#ghost dustlight

"S'all good!"

Truth be told, their actions were not out of selflessness, but for Mist. Her brother's tail infection still did not heal. He's still feverish, despite pushing through for his training. Maybe she can learn more about medicine and heal him herself, if Oddie and Minha aren't going to do it. What's holding them back? They have herbs. They have skills. They're supposed to be Healers and they don't heal others? It was all nonsense to her.

Sadly, Oddie didn't explain anything about tail infections specifically, and while she was glad she could help our around camp, she doesn't think she accomplished anything, today.

Mangospeckle reminding Mist to grab some food made her realize that she should also get something, and got a tin can, cracking it open with her claws and a nearby piece of scrap metal.

She padded closer to her brother and sister. "Wanna share?"

"Of course," Ghost said, Mist nodding, lost in his mind.

The fish was salty and oily, a few bones still stuck in its cooked flesh, but it was better than an empty stomach. Perhaps they will be able to go steal food from twolegs by the Harbor, when they are allowed to leave the Bar surroundings as adults.

"You know, Smoke," Ghost started. "I still think about what you told me, about the other day. About the other groups of cats in the city."

"Yeah?"

"I found myself purring at it again, today."

Which means it's the funniest thing her sister has ever heard in her life. That's quite a compliment. Ghost doesn't often get her jokes.

"Aw, thank you! Hope it helped to make today a little better. Especially after... Uh..."

She couldn't say "what you told me you saw yesterday". She forgot if Mist knew about Ghost's visions. Who knows in this clowder? Did she mess up her cover? Was Ghost hiding some secret that would revolutionize the lives of every cat in the city?

Smoke flicked her ear and Ghost nodded. "Yes, Mist knows."

"Phew. Good."

"I have for a while." Mist confirmed in a very tired voice. "You still won't tell me what you see for me."

"I can't predict the future. I just told you that I don't see anything negative around you. Nothing more than what is in this place."

"Can you see or hear the Bartender?" Smoke chirped. "I wonder what she looks like."

"I can't. Not right now."

"You have?"

"I have seen things but I don't know if it is my mind or if it is otherworldly forces trying to show me or tell me something."

"What did you see?"

Ghost looked around. "Well… I can trust you guys."

They all gathered closer and listened carefully to her stories, trying to understand, decipher, or explain what they all were, meant, or where they came from.

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They noticed a loner on their territories. Minha didn't recognize their scent, so it was not from one of the large groups of cats that exist in this city, nor did it have the sandy tinge of Nomads, nor did it have the scent of humans following a housecat. It had to be a rogue or a loner who attacked Mist as they found a half-eaten silver box of fish.

Minha did defeat that rogue and send it crying for its parent. A few well-placed bites and scars and it was gone, running away. Misty grabbed the box, Minha grabbed Misty, and they ran back to the Bar.

Some food for a tail. Was it worth it? He doesn't know and hopes that his fur will regrow.

His sisters surrounded him, keeping him company.

"I know…" He replied. He knows his training has been going well. No better than his sisters', but okay enough.

Smoke is the best fighter of the three, using her climbing skills to her advantage. Ghost has issues fighting because of her bad eye, but she's good enough to defend herself. She also seems to be able to see the same things Oddie does, but she hasn't told him or dad yet. It's a secret shared by the three of them. But Mist is not a good fighter. Nor a good scout. They're bad at their own spatial awareness, not always knowing where danger comes from, and subsequently, how to act when said danger attacks.

"Look, you even found our meal. The sardines were good. Thank you." Ghost added, looking down at her paws. He knows she doesn't like looking at people. It also helps her find things on the ground that others may have missed.

"You're welcome, I guess."

They finished tying what dad calls "bandages" around his tail, tying a pretty bow at the end. If he recieves medical care, might as well have it be pretty.

He should still be able to keep training. He was just bitten. He can't allow himself to slack off on his training. He needs to catch up.

Perhaps he will get to his sister's level, someday. But right now, the goal is to snuggle up with them on one of the cushiony seats and enjoy a nice nap.

