Chapter 3 ☆ Those Who Wander

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Next: none Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1208632008/ Art + text series, updates on Fridays ╔════════════ ∘◦ ☆ ◦∘ ════════════╗ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ Those Who Wander - Moon 3 ╚════════════ ∘◦ ❉ ◦∘ ════════════╝ Events: The sandstorm continues, forcing many cats to move around the desert. The clan is safe in their camp, protected from the majority of the sandstorms by their plateau. Two cats come to them, seeking shelter. Allegiance changes: Nightsoil and Duskearth are identical twin toms, with the same maroon fur and green eyes. The only visible difference between them is that Nightsoil has spots while Duskearth has stripes. They are healers and are inseparable. Nightsoil is more approachable and often does the talking for the both of them, while Duskearth is quieter and has a photographic memory. Both are kind and gentle. Strengths: healing, peace, cooperation Weaknesses: can’t be separated Relationships: Nightsoil and Duskearth bring a new challenge; they fail the test, but succeed working together. Gilastar can’t support both of them, but knows that they could use a healer. The twins adamantly refuse to be separated, but they can't turn away either; they really need the shelter. Gilastar, desperate, says they can retake the test. Scorpionclaw takes the opportunity to accuse Gilastar of being biased; why didn’t they let Dingobite have a second chance? She knows that he’s just a puppet leader, but she can’t confront Rattail directly without letting him know she’s watching him. Mesquitewood places a tail on Scorpionclaw’s shoulder, not joining in but silently supporting her. Toadstep hesitantly says that it does seem a bit unfair… Gilastar, facing a rebellion, says this will be discussed again later. Scorpionclaw tries to stop Rattail from following Gilastar into his den, but she stops just short of provoking a fight. This gives Rattail the chance to influence Gilastar, and the next day, both twins are accepted and Toadstep is exiled. He just wasn’t pulling his weight, and their current prey intake couldn’t support one more cat. Everyone is outraged; Scorpionclaw didn’t avenge Dingobite’s exile, Sennaseed lost his best bud, Mesquitewood clearly sees Rattail’s interference, and the kits lost their Godfather. The twins don’t feel that they have the right to join the argument, but they seem alarmed at the bickering. Toadstep, seeing no other option, caves and leaves the clan in terror, unsure how he will survive on his own. Gilastar is satisfied that everything has calmed down, but silent tension rampages. The twins feel uneasy and guilty. They decide that they can’t stay here, responsible for another’s exile, but they also notice how desperate this clan was for healers. They can’t leave knowing that the clan needs help, and they still need a place to wait out this storm anyways. Duskearth suggests that they teach another their skills, and then they leave. Nightsoil argues that would take too long, and Toadstep needs help now. Someone needs to find Toadstep before he gets too far, and make sure he’s not alone in the desert. The idea comes to both of them; do they split up? After a heavy conversation about their morals, they decide that, yes, they would not split up for Gilastar, but they would do it to help Toadstep stay alive. Nightsoil disappears in the night. Rattail is furious at losing him, and tells Gilastar to confront Duskearth as to where his brother went. Duskearth claims to know nothing, standing defiant before the raging leader who has no idea why he’s supposed to be angry. Mesquitewood correctly suspects that Duskearth is lying, but she doesn’t say anything. Even though she doesn’t know why Nightsoil is gone, she chooses to protect Duskearth over being loyal to her incompetent leader. Rattail fumes for days upon end, blaming anyone and everyone for letting Nightsoil “escape.” Scorpionclaw sees the advantage of having a healer, sure, but she thinks Rattail is being extremely dramatic. She’s beginning to get frustrated - she /knows/ Rattail is planning something, and she has no idea how to figure out what it is! Not! A single! Lead! Nightsoil, after days of harrowing solo desert travel, finds Toadstep in poor condition: lost, dehydrated, windswept, starving, and wounded by an encounter with a hawk. The exiled cat is so incredibly relieved to have a travel partner, and Nightsoil feels a huge weight off his shoulders to know that he didn’t indirectly send a cat to death. Alone, the two become close, and Nightsoil jokingly calls his new friend Toadstar, and eventually it sticks. Toadstar has a surprising knowledge of the stars, and he uses them to travel and search for a new safe place to live. Their daily routine is much less strict than that of the clan, which is enjoyable to both cats, but something makes them uneasy. After a few days, Nightsoil realizes what it is; they haven’t seen anyone else. Yes, cats were spread out around the desert, but