Bill Nye the Science Kitty

Chapter Eight

Bill Nye: Those AtomClan cats! Even though they taught me something. Arghhh. Why would those mousebrains... *he continues muttering under his breath, not watching where he is walking*

Another cat begins padding quietly behind him, stiffling a purr at Bill Nye's rant.

RNApelt: *suddenly speaks up, jumping in front of Bill Nye* HEY! Who are you, and what are you doing on GeneClan territory?

He is almost purring, saying everything in a playful tone.

Bill Nye *startled* Well, I, just, uh...

RNApelt: Wait! More pressing question! What do your parents look like?

Bill Nye *still irritated by the AtomClan encounter* What?! Why should I tell you? Why do you even care?

RNApelt: JUST TELL ME.

Bill Nye: *hisses, then scrunches up his face in concentration* Fine. I think my mother was a grey tabby, while my father was a cream cat.

RNApelt: Good, good. That's perfectly possible. *he suddenly stiffens* Wait, do you have any littermates?

Bill Nye: *still trying to figure out RNApelt's 'perfectly possible' remark and speaks absently* Yes, yes. Annoying brown tom-cat.

RNApelt: *suddenly furious* WHAT??!! THAT'S NOT GENETICALLY POSSIBLE!

Bill Nye: Huh?

RNApelt: YOU LIAR! I'm taking you to my brother. *turns and starts padding away*

Bill Nye: Your brother? *realizes that RNApelt has already walked away, and quickly pads after him* Wait up!

RNApelt: I'm not slowing down for some liar. *he pads into a camp that looks identical to ThunderClan's* Good, we're here.

RNApelt leads Bill Nye under the boulder to DNAstar, who is lying down. At the sound of his brother entering, DNAstar gets up.

DNAstar: *looks at Bill Nye* Who is this cat?

RNApelt: His parents are impossible! He's a liar! They are not-

Bill Nye: *interrupting* I'm Bill Nye, a loner seeking knowledge. Is that your brother? Oh, and may I ask your name?

DNAstar: *purrs* Yes, that is my mouse-brained brother. *to RNApelt* He probably just doesn't remember his parents clearly. *turns back to Bill Nye* My name is DNAstar, leader of GeneClan.

Bill Nye: Oh, I see. Do you have any information to share with me?

DNAstar: Oh yes! I know a ton about genetics. Here we go. . . *takes a deep breath*

Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms. It is generally considered a field of , but it intersects frequently with many of the  and is strongly linked with the study of information systems. The father of genetics is Gregor Medel, a late 19th-century scientist and Augustinian friar. Mendel studied 'trait inheritance', patterns in the way traits were handed down from parents to offspring. He observed that organisms (pea plants) inherit traits by way of discrete "units of inheritance". This term, still used today, is a somewhat ambiguous definition of what is referred to as a gene. Trait inheritance and molecular inheritance mechanisms... *continues reciting the entire Wikipedia article on genetics*

Bill Nye: *a quarter of the way through the article* Ack! So much information! My brain is going to explode!

Suddenly, gasps are heard from outside, interrupting DNAstar's lecture. Bill Nye heaves a sigh of relief.

DNAstar: What's that? *pokes his head out the exit*

Random Cat: It's Domesticwing and Naturalfur! Apparently, Domesticwing was expecting kits when the sisters took a walk and she gave birth. She sure was lucky Naturalfur was with her.

Another Random Cat: That's so true! She could have died out there without a medicine cat.

DNAstar: *suspicious* Were they the only cats who witnessed this?

The two random cats nod.

DNAstar: Hmm. *jumps unto the boulder* All cats old enough to understand genetics gather around the Generock for a Clan meeting!

The clan gathers, murmuring.

DNAstar: It has come to my attention that Domesticwing has unexpectedly given birth to kittens in the forest with only her sister, Naturalfur, with her. To ensure that these kits are truly hers, a test must be set. Domesticwing, bring the kits forward.

Trying hard not to let her fur spike with fear, Domesticwing brings up the two kits- a dilute tortoiseshell she-cat and a black tom.

DNAstar: So let me see...Selctivetalon, you are a grey tabby, and you, Domesticwing, are a cream tabby, so your she-cat kittens would all be dilute tortoiseshells. So that's fine. But your tom kittens would all be...CREAM TABBIES! You are not their mother, Domesticwing! *turns to Naturalfur* YOU are their mother! Who's the father? *flicks his tail indifferently* Ah well. I'll figure it out. For now, you are...um...confined to the camp! And brought the dampest piece of freshkill from the pile! Now shoo! Off to the nursery. Meeting dismissed.

The cats all disperse, with Naturalfur looking crestfallen that her ruse has been discovered.

Naturalfur: Mousedung. I was SURE that would work. *glances down at copy of "Leafpool's Wish" and mews angrily* It worked for her. *suddenly turns to Billy Nye* LIFE ISN'T FAIR! WHY DOES THIS SHE-CAT HAVE-

Bill Nye: *backing away nervously* Um...I think I'll go now.

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