One Puddle, Please

[Ten]

"J-just being a C-Clanner isn't g-good enough!" Shortwhisker began. Then he froze. With a plaintive look, he asked in desperation, "Y-you w-won't t-tell P-Patchfur a-about th-this.... w-will you?"

[Cloud]

Dottedfoot hesitated as he spoke, but then she made up her mind. No, she wouldn't tell Patchfur, or Woodstripe, or anyone. He was already miserable enough, it seemed. Even though she would probably support the ginger and white tom, it didn't mean she had to betray poor Shortwhisker.

"No. You've suffered enough. I won't tell anycat, not even Spiderstripe. Though I might support Patchfur, he hardly needs to know about this. After all, it's none of his business."

She talked half to herself, half to the black and white tom.

[Ten]

"What? You s-s-support Patchfur?" Shortwhisker didn't know what she meant, so he assumed the worst. "He d-doesn't w-want any l-leader at all!" he yelled, looking at her like she was crazy. "I... I-I th-thought you w-were a G-GOOD cat!"

[Cloud]

"Did you notice the might, Shortwhisker? I haven't decided yet." She said dryly, then sighed. She knew she shouldn't make cutting remarks, but it was hard. "Look, I'm sorry I've upset you. Here, why don't you try and convince me why you want a leader? You might convince me."

Dottedfoot thought it unlikely, but then, one never knew. And maybe he'd calm down if she'd listened to him.

[Ten]

"N-no, I d-didn't notice... b-but, b-but even C-CONS-SIDERING Patchfur's i-ideas is INS-SANE! You c-can't really th-think..."

Shortwhisker stopped to think himself. She wanted him to explain why he was right? That meant his mother's lifework was depending all on him for this cat, and he was no eloquent speaker. The pressure made him shift from side to side, breath coming in agitated spouts.

"A leader is j-just... right. Just b-better. They're what Clans are s-supposed to have. W-without a leader, n-no one would b-be in ch-charge." To him, this was not redundant in the least. "Leaders m-make the C-Clan run b-better and... th-they... make s-sure everyone kn-knows what to d-do, and... I... I'M N-NOT GOOD AT EXP-PLAINING!" he whimpered. He couldn't handle this himself, and even though he knew Woodstripe was a more polished speaker who agreed on the need for a leader, he disliked her leniency too much to suggest Dottedfoot talk to her instead.

So he made one last attempt: "W-when there is n-no leader, th-there is no C-Clan."

[Cloud]

Again the elder's heart panged with sympathy as she looked at the little tom. Though it may have been silly of her, she went and laid down beside him, about a rat-length away. "I see you believe strongly in what you say." She meowed gently, trying to be somewhat supportive.

"And you could be right; some of what you say makes perfect sense. The thing about what Patchfur says that intrigues me is that even older cats, like me, could participate in the Clan more. I doubt that could happen in a regular Clan, but tell me, am I wrong? You seem like you would know a lot, being an Experiment member and all."

[Ten]

"Yes, it's v-very import-tant," he meowed, watching her lay down. What was she doing that for? It was a little odd to just... lay down. Yet a mimic instinct pulled Shortwhisker to the ground with her. He folded his front paws under his chest, crouched in a position that left him ready to hop up at sudden notice. "D-duh I'm r-right -- it all makes p-perfect sense."

"Y-yes, you're wrong," was his direct answer to her question, though he wasn't quite sure what she was asking. She had bolstered his confidence by suggesting he would know, and since she was a Patchfur supporter (or close enough), then she must be wrong. He wanted to say more, but that meant he had to think about what she said. What was it with this lady and trying to tire his brain out? He could only do so much.

"...b-because, well, n-not h-having a leader means you're all d-disorganized and don't kn-know what to do, so l-less gets done." Hey, that sounded pretty good. Dottedfoot had to agree with him now.

[Cloud]

The gray she-cat could feel herself growing irritated. This cat made little sense, and he was arrogant, disrespectful, and ungrateful. And frankly, she was prepared to tell him that. She wouldn't lose her temper, but she would be honest, sincere, and clear. He hadn't even answered her most important question.

She said in a cold tone, "Shortwhisker, I don't understand you. I was kind to you, tried to be understanding - and you repay me by being arrogant, disrespectful, and rude. If you were a true Clanner you would know elders deserve respect. You didn't explain fully or try to back yourself up. You didn't even answer my question about my own participation.

And also: if you think you're such a wretch, why not do something about it? Why not try to act more decently and kindly? Why not try and improve yourself and minimize your flaws?

I agree having a leader gets things done; however, a leader needs other cats to get things done, so in a sense they are just as important, because every cat is worth the same. It is true that one may have more power than another, and that's fine, but cats can also organize themselves. Leaders can be extremely helpful, often better than other cats in making decisions and such. But are they truly better for a Clan in general? I can't decide.

Because while it's important to follow traditions, it's also important to think about new ways and ideas to make something better. To hear as well as speak."

The mottled she-cat sighed. She was beginning to get the feeling that Shortwhisker wasn't understanding everything she said and that this was pointless.

[Ten]

The black-and-white tom listened to her speech in bewilderment. He didn't know what to say. She was right about so many things -- except the most important one. He opened his mouth, then closed it. How could he answer her? That's when he did something unusual for him: he got an idea.

Shortwhisker lowered his head and eyes in respect. "You're right. I-I'm a b-bad Clanner. I d-don't know how to be b-better. If you think it m-might be w-worth it, p-please, teach me."

[Cloud]

Dottedfoot was...shocked to say the least. She'd never expected him to be come around so quickly. But maybe she'd gotten through to him. Maybe no cat had ever bothered to try and talk to him like this before; without insults, but being to the point.

"No, Shortwhisker, you're not a bad Clanner so much as an...unfinished one. You just need to learn a few things. But we all need to learn things, all the time. Even me, old as I am, am always learning and realizing things. After all, things always change. It's the only thing we know for sure."

She purred, though the now-familiar sadness panged her heart. She nuzzled Shortwhisker gently.

"I could teach you if you wanted, but I don't think you need that much teaching. I think you can teach yourself to better; it's just hard. After all, it takes strong ears to hear ourselves judged fairly; I should know, for many seasons I refused to acknowledge that my broken leg meant weakness. It does, but that doesn't mean I have to be completely set back by it. Just like you, Shortwhisker. Though you have flaws, like everyone, you can always change and grow stronger, with or without help."