Crash! Bang! A tall-one shrieked at the cats. They ran, the whites of their eyes showing in fear as the tin can behind them tumbled its contents onto the black ground. Disappearing into the shadows, the cats relaxed. Tall-ones never tended to chase them far. Still, the shouting had scared them.
Peeking out to where the can was, Cobweb was pleased to see that it had toppled its contents onto the road. Less pleasant was the revelation that the tall-one would soon be out to solve that. "Come on Red, it's time to go."
"But look!" Red flicked his tail towards the can. "They tossed almost a whole chicken!"
Red crept forward. Cobweb hissed in frustration. The other cat was a new hunter, and didn't understand the situation quite like Cobweb did.
"Listen Red, the chicken looks good, but it's too risky! Now, let's leave. I'm sure the other hunting party has found something. Maybe freshkill."
Red looked longingly at the spilled can, but then shadows of the tall-one moved across the light, reminding the two of the danger. Cobweb led the way as they headed back to the temporary camp. Up a fence, through a crack, under a vehicle, across the road.
The Troupe had decided to move from its last camp, spurred on by their growing population and lack of prey. Living in the world of tall-ones proved difficult. While the hunting was still tough, they had been slowly finding that the buildings grew shorter, and there was more foliage as they traveled away from their old home. What lay beyond the land of tall-ones? Cobweb longed to find out.
They entered the camp. It was a spread-out place, situated in a ditch. There were large pipes which the cats slept in.
"Why don't we just stay here?" asked Red. "There are tall-ones to provide food, and ample shelter. I like this camp."
"The pipes won't stay here forever, the tall-ones will move them eventually. Besides, we can't always rely on the tall-ones for food."
"How do you know they will move the pipes? And why not? There is always food where the tall-ones are."
Cobweb was beginning to grow frustrated with the younger cat. "You do not always have to argue with authority. I've lived in this world long enough to have some understanding of the tall-ones. They will move the pipes over time. Perhaps not soon. Perhaps after you've had kits and they have become adults. And why should we take food from the tall-ones when we are beaten and shouted at by them? This journey will take us someplace better."
"How will we get food without the trash that the tall-ones discard?" Red flicked his ears in annoyance.
"We will hunt! You are called a hunter for a reason. Haven't you been taught to catch mice?"
"Yes, but there aren't enough mice!"
Another cat intruded upon their conversation. An elder named Stick. "There will be plenty of mice if we travel far enough. Beyond the land of the tall-ones lay forests. There will be no roads or buildings, just bushes and trees, and living among the bushes and trees will be all sorts of prey. Mice, and birds. Fish, if one is so inclined to hunt them in the rivers. Rabbits, if there are plains: vast stretches of land covered in grass."
"Such a place doesn't exist!" Red cried.
A new voice entered, commanding obedience. "Be silent hunter. You do not know what you are talking about. I have seen such a place. A long time ago, before I joined The Troupe, I lived in the plains with a group of cats called Tunnelclan."
"Dreamspeaker," gasped Cobweb in relief. Cats gathered around the group, curious to listen to the story of their mysterious leader.
"I haven't disclosed my background to you, I think it is time for you to know." The cats tilted their heads in curiosity or leaned in closer. "I was born with the name Dreamkit. Then when I was six moons old, as is clan tradition, I became an apprentice with the name of Dreampaw."
"That sounds silly," scoffed Red. Cobweb batted the cat's ears, forcing him to be silent.
"When I was twelve moons old, they appointed me to become a warrior. Warrior was their term for fighter. They didn't have hunters and fighters like we do, warriors filled both roles. They named me Dreamspeaker. Back then, I was young and filled with hope. I lived there for a while, but alas I was driven out. I had befriended a rogue, and my clan abandoned me."
"They sound like an awful group of cats," commented Red. Cobweb had to agree, such a simple thing didn't deserve exile.
Dreamspeaker just flicked her tail casually. "Close-minded perhaps. It depends on the word of the leader, and ours had decided that it was a major offence."
"What happened to the rogue?" asked Cobweb curiously.
"They killed him."
The cats listening gasped. Killed! Cobweb was just as shocked. "Why?"
"As I said, they are close-minded. It's been many many season since I left and come across The Troupe. The group was once a small collection of rogue story-tellers, and has since become almost a clan. The Troupe needs ample land to satisfy our population. I think the clans may have changed. I am leading you towards their land. It is just as prey-filled and forested as Stick had described. We won't have to follow their rules, I assure you. We will stay as our own group. Now cats, disperse. Cobweb, I want to talk to you privately."
The cats flowed into their other duties. Another hunting party entered, and were received with gossip and speculation. Cobweb followed his leader into the pipe which she had claimed as her space.
"Cobweb, I am worried. We are not far from the clan's territories, but we are still doing poorly on the food situation. Until we reach our destination, we will have to rely on meager prey and the tall-ones for food. There are also some sick cats, and our medicine-cats have had to leave all of our supplies behind. You are second in command, so I need to make sure that you support me."
"I do! Of course I support you."
"Good. Now, I'm thinking that The Troupe should stay here for a while. I want you to lead a group of cats to collect herbs for the medicine-cats. Hopefully we can improve the health of the sick cats before we travel the final stretch."
Cobweb nodded.
"One more thing. Before we bring our whole group to the territories, we need to make sure that it is safe. Because I know the clans, I will head a scouting group."
Cobweb immediately protested. "But you are the leader, you can't go."
Her critical eyes stared into his. "Thus I will lead. I will be taking three cats with me. You will be in charge while I am gone."
"When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning. I'm taking Stick, Thunder, and Leaper."
"But Stick is an elder!"
"He's healthy. I want his wisdom during negotiation. Thunder is a fine fighter and Leaper is an excellent hunter. I myself am able to help in those things as well. I think we will be fine. While we are gone, you will be the leader. You may appoint someone else to do your current duties. We will try to be back within ten days."
Hesitantly, Cobweb agreed. "Alright. But you better come back!"