Cockroach // P

[Patch]

((Natalia I have no ideas for titles, also no, they haven't talked 'bout Quail


Patch calmly made her way down the territory, slowly observing every little thing around her. The rocks, the trees, everything. She went over the same question over and over again. Should I step up as leader? After she realized Pain was still gone, the idea wouldn't go away. It was what she had wanted for moons, since she had joined Deathclan. But her old leader's words stabbed her like needles. That she wasn't good enough.

Hypocrite.

The thoughts still hung over the white and black she-cat's head as she continued to walk. But a familiar scent snapped her out of her anger. "Nat? Ya here!?" Patch raised up her head, scanning the world around her. Maybe Natalia had some advice?

[Natalia]

((Okay wheeeeeee

Natalia had actually been asleep this time, taking a little nap. She'd sort of... Crashed, even if it was the middle of the day. Her sleep schedule had been kind of wonky lately, what with her habit of dodging nightmares by foregoing sleep. It wasn't a great plan, in full honestly. 

Suddenly a voice woke her from her slumber. 

"Wha-?" She slowly roused from her sleep, lifting her head and peering down. She saw a familiar figure and then she yawned. She stretched her limbs, and then she climbed down the tree trunk. Patch was one cat she'd be fine to descend for. She was thankfully alert by the time her paws hit the ground. "Hey." She greeted and then remembered something she wanted to confront the black and white she-cat about. "So, I didn't know you were a mother." She stated casually.

[Patch]

Patch smiled as she watched Natalia join her on the ground. The rogue was about to speak when her clanmate's question cut her off. Her green eyes narrowed in confusion. Multiple questions rang in her head, drowning out her former thoughts.

"W-what..? I... What? Who the hell told you?" She shook her head, her ears perked up. The she-cat had never even mentioned kits to anyone, not even... She sighed, locking eyes with Natalia.

[Natalia]

Natalia carefully watched Patch's face. Confusion. She immediately assumed someone must've told the tabby. To which, the red-furred she-cat rolled her eyes. "No one told me." Her voice betrayed the seriousness of this topic of conversation. "I'm not so stupid I can't figure things out on my own."

She sighed. "Look. I met Quail. He reminded me enough of you, that... I connected the dots pretty well. I wasn't sure, and judging by your reaction... My guess was correct. He's your son, and he's digging around in trash to feed himself instead of hunting. Because no taught him." Her tail lashed at her last statement. 

She scowled at Patch. This was the last cat on Earth she would still behave like this around. Showing that she did indeed, still care about the cats around her. "What's your excuse for abandoning your own son?"

[Patch]

Patch looked down at her paws, thinking it over. Quail..? The vision of the small brown tabby entered her mind, next to his siblings. The rogue lowered her ears and raised her head back up. She looked like a scolded kitten. "He's... Alive? I thought... How?" She ran over multiple questions in her head.

First off, she was thankful her son was alive. But she cringed at the thought of him fending for himself, ribs showing against his brown fur. But she couldn't just show up and expect him to forgive her. "Is... Is he well, aside from the trash-eating?" Patch's question faded off a bit at the end. She remained to stand as still as a statue.

[Natalia]

Natalia's tail lashed. "Alive? So you left your own son to die?" She asked impatiently. She huffed. "Yeah, he was alive. No thanks to you." She couldn't help but snarl a little bit. She couldn't help her anger aimed directly at Patch. She stepped forward menacingly. "I can't believe this. I thought you were decent."

She honestly did. She'd thought Patch wasn't the sort to leave little kids out to die. The kind who didn't leave kids who hadn't even had a chance to live, as if Patch was the one who should decide who should live or die. Natalia was a vindictive and vaguely homicidal individual. There was a difference between killing a kid and killing an adult like Ash.

[Patch]

Patch staggered back a bit, once again lowering her gaze. "I-I thought he wasn't going to make it! He was smaller than the others, and they both died, so..." She shook her fur, swaying her battered tail in the dirt. She stayed silent for a few moments. "I know that isn't a good excuse if it was, but that was what was going through my head at the time."

Maybe she should go find her son sometime, if he even remembered her. Patch also decided to not bring up the leadership subject. Natalia didn't seem to be happy with her at the moment.