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"Anything," Frankie flatly replied, tail tip twitching. "Any threat, mostly. But also food or things that could be useful. Anything to make nests, or medicine, or things."

"How do I notice anything that could be useful?"

"Use your imagination." She explained, leading the younger cat around the Bar perimeter.

There were not a lot of humans outside at this hour, so it was the perfect time to bring an apprentice out. Aside from the few that sleep outside of houses or those who stink of fermented fruit and tobacco plants. Somehow, Frankie's heart pinches at the thought of a living being not having a home, but her pity is quickly overshadowed by the issue that they're humans.

Humans.

"Frankie," Ghost whispered. "Who is this? Are they a threat?"

She didn't know them. He was a solid gray cat, stalking a hole that seemed to be a rat entrance into some human building. She lowered herself to the ground, and Ghost imitated her, her blue eyes focused on the intruder.

Ghost tried thinking back to all her father would tell her. If they are from a known group in the city, then she would not only see one of them. As far as she knows, they don't have a collar, so they're not a housecat either. This is a lone cat. They can be friendly, or they can be rogues, they can be mean, and she knows that her dad had to fight off some of them when she was a kitten.

Her dad did so much for her siblings and her as kittens. She wants to do a lot for him too.

"What do we do?" the apprentice meowed in a low voice.

"What would you do?" Frankie asked her back, as if she was already put to the test.

Frankie's claws were out. Her low crouch turned into the first movements of a pounce. Ghost saw that she was ready to attack. And she might be right. They don't know this cat, and it could be dangerous to them and everyone back at the Bar. She could surprise them. Nobody expects a kitten to bounce out of their hiding place and hiss, especially if it makes them miss their juicy rat meal. Or she could step back and see how Frankie deals with this situation to use this technique later. She doesn't know how to eliminate threats, but she knows how to anticipate and surprise.

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Snout full of herbs, he placed them down and turned to his younger campmate. Their dark eyes looked empty in the dim light of the bar.

"Your kits are old enough to be apprenticed according to the Warrior Code. Would you allow me to give them a ceremony, or do you want to do it yourself? I won't change their name, of course, it's just to mark the fact that they can now start training."

"Aren't they a little young?" His head tilted to one side.

"If you feel like they are old enough, but you are their father and not originally from the nomad Clans. You know best."

"I'll allow it," Minha said, solemnly. "But if it proves too much for them, I will decide when they're ready."

Oddie nodded. That seemed like a fair trade. They hopped back onto the bar and settled down.

"Everyone, please gather around. I have an announcement to make. Three of our younger campmates are old enough to start training. Ghost, Smoke, Mist, please step forward."

The three whitish puffs of fur bounced closer. Smoke was twitching, barely sitting in place. Ghost had a serious gaze, sitting upright, alert for any danger. Mist was relaxed, wide-eyed, as if seeing another world Oddie wasn't, but with understanding and no fear.

Oddie wasn't striken down, yet. They supposed that one more ceremony would not anger the Stars, if they are listening.

"You are all six moons old. We are not a Clan, but it seems fitting that every young one is treated in the same way, as Minha, here, has agreed to a ceremony."

He nodded, looking at the scene with a curious, almost scientific look on his face. Despite his intentions to analyze how an apprenticeship ceremony goes, he looked at his kits with a proud shine.

"Smoke, you are a very skilled climber and always eager to include others in your games. These skills are essential to live in our community.

"Mist, you are thoughtful and curious, your many questions and quick analyses will be an asset for you, as you train and grow up.

"Ghost, your creativity and eagerness make you a very valuable piece of our group, and will help you during your training.

I welcome you all as apprentices of our group."

Oddie jumped down and pressed his snout on each of their foreheads. Mist said nothing, immobile like a statue. Ghost solemnly thanked Oddie, head held up high like a warrior's gait, ready to accept a mission. Smoke was audibly purring, a smile on her snout, giggling to the touch.

Oddie's heart was light. Perhaps this was the best thing for the bar.

New members.

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