First her mom dies. Things only go downhill from there. Alongside raising her new siblings, Junco must navigate the now dangerous waters of life as a Wanderer. Death and feelings are the worst kind of problems.
Oriole was always very cheerful, and...
Blizzard jumped back, startled from her sudden outburst.
"What are you talking about?"
Static's fur bristled and she hissed, "You voted for Oriole!"
"What? How do you know that?" Blizzard stood up to his full height in an attempt to appear threatening. NOT WORKING!
"I saw the leaf you grabbed and I saw where you placed it! Why would you do this? You said I would be a good leader!"
"That's a sneaky thing to do, that's why you're not leader! You would be a good leader, if you didn't do stuff like this!"
Static crept closer to the traitorous tom, even at his full height she was still taller than him. "If you had voted for me I could have won!"
He sat back down, "I am aware."
I can't handle this! I would be a much better leader than mouse brained Oriole! Static stalked away from Blizzard, turning to glare at him as she walked to make sure he got the point.
Around her, the wanderers were resting and eating. Estacado was helping Snapdragon pack up some of her herbs. The healer had a small twoleg-made pouch they had found, that she used to transport the leaves, berries, and roots, so she didn't have to continuously find new ones.
It will be nice to move on, that's my favorite part of being a wanderer, too bad we are mainly moving so Oriole can climb the mountain and talk to the ancestors. Not that she will have any there.
Static's family had been tied to the wanderers as far back as she could recount. Granite's parents had been wanderers, and his mother's parents. They would travel around, incorporating new cats that wanted to join as they went, and sometimes having kits with them. Relationships weren't really tracked for most of the older cats.
Some cats would only stay for a little while, long enough to raise a litter, or until they got bored. That hadn't happened in a little while.
I would never want kits, too much useless trouble. Little claws digging into your side all the time, sounds terrible. Good thing Junco raised Llano and Estacado, with Oriole.
Every cat could see that they liked each other, Junco and Oriole. They seemed to be the only ones oblivious to the other's attraction. Why can't Blizzard love me the way they love each other? He's so annoying.
Static altered her course into the woods, she had been wanting prey but all that was left in the pile was a skimpy sparrow. The area was rich and a quick hunt gained her a pair of mice. Satisfied with her catch, she went back to the camp to eat.
Having found a nice spot in the shade of an oak tree, she dropped her mice and crouched down to take a bite of the first one. She was interrupted by Lupine padding up to her.
"Mind if I sit here?"
Without waiting for an answer, Lupine sat down next to her with a squirrel.
"Why are you still with us?" Static questioned.
"Prickly are we? Your new leader, Oriole," she emphasized the word, "said I could stay to eat, as a token of thanks for watching the vote."
She took a bite of her squirrel and chewed slowly. Static looked down at her mice, suddenly not as hungry anymore. Stupid cat, ruining my meal with mentions of Oriole.
"What do you want?"
Lupine looked at her with mild surprise, her blue eyes wide. "Oh nothing, nothing. Just noticed you were mad. Relationship struggles?"
Now it was Static's turn to look surprised. "What? No."
"Oh, I just thought that white cat, Blizzard was it, might have been close to you."
How is this cat so good at reading me? What's her deal?
"He's not important."
"Don't lie to yourself Static," her voice almost syrupy, "you'll only hurt everyone around you."
Static got up and snapped, "You don't know me! You don't know anything!"
Again she walked away angrily, her remaining mouse forgotten next to the vexing she-cat. She doesn't know anything.
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