Long, long ago, a single colony of feral cats existed. Some left behind by their humans, others who joined at a ripe young age of being a kitten. The black and white tom watched with his yellow eyes, no more than nine moons old. The council, as they come to call it, was made up of Slip, Krampy, Doc, and Cleopatra. They only conversed with one another for their growing colony of cats.
Coco blinked, watching the cats, their tails flicking to and fro. Until finally, Cleopatra—a sturdy black tabby she-cat—had stalked to him. Her green eyes glittering like river water. "We have no space for you." She explained curtly.
His ears perked up. He wasn't asking for a place to stay, he simply wanted to speak with them as per the Forest Guardian's orders. "That's fine with me." He mewed, sounding as perplexed as he felt. "I didn't come to join the colony. I only wished to speak with you."
"There is nothing to talk about to an outsider." She hissed.
"My name is Coco." Silence greeted his introduction, his long furred tail rising. He could hear the murmurs around him, his eyes trained on the green eyed she-cat. "The Forest Guardian took me in, but had wondered if all your cats are happy to live clustered like this by the ruins." He went on, his voice strong. "She simply worries that your colony has grown too big."
"And if it has?" Krampy spoke next, the dark gray tom with black spots and stripes decorating his pelt.
"Visit us." He answered. "Visit us and we shall find a place for all your cats."
The cats before him glanced to one another. Cleopatra was the leader, but she seemed unsure. Of course they had too many cats living in their colony. It was hard to feed them all and distribute prey properly. It would be a solution, but one that could tear families apart.
"Ask Mallow." Cleopatra spoke to Doc, to which the tom nodded and slipped away to a creamy white tom. She then addressed the black tom beside her. "Slip, what do you think?"
His gold eyes were searching, as though knowing what this had meant. "You are young and vibrant. You wish for the mountainous territory where I cannot go. Oracle and I will have to stay here."
"Slip-" She began, but stopped herself. With a sigh she nodded. "Very well."
Coco watched as the lead cat stepped forward. "Mallow and Slip and I have been discussing these matters for seasons." Cleopatra defended herself, her eyes sharp with frustration.
He dipped his head. "Of course. It's hard when two souls wish for different things."
"Agreed." She grunted, looking over to her youngest kit, a black tabby just like herself. "Leo will be safer in the mountainous area then down here. Perhaps there will be caves I can hide him away in until he's big enough."
Coco slowly stood up. "When the leaves first change color, come to the temple ruins. The Forest Guardian and myself will be waiting. Any colony who lives in this forest will be looked after properly and given a place to call their own."
"Of course." She whispered beneath her breath.
"Believe me. The Ruin Colony has to break apart, but to celebrate this, at the end of each season, when change begins, everyone can meet up at my home. There, they will be the Ruin Colony once more and put their differences aside. Just trust me, Cleopatra. Oracle has a new purpose just as Leo does now."
Once at the end of every season, all the colonies gather in peace and harmony. . .
In this new gathered colony, they return to their roots: The Ruin Colony of Old. . .