An Eye to Listen

[Cloud]

Still a bit light-headed from the encounter, Darkfur did his best to snap to attention when another cat showed up. Nightbreeze, Nightbreeze....the cat looked somewhat familiar. But for the life of him the tabby couldn't remember whether the black tom was a con or Clanner. He shook his head slightly and focused his eyes on the cat in front of him. "You may. I will enjoy hearing what my competition is thinking." Even if they were a Clanner - there so many of the stupid cats around - he supposed he should listen. After all, it was common courtesy to at least pretend to listen before you shoved in the poor idiot's face what a silly, hopeless idea they had. Curling his tail around his paws, he considered his stock options reviewed both his feelings and his beliefs while he waited for the cat to talk.

OOC: Darkfur you weirdo. No wonder no one likes you. /fail

[Gosh]

Nightbreeze wondered, Competiton? What does he mean by that? Well, anyways.. "Now, don't go assuming things about me from what I'm going to say here," Nightbreeze began. "I know that many cons oppose a Clan because of leadership, whether just the concept of leadership or because they believe a leader would be corrupt. But if you could ignore the leader aspect for just a moment, then think of what a Clan would be like. A combination of a rat hunt and a family - working together with companions you've known your whole life. Rat hunts could be much more efficient.. there would be food and water for everyone.. hey, if it weren't for the leader aspect, I'm sure there would be a lot more clanners. But let's continue with the whole family thing. A Clan would be like a great big family, with everyone caring for each other and helping each other. In fact, the leader could be considered the head of a family. Do you remember when you were kits and your father - or mother, I suppose - guided you with love and care to become the warrior you are today? Back then, they were your leader - but many cons seem to have forgotten that," he added darkly.

[Ten]

A low growl rose in Frozenheart's throat. This cat had all con's belief's marked down to stupidity or forgetfulness. What Nightbreeze didn't realize was that he was the one overlooking something. The white con swished his tail, willing the newcomer to adjust his tone or scram.

[Cloud]

The striped tabby listened to Nightbreeze's speech with growing contempt and disdain. Didn't these Clanners ever get it? Were they all cricketbrains? He felt like joining in when his...er...reluctant business associate unnamed ally growled. "Well, I do believe that no single leader of so many cats could not be corrupt or would not become corrupt in some way. Working together with companions I've known my whole life? I hardly know any cat. And it's somewhat due to the fact that I am judged because of my unique beliefs. And sure, rat hunts might be more efficient, but how can you guarantee food and water for everyone? Am I to think it's just going to magically appear because there would be a Clan? And how do you know there would be so many more Clanners simply if there weren't a leader aspect? Leaders are fine, yes, but notice I use the plural. I believe in several leaders, since not only one cat would be worth listening to. Ha, family? My family hardly spoke to me once I was past kithood. Know why? My beliefs. My mother and sister scorn me for them. And that being said, it wasn't either of my parents who guided me to become who I am. My mentor did. And I would choose my own leader, not simply be assigned one." Darkfur thought of the white cat beside him. At least he had listened and been friendly, even he hadn't agreed with all of Darkfur's ideas.

[duckyaisha]

Rainstripe was still half-terrified, half-angry from her encounter with Grimykit. She didn't even notice her hunger and exhaustion as she sprinted across the sand searching for a friendly face. It was ironic that the she-cat, who usually avoided other cats, needed the comfort of a friend at this moment. However, for that reason she didn't have very many friends, and had to search thoroughly before she found one. Frozenheart. While her stomach was still twisting from the disgusting murder scene, she felt a bit of the pain lift when she saw his familiar face and distinctive white pelt.
Shakily, she slowed her pace and walked up to him, trying to hide the fear in her eyes. She meowed a quivering hello and sat down next to him, trying to calm herself. It seemed as though there was a debate going on though, so Rainstripe was jumpy and nervous, ready to react the first sign of violence, though she didn't know whether she would attack or run away. Normally, she'd just run but somehow the encounter with Grimykit had changed her. She wasn't sure she wanted that, but it wasn't something to worry about right now. After all, the claws had stayed sheathed so far.

[Ten]

While Darkfur was focused on Nightbreeze, Frozenheart closed his eyes with an inaudible sigh and shook his head at the tom's outlandish opinions. When he opened them, however, he was startled to see Rainstripe, shaking and distraught. He knew that look on her face. One could not live a life in the enclosure without having seen it before.

At once he rubbed his cheek against her shoulder, in manner perhaps too rough, trying to comfort her. As he did so, his nostrils flared at the scents on her pelt. ...Grimykit? He straightened and looked at her in astonishment. What had that whelp done this time? Then again, she had no obligation to talk about it if she didn't want to. Softening back to sympathy, he licked her gray ear while purring to reassure her that he would always be there.

[duckyaisha]

Rainstripe considered Frozenheart a friend, but this display of warmth wasn't expected. It wasn't like she didn't want it though, she soaked up every moment like the weak beams of light that shone through the cracks in the enclosure. His kindness didn't melt away her troubles, only covered them in a thick blanket to be uncovered later. She wanted desperately to forget, so even though Frozenheart was probably curious, she kept her mouth shut except to thank him and ask in a whisper, "What's going on?" She wanted to lose herself in a stupid debate and forget all about what had happened.

[Gosh]

ooc| Sorry for the delay T_T

bic|
Nightbreeze felt a little nervous - apparently his speech hadn't been taken so well. His gaze lingered on the white tom for a moment, but he had done nothing but growl - and now he was comforting some she-cat - so he turned to Darkfur. "Well, let me address some of your qualms. It is true that food and water would not 'appear' with a Clan, but more organized efforts to hunt food and find water could be made." He paused for a moment, not wanting to make any of the cats present angry - perhaps he should try this a different way. "The idea of multiple leaders is certainly an.. interesting one," he meowed, trying to be friendly. "So how do you believe that would work?"

[Cloud]

Darkfur was visibly happier; somecat was actually listening to his cheesy ideas. "Mm. Perhaps." Was all the muscular tom said to the first thing Nightbreeze said.

In truth he didn't believe it in the slightest. If food and water were so easy to get like that a Clan would have been made long before. And it hadn't.

He had to admit it was a flaw with his own business plans ideas...but he wouldn't let that stop him.

"Well, any cats who believed in living under certain ideals would come forward, and each would have followers and their own patch of territory, and each leader, i.e, the one with the specific beliefs, would govern the cats in their patch and if any disputes occurred they could talk the matter over with the other territory leaders and decide what was to be done. The majority's opinion would be accepted as justice."

Darkfur was smiling in a self-satisfied way, glad to explain himself for almost the first time ever.

[duckyaisha]

Rainstripe, or rather, the Other, surprised her by stepping forward more boldly than her real self would've done to challenge his plan. "This is all well and good," it said, as Rainstripe, frozen with shock, was too embarrassed to do any real resisting, "but what about the cats who didn't want to be governed? The plan you've created only works for those who want to be led around like a blind kit because they're too stupid to think for themselves." Mortified, Rainstripe finally regained some control and dashed behind Frozenheart, the tom's white bulk shielding her from the gazes of the other cats. She had known that the Other increased her ferocity and boldness, she did not know that it made her so bold as to walk into the middle of a debate and basically insult the tom outright. She wanted to plead innocence, but that would've made her sound insane. She was the only one who knew that the words her mouth had spoken did not belong to her.