Chapter 1 ☆ Those Who Wander

Instructions

Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1208632008/ Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1193543796 Art + text series, updates on Fridays ╔════════ ∘◦ ☆ ◦∘ ═════════╗ ⠀⠀Those Who Wander - Moon 1 ╚════════ ∘◦ ❉ ◦∘ ═════════╝ Events: After a moon, to some general disappointment, surviving is not infinitely easier after the clan was formed. It’s not like there’s suddenly more prey and calmer weather. Gilastar, hoping to expand their members to more than a measly four cats, orders that prey intake be recorded and updated constantly - and whenever there is enough excess food, patrols will be sent out to find rogues and invite them to the clan. There is a general agreement that a larger clan will be more successful, but that needs to be built up to alongside their prey capacity. The first time these patrols are ordered for one more cat, Sennaseed finds Toadstep and Scorpionclaw meets Dingobite. She meets with him for a few days before bringing him back to camp. Allegiance changes: Toadstep is a fluffy, chonky, round brown spotted tom with bright green eyes He is personable and chatty but not skilled at much of anything. Very likeable from a non-tactical viewpoint Strengths: conversational skills, manners Weaknesses: fighting, hunting, tedious work Dingobite is a hot, emo, muscular tan tom with a bite scar on his left eye. He is silent, dramatic, and mysterious. Alright if you’re into that Strengths: fighting, brute strength Weaknesses: swooning over hot warrior women Relationships: It's impossible to tell whether these new orders for patroling come directly from Gilastar, or if Rattail had his say in how the process would work, but Sennaseed and Scorpionclaw follow them obediently. Toadstep, having struggled greatly with rogue life, is grateful to Sennaseed for finding him and gladly accepts his offer, although he is a little overwhelmed by the strict routine and mannerisms of clan life. Sennaseed is happy to help his new friend out during hunting drills, but they actually catch less than before - with Sennaseed’s attention not on his own work, and Toadstep failing to catch much of anything. Plus, Toadstep is another mouth to feed. Gilastar sees immediately that Toadstep will only be a burden, and announces that he should be exiled. But Rattail strongly wants Toadstep to stay. Scorpionclaw can’t for the life of her figure out why he would want that, but knows that it must be bad; she decides she wants Toadstep exiled before Rattail can do any damage. Sennaseed, his own competence questioned, hotly defends Toadstep and offers to personally oversee his training. The vote over Toadstep is now 50/50. Rattail, desperate to keep the new cat, talks to his leader in private. When they reemerge, Gilastar changes his vote, so Toadstep is allowed to stay. When questioned hotly by Scorpionclaw, he fumbles over his words and can’t explain his reasoning. Scorpionclaw is furious that Rattail’s meddling succeeded, she senses danger, and she becomes very hostile towards the new soft fluffy chocolate kitty. This drives a rift between her and Sennaseed, who is still defending the cat he found. All the while Gilastar feels even more incompetent and untouchable. Tensions grow, and now Scorpionclaw is sneaking out of camp daily to see her boyfriend, Dingobite. She hadn’t told anyone about him yet, but she eventually decides to bring him into the camp so that secrets won’t tear the group apart further. She still values the idea of society and hopes it will succeed, so she’ll sacrifice her privacy to set an example of honesty within the clan. Sennaseed instantly dislikes his best friend’s hot new boyfriend, especially because Scorpionclaw had just been bickering with him about only bringing in the right kind of cats. Additionally, Dingobite distracts Scorpionclaw from her duties. But, Dingobite can hunt, and he more than makes up for Toadstep’s portion. Toadstep also hesitantly points out that Scorpionclaw is much happier with his company. But Rattail decrees that it’s bad for some unknowable reason, and Gilastar gives the order to exile Dingobite. Dingobite is personally wounded that he wasn’t given a chance - after all, he could actually hunt and support the clan. But he was okay living on his own, and in his honorable heart he feels like it isn’t his place to argue, so he leaves after a tearful goodbye to his girl. Scorpionclaw separates herself from her clanmates, heartbroken and venting about the unfairness of it all. Sennaseed is very worried about her and tries to get her to eat, but Scorpionclaw is too mad at him to listen. Rattail is suddenly really gentle to her as well, and although Scorpionclaw suspects that he just wants to pacify his main threat, she accepts the shoulder to cry on. Even the fiercest warriors aren’t immune to emotional stress. It’s diving her crazy that no one else has confronted Rattail about his obvious evil schemes! Honestly, is she the only one with any sense around here? ≿—-　☆　—-≾