Chapter 2 ☆ Those Who Wander

Instructions

Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1210435213/ Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1206521140/ Art + text series, updates on Fridays ╔════════════ ∘◦ ☆ ◦∘ ════════════╗ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ Those Who Wander - Moon 2 ╚════════════ ∘◦ ❉ ◦∘ ════════════╝ Events: A massive sandstorm forces cats throughout the desert to travel. The five are secure in their camp, and they experience an influx of rogues looking for shelter. Toadstep has come quite a way in learning to hunt, and with his new contribution to the prey pile, the clan can support new cats once more. They create a system to decide who to accept. Each current clan member has a test, and each newcomer must pass a majority of the tests. However, regardless, Gilastar has the final say. A queen and her 3 kits come first. Allegiance changes: Mesquitewood is a petite brown spotted she-cat with soft brown eyes and small paws. She is a soft but fierce and protective mother, encouraging independence and strength in her kits. She is admirable. Strengths: teaching, shelter building, endurance Weaknesses: less physical strength Yellowkit is a lean, yellow spotted tom with deep blue eyes. He has quiet ambition and is extremely loyal. Strengths: teamwork, communication Weaknesses: hates letting others lead Horizonkit is a petite, pale spotted she-cat with hazel eyes. She is dreamy and likes big concepts like the sky and the width of the world. Strengths: nuanced thought Weaknesses: staying focused Chasingkit is a swift she-cat, a copy of her mother besides her stormy gray eyes. She is weak and unskilled, unaware that everyone else has low expectations of her. Skills: speed, short sprints Weaknesses: wind, fighting, hunting, gaining respect Relationships: Sennaseed has been strutting around lately, taking Toadstep's recent success as a compliment to his training skills. He's getting a little cocky, but Toadstep doesn't mind, he just laughs along. The two had become fast friends, and Toadstep is very grateful for his new clan life and that he's no longer alone. The new system for accepting rogues is immediately put to the test with the appearance of Mesquitewood and her kits. Will the tests be an accurate representation of one’s skills? Will the judgement be fair? The answer is a tentative yes. Mesquitewood proves herself adequate at hunting solo, hunting in a team, sparring, finding her way back to camp after being blindfolded and brought somewhere, and reinforcing their flimsy dens to protect them from strong winds. She is unanimously declared as useful and is invited to join the clan. Her kits were also allowed to join without testing, provided that Mesquitewood will continue to teach and care for them herself, which she happily agrees to. Tension eases throughout the clan with the addition of these new members and this rare agreement between clanmates. Scorpionclaw dusts off her paws - no more time for heartbreak, it’s time to provide for her clan and get to know the new members. (Although Sennaseed catches her sneaking out a few times. She is never able to find Dingobite, and Sennaseed respectfully doesn’t tell anyone about her searches. This act of kindness brings Scorpionclaw to value Sennaseed as a friend again.) Scorpionclaw and Mesquitewood find that they work well together, to both their delights. Mesquitewood pegs Rattail as sleazy almost instantly, and she confides this to Scorpionclaw, who is so relieved that her concerns have been validated. They promise to both keep an eye on Rattail, and they can be seen talking about him in hushed tones. Sennaseed and Toadstep take a liking to the kits right away! They are always the first to volunteer for babysitting when Mesquitewood goes on patrol, which the queen is very grateful for. The kits absolutely love their new uncle-figures, and Mesquitewood officially names them godfathers. Sennaseed is ecstatic and Toadstep is honored. No one had taken Gilastar for a kit-lover, but he takes a surprising interest in them and their growth. His praise focuses mostly on their skills, but surely he cares for them as people too. Surely. He pays special attention to Yellowkit. He doesn't interact with Mesquitewood often, and even goes out of his way to avoid her. Mesquitewood notices, and accurately figures it's because he fears her - she gained everyone's trust quickly and immediately started sniping at Rattail's orders (see project for example), both things that make Gilastar's power just a little shakier. She proudly shares this discovery with Scorpionclaw, and the two laugh about being feminists. Alone, however, Scorpionclaw starts to worry about this new development.