Pebbles and Stones {BlackxMoose}

[frosty]

"Would you all listen to yourselves! You keep demanding blood, but nobody has a clear idea of what happened! That kit may not be from BrookClan, but it is still tragic for us. BrookClan would not shelter a kit-murderer."

"The facts are clear: my daughter fell in the river and a cat from your Clan snapped her neck. You are sheltering a kit murderer by not giving us this cat's name, or even their gender," Ashfang hissed, turning his vicious gaze on the white deputy. This cat was getting under his pelt, and if she didn't start cooperating with him and Lynxstar soon, he would tear her throat out right there and then.

"I make allowances for your grief! But I will not tolerate you getting in Silverwind's face! She is not to blame for this! A BrookClan warrior tried to save your daughter, and I'm sorry it ended tragically, but if they had not been around she would have drowned! Was it not better that her last moments were with a cat trying to save her, instead of the lonely grips of the water?"

"Egretheart, calm down, I can take care of myself. Don't think you can handle this by yourself," Silverwind mewed, her demeanor icily calm. She could feel her displeasure at her arrival, but Moosejaw wasn't saying anything, and Egretheart was just further provoking the PeakClan cats.

"How dare you say my daughter had a death wish! Petalkit survived - there was no reason Firekit wouldn't have!" Ashfang yowled, his voice high pitched with anger. And yet the deputy went on.

"I will not give you the cat responsible, because the cat you mean was only trying to help. I'm willing to discuss this further, once the threat of an attack is no longer imminent. Sheath your claws, and I shall sheath mine. No more injuries need to be done today, but if you insist on your vengeance filled intents, BrookClan will defend itself."

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Ashfang launched himself forward, bowling over the smaller deputy. He had a lot of bulk in comparison to the she-cat, and he wouldn't have little to no problem outweighing her. The force of his attack drove their two bodies into Silverwind, who instantly jumped out of the way. Ashfang's forepaws shot out, grabbing one of her shoulders and the other landing a sharp blow to the side of her face. His forelegs dugs into the ground to stabilize himself - he would not get thrown off as easily as he did the last time.

{♥} ooc. We really need a BrookClan leader. o.o

[Dawn]

Lynxstar looked around as Silverwind appeared into the mix. She felt a surge of irritation. Was BrookClan really so stupid that they thought bringing their medicine cat out would defer the anger of a murdered kit? Lynxstar, as rude and rash as she might seem, would never hurt a medicine cat. It was against the warrior code. But even the calm medicine cat couldn't ease this.

"Would you all listen to yourselves! You keep demanding blood, but nobody has a clear idea of what happened! That kit may not be from BrookClan, but it is still tragic for us. BrookClan would not shelter a kit-murderer."

Lunxstar growled, turning her attention back to Egretheart. "In PeakClan we are taught to face our mistakes and take responsibility and punishment for them."

[/color] She spat, her eyes cold. "Without the primary witness, how can we know what really happened? You don't know the full story either, though I'd be damned if you didn't react the same way if the roles were reversed."[/color]

"I make allowances for your grief! But I will not tolerate you getting in Silverwind's face! She is not to blame for this! A BrookClan warrior tried to save your daughter, and I'm sorry it ended tragically, but if they had not been around she would have drowned! Was it not better that her last moments were with a cat trying to save her, instead of the lonely grips of the water?"

Lynxstar hissed with anger. "Would have died anyway? That's low, even for you, Egretheart."[/color] Her eyes were lit with fury, and it was all she could do to stop herself from leaping past Ashfang and shredding her ears. "You cannot expect to tell Ashfang what to do, especially when you won't show him the decency of allowing him to face his daughter's killer."[/color]

"I will not give you the cat responsible, because the cat you mean was only trying to help. I'm willing to discuss this further, once the threat of an attack is no longer imminent. Sheath your claws, and I shall sheath mine. No more injuries need to be done today, but if you insist on your vengeance filled intents, BrookClan will defend itself."

Lynxstar let out a derisive laugh. "Defend itself? From the sound of it, PeakClan are the cats who need to be watching their backs, Egretheart. If you allow your so called warriors to go around 'saving' kits from drowning by snapping their necks and then covering it up. In doing so, you're making yourself as guilty for Firekit's death as the actual killer."[/color]

"The facts are clear: my daughter fell in the river and a cat from your Clan snapped her neck. You are sheltering a kit murderer by not giving us this cat's name, or even their gender,"

"Egretheart, calm down, I can take care of myself. Don't think you can handle this by yourself,"

"How dare you say my daughter had a death wish! Petalkit survived - there was no reason Firekit wouldn't have!"

