QueerClan

Episode Twenty-eight

Straightfur and Arosparrow padded into a clearing, where Nondawn was putting the finishing touches on a few nests. They looked up at the two toms, who were carrying a few pieces of prey.

Nondawn: Good, you're back. Did you two happen to spot Gayday by any chance? He still hasn't come back.

Arosparrow: No, we haven't. He really hasn't shown up yet?

Nondawn: No, isn't that wei—

A loud yowling becomes audible, coming from the direction that Gayday had gone, and cutting Nondawn off.

Straightfur: Was that Gayday? Something's wrong, we have to go find him!

Arosparrow: It came from this way!

The three cats run off in the direction that they heard the howling come from. They eventually skid to a stop when Gayday bowls into Straightfur, knocking him over.

Gayday: Thank StarClan! You guys have to see this! It's crazy!

Nondawn: What is it? Why were you yowling?

Gayday: No, you just — you have to see it to understand, trust me.

Gayday turns around and goes back the way he came. Straightfur, Arosparrow, and Nondawn look at each other before following him. They break through the tree line, and Arosparrow lets out a gasp at what they see in the valley below.

Arosparrow: What is that? It looks like a . . . like a clan, but . . . ten times larger!

Straightfur: There are so many dens! How could a clan possibly be that big?

Gayday: That's what I said! Do you think we'll find Hiss down there?

While the three toms are all looking down in awe, Nondawn's lips curl back in a growl.

Nondawn: I hope Hiss isn't down there. That place isn't for the pure-hearted. It destroys any semblance of happiness you might have while forcing hateful propaganda down your throat.

Gayday, Arosparrow, and Straightfur all turn to look at the dark tabby with wide eyes.

Arosparrow: Um, Nondawn, are you okay? That was . . .

Gayday: That was hella dark, man! Where did that come from?

Straightfur: Do you know this place?

Nondawn: *quietly* That's the Compound. I was born there. It may be terrible, but the cats deal in information. We have to go down there.

Gayday slides in front of them, stopping them from stepping forward.

Gayday: Hold up! You don't just say stuff like that and expect us to go down there without anything else! What are we walking into?

Nondawn glares at him but answers.

Nondawn: The cats who run it are extreme homophobes, Gayday. Anyone who doesn't fit in gets . . . retrained. So when we're down there, your name is Day, Arosparrow's name is Sparrow, and my name is Dawn. And we're all cishet. Understand?

Straightfur: What about me? Should I go by Fur?

Nondawn: Probably, no one has clan names here.

Arosparrow: Guys, I don't like this. This seems really dangerous. But if it's the only way . . .

Nondawn: It is, trust me. Just let me do the talking, and we'll be fine.