what would happen if the whitebell family met an adult in need of help?
Initially I decided that they give them the help, but then let them be on their way, whereas young cats stay because they really have no where else to go and it's better that way
But now I like the idea that the Family is a safe haven.
It's not known as a safe place for residences (that would make it less safe if bad cats knew that), so cats don't go looking for this place and moreso stumble upon it. Or only very trusted cats, like Fleathistle or Ferndoe, know of it and inform those they believe need it and who they are certain will not cause harm.
What really helps is how secluded it is. The easiest way to access it is by climbing up a mountain which, depending on the path you take, leads you to dead ends, even steeper paths, or sudden drops. Even if you manage to climb high up, the main camp (outside) is 98% impossible to see from any vantage point an intruder would be. Any cave that's deep enough to reach the others is closed off as best they can (using sharp stones to prevent someone from pushing against it).
Then there's the added aspect of the family protecting one another so if you have a problem with one of them you have a problem with all of them, and they know the area far better than you do and will use that to their advantage. All that together makes it a very safe place to be (just not a safe place to get to, so someone who purposefully finds their way there is someone who REALLY needs the protection).
If they find out (and trust the evidence) that the cat they took in was bad, they'll deal with them.
I'd also have to change what the poly + Aphid are called, since before they were "The Adults" / "The Parents" but since there's new adults now that wouldn't really fit
They're still the main ones in charge, kind of like leaders, though they wouldn't call themselves that. Decisions are made as a group together, just Aphid, Char, Red, and the rest of the poly have final say and are seen by everyone else as the ones in charge. Maybe they're called the Founders??
@wills-woodland-warriors (since Flea was mentioned)
