An Eye to Listen

[Cloud]

The brown tabby nodded. It did make sense, uncertain though many things were. He knew that if he weren't so attentive to detail, he would have swallowed it whole. As it was, he just accepted it but didn't believe in it fully.

"I see...could there be a law that cons could be killed if they attacked? How many laws are there in a Clan, anyway? I learned them so long ago I forget what they are." He yawned.

[Gosh]

Nightbreeze frowned. "Well, I don't really like to think about violent matters like that, but for serious crimes.. like, say, mass murder, or..." He spoke carefully, trying to think of something else that would warrant death of a cat, "...serious disrespect towards a she-cat, if you know what I'm saying. But if there was a cat doing those things out there, wouldn't you agree that they had to go, if they refused to repent or stop? The good of the Clan would demand it." He paused for a moment to answer the tom's second question. "Well, that would be up to members of the Clan, when it is created. I mean, of course there would be no fighting or theft allowed, and I think it's fair to require healthy cats to do some work such as participating in rat hunts or finding water, if there's the need."

[Ten]

This pair of strangers looked much more talkative than that group of cons. Woodstripe padded up to them without a sound, listening in on the latest bit of the conversation, and caught Darkfur's questions. "Why, hello there. I am wondering -- since you put forth the inquiry -- what is your view on the Clan's right to protect itself?" she asked the tabby.

[Cloud]

Darkfur nodded, then got all messed up when Woodstripe randomly appeared. He cursed under his breath. Typical, he had a ready-made response and here was a new stoned complication.

He thought, an arduous activity for the tabby tom. Then finally after a minute or two he had a passable business reply.

"Okay, well...I'm responding to Nightbreeze here, those sound all right, and I understand. As for your question..." He paused, then spoke again. "I believe a Clan should have full rights to protect itself. However, it should use those correctly and not abuse them. Like, if a cat decides they don't want to be in a Clan anymore, they can leave, and not be forced to stay by being attacked or something." He meowed, thinking of himself. "And...they should be able to attack cons who disturb Clan activities, but not before giving them a fair warning or telling them they can join if they like. The Clan should only have the right to kill a cat if they don't stop disrupting things despite warnings." The tabby's whiskers twitched, satisfied with himself.

[Ten]

ooc| x) Darkfur. "Gah! You ruined everything! Now I have to come up with something else to say."

bic|

Woodstripe tilted her head. "I cannot think of a reason for any cat to want to leave his Clan, but in such a bizarre instance, I cannot say I would support attacking said cat. It would do no good for the Clan. However, what you say is true. A leader must exercise good judgment in dealing with the cons whom remain once a Clan is formed, an event I anticipate with much enthusiasm," she meowed, voice calm and level. "I expect it should happen not long after the finish of the experiment."

[Gosh]

Nightbreeze listened to the she-cat's words, nodding in agreement. Her last sentence piqued his interest, so at last he spoke. "Excuse me," he began. "But would you mind explaining this 'experiment' to me? I don't believe I've heard of it."

[Ten]

"Why, you have not?" To anyone unfamiliar with the tabby's stiff formality, her surprise might have seemed fake, but she had convinced herself that such big news would have spread across the enclosure by now. "I must explain to you, then. I have organized a group of cats to conduct a test of life under a leader and deputy. This is not a Clan, but an experiment of Clan life. So many cats have disputed the benefits of authority without ever having experienced it in their adult lives. This is the opportunity to do know for yourselves. We will give evidence to the open-minded that disdain for authority comes from irrational fears based on a time that has now passed. After electing Spiderstripe as our temporary leader and Redstream as our temporary deputy, the participants have begun the experiment, though volunteers are still able to join. If you are interested, I can find one of them for you now."

[Cloud]

OOC: You know he loves his predictable business situations. Any little blip is all "ARGH!" And what's funny about him is that he fancies himself 'apart' and 'unique' but really what he wants is for everyone to be content and peaceful so he doesn't have to think about anything much. He's a bit of a Shortwhisker in that respect because he doesn't mind leaders so long as they don't go mixing everything up into messy situations.

He stifled a yawn. This she-cat seemed so full of herself, somehow. Maybe it was the 'disdain for authority comes from irrational fears' line. She sure seemed to consider herself authority, at least on this, even if she wasn't leading it. He knew about the Experiment from Bat-tail, anyway. Though he was highly interested, he tried to appear offpaw and casual.

"I might be interested. But we don't HAVE to stay, right?"

[Gosh]

Nightbreeze's eyes widened. How had he not heard of such a thing?! He instantly decided that he had to join. "I'm definitely interested in joining this experiment. Especially since you predict a Clan might be formed afterwards. Who do I need to talk to?" He had to stop himself from grinning stupidly - this was the most excited he'd been in a long time.

[Ten]

ooc| Remember to use bic, Cloud.

bic|

"No, of course not," Woodstripe replied to Darkfur. "You need not remain with us any longer than it suits you... although if you do not obey the leader, please do not claim to be participating. Not that I expect you yourself to raise any objections. It is only that those who still call themselves participants ought to be participating, you know. It should not be a problem for you."

In answering Nightbreeze, she mewed, "You must meet with Spiderstripe or Redstream, our -- Pardon me, what is your name? I am afraid we have not introduced ourselves. My name is Woodstripe." She dipped her head. What a pleasant cat, this black tom. So less suspicious and negative than others -- others like Darkfur, but he would only need a little coaxing.