Chapter 8

"Wake up, friend. You will be tender-pawed today," Lion purred, seemingly fazed no longer by the argument the two prisoners had overheard the night. "Socks will be unhappy if you are late."

"Didn't know there was a set time for this thing," Fluffy grumbled, rising to his paws. Looking outside, he realized that the sky was still dark. "What?" he hissed. "Why in the stars did you wake me up so early?"

Lion smiled. "You are in dire need of a grooming, friend. You do not want the other cats to be condescending, do you?"

"Conde-what? Whatever. I guess you're right," Fluffy replied, starting to lick the dirt and tangles out of his thick pelt.

Stars, I wish I had my human right now, he thought in despair, before coming to his senses. No, I don't! I hated that place. I love it here!

But he didn't love it, and he knew it very well.

Maybe it'll be better now, he reasoned. I'll get to start learning things today, like hunting and fighting. He'd seen the band's tender-paws only occasionally during his half-moon, and he knew that their training was incredibly tiring, as the young cats seemed to drag themselves back through the doors every evening. Fluffy wasn't entirely sure he was up to the task -tender-paws spent moons training in contrast to his half of simple tasks. I have to at least try.

"I am going to miss you."

Fluffy was jolted away from his thoughts by Lion's quiet comment. "What?" he asked, voice muffled by fur.

"You will not be staying in here any longer," the golden tom-cat informed him. "You will be with the other tender-paws in their den on the other side of the camp, but they shouldn't give you too much trouble."

"Oh."

"It was nice having you around for as long as I could, but I suppose you moving is better than you leaving." Lion replied, looking outside at the brightening sky. Unlike the previous days that were sunny and hot, a heavy fog hung over the camp, dampening the metal dens and muddying the dirt ground.

"Yeah. I'll come and visit. Promise."

"You are not allowed to," Lion said, "though I appreciate the offer."

Fluffy finally finished his grooming, admiring his once again silky fur. "Why is that?" Fluffy asked, his curiosity spiked. This band had so many quirks and strange rules,;he almost longed for his old simple lifestyle.

"A requirement implemented by our previous leader after a small rebellion was started-but stopped-by a prisoner and a few Diamonds," Lion responded. "Though I do not see myself causing much trouble," he added, purring.

"Oh, okay," Fluffy replied. "This sure is a weird group of cats."

"I could not agree more. Socks should be starting soon. Be prepared, friend. Socks is most certainly a strange cat."

"Okay. See you around, then. Keep an eye on Tiger for me; stars know what he's going to pull." Fluffy purred, padding outside of the slightly warmer den. "Make sure they feed you everyday!"

The damp air condensed on the former pet's thick fur. It protected him from the cold, for which he was grateful, as there were no fuzzy materials for making warm nests and dens. Thinking about all the cats he'd met so far, Fluffy realized they all had thicker coats. Lion's fur was shorter, but he wasn't from the area. Even so, the cold nights had never seemed to bother the yellow tabby.

"Hello, pet," came an arrogant voice, and Fluffy turned around to see Socks sauntering toward him. "We have something to discuss."

For a panic-filled heatbeat, Fluffy thought that the Diamonds' leader meant her fight from the previous night before remembering Socks didn't know he was there. Besides, she seemed her regular, icy self. "Yes?" he asked, trying to sound as innocent as possible just in case.

"You need a name," she answered, straightforward and concise. "These cats are going to have to call you something, and I know your existing one is...undesirable."

"Yeah," Fluffy replied after a moment of hesitation. "If you're asking me if I have one, I don't."

"Of course not. I have one for you. I'm just letting you know."

Fluffy was somewhat surprised.

It's true that I was trying to become her friend, he thought, but this in kind of weird. No one asked her to, I don't think. Maybe eating with her actually worked.

"You're not the first cat to ever change their name, you know. This isn't that big of a deal," Socks said with an amused smile. "My mentor was a house pet too, and when he came here, he had his name changed as well. No one ever knew what his pet name was."

"Oh," was Fluffy's simple reply. "That's good, then."

Socks stared at the ground for a heartbeat before her head snapped back up, eyes narrowing. "Cats are waking up. I'll have the announcement soon. They'll be curious, so keep your cool. I've heard you have a bit of a temper."

Fluffy's fur started to bristle before he realized that was exactly what she meant. "Okay. I'll handle it," he grumbled, stretching his still sore muscles.

He followed the white-tipped tabby as she padded towards the scrap heap, leaping up on top of it and surveying the congregation of cats below her. Pointed glances pricked Fluffy's pelt from below the leader, and he knew the other cats around him knew what she meant to do. Slowly but surely, the group swelled to near its full number of twenty or so cats, all staring at the fluffy, white near-stranger in their midst.

"Diamond cats!" Socks called. "I am...pleased to announce that our number will soon grow by one more cat. This former pet has worked hard under you, and now, it is his turn to learn to walk along with us. Fleet, please step forward." The brown tabby looked down on him expectantly.

Me? Fluffy thought, surprised. He had thought the name change would have been announced. Maybe that's better, though. Now nobody will ask what it was.

As Fluffy stepped towards the pile of rusty metal, he felt the name wash over him. His old name, his old mistakes and soft life were swept away by the power the new title held. He was Fluffy no longer. Now, he was Fleet, fast, strong, and brave. Now, he was a true city-cat.

"Are you ready to accept the title of tender-paw and the dedication it requires?" Socks continued, snapping Fleet back to the present.

"Y-yes," he stammered, before clearing his throat. "Yes," he repeated, stronger than before. "I am."

"Good. From now until your mentor deems you ready, you will sleep in the tender-paws' den and wake up at dawn every morning. Your mentor will be Tiger."

"What?" came a surprised snarl as a familiar orange tabby leapt to his paws in protest. "No!" Fleet was equally startled, but held his tongue to save face. "This is an outrage!" Tiger yowled, tail lashing. "I don't want that scrawny runt as my tender-paw!"

"Get over it!" Socks hissed. "This meeting is adjourned. Everyone, back to your daily business."

The cats' growing uneasiness around their leader's mate and second, as he'd learned her successor was called, was apparent as they lingered for a moment longer, though they dissipated all the same. Fleet could tell this would not be an easy apprenticeship.