Bill Nye the Science Kitty

Chapter Forty-Four

Bill Nye is wandering the plains, bored out of his mind. Out of the corner of his eye he spots a dandelion and gently prods it with a tentative paw. 

Bill Nye: I recall seeing a twoleg kit picking one and blowing on it. *tries and watches in wonder as the seeds are carried away by the wind*

White cat: *pads up from behind* Hello! Welcome to DispersalClan! Don't you love our territory? There's so much happening around here!

Bill Nye: *glances around before turning to the stranger* No, no really...

White cat: I'm Windpaw, by the way. I'll teach you about wind dispersal and introduce you to how different plants disperse their seeds. *sniffs proudly* Now, obviously plants don't have paws, so therefore they're physically unable, well, mentally as well, to walk around and see that their seeds are planted and spread out.

Bill Nye: Of course not. I've never thought about that. *Regards Windpaw sceptically* And why are you Windpaw? Does wind help spread seeds?

Windpaw: Unlike what they say about you, you are ridiculously daft. Obviously wind does; the dandelion you blew on was a prime example. Now, it didn't actually need you to blow on it. The wind would eventually carry the seeds away to other places anyway. This ensures the seeds are spread around, which is important because when plants are growing around each other too closely, they have to compete for nutrients and sunlight, which hinders healthy growth.

Bill Nye: Ah, I understand now.

Windpaw: *gestures to something behind Bill Nye* That is my mentor, Waterwing. 

Bill Nye: *jumps and turns around* I must be going deaf. Hi, Waterwing. I believe that you'll tell me about the way water helps disperse seeds?

Waterwing: *pads to Windpaw's side and blinks warmly* Yes. Follow me.

Bill Nye: *follows the two toms to a gushing river and examines the scene* I don't spot any—

Waterwing: Look at the mangrove seed bobbing on the surface! You see it?

Bill Nye: Oh, um, yeah, there's that stick over there but—

Windpaw: You daft thing! Can't you also see the mangrove trees along the bank?

Bill Nye: Yeah, but... *blinks dumbly*

Waterwing: Well, guess what? The seeds fall into the water and are carried away by the water. If they fall at low tide, they'll just grow in the soil there.

Bill Nye: Oh, right. Are there any more ways?

Windpaw: Many, but us two are meant to be hunting and the others are in camp. Dispersalstar doesn't take kindly to outsiders, not even a well known traveller like you. I can briefly remember Animalpaw blabbering on about how animals help disperse the seeds...

Waterwing: It works like this. Sometimes animals like birds or foxes eat berries, and mostly they're not disgested properly, so when they come out of the other side, they're fine and surrounded with perfect fertiliser. Did you know that 70% of plants in the forests of New Zealand are eaten by birds?

Windpaw: Animalpaw told me that there was another way; some plants have hooks that hook themselves onto the passing. Twolegs also spread seeds like that sometimes; they get stuck to their skins they wear and sometimes I see a twoleg arm chuck apple cores out of their monster as they run along the thunderpath.

Bill Nye: Interesting, but I better get going now. Wouldn't want to slow you down further.

Two toms: Bye!

Written by Saph! 🍩✨