[Natalia]

Natalia forced her fur to lie flat. Her ears folded back as she sat down. ".... I hate that you made that choice." She stated bluntly. "I don't like that you gave up." She wasn't going to sugarcoat it. ".... You better make it up to him. He's not a bad kid." She had no idea what it was like to have kids, however... She remembered what it was like to be a little kid herself out on her own.

That was why she was having a little bit of a problem forgiving Patch. She cleared her throat roughly. ".... That's pretty much what I wanted to say." Her tail swept impatiently behind her. "You seen Pain? He's apparently dropped off the grid. But I figured if he stayed in touch with anyone, it'd be you."

[Patch]

Patch nodded slowly, "I'll help him. I'll try my best, at least." She murmured. Her paws twitched slightly. How the hell would she even find him? She sighed quietly, and her ears twitched as Natalia continued to speak. The she-cat's head raised a bit.

"Pain never told me anything, so you know as much as I do. I'm pretty sure he's fine, though. That edgy dork can live through anything." Patch rolled her eyes slightly. If the leader could survive dogs using him as a chew toy, he can probably live on his own for a bit.

[Natalia]

Natalia simply nodded in response. "Just... Promise me you won't give up on him again, unless it gets really, really bad..." Her own definition of really, really bad basically amounted to 'Is expressing murderous intentions aimed in your direction.'

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well... I'd say he's as good as forfeited his right to lead Deathclan. Not saying I'm going to take the helm, but... I might just support someone else should they try to take the throne." She snorted. "That is to say... No one's shown up with enough competence and resolve quite yet."

[Patch]

Patch glanced to the side, and nodded. "I won't." She murmured. Quail probably didn't want her back in his life as a mother, so maybe as a mentor. At least he won't be eating trash anymore. The Deathclanner nodded at her words.

"That being said, that's kinda why I came to find you. I'm thinking that I might have potential to be leader, but I'm not too sure." Patch hesitantly explained. "But I remember Pain telling me I'm not good enough to even be a royal. I make too many enemies. But then again, that's very hypocritical on his part." She continued, aggravation showing at the last statement.

[Natalia]

Natalia snorted. "So? Most cats don't like me. The only one who likes me, is maybe you, Patch. The only other cat I can approach is Sky, and we're tolerable allies when it suits us." She replied.

"I'm willing to back you. Provided you're actually willing to do things. Pain mulled over every decision, every plan far too much. He refused to act, and we lost our chance to get at Iceclan. I'd like a leader to follow that's a bit more bold, personally. So, yes. I'm willing to back you." She huffed. "And I thought you and Pain were supposed to be friends. Stellar friend he was, belittling you like that. Telling you lies to keep you from challenging him."

((Nat came out kind of mean :U

[Patch]

((Kinda :U

Patch flicked her battered tail. "Sky? I think I've met her. She's a nice cat." She shrugged, thinking back. That was a long time ago, but the she-cat was memorable enough to recall.

The she-cat thought over what Natalia said. She definitely was bold at times, for better or worse. "I'll try and be a good leader, but you might have to help me. You've had more experience, and it's better having help than leading on my own." Patch explained, tilting her head. Hell, Natalia could work alongside her as leader, she just didn't want to be alone. "Maybe it's for the best that he isn't in Deathclan right now. Now I'm somewhat scared of how he'll react if he gets back." She chuckled, pinning her ears back.

[Natalia]

Natalia shrugged. "She's civil enough to those she tolerates." She found that Sky wasn't really the type to be nice. She was probably the type who didn't believe it was worth the effort or something.

Natalia shrugged. "Eh. I was planning on telling you my thoughts about your every action anyways. I'm not really the type to hold back what I say to make others feel better. Not even for someone I like." She admitted nonchalantly. She saw no reason to be ashamed of herself. She wasn't going to change, so why bother moaning about it? She sat down and shrugged again. "If he comes back and gives you trouble, come tell me. He might be a good fighter, but I fight dirty."

[Patch]

The she-cat sighed with a small smile. "Heh, thanks. Good to see you won't sugarcoat anything." She chuckled, licking her paw and swiping it over her ear. From past experiences, Patch knew Natalia wasn't lying. Her smile grew a bit wider. "And thanks, I appreciate that." She nodded her head in respect.

The black and white rogue looked off in the distance, and sighed. "... Should we announce it now? Or should we just talk about random crap for a bit?"