Lynxstar didn't bother trying to interject her voice into this discussion. She knew it would be pointless, and didn't want to waste her energy talking circles anymore. This was getting them nowhere, and it was starting to seriously irk her. If Egretheart was willing to put her Clan at war rather than just hand over the killer, so be it.

Lynxstar growled again as Ashfang launched himself at Egretheart. It was understandable of course, she could hardly blame him. But he had also almost hit Silverwind, which was unacceptable. Medicine cats were peaceful healers, and therefore any attack that threatened one was unacceptable. She leapt forward and pulled Ashfang back, her maw close to his ear. "Ashfang, stop this. We will get to the bottom of this, and you will get your revenge. But Egretheart is too stubborn to allow us access if we show more anger and ferocity."[/color] She hissed, quietly so only Ashfang could hear her. "I want Firekit's attacker brought to justice as well, but we need to be smart about this."[/color]

ooc; we really do.
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[Rachel]

"In PeakClan we are taught to face our mistakes and take responsibility and punishment for them. Without the primary witness, how can we know what really happened? You don't know the full story either, though I'd be damned if you didn't react the same way if the roles were reversed."

Egretheart couldn't help but agree with Lynxstar's statement, although she'd rather eat crow-food than admit it right now. She'd happily bring Blackheart out if she wasn't worried they would rip his throat out before he even got a chance to explain himself.

"Defend itself? From the sound of it, PeakClan are the cats who need to be watching their backs, Egretheart. If you allow your so called warriors to go around 'saving' kits from drowning by snapping their necks and then covering it up. In doing so, you're making yourself as guilty for Firekit's death as the actual killer."

Egretheart started to respond, only to hear Ashfang's yowl cut her off. "How dare you say my daughter had a death wish! Petalkit survived - there was no reason Firekit wouldn't have!" Egretheart shook her head, deciding not to respond. Everytime she spoke it just seemed to get worse anyways.

It didn't help her when Silverwind spurned her help. Does no one here listen to what I actually say? she thought in frustration. It seemed her words either got misunderstood or ignored, and she had no clue what to do about it.

"Ashfang, stop this. We will get to the bottom of this, and you will get your revenge. But Egretheart is too stubborn to allow us access if we show more anger and ferocity. I want Firekit's attacker brought to justice as well, but we need to be smart about this."

Finally! she thought in relief, although her demeanor did not change. It was time to reveal Blackheart's identity and she doubted it would go over well. "Thank you, all I wanted was to discuss this, claws sheathed. The cat that pulled Firekit from the river was Blackheart. He is back in camp. When you arrived I came to get the rest of the story from Moosejaw, who was with Blackheart at the time of the incident."

She knew that the PeakClan cats would want to meet Blackheart, but she was worried he wouldn't be able to explain himself. He was just so different, and did terrible under pressure.

[frosty]

"Ashfang, stop this. We will get to the bottom of this, and you will get your revenge. But Egretheart is too stubborn to allow us access if we show more anger and ferocity. I want Firekit's attacker brought to justice as well, but we need to be smart about this."

Ashfang thrashed violently as Lynxstar pulled him off Egretheart. He snarled his disapproval and stalked back, rage showing with every miniscule movement. His shoulders jutted out, sharp as a knife, with every low, slow step. He made his way towards Lynxstar and took his place behind her, bloodied pawsteps in his wake.

"Thank you, all I wanted was to discuss this, claws sheathed. The cat that pulled Firekit from the river was Blackheart. He is back in camp. When you arrived I came to get the rest of the story from Moosejaw, who was with Blackheart at the time of the incident."

The gray tom kept his maw shut. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to race to the BrookClan cat and find this Blackheart and tear his throat out, but logic stopped him. He remained icily calm, and eerily still. Ashfang couldn't lose the support of Lynxstar, and wouldn't disrespect her like that.

Ashfang shifted his gaze to Silverwind, and watched as the medicine cat's eyes widened. He thought BrookClan would go to every length to protect Blackheart's identity, and he was guessing by the shock on Silverwind's face, that she felt the same. To his mild surprise, Silverwind also kept her mouth shut, but as she looked at Egretheart, an obvious question was staring the deputy down: Was that really wise?

No matter to Ashfang. He now knew the name of Firekit's murderer. He turned his gaze on Lynxstar, anticipating her next move. Would she call war? Would she insist his exile? One thing was certain - Blackheart had dug his own grave, and BrookClan's credibility was now on the line.

[Dawn]

"Thank you, all I wanted was to discuss this, claws sheathed. The cat that pulled Firekit from the river was Blackheart. He is back in camp. When you arrived I came to get the rest of the story from Moosejaw, who was with Blackheart at the time of the incident."

