A Conversation in the Rafters - 12 moons before Day 12

[noodles]

Charles Maxwell, after his daily stroll around the barn to see if anycat was meeting him and to herd the chickens a bit, returned to the big barn where his family was. He relaxed his shoulders as the warm scent of friendship and kin wafted over him and he saw Lily Anne and Daisy with their remaining 4 kits. It was such a shame about the other three. He loved all his kits, and any deaths made him so sad. The two she-cats got a sympathetic smile as he started to climb the rafters, ensuring that he didn't do too much damage to the barn's structure. He had lived here since he was barely an adult, and would be heartbroken if he ever had to leave it again. Upon noticing a familiar cat on the rafters, he padded over and nuzzled her gently.

"Howdy Casey," he said in his southern drawl, curling up next to the tiny cat. "How have you been going today?" Charles Maxwell cared for all of his barn cats, and this she-cat caught his attention. What was that pelt, he wondered, and would any kits of hers have it as well. She was very beautiful in her demure nature, and the tom cat was smitten, He made sure to look his best with his fur smoothed down and with a sweet smile. 

[alchemy]

Casey remained on the other side of the rafters. She laid in a soft patch of hay, tightly coiled in a ball. Her claws flexed amongst the bedding and her rat like tail flicked uncomfortably. She hated being alone but was reluctant to talk to the fellow mollies. They had gone through a lot and she didn't want to bother. However, her deep hued eyes rested on the two she-cats and their kits in an unreadable expression.  Taken by surprise, she tensed up when another cat approached but calmed down and melted into the tom as she realized it was Mr. Maxwell. "Hello... I've been alright." She meowed seriously, standing beside the much taller cat. She quickly pushed herself into the warm fur of the handsome tom. "How was your stroll?"  Casey 36 Moons Barn Cat Female The Barn noodles

[noodles]

"Very good thank you," Mr Maxwell said, smiling at her thoughtfulness. "I talked to one of those FerryClan folk. They're a strange bunch, with their borders and two part names. I'd be so confused if my name changed every six months." He laughed. It had been 6 months though, since Casey became Casey. And she was such a sweet cat, the idea of her leaving seemed terrible.

"I must ask something though," Mr Maxwell said, keeping his body language open and eyes gentle. "Are you planning on staying here, more permanently? I don't mean to push your decision or be forward, I just think that if you're going to be living with me, my wives and my kits you should maybe get to know them better." Charles wanted everyone to get along, and if the she-cat was leaving soon, he would be heartbroken but if she was staying, talking and meeting with his loved ones would be brilliant. Even the most introverted of cats needed friends, and maybe if he wasn't enough, someone else might be. "Maybe try Decibelle? She's the sweetest cat this side of the ocean and as fun as a mouse on a string. I just don't want you to feel lonely, you're a lovely cat and I'd love to see you stay with us for as long as you want or need."

[alchemy]

Casey rested on her haunches and closed her eyes. Her tail flicked, stirring the hay beneath them. "I guess I haven't thought about it..." She began. It had been half of year. She hadn't even been thinking about it. Everything - her life - just seemed to meld together. She felt so at peace here at the bar... And she didn't even have to talk to any other cats to accomplish that peace! "I know them." She mewed curtly. Slowly opening her eyes and peering over at the black and white she cats. "And I don't feel alone. At least now that you're here." She purred, looking up into the pale green eyes of the larger tom. She had grown fond of Mr. Maxwell and really didn't want to know anyone else. She lived a life of running and fear, she could survive not talking to anyone.  Casey 36 Moons BARN cAT FeMale The Barn noodles

[noodles]

Charles Maxwell hoped he wasn't overstepping his boundaries with his question and was glad to see she wasn't too offended. "Stay as long as you like. Always too many mice around for our little family. You're stopping me from being as fat as a housecat," he laughed, easing the mood with his gruff chortle. "There's always more room with the Maxwells, buttercup." It was nice to have some younger cats around that weren't his kin. Sure, he loved seeing his kids grow up and become proper adults with manners and lives of their own, but it was entrancing to meet someone new, young but adult, who was completely different with their own lives and stories. His father once said to him that a day without meeting someone new was a day wasted, and Casey made his day spectacular.

"Aww, well that's mighty sweet of you," Charles Maxwell said, getting a bit flushed at the she-cat's appreciation of his company. God almighty, wasn't she swell. "Lily Anne was a loner too, when she first came here. Spoke only to her sister. I only heard her voice around 7 months after I met her," the tom cat chuckled. "I understand your introversion though. Anything, anything at all, you want to be more comfortable, I'll be more than happy to provide."

