Dire realized that it must look like he was glaring at Heron, but he wasn't. He suddenly became very interested in an oddly colored leaf. Birds flew overhead. Strange how there was so much to eat, but everything they caught was taken away. And the jungle was dangerous, on top of that. The savannah was a much more natural habitat for cats.
Heron noticed Dire blink away and trotted toward them. "How goes it?" he asked casually, secretly hoping that Cobra wouldn't discover that he had not brought any food.
"I am surviving, that's a good sign replied Dire. Dire may consider this his highest amount of optimism, but I doubt anyone else did, though Dire was no pessimist.
Too true. Heron rested his head on its paws. "I don't know if I should go through with it," he admitted. "The whole hiding the food from Cobra. I mean, we'll have to put some prey where the pile was originally so he won't find out right away. But we need to take this into our own paws and feed the Tribe, like we should be." The sun was just pushing enough light through the leaf canopy above to cast a shadow over camp. He stared at it idly as he spoke. "I must be crazy," he added unhelpfully.
"Cobra is the only crazy one. Doesn't he know there are those out there stronger than his rogues? Doesn't he know that if we rebel he would be powerless? Doesn't he notice his 'marvelous empire' or whatever is starving. It isn't marvelous, he's just making justifications and telling us we are alright!" said Dire.
"He'd kill us if he wanted, Dire. He's already taken away half our rations." Heron's voice hardened. "Even Huckleberry is afraid of him. He might be crazy and stand nothing in a rebellion, but do you think we're fit to rebel in this state?" Heron flicked his tail to the general direction of the Tribe. With most of them, they could see each other's ribs.
"Perhaps not, unless we all do. Or get help," he thought back about Oleander getting Shiloh. He had doubts.
As Dire came back from the prey pile, Huckleberry hissed in annoyance. "Why'd you do that? I just gave you a free meal! If you didn't want it, you should've gave it to the hungry!" He spat, turning around and marching away. These cats... so foolish! I try to help them and they spit it back into my face.
Huckleberry noticed his brother staring daggers at him. He grunted a greeting and continued grooming himself.
Huckleberry looked up. "I'm right here, you know." He grumbled.
"Sorry, but it's true," Heron told him.
Huckleberry cocked his head. "What's true?" he growled, staring suspiciously at his brother.
