Blank Slate

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Slatepaw stared at the medicine cat den longingly. As if sitting around was going to make Cinderpaw heal faster... The apprentice had been lying around the camp lazily, only taking up space and doing nothing productive whatsoever. The sun gleamed brightly above him, casting down its beams on his gray pelt.

The day was ticking on at an annoyingly slow pace. Slatepaw sighed, getting up from his comfy position on the ground and trotted over to the medicine cat den. His mind was pinned onto the brown apprentice. Slatepaw poked his nose into the den instead of asking for permission to enter.

As usual, Rushshade was busy sorting through herb piles. With one quick glance around the den, Slatepaw was able to locate the brown-furred apprentice. Cinderpaw pricked his ears up as if he had sensed Slatepaw's arrival.

Their eyes locked together. Slatepaw wanted to greet him, make a joke, or even nod, but he couldn't move. Cinderpaw made the first move between the two.

"Hi Slatepaw, decided to visit and kill time?" He said so calmly. All at once, Slatepaw felt his boredom wash away like a river and travel down far away in his rambunctious mind. His attention and frame were now locked onto Cinderpaw.

"Yeah, I figured you'd like some company and I've got plenty of time to spare," Slatepaw agreed. He looked over at Rushshade for approval. The medicine cat didn't look up until the gray apprentice coughed to get his attention. Rushshade looked up for a fleeting moment, understanding what the tom wanted, then went back to his job.

"Just don't make too much trouble," he grunted, pushing a pile of coltsfoot to the side. Slatepaw padded over swiftly towards Cinderpaw and rested beside him. Cinderpaw moved around to give him more space, but he declined, staying right where he was.

"How are you feeling?" Slatepaw started out with.

"Better than before," His friend answered blankly. "I'm not sure when I'll be back out running around the forest or stalking down the prey again." He let out a sigh, his ears dropping down. Slatepaw frowned, not sure what to say after that.

He usually had an answer or some kind of advice to offer. For some reason, Slatepaw couldn't find the words.

"But hey," Cinderpaw added, lighting the mood up before Slatepaw could. "At least once I can, we'll be back to normal."

Slatepaw nodded in agreement. Now the silence began to drag forward. The two toms sat by each other rather, relaxed more than conversational. Staying with each other seemed good, and didn't require talking to each other. At least, that's what Slatepaw hoped.

Sitting silently soon began to drag Slatepaw back into a sleepy mood. Listening to the sounds of the herbs crunching and crinkling under the paws of Rushshade, syncing his breathing with the brown apprentice beside him, and hearing the delighted squeaks of joy from the kits outside once in a while all of helped contribute to his mood. Slatepaw was about to doze off when Cinderpaw spoke up again.

"Can I ask you something?" He said curiously.

"Sure, what is it?" He answered.

"What was it you mentioned earlier?" Slatepaw's breath got caught in his throat. Cinderpaw looked at him expecting the answer, but also not impatient or mad.

"Oh..." Slatepaw trailed off, glancing at his paws. His amber eyes narrowed towards the working medicine cat. Taking it that Rushshade showed no particular interest in their conversation, he lowered his voice. "I've been thinking of a new way of life."

"Really?" Cinderpaw asked, and Slatepaw felt his friend's curiosity rise like a flame. "What's it like?"

"Well, I'm not so sure if it will work or not, but it's a system that's completely different than the one we have now." Slatepaw continued, keeping his eyes on Rushshade in case the medicine cat decided to prick his ears up. Like before, Rushshade didn't even pay attention to the two apprentices.

"What would it do?"

"It will treat every cat in the Clan equally," Slatepaw stated. "The more I think of it, the more it doesn't seem like a bad idea, you know?" Cinderpaw nodded in understanding, and Slatepaw could feel the desire of wanting to know more emitting from Cinderpaw and flooding into his organs. This is what made Slatepaw grin wider.

"Do you think it would work?" Cinderpaw asked.

"Hopefully. I still want to plan the idea out more. The idea of having cats being treated as equals, not having a cat sit on top of us," Slatepaw felt his mind turn on and start running without breaks. "What do you think of it?"

"I think it's a great idea," Cinderpaw answered. "What's it called?"

"A democracy," Slatepaw answered. "There won't be anything to rebel against in a democracy. Unlike what we have now." Slatepaw added with a groan. I wish it would end already. "In a democracy, cats would have peace. No troubles because there is nothing to worry about. It'll be perfect."

"How would decessions be made in a democracy?" Cinderpaw questioned.

"We vote, instead of having some cat in total control," Slatepaw added. "All cats in the Clan would have a choice in matters."

"Even the kits?"

"Even the kits!" Slatepaw said jubilantly, feeling his heart quicken like a rabbit. "Nothing would be wrong ever again!"

"How do you plan to start the change? It's not like the Clan will instantly give up and let it happen in one day." Cinderpaw commented. By now, Slatepaw's idea was growing like a seed. All it needed was the support and care to make it spring into a large oak tree. With Cinderpaw supporting him, the seed would continue to grow.

If only it were so easy.

"We would need a rebellion, obviously. We can't start without support."

"I like the idea of a democracy," Cinderpaw said, shifting his position beside Slatepaw. "But what if we had something like if a cat gets in trouble, they don't get immediately punished. What if they had a short trial to determine if they're guilty or not?"

"That could be included," Slatepaw agreed. "Any other suggestions? Since I'm still planning it out."

Cinderpaw frowned, his forehead scrunched up to show he was thinking. "What if the power was limited on the leader? A democracy sounds good, but what if we had something that would let cats vote for decisions, so it's still part democracy," He mewed. "Not only would cats get the chance to vote, but the leader has limited power on us."

"Like..." Slatepaw trailed off, trying to find the words.

"A republic?" Cinderpaw finished.

"Yeah! A republic!" Slatepaw agreed, nearly jumping out of the nest. Rushshade still paid no attention to the two apprentices. As long as they didn't bother him, it seemed they were free to do what they desired. Slatepaw opened his jaws to speak, but Cinderpaw leaned in, silencing him.

"Listen..." he murmured, shifting his paws together. Cinderpaw looked left and right as if he was expecting something to attack them. The only thing Slatepaw could see was the walls of the medicine cat den. "I want this, but not alone."

Slatepaw grinned. "You don't have to worry, Cinderpaw," He nudged his shoulder playfully. "Don't worry, I promise to always be by your side, no matter what," He promised, locking his eyes onto Cinderpaw's lightened yellow eyes.

"If it's just us..." he murmured again. Slatepaw caught the words in his ears but didn't ponder about them yet. He'd deal with it later.

Should I tell him? Slatepaw wondered. He didn't want to overwhelm Cinderpaw with the loads of information he had. Right now, both cats were happy. There was no need to push for more.

Slatepaw couldn't ask for anything else. He let out a sigh, pushing away the desire to tell Cinderpaw about his plan. That would wait and come another day. Just not today. Now, all he wanted to do was fall asleep beside Cinderpaw and fall into the depths of an endless sleep.

Written by Solstice & edited by Lamb <3