Closed Thread Roadkill Wake (16FG20)

No other protection is wanting,
provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

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Prudence watched from the top of the cemetery fence as the classic tabby she-cat collected the squirrel and removed it from the road. She was some ways distant as the cat settled near the little corpse. At first she thought perhaps the other cat would make a meal of the fresh meat, but instead watched her settle near it and do what appeared to be nothing.

Out of pure curiosity, Prudence made her way over. She intentionally made noise so as not to startle the stranger, listening as the other cat finally spoke. "Greetings." Prudence called out to the stranger who had no intention of eating a perfectly good squirrel.

No other protection is wanting,
provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

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Prudence was unsure of exactly what to make of the graceful classic tabby she was looking it. Not wanting to eat a squirrel herself but perfectly willing to let someone else take it. She guessed that the collar wasn't some remnant of long lost humans, but instead some mark that this one catered to the nasty creatures like far too many of her kind did. It was too much like being a filthy dog.

But, free food was free food.

"I think I just might take you up on the offer if it really is that fresh." Prudence's voice came out in a friendly tone, moreso than she generally liked to use with those who worshiped humans, but sometimes it paid to gather some intellegence as to what was going on. She'd only just wandered into this city and it wouldn't pay to make the wrong enemies before she was settled in. She strode closer to the other cat, ears and tail raised with the confidence she prefered to exude. "I'm called Prudence."

No other protection is wanting,
provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

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"My mother always told me that a cat grows into the name they're given. So she named me prudence so I could grow to be prudent." There was a laugh in her voice as she spoke. Her paws carried her quietly now to the sad little corpse of the squirrel. A quick inhalation verified that it was as fresh as Morgan had said. Prudence settled to her impromptu meal. She wasn't particularly hungry, but only a fool passed up a free meal. She quickly had the little carcass opened up and downed the rich liver in a single bite. The perfect starter.

Without additional words she settled in, focusing on the choicest bits of the squirrel. "Are you sure you're going to pass on this?"

No other protection is wanting,
provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

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Prudence continued to eat as the stranger, Morgan, spoke about having access to more food at the house. That verified it, then, yet another slave to humanity. Too bad, but that didn't mean she still didn't know things that might be useful. She swallowed another mouthful of meat before asking her question.

"What happens here other than squirrels getting flattened?" Prudence kept her tone casual. She needed to know more about this city and the creatures who lived in it. If dogs ran riot in the streets she needed to be aware. It just wasn't prudent not to be aware of the dangers where humans lived. With luck she wouldn't be stuck in such close quarters with them for very long. They simply couldn't be trusted.

No other protection is wanting,
provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

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Prudence did her best to conceal her dislike of the mention of humans. Morgan was clearly too fond of the monsters to be clear of mind. Brainwashed, even. She still listened attentively while she continued to work her way through the squirrel. It would be a generous meal and she'd be overfull afterwards, but it would be worth it not to waste the opportunity.

She nodded with interest when Morgan got to the part about there being a place that humans leave things for cats. It was good information to have a failsafe is hunting ran short. Even if what humans thought was good for cats was tasteless trash.

Her tail twitched with even more interest when the safety of the streets was mentioned. Now that, that was good information. If even squirrels were usually safe cats had it pretty easy, then. "It's nice to hear that the streets are so thoughtful. Humans normally don't seem to care from what I've seen."

No other protection is wanting,
provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

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Prudence lifted her head from the squirrel to look more carefully as Morgan spoke about humans. Her tone of voice was entirely too fond for Prudence's tastes. But the only interactions she'd ever had with humans painted them in a very bad light. Perhaps "inscrutable" was a good word for them. They did have the odd tendency to treat the cats they chose with kindness all while treating the cats they didn't choose with cold distain.

"I really don't know much about humans other than what my mother taught me: Stay as far away as possible." She made her way quickly through another bite of the succulent squirrel. It was so strange that Morgan passed this over in favor of the stones that humans made offerings of. "I only traveled here out of curiosity."

No other protection is wanting,
provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

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Prudence liked her fangs as she finished the last of the meat from the now sad little carcass. "My curiosity was for what was here, and how those who live here do so." She gave a small shrug as she settled, licking her paw to run it over her face in a post meal ablution. "I'd always wanted to see what it was like amongst the nests humans keep, when I've passed close enough the scent of cat runs through the entire place. Not sure I'll stay, but it seemed worth learning what was to be learned."

No other protection is wanting,
provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

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Prudence continued the meticulous clearing of her whiskers and the curls of the fur on and around her face. She listened to the other speak, complimenting her on the reasons for her journey into town.

"A kingdom was here?" This piqued her interest greatly. She knew about the cats who lived in the land the humans mostly left to itself, but she did not know of any organization to this place. "How unusual."

A few more careful swipes of tongue and paw, then she was satisfied that all was in order. "Apparently they're gone now, since you said 'was'?"

No other protection is wanting,
provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

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"A mystery indeed." Prudence agreed quietly, mulling over the news that had been offered. Something that was quiet destroyed an entire kingdom. The source of this must be investigated carefully. It wouldn't due to settle somewhere that had dangers like that, especially ones that could travel unseen.

She absently licked a paw and drew it over her ears in thought. "This is certainly an interesting place, friend."