Chapter 11
Rage
"We are facing many problems, especially those of our hunger. There is no prey around." Murmurs of agreement spread throughout the cats below. "Any cat with an idea of how to get the prey around, please step forward."
"Times are hard during leaf-bare, this particular one especially," The gray cat continues, looking at the cats below him. "But we must get through this. Even if we have to resort to eating the foxes and the badgers."
Crow sways his tail as he listens to Stone. Hmm. What can we do to solve this problem?
"We could see what edible plants there are!" A cream-colored cat suggests. Stone shakes his head.
"The prey needs the plants to eat. And with the prey so scarce, we can't afford to kill it ourselves." Stone says wisely. Cats murmur in agreement. "But thank you for the offer." The cream-colored cat nods.
"Maybe we should relocate to a different section of the forest?" An orange tom suggests. Stone shrugs.
"Normally that would be a good idea," Stone says, "but we've invested too much here."
Prey doesn't just run away. There must be a reason.
"There must be a reason for the prey vanishing. We should send out a group of cats to find it." Crow stands and meets the eyes of Stone. The wise old tom nods.
"What is your name, young one?" Stone asks.
"Crow."
"Well, Crow, you certainly have a point. The prey doesn't just vanish. I agree; I will choose 5 cats to accompany you on this patrol." Crow's eyes widen.
"You mean I get to lead it?" Crow is speechless as Stone nods.
"You suggested it, didn't you?" Crow smiles and nods.
"Then I shall choose the cats. We will have a competition for the winner."
"When will you decide?" A cat asks.
"Right now," Stone replies. Slowly the cats emerge.
"There shall be 5 tasks, and the top two of each will compete for the 5 spots. Understand?" Yowls of agreement spread through the cats after Stone speaks.
"I want the best hunters over towards the stones, the fastest runners by the clearing, the highest climbing cats by the large oak, the quickest fishers by the Great Stream, and the smartest cats to stay here. There will be two winners in each catagory. Go to the place where you are the most gifted. Now go!" The cats scatter in all directions toward the locations Stone instructed. Stone looks at Crow.
"Lets start with the hunters. Come on." Stone leads Crow back to the large boulders where the Assembly of the Northern Backyard takes place. They look out into the crowd.
"You announce what they must do," Stone instructs Crow. Crow nods.
"The first cat to catch and form of prey wins. Second also comes. If there is a tie for second, the biggest piece of prey wins. Come back with your prey to this stone, first up wins. Go!" The cats run in all directions.
"How long do you think they'll take?" Crow asks. Stone shrugs.
"Depends on their luck. Maybe five minutes, maybe 5 moons." Stone and Crow laugh.
"If you had to compete in this, which catagory would you go in?" Stone asks Crow. He shrugs.
"Probably hunting or climbing. Most likely hunting," Crow replies. Stone nods. "You?"
"Hmm... smarts. My old body can't run after prey or fish, yet run at all!" Stone replies with a chuckle. Crow nods. Who would've guessed I'd become friends with the most famous cat!? Several minutes pass before panting is heard in the distance. Crow's ear twitches. Two cats appear, one carrying what looks like a frog, the other a small mouse. They bunch up their mussels and jump onto the boulder.
"Well done!" Stone says. One cat is a dark gray she-cat, the other a light brown tom.
"Hunters gather back!" Crow yowls into the night. "The winners have arrived!"
"To the large oak!" Stone yowls. The winners of the hunting contest follow Crow and Stone to the giant oak tree where fewer cats stand, waiting.
"This one is simple," Crow says. "Three cats at a time will climb the tree as high as they can, as fast as they can. The fastest will come down for the bonus round where we decide the winners." Stone walks around, dividing the cats into 5 different groups. The first three cats climb the tree. They reach about half-way up. A dark brown she-cat is the winner of that round. The next round the cats climb higher, and 3 more groups of cats climb up. The five winners gather at the base of the tree. Crow looks up at the great oak. There is one patch of yellow leaves.
"First 2 cats to the yellow leaves win. No pushing or shoving or an automatic disqualification. Go!" The cats climb up the tree faster than Crow can watch. But the first two cats up are obvious.
"We have our winners!" Crow yowls. The two she-cats that won look like sisters.
"And now to the Great Stream!" Crow mews with a smile. The four winners follow Crow and Stone to the Great Stream, where a large number of cats are.
"Line up along the stream," Stone instructs. The cats do as he says. "First to catch a fish wins. Go!" The cats are silent as they stare into the water. Crow grows hot with embarrassment because of the silence.
"So, what are your names?" Crow asks the winners to break the silent. The winners of the climbing competition speak first.
"I'm Mouse, and this is Rabbit. We're sisters." One of the two tan she-cats says.
"And I'm Grass," The tom hunter says.
"Rock" the she-cat huntress says. Stone nods. Splash!
"Caught one!" Splash.
"Same!" Stone walks over to where the two cats are. He walks back with the two cats following, approval in his eyes.
"Onto the runners in the clearing!" Crow exclaims. They pad over to the large clearing where many cats wait.
"First cats to the other side of the clearing win! On your meow, get set, run!" Crow shouts. The cats take off after lining up. In less than a minute there are 2 winners, two toms.
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