A heavy breath blows from Bayoudawn’s maw as he stands on the tall rocks on the southwest side of the fort, tail swishing. “Comrades!” His hearty voice echoes over the fort, turning heads, including Barktooth inside the herbalist’s den. “Gather for a meeting!”

  The sun had just barely begun to peak past the trees, the dew from last night’s rain still coating the grass. As cats begin to filter out from their dens, the comrades slowly sit in a circle around the blue tom, whose paws have begun to sweat. Pepperpelt hops up onto the rocks, slinking out from the Commander’s den with tired eyes. “What is this about?” She whispers, but his unwavering stare at his comrades tells her to stay quiet.

  “Mama, mama!” Rose presses her muzzle into Plumpaw’s side, nudging her from her sleep. The servant shakes the rest from her head as she lazily makes her way to the others. “Our first meeting!” The kitten squeals, being hushed by her mother. “Our first meeting!” She whispers to her sister, who is also crawling out of her nap.

  The colony finally settles down in front of the rocks, their hushed murmurs coming to a slow end. Bayoudawn clears his throat once more, as Asterfoot and Snakefeather join his side. “I have news, new rules, and exciting announcements to make this morning!”

  Pepperpelt shoots a look of fear to her commander, but he’s still unwavering in his confidence. She elects to say nothing, instead dropping her gaze to the floor as she listens intently.

  “Firstly, rations. I know it’s a difficult subject, but it needs to be spoken of.” The colony spreads whispers of their opinions, but his booming voice shoots them down. “My comrades, rations will now be cut by a fourth, to spare us enough through winter. I’ve heard rumours that prey holes have become increasingly scarce and that we may need to start hunting more difficult prey…So, I urge our officers, Duckbelly and Cobraclaw, to combine their hunting parties to take down predatorial prey, such as larger birds, skunks, opossums, ferrets, and minks. I know these tasks may sound dangerous, but we need to eliminate some of the local predators if we want prey to last until spring.”

  “Who says it’s not Holt or Meadow colony taking all our prey?!” A voice comes from the crowd, Acornstripe, her long silver body cutting through the crowd as she slithers forward. “Maybe you and Pepperpelt need to join us on a hunting party instead of staying home on your ass all day!”

  “Quiet down, Acornstripe.” Demands one of the officers, Duckbelly in particular. “He’s just trying to help.”

  “Barking orders isn’t going to help us kill prey.” She hisses.

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  “Silence! Pepperpelt and I will also be helping aid the hunting parties. But rations isn’t all I have to speak about.” Bayoudawn shifts in his seat, raising his head high. “We’ve received news that Holt colony has been squabbling at the Hideaway with Meadow colony, and one of their wardens has scarred one of our own. They nearly blinded Barktooth in the skirmish. This morning, I will send Cobraclaw and Beetledust to relay the message to the other two colonies that we will have a mandatory Midnight Meeting at the Starlight Tree, tonight before it gets dark.”

  Acornstripe tips her nose at the thought. Cobraclaw and Beetledust shoot acknowledging glances at each other.

  “And, for my final announcement.” Bayoudawn meows with bravado. “I’m happy to announce that Silk and Rose will become proxies a few weeks early, to accompany the hunting parties and learn their skills in base training.”

  “What?!” Plumpaws exclaims from the back of the group. “B-but, they’re half my size! They just stopped drinking milk! They should have another eight weeks!”

  “I know it might come as a shock, but the future is uncertain, and the more paws we have to help, the better.” Bayoudawn’s voice is stern and bleak.

  “Sir, I’m putting my foot down,” Asterfoot interjects. “That’s much too young for a kit to become a proxy, let alone start base training.”

  “I said what I said. Cobraclaw will mentor Silk and Rose will be mentored by Duckbelly. My decision is final. Colony dismissed.” Bayoudawn steps down from the rocks, when he feels a nudge against his tail. Asterfoot follows him closely, nodding him to the commander’s den.

  “We speak, now,” Asterfoot whispers and Pepperpelt agrees, trailing the two toms into the den.

  “Why isn’t Papa celebrating with us?” Silk gazes up to her mother, who pats her on the back with her right paw.

  “He has business to settle.” She replies with a sombre voice, watching as the colony disperses. Cobraclaw and Beetledust stand from their seats as they make their way to the camp exit, headed to Meadow colony first. Duckbelly approaches the mother and her kits, lowering his head and touching his nose with Rose.

  “I’m sorry Cobraclaw has duties to attend to, otherwise I’m sure he’d be here to greet you too, Silk.” Duckbelly mewls, but the newly made proxy isn’t listening, her gaze off in the distance towards her father, listening to the lowered hisses and snarls coming from the den.

  “One month.” Acornstripe snarls towards the Commander’s den, in a voice loud enough for only Duckbelly and Plumpaws to hear. “One month of the new management and they’re already squabbling.”