Lynxstar's eyes narrowed slightly, trying to remember a cat called Blackheart. She seemed to manage a large black tom, but that was about it. She hadn't interacted with many BrookClan cats throughout her moons, had never trusted them.

Her eyes flicked to Ashfang as he stood furiously by her side, but to her relief he didn't move at this new announcement. Good, this back and forth was getting tiring. If either of them showed too much more hostility, it would have to come to a full on raid to get their paws on this Blackheart.

"Why was Blackheart not brought back to the scene?"

[/color] She asked, keeping her voice icily calm. "As Moosejaw has said nothing to enlighten us to the situation,"[/color] She cast a dark look at the brown tom. "I think it would have been wise to bring him so we could all hear what he believes really happened."[/color] She turned her eyes back to Egretheart.

"I want him brought here. Now."[/color]
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[Rachel]

Egretheart's eyes darkened as Lynxstar ordered her to bring Blackheart to the scene. She was walking a thin line, but she wasn't going to let it get to the point that Lynxstar would walk all over her. And she knew bringing Blackheart back was a bad idea. The tom wouldn't be able to explain himself even if Ashfang gave him a chance. Ashfang's silence worried her more than anything. She could tell he didn't appreciate Lynxstar calling off his attack, and she believed he had every intention of attacking Blackheart the second the tom surfaced.

And if PeakClan cats seeking revenge wasn't enough of a mess, she had a medicine cat in the middle of the mess. She had had about enough with Silverwind's disparaging looks questioning her every move. If she hadn't revealed Blackheart's identity, it would have caused a war for sure. Now the possibility was slightly less likely, although she knew PeakClan would want Blackheart handed over on a silver platter. For StarClan's sake, this wasn't a very easy situation to handle.

"Lynxstar, I have every intention of letting you speak with Blackheart, but doing so in a hostile environment would not do either of us any good. Blackheart does not lie, although his social skills leave something to be desired." She had no other way to describe dumb as a rock without sounding completely inappropriate. Blackheart was good natured, but speaking to cats he didn't know was near impossible for him. The only reason it would be a good idea to bring him out here was because he was good in a fight, although she was hoping it wouldn't come to that. "I have every confidence in him though. He informed me of this tragic accident himself, and he was quite grieved and traumatized as he told me." She tried to keep her voice as diplomatic as possible while adding a little steel to it.

ooc: We also need Moosejaw. I'm going to let him talk before I bring Blackheart back in. Blackheart will just make a mess of things.

[frosty]

{♥} Can someone get a hold of Pretz? We can't really further this thread without Moosejaw.

[pretzel]

Everything was happening so quickly, Moosejaw barely had time to react. Egretstar arrived on the scene and yowled at him, but before he had time to react, Ashfang was there, attacking his leader. Moosejaw was ready to throw himself into the fray when Egretstar threw off her attacker. The brown BrookClan warrior sat back then, relieved as Lynxstar came on the scene, letting everything pan out without his input.

Lynxstar and Ashfang were both irrational, both charged with incredible emotion that was nearly palpable in the air. And Moosejaw could completely understand why. Lynxstar and Ashfang were both demanding blood, and even though Blackheart had been a thorn in his side for a long time, the warrior considered the black cat a friend now. He felt his hackles raising as the PeakClan cats constantly referred to Blackheart as 'kit murderer,' but managed to keep his cool, staying quiet off to the side, even as Silverwind arrived.

Moosejaw saw no reason to interject as the scene played out. When Ashfang attacked Egretstar a second time, he leapt forward to pull the warrior off her, but Lynxstar beat him to it, which was probably for the best, as Moosejaw was ready to do more than stop Ashfang. This entire ordeal was playing out way too long and Moosejaw just wanted it to end, to return to his nest and curl up and sleep until new-leaf.

But then Egretstar revealed Blackheart as the warrior who had accidentally killed Firekit, and he knew things were far from over. Ashfang was oddly quiet, Lynxstar was asking for Blackheart's head, and Silverwind kept her tongue as Egretstar tried to defend the kind-hearted but bumbling warrior.

Things were going quickly and Moosejaw needed to stand up for his friend before things got worse.

"Blackheart won't be able to properly explain what happened," Moosejaw mewed quietly, raising his head to look at Lynxstar and Ashfang. His voice grew stronger as he continued on, as his confidence in his words grew. "I was there, I saw everything that happened.

