Choices:
1: A car accident
2: I'm missing a foot?
3: I'm missing a foot?
4: Fell off on its own
5: Fell off on its own
6: Fell off on its own
7: I'm missing a foot?
Roll says... 1: A car accident.
"I was struck in a car accident," you say, matching her stare evenly. "A twoleg brought me here so a vet could fix it, but it was better off amputated."
Leadership +1.
"That's awful," says the huge tom. He looks genuinely upset by this information. "And that's why you're so far away from home! Your family must be really worried."
You nod. "We don't usually travel. They must have assumed I'm dead by now."
You immediately wish you hadn't said that, because he looks completely heartbroken, huddling like a sad little kitten. Adder rolls her eyes and walks over to gently pat him with her paw.
"All the more reason to get you home as soon as possible," Pretty Boy says. "Come here."
You glance at Scat. He shakes his fur and leads the way, tail stiff. You sit down opposite the three other cats. With Adder joining you, you form a complete circle. In the center, there's a large amount of scratches and marks in the dust.
"Can you read this?" Pretty Boy asks.
You shake your head. "I don't know what I'm supposed to be reading."
"Map," says Scat. He cranes his scrawny neck, stretching it out to an unnatural degree to look the markings over. "'Samap."
"Correct." Pretty Boy lifts a rather dainty paw and points to a round shape. "This is Derby, the city we're in right now. Here-" he points to two lines that cross each other, with strange marks on each end. "These are the directions - north, south, east, and west. Derby is in the west."
You know the directions relative to your territory, but these shapes are puzzling you. "Why are they marked like that?"
"It's a shorthand for nomads," says Roan. "North is the eye, south is the tail." She points to a curved line with a cut below it, and then a wavy symbol like a snake. "East is the sun, west is the moon." She motions to another small, round symbol with three claw marks spread under it and a half-round shape.
"The sun rises in the east and sets in the west," Pretty Boy adds.
You stare at him. "It does?"
"Mhm." Pretty Boy looks amused. "I imagine the direction of the sun wouldn't matter to a stationary group, but for nomads, it's essential knowledge. Do you know where Mercy's Eye is?"
"I don't even know what Mercy's Eye is," you admit.
"It's the only star in the sky that doesn't move during the night," says Laurel. "If you're ever confused on which direction to go, the bright star points north."
A bright star sounds familiar, but you narrow your eyes. "The stars move all the time."
"Not this one," says Laurel. "It gives travelers a helping paw in making it to their destination safely. Before you leave, come during the night and we'll point it out."
"Icancome," Scat mumbles. He has to repeat himself when everyone looks at him.
"That'll work just fine," Pretty Boy says. "We'll keep a sentry up to watch for you. Now, on to the map..."