ooc: so sorry for the length of this. I'd like to end this with a few goals in mind, for actual threads after. Some... group projects. :3 If you have ideas, feel free to toss 'em in. Cancer's suggesting, at the end, that they if they move some of the small fish from the ponds to the lagoon, they might get a better supply from it. Bigger fish, but he can't think of how to do it, and questions why there aren't already huge fish in there now.

Cancer listened intently as each spoke, ears occasionally flicking up as something new was suggested. This was a good idea. With so many minds working together, we could accomplish way more than a solo 'bound could. Suddenly, his future opened up to more possibilities. He wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but with so many like-minded friends, he was sure it woudn't be all that bad in the end. Despite himself, Can's face softened into a smile. Finally, with Makyna's suggstions voiced as well, Cancer sat straighter and addressed them once more.

"Agreed. They all sound perfectly suited to the skillsets they'll each need to have.

"However, I have a few suggestions of my own to add in. With regards to the Test of Strength, instead of an unknown place, why don't we scout out a somewhat risky location and send them there once we, ourselves, have explored it?" He paused to let it sink in, then continued to explain.

"I think we'd be putting them in too much potential danger, wandering into unknown areas. We don't know what else lives in these caves. Even another gembound could be a threat to their very lives. My alternative provides us with the knowledge and them the safetynet, to keep lives from being lost needlessly. I don't want that blood on my paws." He turned back to the rest of the topic at hand.

"Besides that, however, the rest seem perfectly fine to me. A spar with another, more experience gembound would give the senior member a good analysis of their skills, while proving their worth as a Guardian. We could have maneuver races in the air, for the sky-bounds." He decided that he liked that alternative word for bird- it sounded fancier. "And a trivial pursuit for a Test of Wits...

All those in favor of the Test of Wits as stated here, a trial of problem solving hints leading to an ultimate goal, say Aye!" He would wait a moment to hear their response before moving on to the next topic.

"And all those in favor of the Test of Courage?" He waited a moment, the moved to the next once their votes were in. There was much to discuss, and he wanted to move along quickly. "And finally, all those in favor of the Test of Strength as suggested?" The Ayes would have it, and he would move on to the next order of business.

"If we're ready to move on, next item to discuss is the quarter-cycle Election. I figured, every thirty days is a cycle, so four turns of thirty, and that's a Term. Leaders would only work during their Term as leader, and if voted out, they return to their regular duties. A new leader is voted in likewise, or the same leader may be voted back into another Term immediately after their last. This keeps things fair, and the interest of the group prioritized above all else. No one 'bound can ruin our initial mission this way. Should a leader stray from the proper intentions, or fail to perform their duties, the next election can see them returned to their initial place, and a more suited person voted in." He sounded rather fina with this long, winded explination. "Unless anyone has anything to add or change to this, I'd like to get this particular subject out of the way, because our next topic is food, then escorts shouldn't take long to discuss, then we can actually get start sorting out tasks.

"All those in favor of the Quarter-Cycle Election, to appoint the leader, say Aye." He'd again wait, then sit a little lower on his haunches. Food was the next order of business, and the boy was hungry just thinking about it. He didn't fancy talking about food while his stomach growled silently all the while. "Okay. Now we get on to the really important stuff.

"Food. We all need it, but this cave is small. Until we can figure out some way to keep a steady supply within our own borders, I think we'll need to arrange to have food brought in from outside. There's fish, but they're small yet." He turned to look behind him at the lagoon, an idea coming to mind in that moment. "What if we find some way to get fish into the lagoon itself? Like, there's a few there, but they're not really plentiful... find out why that is, and fix the lagoon up to host fish? I can't see it harming the water supply. We drink from the fishy waters too just fine." An audible rumble in his stomach reminded him that this particular topic was suddenly being drawn out for discussion thanks to him, and despite it, Cancer forced his smile to return. "Any other ideas? Grazers have it easy, so does Bevy, cause bugs are everywhere here... but us meat eaters gotta find a way not to let our stomachs go empty."

Cancer frowned as Bevy suggested a lunch break. Leon swiftly seconded the idea and then Makyna agreed. Well, he was certainy outvoted. He'd forgotten that other gembounds might not be so business-sensible as he was, so the cub rolled his eyes and stood taller. He opened his mouth to protest, to suggest just a few more minutes of discussion- surely they could silence their stomachs long enough for that!- but as he did, his stomach forwarded its own agreement with an audible groan. The cub sank back down, with a look of shock, then grinned sheepishly.

"Okay, okay, we can break for lunch." He laughed shortly, then stood again. "I hereby call this Meeting of Council to an end! Let's go eat!" With that, the cub trotted over, grabbed the shard of crystal they'd used, stashed it back in the crevice by his ledge and followed the others towards the other end of the cave. "Dibs on any land hoppers!" He'd run ahead towards the Warrens for a well deserved hunt, eager to test his claws again, and even more excited to fill his complaining stomach.

--exit cancer--