Spiderpaw's Campaign {The Experiment}

[Darky [Megan]]

Speckledclaw's ears perked. "I've been a mentor before, to young Dustpaw," she said, recalling memories of the small gray cat who had vanished in one of the floods. " He was around your age, Batkit. Around two seasons old.

"As for elders - well, I've got the utmost respect fer elders. In any Clan, elders should be taken care of properly, with sufficient food and attention. Elders are knowledgeable - they've got experience we don't, and it isn't fair if they're treated differently."

[Brain]

Rockpelt nodded. "I agree: elders may even have more wisdom than other cats.

"As for Bronzefoot, what other motive could a con have in running for leader? But let's ask him. Bronzefoot, why did you want to be leader?"

[Gosh]

Bronzefoot turned to Rockpelt, a little annoyed, but he replied calmly, "I've already explained my thoughts, Rockpelt - I thought we were over that. I joined the Experiment to see what it was like, if my beliefs were true, or if I had been on the wrong side the whole time. I accepted Patchfur's nomination on a whim; I had not been expecting to have been nominated and had not even thought of the possibility of that until it happened." With a frown, he added, "Cons like me don't run for leader because they want power. That's for the bosses to do."

Spiderpaw decided it was about time for her to speak up. "I agree with Dingypaw," she meowed. "If Batkit has survived for two seasons, surely he is ready for his warrior name. And I would be honored to give it to him." She smiled genuinely, thinking, 'He's so innocent and cheerful.'

[duckyaisha]

If Speckledclaw had already been a mentor, something no one else here had done, was she automatically deputy? Patchfur didn't know and didn't want to ask in case the answer was just that. He looked over at Rockpelt after Bronzefoot had finished his speech. "That enough proof for you?" he asked.

Dingypaw was glad that both Speckledclaw and Rockpelt were supportive of elders. Luckily that annoying tom Dullpaw hadn't spoken up in a while. Maybe he had finally got it through his thick head that he would never be leader. "Who chooses his warrior name? You or Batkit?" she asked Spiderpaw when the thought popped into her head. She had heard that in the original Clan, the leader chose the warriors' names. But since Spiderpaw was only leader of a temporary Clan, she didn't know if the she-cat had the power to give names. Besides, Batkit might want to choose his own name.

[Thistle]

"I'm almost a mentor, ya know! There's this lil, orange-y tomkit an' he said he's gonna join meh Clan!" Dullpaw meowed loudly, trying to draw everyone's attention in the most dramatic way possible. He reared up and then stamped both forefeet onto the ground, waving his tail. "An' if ya'll dun' vote fer me I'm still gunna be a leada', you'll see 'bout that!"

Oblivous of the other tabby's trantrum, Batkit said to the she-cat, "You can choose my warrior name for me, Spiderpaw! Anything'll do."

ooc: Spiderpaw names him Bat-tail, please? o3o;

[duckyaisha]

Patchfur sighed. "Even if you try and force leadership on us, it's not like you're actually going to achieve anything. If all the rest of us fought against you, we'd easily win. Besides, you don't always get what you want. I didn't want a leader, but I got one anyway. Other cats aren't going to like it if you throw a tantrum every time something doesn't go your way."

[Brain]

"The point," Rockpelt mewed to Patchfur, "is that I am not easily tricked. I would not be a good deputy if I believed everything I heard, would I? Like I said earlier, I have no problem with him remaining in the experiment as long as he's not running." And as long as I can't prove anything.

"In the future, a cat could request a certain name from the leader, but I think that the final decision lies with the leader, just in case a young cat makes a decision that he or she may regret."

[duckyaisha]

"But you shouldn't have a problem with him running for leader or deputy," Patchfur meowed in exasperation. "He's already explained this to you multiple times. Just because he's a con doesn't automatically mean he's an evil cat that wants to sabotage everything his claws can touch. The deputy or leader should be chosen based on leadership ability and that's it," he said firmly.
"And I think the final decision should lie with the cat themselves, seeing as they're the ones who're going to have to live with that name for the rest of their life."

[Gosh]

ooc| Battail it will be, Thistle.

bic|

Spiderpaw meowed thoughtfully, "Well, it is true that in the old days, the leader gave those who were ready their warrior name. And since Batkit wishes for me to do so, then I do not mind. However, Patchfur has a point in that the cat would have that name for the rest of their days." She nodded once and turned to thinking up a name for Batkit.

[Brain]

"Can we just drop it?" Rockpelt mewed, really starting to get annoyed. "And a leader might have to talk to a cat about his or her name selection until they reach an agreement. For example, an apprentice named Stonepaw may choose Stoneleg without realizing that this makes him sound like a very slow warrior.