"First of all, you should all know that Blackheart is not the brightest of warriors. He has a kind heart, but he doesn't know his own strength and he's pretty much an idiot." Moosejaw knew that he needed to be honest here, to tell the PeakClan cats exactly what happened and how it happened, so that they knew he was telling the truth. "Egretstar sent me after Blackheart, since he was out here collecting rocks for whatever reason. I was with Blackheart for a while when two kits from BrookClan came to the river. I don't know what they were doing or why they were out of camp, but that doesn't seem to matter now. One of the kits fell in the river. I hate to say it, but I was too far away at the time to do anything. Blackheart jumped into the river after the kit and the second kit jumped into the river as well.

"The second kit managed to pull herself to safety, just as Blackheart reached the first kit. I tried to tell him to be gentle, but he couldn't hear me. He grabbed her by the scruff and swam to the bank, pulling her out onto PeakClan territory. I wasn't close enough to see it, but I'm sure the kit was dead." Moosejaw looked over at Ashfang, truly remorseful for what had happened. "I'm sorry." His voice was quieter as he continued his story. "I crossed the border and checked the kit, but she wasn't breathing. I thought she had just swallowed too much water. I did everything I could to help her, but I'm no medicine cat. And then I realized that her neck had snapped, that she was dead.

"The other kit was understandably upset at the first kit's death, and she ran off before I could do anything. I'm sure you all know the rest."

Moosejaw looked between Lynxstar and Ashfang. Although the brown warrior didn't have any kits of his own, he could only imagine the pain and anger Ashfang was feeling. "Lynxstar, Ashfang, you need to know that this was all an accident. Blackheart didn't mean to hurt the kit, much less kill her. He was trying to help in the only way he knew how. Please understand that. No more blood needs to be shed today."

He didn't know how much he was helping, if he had even done the right thing, but he prayed to StarClan that the cats would calm down, that everything could be alright. But if it wasn't, Moosejaw knew he would go to any length to protect his Clan.

[Dawn]

"Blackheart won't be able to properly explain what happened,"

Lynxstar turned her head as Moosejaw spoke, her eyes sparkling with anger.

"I was there, I saw everything that happened."

She growled, her hackles raising. She was about to reply, say he was as much at fault then, for allowing one of his fellows to murder a defenseless kit, but she managed to pull herself back. She wanted this settled and Blackheart handed over now, but she knew that BrookClan would want to try and calm them down first.

"First of all, you should all know that Blackheart is not the brightest of warriors. He has a kind heart, but he doesn't know his own strength and he's pretty much an idiot. Egretstar sent me after Blackheart, since he was out here collecting rocks for whatever reason. I was with Blackheart for a while when two kits from PeakClan came to the river. I don't know what they were doing or why they were out of camp, but that doesn't seem to matter now. One of the kits fell in the river. I hate to say it, but I was too far away at the time to do anything. Blackheart jumped into the river after the kit and the second kit jumped into the river as well.

The second kit managed to pull herself to safety, just as Blackheart reached the first kit. I tried to tell him to be gentle, but he couldn't hear me. He grabbed her by the scruff and swam to the bank, pulling her out onto PeakClan territory. I wasn't close enough to see it, but I'm sure the kit was dead.

I'm sorry. I crossed the border and checked the kit, but she wasn't breathing. I thought she had just swallowed too much water. I did everything I could to help her, but I'm no medicine cat. And then I realized that her neck had snapped, that she was dead.

The other kit was understandably upset at the first kit's death, and she ran off before I could do anything. I'm sure you all know the rest.

Lynxstar, Ashfang, you need to know that this was all an accident. Blackheart didn't mean to hurt the kit, much less kill her. He was trying to help in the only way he knew how. Please understand that. No more blood needs to be shed today."

Lynxstar hissed slowly, allowing Moosejaw's words to hang in the air. She touched the tip of her tail to Ashfang's shoulder, just to make sure he knew to keep his head and not leap forward again. "This cat, you call him an idiot. You don't think it irresponsible to allow such a cat to be called a warrior, to be allowed to interact with my Clan, cats he could harm? He may not have meant to kill Firekit, but he did. Stupidity is not an excuse for murder."

[/color] She meowed, keeping her voice cool and level. If any excuse was going to anger her more, it was the stupidity excuse. If there was anything she valued highest of all, it was intelligence. Any cat who didn't have that, in her opinion, should not be allowed to be a warrior.

