Bill Nye the Science Kitty

Chapter Nine

Bill Nye, glad to be free of the crazy GeneClan cats, pads into a small forest with a grin on his face.

Bill Nye: Jeez, those cats were weird! I'm glad to be gone. *sits down* I only can wonder what lays ahead. . .

A pale yellow tom with green eyes pads out from behind a tree and notices Bill Nye.

Wheatfeather: Hey, what are you doing on AgriClan territory?

Bill Nye: *sighs and stands up* On what Clan territory, now? *under breath* Just how many Clans are there in this place?

Wheatfeather: *rolls eyes* On AgriClan territory, also known as AgricultureClan. But the second one is too long for all the other Clans to say.

Bill Nye: Oh, I see. *clears throat* Well, I am a loner wandering the the Clans here, seeking knowledge from them.

Wheatfeather: I see. So you're that "Bill Nye" kitty.

Bill Nye nods, and Wheatfeather abruptly turns around and begins padding through the forest. Bill Nye doesn't move, lost in thought.

Wheatfeather: Come on, strange cat! I'm taking you to see our leader.

Bill Nye: Oh, right. *shakes out fur* Let's go.

The two toms pad all the way through the forest and come to a plain. There are cats there, ceaselessly slicing through stalks of wheat and barley and gathering their seeds. Bill Nye pauses to watch.

Bill Nye: Wow.

Wheatfeather: It is cool, isn't it? But we should go. You want to meet Horsestar, right?

Bill Nye nods, and the cats start walking again. They walk towards a barn, and Bill Nye almost stops with surprise.

Bill Nye: You live in a barn?

Wheatfeather: *shrugs* It's abandoned.

The two cats enter the barn and climb up to the loft. There, a brown she-cat sits on a pile of hay, and gets up, smiling as Wheatfeather enters.

Horsestar: *walks up and licks Wheatfeather's shoulder* Hi there, sweetheart. What brings ya up here at this time? Aren't ya usually patrolin'? Not that I mind...

Wheatfeather: *licking her as well* Well, you see, I caught this tom on our territory. He wants to learn about... stuff.

Horsestar: *turns to Bill Nye* Well then, mister, what do ya want to know?

Bill Nye: What are those plants? What do you use them for? And why is your name Horsestar?

Horsestar: I'll answer your last question first. Ya see, AgriClan cats ride horses.

Bill Nye: *takes a step back* WHAT?!

Horsestar: *purrs* Yep. Take a look. *gestures toward a hole in the wall*

Bill Nye pads over to the hole, and gasps as he sees cats on horses, their front claws sunk into the saddle and their back paws hanging down to kick the horse. With the reins in their teeth, they navigate the field expertly, pulling wagons of wheat and barley behind them.

Bill Nye: Wow...

Horsestar: It is somethin', isn't it? Now, the plants you saw are wheat and barley. We use 'em to feed the horses and as bait for prey.

Bill Nye: Bait?

Horsestar: Yep. The prey eats this, ya see, so we spread out the seeds in leaf-bare and catch the mice and birds that eat it. Clever, huh?

Bill Nye: Very. *pauses* Um... last question. What is agriculture?

Wheatfeather: *steps forward* I can answer this. Agriculture is the science, art, or occupation concerned with cultivating land, raising crops, and feeding, breeding, and raising livestock, aka farming.

Bill Nye: Thank you so much for your help!

Horsefeather: No problem, mist- I mean Bill Nye. See ya!

As Bill Nye is escorted out of the camp, he turns to Wheatfeather and thanks him. Wheatfeather accepts the thanks with a nod and directs him to the next camp.

Written by Ember :)