Spiderpaw's Campaign {The Experiment}

[Thistle]

Dullpaw scoffed. "Ain't it obvious? The leada's too important ta do silly things like huntin', 'cause if a leada' gets ratted out, wha' happens then, huh?" He flicked his tail dismissively. "Would'ja risk yer leada's life just 'cause of a dumb rat hunt?"

[Gosh]

Spiderpaw nodded. "I agree with just about everything Redstream has said in response to your recent questions, Patchfur. Everyone who is able should get the chance to hunt. Of course, since queens, kits, and elders will probably not have to hunt as much, the warriors-and their apprentices-will probably be doing most of the hunting." She paused a moment. "I will, of course, hunt as well, as long as there is nothing else requiring my attention."

She turned to the newcomer and tried not to glare. "What problems do you have with respecting the dead? And with more organized rat hunts, I believe that cats being ratted out, as you put it, will be a rarer event than it is today."

[Darky [Megan]]

Redstream widened her eyes. "It's quite natural that warriors would hunt more than the other cats, because they are the ones who train the apprentices and well ... the leader won't be out hunting all the time, would they? They do have to - well, lead the Clan."

She nodded at Spiderpaw, and stated that she agreed with the black she-cat. Then she turned in surprise at Dullpaw. This tom didn't seem to have the slightest idea about manners.

Speckledclaw recognised Dullpaw immediately. "You again?" she snapped. "This here is a proper discussion about leaders, you, so you'd better scram. And respecting the dead is important. Most cats'd want to remember their ancestors - if you're tryin' to lead a Clan and you disrespect that, no one is going to be in your favour."

[duckyaisha]

Instantly Patchfur's fur bristled. He wasn't one to pick fights with cats he'd just met, but this cat was just so obnoxious, even in the short amount of time he had seen him. "What makes the leader so important, huh?" he asked, anger evident in his voice. "Why do you think that one cat is worth more than the others? That isn't fair, and the leader didn't do anything to deserve such treatment."

[Brain]

Rockpelt tried to keep calm, and found a way to do it by changing the subject. "That lizard-brain does bring up one important point," he meowed. "What does happen if a leader dies? Does the deputy fill his place?"

[duckyaisha]

Rockpelt's calm voice helped to flatten Patchfur's fur, although he was ready to spring back into anger if needed. "I would think that the cats would elect the new leader just as they did with the first one. A leader might choose a deputy because of their hunting and fighting skills and the deputy might not have any leading skills at all," Patchfur replied.

[Thistle]

"What'cha so worked up about, hun'? Dead is dead, an' they ain't there anymore, so there ain't no reason that ya gotta respect the dead. An' bein' org'nized don't stop rats from gettin' ya, lil lady." Done with speaking to Spiderpaw, Dullpaw swiveled his head around and sent a sly wink in Speckledclaw's direction. "Oh ho!" he crowed, "Yup, I know ya. Toucheh' as always, I see, yup yup."

Dullpaw glanced at Patchfur as if he were nothing but an unappetizing old cricket, but answered the ginger-and-white tom anyway. "The leada's more impo'tant 'cause he is the best kitty in this enclosure, an' so he deserves respect! If he wasn't the best, then he wouldn't be the leada' anyways! Ya stupid or what?"

And then to Rockpelt - "Dun't call meh lizard-brain!"

[duckyaisha]

A look of disgust crossed Patchfur's face as he glared at the cat. "There is no /best/ cat," he meowed in an icy tone. "Every cat is equal. Sure, some are more skilled at hunting, some at leading, some at fighting. But if there was ever a leader that thought he was better than the other cats in the Clan, he would be gone before he could say cricket-brain," he meowed firmly. He knew he wasn't the only one that wouldn't stand for a controlling leader who thought he was better than anyone else. "Why don't you and Shortwhisker go start your own Clan? Maybe combined the two of you will have the brains of a cricket." He unsheathed his claws, digging them into the sand.

[Gosh]

Spiderpaw was seething. "The dead," she said coldy, "may be gone, but they deserve to be acknowledged. When you're dead, would you like to be forgotten?" This cat got on her nerves even more than Shortwhisker. But she reminded herself that she had to be cool and calm. She glanced at Patchfur's unsheathed claws, and, trying not to show her nervousness, meowed, "Patchfur, we don't want a fight." Turning back to the newcomer, she said, "Every cat has flaws - you, me, everyone. No cat is perfect, and you can't expect the leader to be perfect. The life of the leader is important, yes, but it's not like there would be no replacements."

[duckyaisha]

Dingypaw looked at the new cat in surprise. Who would even think of forgetting the dead? "I think," she meowed, her eyes narrowed in anger at this cat's disrespect. "that the only reason you don't care about the dead is because you don't know what it's like to lose someone. You're an ignorant fool trying to appear high and mighty by proclaiming your superiority and acting like you're so tough," she hissed, spitting out the last word.