The Ranch

[Rolo]

The Ranch

Twolegs have long since abandoned the strange, large red building that skirts the edge of the clan territories. They return for a moon or so in the summer though, bringing with them cows that graze on the field nearby, sometimes entering MeadowClan territory. It’s only a few twolegs and their kits during this time, though. They never pose much of a problem.

The Ranch itself is large, three full floors and an attic. The first floor is pretty deserted, a few barrels of hay from when the Ranch was used fulltime. A tire or two from twoleg monsters litters the ground floor, but they make for good fun for the younger cats at the ranch. Plenty of mice scurry around on this floor.

The second floor has become somewhat of a neutral place, where all the cats sleep. The easiest way to get there is to climb an old set of twoleg steps that rest near the door. But a bunch of hay stacks have also made a ramp of sorts to the second floor. Straw, moss, feathers, and anything soft are used for the nest up here.

Finally the third floor. Like the first floor, the third one has a decent amount of prey running about. Mice and squirrels make their nest here, and it’s a prime hunting spot for winter months. The top floor is not as easy to get to. Cats have to climb onto the ledge above the door from the second floor, and walk along the ledge that surrounds the Ranch until they reach a pile of bricks that act as steps to an old window. The window leads them into the third floor. Practiced cats can manage this task easily.

A fence surrounds the Ranch, made of strong wood. Around the fence is a large expanse of tall grass which is surrounded by yet another fence. Outside of the second fence is where the cows graze and where it can sometimes bleed into MeadowClan territory. On the side of the Ranch not pointing toward the clans is a decent patch of forest with streams running through it. Past the forest is the twoleg place.

The cats of the Ranch have no set system of grouping. There is no leader, no medicine cat, not even a training pattern. Parents and friends of the parents tend to take part in training kits, if there ever is any. Beliefs vary in the Ranch, but rarely is an argument started because of what a cat believes in.

When it comes to knowing each other, the cats of the Ranch will admit there are other cats besides them living there. Most of the Ranch cats do know each other’s names. Friendships are formed easily but mates are rarely taken. There is no rush to populate the Ranch at the moment, and it’s not too hard to see the current residence don’t mind the slightly-empty building.

Overall the Ranch as a pretty lazy air about it. The members don’t care much for the cats who live nearby in clans. Their interest may be pricked by the clans, but they rarely speak about them. Occasionally the cats of the Ranch will wake up to find a member missing – off to join the clans they’ll say with a shrug before going on with their life.