[alchemy]

Casey found herself gazing among the hay. She did so as if she was expecting something to jump out. As she listened to Maxwell, she imagined a much plumper tom and chuckled quietly Picturing the charming gentlemen that was Charles Maxwell, wobbling around the rafters was definitely an amusing thought.  She thought before saying anything else. "The humans already gave me a new name.." She began nonchalantly. "I'm welcomed and I feel at peace... I think I'll stay." She was honored to be somewhere free stress and couldn't imagine leaving. She lifted her tail, allowing to wave in the air. Sh'd be lying if she said she wasn't happy. The thin furred molly purred and pressed further into the toms fur. He was so warm and gentle. She forgot about the other two mollies across the barn and just sat. This was nice.. casey 36 moons Barn Cat feMale The Barn noodles

[noodles]

"That's wonderful!" Mr Maxwell beamed, his tail getting slightly excited and thrashing a little bit. It was always brilliant when a cat, especially a cute she-cat like Casey, decided to stay with them. He admittedly hoped it was for him and not some other cat around the land who had wormed their way into the strange furred she-cat's heart. \

"Then there's one last thing I have to ask you," Charles said, rubbing his neck in a nervous fashion. "It can be deferred, and I don't want no cat to make this decision but yourself. Do you wish to stay with me as a friend, or wish to stay with me as a mate?" He hoped his voice didn't waver with his nerves.

[alchemy]

Casey blinked. Drawing herself away, she placed tail close to her as the word 'mate' played in her mind on repeat. She said the idea allowed. "Mate.." She didn't know what to say.  The thin furred molly took a moment to think about her travels. She had been alone all her life. She traveled(and struggled) along without any other cats to think about. Back in the forest by herself, she never would've thought she'd be resting(peacefully for that matter) in a barn with a bunch of other cats. Now she was - something - for another tom.  Thinking about it, Casey didn't even know what being a mate even was. She knew that they were a thing but, what did it mean? She thought about here and now and how she enjoyed being on Maxwell's hip at all time and being with him made her feel...safe. Mates did that right?? There was a long moment of silence before she finally answered. "As a mate I presume." She said seriously. Her voice was unwavering - as if she was answering a question about a snake(she really loved snakes) rather than a declaration.  cASEY 36 moons BaRN CAT FEMale tHE bARN noodles

[noodles]

Maxwell felt slightly worried at Casey's lack of conviction. Was he pressuring her into something she didn't want? What if she was only accepting to make him feel better? That made him feel horrible. Becoming mates is a decision for life, and if he was making her accept it with his food supply and warm den then it wasn't a proper mateship filled with love and respect and kits.

"You do know what a mate is, right?" Mr Maxwell said, hoping to ensure that there was no confusion in her decision. A decision made without all the information is like a cat walking blind into a cave, that's what Mr Maxwell's father always said. "It means staying with someone for life, loving them and every part of them even the parts that you don't like. It means supporting the other when they can't themselves, with everything from hunting when they are ill to morally supporting them at the death of another. It's a decision for life, and I want to ensure that you know what you're getting into."

[alchemy]

Casey couldn't help but think of the little memories she shared with her parents before she got separated. Taiwan and Zeus had always been close by each other through thick and thin. She never saw the two apart and if they were, you knew that something was wrong. That or they had went to one of their 'shows' as they called it.  She pondered on now and contemplated on how she enjoyed the company of Charles Maxwell. She revealed a small smile and stoop up. She took her place in front of the bicolored tom and nuzzled her head into his chest fur. "I'm sure about my answer." She assured. Casey 36 moons barn cat feMale The barn noodles

[noodles]

"Well that's wonderful!" Charles Maxwell beamed, looking to his new fiancee with glee. He loved this she-cat dearly and now they were to be married! What was a better thing to happen after a beautiful Spring day. And a spring wedding as well! Oh happy days. He had so much to organise though - flowers, tokens for the ceremony, catering there would be so much to organise! Hopefully some of his elder children and some of the local cats could help him on his endeavour. There would be piles upon piles of prey, anything that could be caught would be caught. Flowers from every territory imaginable, herbs from all corners of the twoleg camp, and all cats from the general area would be invited! It shall be the event of the year!

"Don't worry yourself about nothing, dear," Mr Maxwell said to his fiancee. "You just relax, and soon you'll be Mrs Casey Maxwell."

[alchemy]

Casey remained in the toms fur for a bit before taking her place back in the hay she had rested at previously. She thought about Maxwell's words and let out an intrigued mew. This would definitely be a weird process. Become a mate. Being with a tom forever. The part she wasn't entirely sure of was the kits part though. She couldn't even think about having a litter. A bunch of her own running around. It was a wild thought. However she didn't really want to say anything. Charles was happy and surprisingly, she was too. Of course her content was only made obvious by her rat like tail that flicked around.  Satisfied, the thin furred molly closed her eyes and lowered ears. "Thank you." She rumbled in an unidentifiable tone.  cASEY 36 moons BARN CAT FEMale THE BARN noodles