Chapter 19: Mutual Hatred

I didn't have much time to settle in the two recruits or give then mentors because two more cats appeared in my radar. They were travelling together, but one was an amalgamation while the other seemed like a whole cat. With my soul changing powers, I'd become more familiar with the soul's form. I could even see some traits of the cat's personality without meeting them directly. From what I gathered, the amalgam radiated sloth energy. As much as others would say laziness was useless, I'd always known the lazy are creative. They are beings of efficiency, which my camp sorely lacked. Something must be driving that amalgam to move because in any other scenario, an amalgam of sloth would just rest and fade. He was a curiosity.

The other presence was much more complex given that it was a complete soul. The soul seemed to have scars involving trust. Likely whomever this cat was died to a devastating betrayal. Regardless, I couldn't feel anything necessarily wrong with this soul. There was no easy to read sin like murder or violent tendencies. The only oddity that hinted a reason was that they're soul did not at all reflect a clan's nature. It was like a feeling. For example, Frecklewish and I had this faint sound like wind through leaves. Snowtuft faintly stuck of marsh. Spplitpelt was a menagerie of off putting small sounds and smells. This cat who accompanied the amalgam had nothing. Two curiosities wandering together. It was about time I practiced my diplomacy.

Not wanting to let the two fascinating souls get away, I signaled for Frecklewish to come over. If any cat here could help recruit the nonviolent way, it would be Frecklewish. Despite her skillset not including leadership, she always had and was taught to master her charisma. She'd be a boon for what I wanted to attempt.

"Frecklewish. I just felt two more potential recruits. I want you to help me recruit them."

"Why do you want my help? You and Splitpelt did well together earlier."

I shook my head. Splitpelt's bundle of flaws, analytical attitude, and general unsettling appearance would not work for friendly diplomacy. If he wasn't analytical, he was flirting, which was the last thing I needed to convince a cat to join willingly.

"Splitpelt has his own skills, but diplomacy is not one. He's a bit too blunt with the truth and unfortunately his appearance could scare off a potential ally. You on the other paw are charismatic and kind. I can see you getting through the trust barriers that I'm sure many cats in this forest have formed. I need your assistance because there is no better cat for the role."

Frecklewish beamed under my praise. I couldn't tell if it was some kind of love or if she was just easy to please because she had that same happy prance that a queen might have at the news they were having kits. I walked to the freshkill pile and selected two rabbits. Food in a foodless world would be a key way to show our power and offer a freedom not found anywhere else in the Darkforest. Frecklewish and I took off each carrying one.

I could feel us getting close, so I placed the freshkill on a freshly conjured stone. Leaving prey in the mud would have been unsightly and dishonored the prey and the cats who caught it, a hangover respect from life. Once I was sure we were just beyond the sight of the two, I stopped using my powers and moved to a more confident and outwardly friendly posture. Frecklewish must have read myy change because she began looking ahead. I padded a few steps forward willing the two cats to see us. One heartbeat we weren't there, the next we were. The cats must not have been expecting company if it wook some of my willpower to make we seen. I padded forward into sight.

The two cats were definitely interesting to see. One was a brown molly that somewhat suffered from gigantism. Her paws were slightly large implying that despite her already large size, she still had more room to grow. She'd likely become even bigger than me and I was known for my size. Her green eyes were displaying her intense distrust of others. My Thunderclan scent would not give me any benefits. The tom was similar to Patchpelt. His amalgamation didn't combine into one homogenous being but instead came out in patches. His fur looked to be somewhat like a calico, but the base color was not white or black, but silver. Ginger and brown patches laced their way through that silver pelt like moss would on river rock. The tom at least had the benefit of the patches all being the same consistency and lengths. His silver eyes pierced through the odd pelt with an intensity that only the clever and driven could have. His key muscles looked strong and efficient. He likely had an exact stride to complement his sloth nature.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Demanded the molly.

I sat ignoring the squelch of the mud. I didn't want to show any signs of aggression. The two would likely bolt or attack if I did. Frecklewish made her way over and sat at my side. She sat a little closer than I expected because our pelts were brushing, but I did not push her away.

"I felt you two enter this area of the Darkforest. You both seem rather different than many of the other cats and things you can find out here, so we wanted to make you an offer."

The molly seemed to have calmed down at the mention of an offer. I noted that she still looked at us with suspicion though. I decided to use her expression to navigate the negotiations to follow.

"Tell me of your offer. Leave nothing out."

I gestured for Frecklewish to speak after whispering to her to describe the camp and benefits. I would be playing the dealmaker up playing what importance they would fulfil in our group. Purpose had transactional power. Knowing how to sell it would be my goal.

"We can offer you a camp to live in and freshkill to eat. Our cats have a source limited only to us. We offer membership into our group, training, and a perk that I'm not at liberty to speak of. You'd get to live in a group like one of the clan's from life."

The way the molly's face changed at the mentioning of a clan cued me in. Something had happened that made her distrustful of the word and group. I felt the best course of action was to let them speak. Treading over Frecklewish's paws to correct her mistake would look bad, and I could fish for more information.

"Clans! You mean those cats so willing to just let cats be hurt and killed to support their pride. The same clans who would mock a kit for their looks and leave them to fend for themselves. The kind that see clan pride over any sense of kindness and justice?!"

This cat just accidently dumped a ton of information. Either she was hot headed, or she was trying to get my next play out in the open. A genius or a rager. Both required different types of responses, but the way the cat's fur did not stand perfectly straight in her appearance of anger hinted at the former being the case. I chose my next action to mirror hers.

"I am all to familiar with the clans' habit to abandon or abuse all that is foreign and strange to them. I was sent here for my interclan affair that left me with halfclan kits. My own clan exiled me and my kits. My kits were soon killed in a flood, and their father's clan did not accept me. I, in my grief and rage, murdered three cats who I perceived as the origin of my troubles. When I got here, I learned the truth. Starclan is at best imperfect and the clans below have changed far beyond the initial reason for their existence. The clans were once about being allies to prevent tragedy. Strength through unity. Now the clans exist to serve their historical pride. I do not want a clan here. I want a coalition of cats."

It was a bold move to just give out my backstory, but if I guessed correctly, the molly may see a certain kinship in me. We both were treated as outsiders for circumstances beyond our control. Her guarded looks were a bit looser than before.

The molly spoke in a serious tone. "What do you stand to gain by bringing us in?"

I responded cooly, "besides another two cats to pad our numbers, I need cats who can freely think. I do not believe myself perfect, so having cats willing to state their opinions against me would benefit our group. There is another aspect as well. With that untold boon my companion spoke of, we are still exploring the depths of what it is capable of. It benefits off creativity and those of sloth are often the most creative."

The molly debated with he amalgam companion for a bit before she responded.

"We'll try out your group. If we don't like it, we'll bail. I'm Shellpaw and this is Patch."

I gave a firm nod at her request. "Agreed. You can leave whenever you wish. We aren't out here to make servants. My name is Mapleshade and this is Frecklewish. Our group, as we've decided to call ourselves, is the Unseen Stars. Our goal is to do what Starclan cannot and provide chances for redemption in the Darkforest."

I brought out the rabbits for the pair.

"A gift for our future partnership."