FIREPAW
Dearest darlingest Princess and Cloudkit

TIGERCLAW
My dear Father...

BOTH
THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION
OVER LOYALTY HERE AND NOW

TIGERCLAW
BUT OF COURSE, I'LL CARE FOR YOU ALL...

FIREPAW
BUT OF COURSE, I'LL RISE ABOVE IT ...

BOTH
FOR I KNOW THAT'S HOW YOU'D WANT ME TO RESPOND
YES, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION
FOR YOU SEE, MY CLAN-MATE IS …

Both pause, regard each other, trying to find the words ...

FIREPAW
UNUSUALLY AND EXCEEDINGLY PECULIAR
AND ALTOGETHER QUITE IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE ...

TIGERCLAW
(after a beat)
SOFT

FIREPAW
WHAT IS THIS FEELING
SO SUDDEN AND NEW?

TIGERCLAW
I FELT THE MOMENT
I LAID EYES ON YOU ...

FIREPAW
MY PULSE IS RUSHING ...

TIGERCLAW
MY HEAD IS REELING ...

FIREPAW
MY FACE IS FLUSHING ...

BOTH
WHAT IS THIS FEELING?
FERVID AS A FLAME
DOES IT HAVE A NAME?
YES!:
LOATHING
UNADULTERATED LOATHING...

FIREPAW
FOR YOUR FACE...

TIGERCLAW
YOUR VOICE …

FIREPAW
YOUR KILLING...

BOTH
LET'S JUST SAY -- I LOATHE IT ALL!
EV'RY LITTLE TRAIT, HOWEVER SMALL
MAKES MY VERY FUR BEGIN TO CRAWL
WITH SIMPLE UTTER LOATHING
THERE'S A STRANGE EXHILARATION
IN SUCH TOTAL DETESTATION
IT'S SO PURE! SO STRONG!
THOUGH I DO ADMIT IT CAME ON FAST
STILL I DO BELIEVE THAT IT CAN LAST
AND I WILL BE LOATHING
LOATHING YOU
MY WHOLE LIFE LONG!

APPRENTICES
DEAR FIREPAW, YOU ARE JUST TOO GOOD!
HOW DO YOU STAND IT? I DON'T THINK I COULD!
HE'S A TERROR! HE'S A TARTAR!
WE DON'T MEAN TO SHOW A BIAS
BUT FIREPAW YOU'RE A MARTYR!

FIREPAW
WELL ... THESE THINGS ARE SENT TO TRY US!

APPRENTICES
POOR FIREPAW, FORCED TO RESIDE
WITH SOMEONE SO DISGUSTICIFIED
WE JUST WANT TO TELL YOU:
WE'RE ALL ON YOUR SIDE!
WE SHARE YOUR PAIN...

___
FIREPAW AND TIGERCLAW sing simultaneously with apprentices [see their part below]

WHAT IS THIS FEELING
SO SUDDEN AND NEW?
I FELT THE MOMENT
I LAID EYES ON YOU
MY PULSE IS RUSHING
MY HEAD IS REELING
OH, WHAT IS THIS FEELING?

DOES IT HAVE A NAME?

YES …

APPRENTICES:
LOATHING
UNADULTERATED LOATHING
FOR HIS FACE, HIS VOICE
HIS KILLING
LET'S JUST SAY:
WE LOATHE IT ALL!

EV'RY LITTLE TRAIT
HOWEVER SMALL

MAKES OUR VERY FLESH
BEGIN TO CRAWL …

ALL:
AHHH …
LOATHING!

FIREPAW AND TIGERCLAW:

[Here apprentices sing "Loathing" in counter point a number of times]

THERE'S A STRANGE EXHILARATION
IN SUCH TOTAL DETESTATION
SO PURE, SO STRONG!

SO STRONG!
FIREPAW AND TIGERCLAW
(Apprentices sing back-up "loathing")
THOUGH I DO ADMIT IT CAME ON FAST
STILL I DO BELIEVE THAT IT CAN LAST ALL
AND I WILL BE LOATHING
FOR FOREVER LOATHING
TRULY, DEEPLY LOATHING YOU LOATHING YOU
FOR MY WHOLE LIFE LONG!

APPRENTICES
UNADULTERATED LOATHING

Dedicated to two cats who, well, loathed each other.