elevated to the position of leader, they're automatically perfect and will never make mistakes again. Also, he seems to have no brains of his own so his blindly follows anyone because he's too stupid to tell that having a leader is a bad idea!" Patchfur ranted. He calmed down a bit, then answered Orangestorm's other question. "If the leader isn't controlling....I don't know what I'd do, actually," he admitted. "I thought all leaders would be controlling, except for Bronzefoot."

[Darky [Megan]]

"Sounds like you've got yer plan all worked out, dont'cha? And I like the sound of this Bronzefoot. Better company than any ruddy Clanner, any'ow. And that tom sounds just like all Clanners do, even worse, if it were possible. I'm really glad I 'aven't met 'im. 'Owever ..."

Orangestorm casually licked his paw. It was time to get on with his mission.

"There might be a way ter get rid of the silly idea of a Clan good an' proper. A way to make sure that, no matter what, that leader's gonna be controllin', and the rest of them cats are gonna see that a ruddy leader's just a plain bad idea. You interested?"

Orangestorm had decided that Patchfur was a con. Any cat who opposed the idea of leaders would oppose the idea of a clan, that was for certain.

[duckyaisha]

"I-I don't know about that. I mean, I like the idea of a Clan, because it'll keep cats safe and we'll all get fed more. But I don't like the idea of a leader. A Clan without a leader, where every cat made their own decisions and voted on important Clan issues- that would be the perfect lifestyle for me," he replied. Patchfur was getting more and more uneasy about this. It seemed like Orangestorm was against the idea of a Clan at all, not just the leader aspect of it. "Is there a way that we can prove leaders are bad but still have a trial Clan? I honestly think the trial Clan would be much better if it was leaderless."
Truthfully, Patchfur didn't care whether or not Orangestorm supported a Clan, as long as he could prevent a leader from being appointed. But if he started to try and tear down the whole idea of a Clan- then they were going to have some problems.