Are You Real? // private

[Holly]

Exploration seemed to be one of my newer hobbies these days.  I'd been from DeathClan, to around TreeClan, and now to here.  Wherever here was.  Ya'know, I'd thought this whole coup that Badger had cooked up would be a little more rebellious, but staying in a dirty pit was good enough for me.  For now.

I yawned absentmindedly, the skittering of little creatures running from my obvious presence.  Good thing that I wasn't hungry.  I let out a small yawn settling down against a cool wall.  The sensation was welcoming against my hot, dark fur.

I leaned back, capturing the sight around me.  It wasn't in the slightest bit impressive, but it was better than watching a brain dead tomcat try and beat a pregnant cat for information.  Although, this was coming from the cat who killed an old lady.

I let my gaze fall into a half lidded view, not really paying much attention to my surroundings as I quieted my thoughts to possibly take a nap.  Unless something ruined it.

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176 words — Gnaw — BY JAY

[Gnaw]

Gnaw was hard at trudging old paths. He was rather tiny, so had little worry about slipping through some of the more hard-to-navigate areas. Indeed, he knew the Quarry like the back of his ... paw. But wait! What was that? A new smell. Either there was a nice face around or Gnaw was hallucinating again. The fact that small animals and bugs were running the opposite way from the smell said it was probably not a hallucination, but then they might be hallucinations too. 

Gnaw quickly picked up the pace, revitalized by this new potential presence, and quickly found the nexus of the scent. He stealthily creeped over to the new cat and began to inspect them. Black or grey, low light difficulties make it hard to tell which, white extremities, tom. Weird smell. Not a clan cat, not native though. "Good evening. Who are you? Are you real?" He said, before sitting down and beginning to stare intently at Holly. "How many of you are there?"

[Holly]

I raised my fictional cat brows.  Slight rustling and then finally a voice.  I opened one eye, lid fluttering upwards as I squinted at him.  I gave a little yawn before standing.  A smile little up my face as I stared down at the cat.  He was so... so... so little!  He almost reminded my of my children.  The ones I didn't get to see grow up.

My ears were quirked forwards and I blinked down curiously.  I gave a wry smile at the little guy.  "I don't see your name lining the walls.  What gives you the right to claim it, hmm?"  I asked blatantly, not really planning to lighten up if the tom planned to be brisk with myself.

I let my attitude simmer down to introduce myself.  "Holly, but that's Queen Holly to you,"  I paused to give a proud, dorky smile at the title.  Badger had said I could have it when I asked and I gladly obliged to noting everyone about it.

"I don't really know if I'm real.  Are you real?  Are any of us real?  You know, too early in the moon cycle for me to be having an existential crisis.  You too, kid."  I let out a quiet sigh and looked around at his next question.  "I really hope there is only one of me.  Knowing myself, I wouldn't want to know what a second me would get into."

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241 words — Gnaw — BY JAY

[Gnaw]

Gnaw reflexively backed up when Holly stood up. He was always sure to put himself in a good position to flee. "Well, I did pee in various places. So ... don't slip." He said with a completely serious face and tone, before continuing completely deadpan. "Aren't Queens the cats that clanners all mate with? And usually ... female?" He suddenly glanced between Holly's legs before looking back up and pretending nothing had happened.

He then considered the response to the question of realness. "Hmm. Yes, you are real then. Figments of my imagination don't know the word ... existential." He then seemed to relax, though he was still poised to flee at a moments notice. "And I mean are you a part of some group. I like to get to know my neighbors."

He then began to look at Holly in a much more active fashion, seeming to be scanning him. "Also, if there were more than one of you. Well, you could do some fun ... things. If you like that stuff. I know I do." He said, seeming intent on getting some reaction out of Holly.

[Holly]

I stifled a laugh at Gnaw, nose scrunching in the process.  "I'd better tell the others about the ever so dangerous kitten pee.  Thank you for your warning," I meowed, trying to be as serious as possible.  A grin plastered itself on my face due to his next question.  "Yeah.  Usually.  But, if you saw clearly at where you were looking, I am obviously not female and cannot conceive anything.  Don't get your hopes up, squirt.  I'm a queen, probably doesn't mean much to you, but I had my own reasons."

I raised a fictional brow and stared at him skeptically.  Imaginary friends?  Was this kid really that young?  Either he had some emotional attachment issues or some serious brain malfunctions.  I was much better though with my mood swing and easily changed personality.

I watched him... analyzing me.  Was that the right word?  I shifted uncomfortably underneath the cat's gaze, suddenly self conscious and slightly embarrassed.  I shrugged a shoulder, trying to play off how I felt."I'm in a small group.  Nothing too big."  I frowned at his next words, trying to decipher what he meant.  Factoring in his age and awareness of those sorts of things, I assumed he meant so in a silly sense.  

"I could probably play some wicked pranks, now that I think about it and I do like a lot of things.  You'd need to specify it for me."

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240 words — Gnaw — BY JAY

[Gnaw]

"Alright, you are Holly the ... male Queen. Wonderful." Gnaw said, suddenly processing the fact that queens had to nurse kits and failing to suppress a predator grin. "And yes, I could tell you are not female. I was ... quite impressed in fact."


Then then stopped analyzing Holly and took on a more composed stance, no longer looking like he was about to flee and no longer checking Holly out. "So ... this group. Would it perhaps be interested in ... local recruits? Because I am quite lonely with just me and my urine." He grinned in a more humorous fashion at this. "Well, there are also the cats who don't exist. But they aren't very good conversationalist." 


"And do not worry about what I meant. It isn't important. It involves noses. And rubbing." He promptly sat down at this with a look of indecision. He was rather young, and looked even younger, so he always had to be careful not to seem overly interested. Yet at the same time, innocence was boring.

[Holly]

I knitted my brows and gave an off-put frown.  "I'm not sure if I should be mortified or thankful for appraisal.  All I know if that you're definitely not getting a piggyback ride.  I can't dare to imagine what'll get pressed on my back."  I shivered as emphasis to what I said.

Maybe he wasn't so innocent after all.  I honestly hoped my kittens hadn't been this way and I'd been too blind to see it.  "I can't tell if my eyes are deceiving me, but I'm pretty sure you aren't a kitten.  You can probably be taken in as a blackguard unless you can't fight.  And if you're always welcome to hang out with me as long as you don't do anything weird."

My expression fell into utter confusion as I blinked blankly at him.  "Nose rubbing?  What?"  Okay, that took the cake.  I was completely lost by now.  I gave a sigh and shrugged.  "Well, kid, you got your first real friend and don't worry!  I'm an amazing conversationalist, as you can tell."

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179 words — Gnaw — BY JAY