Warriors: Choose Your Own Adventure (COMPLETE)

[Arcaii]

Choices:

1: Matter with my skills
2: Matter with my skills
3: Matter with my skills
4: Matter with my skills
5: Matter with my skills
6: Matter with my skills
7: Start from scratch
8: What's so different?
9: Matter with my skills

Roll says... 3: Matter with my skills.


"What's the matter with my skills?" you say. You try to stay calm, but your fur bristles.

Charlie starts to answer, but she notices your glare. She stops, turns around, and lowers her head to look you in the eye.

"I don't doubt those are highly-needed and deserving of praise in your home," she says. "But you've seen this place. There aren't any trees around here worth climbing. Nothing to hunt except rats and fleas. I know some about ferals like you, kiddo, and I can tell you right now, your world and my world are two different things entirely. You see my scars?"

You blink slowly. "Hard to miss them."

She turns her head away a little, so you can more closely see the damages on her face. "I'm the queen of these streets, as I've told you. Biggest cat on the block, in every sense of the word. There ain't a single Tom, Dick or Harry that could get a gain on me since I was your age, and even I'm missing half my fur. And if I'm this battered with all the savvy I've got, what do you think will happen to you? You're fresh outta the woods, and you got three legs to work with."

This makes you scowl, partially because you know she's right.

"I don't intend to let you wander off and get killed like so many of you do," she continues. Her tone softens. "Too many of you little ones they pick up from elsewhere end up flattened out on the road, or poisoning yourselves with bad food. You didn't ask to be here, but you are now. So you gotta do what you can to survive until you get back home."

You look down, silent.

"Besides, I'm the big boss 'round here." She stands up straight, speaking more casually now. "You die after leaving that vet's office with me, that'll reflect on my reputation. I have to earn my title, know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I do." You're reminded of your own leader, and how delicate the balance of being the voice of the Clan is.

"Alright then." She rests her paw on your head. "Asterpaw, you're now an apprentice of the streets, and I will be your...mentor, you called it?"

"Mentor, yes." You try to nod, but her paw is too heavy. This isn't as official as at home, but your anger has turned into amusement.

"I'll be your city mentor." She tilts her head, grinning. "How about that, eh? I'll bet no one else in your group has two mentors teaching them two lifestyles."

"They don't," you admit. Now that you think about it, you bet Stormwhisker will be really impressed by all that you've learned when you get home. Maybe you'll even learn something that everyone else will need to know!

"Great." Charlie lifts up her paw, turns, and motions with her tail. "Let's start your training."

[Arcaii]

Charlie is nothing if not thorough.

Your first lesson consists of crossing the roads. You never quite had a reason to go near the one at home, but they're everywhere here. The noise of the monsters echoes off the dens (cars and buildings, you're told), which often leaves your ears ringing, but you learn to tune them to the direction the echoes are coming from in order to pass safely.

"You gotta remember, kiddo," Charlie says as a bright red one rushes past. "You're in human territory, and they made this place for themselves. They're so big, they forget about us down here. They won't see you or hear you until you make yourself known, especially on the road."

"I don't want them to hear or see me, though," you say.

"Here, you will. Humans like us, mostly. They see us and drop everything to get us to come over and be pet. You can get anything you want out of them, as long as you play your cards right. Food, water, a safe sleeping space, anything. They'll keep you alive when you have nowhere else to go."

You frown, saying nothing.

Experience +1.

Your discomfort with twolegs is thankfully not pushed by today's lessons. Instead, Charlie takes you around town, teaching you the various names of things, like "metal" and "door" and "parking lot". There's too much to possibly learn in one day, but Charlie makes the most of it.

Your scenting skills have no use in this place - there's too much of everything to possibly pick one thing out - so you learn to use your sight. Your nocturnal life style never really required your eyes, but, as Charlie tells you, "there's no set time for sleeping here". She promises that you'll develop an instinct for when it's safe to rest and for when you need to wake up.

That's all well and good, but by the time noon rolls around, you're dead tired, and practically begging for a rest. Charlie relents, and leads you to another alley. However, when you're about to walk in, she stops and stands against the wall.

"Here's your first lesson in scouting," she says. "Take a look around in there from here, and tell me if you think it's safe to go in or not."

You peer into the shaded alleyway. More of those flat-topped rocks (what were they called, cash trans or something?), and a long metal pole that snakes from the roof down to the floor. There's a small puddle of water at the very back, which you desperately need a drink of. There's also a stink that you can't place. Other than that, you can't see anything.


It's safe.
It's not safe.

[❤ Sunberry ❤]

"It's... not safe?" I say, almost like I was asking a question. I don't want to take a guess and assume that the stench is safe. It could be another cat, or something else more dangerous like poison. If I learned anything today it's to not follow my instincts, but I can't help feeling uneasy. Besides, the water might not be safe either - who knows what else might have made its way into the puddle.

[agathokakologic]

I wrinkle my nose at the unfamiliar smell. "Err… not safe?" I squeak, hoping I'm right. That stench didn't smell too friendly...

[Greenleaf]

The surrounding area looks safe enough, but I don't know if I can trust that smell...
"...not safe?" I venture, looking at Charlie for confirmation.

[abxy]

"With how weird this place is..safe."

[Comettail76]

I look in it, thinking carefully. The stench doesn't seem safe, but Charlie said not to rely on it, and instead rely on sight. I didn't see anything unsafe, so I hesitantly said,"I think it's safe."

[Attila The Hen]

What's so different about here?

[detective who.]

"With that smell, I'd say it's not safe."

[sweet tooth]

"Ehhh....don't take chances. Not safe."