"It sounds to me as though this was a long time coming. If not to my Clan, than in yours. But it was against PeakClan, and Blackheart must be brought to justice. In doing so, you're probably saving some of your own."[/color] She continued, looking hard at Egretstar. Despite her other faults, Egretstar must realize this, it seemed quite obvious to Lynxstar. But if BrookClan wouldn't hand over Blackheart willingly, Lynxstar was more than willing to allow forceful action by her Clan. She would never allow someone who had killed a PeakClan kit go free.
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[frosty]

"This cat, you call him an idiot. You don't think it irresponsible to allow such a cat to be called a warrior, to be allowed to interact with my Clan, cats he could harm? He may not have meant to kill Firekit, but he did. Stupidity is not an excuse for murder."

"It sounds to me as though this was a long time coming. If not to my Clan, than in yours. But it was against PeakClan, and Blackheart must be brought to justice. In doing so, you're probably saving some of your own."

Ashfang felt Lynxstar’s tail on his shoulder, and he shrugged it off. He stood, unblinking, as Moosejaw spoke, showing no reaction whatsoever. His vision blurred, and the brown warrior and his white leader melted into the backdrop of the Silver Falls. He narrowed his cold eyes, digesting everything that the BrookClan tom had to say. Ashfang had no care to any explanation, and apparently neither did Lynxstar. He felt a rush of pride - the only thing he felt other than raw anger – that his leader was so fiercely loyal to the kits of her Clan.

“The fact here is one of our kits, my daughter, is dead. Plain and simple. Look to your left; her body is right there. Waterlogged, and empty. She died afraid. Fear was the last thing she felt before she joined StarClan. And the cat who killed her is probably snuggled up in his nest at camp. What were you thinking, allowing a cat who isn’t mentally up to par to become a warrior? Is that what BrookClan considers worthy of defending their Clan? You raise slow warriors who become kit killers. Accident or not, he broke her neck. She didn’t drown. Her neck was snapped. Egretstar, if you don’t do right by Firekit, then PeakClan will.”

His ears laid flat, and his heart was racing. There was nothing wrong with his threat, he believed. He knew Lynxstar would engage war if justice was not carried out. Egretstar was a new leader, yes, but her leadership was hanging by a spider thread. He would give her a quarter moon, he decided. One week was more than enough time to think of a thorough punishment. And if he found out that Blackheart was tending to elders to had been demoted to an apprentice, he would take matters into his own paws. Having Blackheart dead would be ideal, but Ashfang would not risk his own place in his Clan. Exile was the only thing that would please him.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m taking my daughter back to camp so we can begin her vigil,” he spat, turning around and padding over to Firekit’s limp body. His pawsteps were slow, each one causing a great deal of pain. He hadn’t seen her orange-and-black form up close yet, and the sight nearly made him sick. Her fur was sticking up in clumps, and her head was lolled back at a strange angle. Ashfang dipped his head, and closed her clouded bright orange eyes for the last time. He grasped the tiny kitten by her scruff, and without a word, disappeared into the canopy on the PeakClan side, without another look at the BrookClan cats, or without giving Egretstar a chance to reply.

[Rachel]

Egretstar suppressed a growl. Moosejaw had finally decided to talk, and of course he had to start by calling Blackheart an idiot. That'll make PeakClan forgive him she thought sarcastically. The rest of his story played out the way she had imagine it would. She couldn't imagine Blackheart viciously attacking a kit, she could only see it being an accident. She watched Lynxstar and Ashfang carefully for any response as Moosejaw relayed his story, but there were no interruptions.

When he finished it was silent for a moment, although Egretstar decided to wait and let Lynxstar speak first. Moosejaw's story had been genuine, and it showed that it had been an accident. She hoped this was enough to keep PeakClan at bay for now. She was wrong.

"This cat, you call him an idiot. You don't think it irresponsible to allow such a cat to be called a warrior, to be allowed to interact with my Clan, cats he could harm? He may not have meant to kill Firekit, but he did. Stupidity is not an excuse for murder. It sounds to me as though this was a long time coming. If not to my Clan, than in yours. But it was against PeakClan, and Blackheart must be brought to justice. In doing so, you're probably saving some of your own."

This time Egretstar was unable to completely suppress the growl that rose to her throat. Nothing that BrookClan could say would appease PeakClan's thirst for blood, even if it was for an innocent cat. Egretstar's mind was set before Ashfang spoke, BrookClan would not leave Blackheart to PeakClan's mercy. She watched as Ashfang turned and left, taking the body of the kit with him before speaking.

"It is not PeakClan's decision who BrookClan warriors are. Blackheart has been nothing but a loyal warrior since he received his warrior name. I do not have to justify to you why he was apprenticed, or why he received his warrior name. What happened here was an accident, and I won't let you destroy the life of a warrior that was only trying to help. Go home, and think on this before you do anything rash. BrookClan will deal with Blackheart to make sure that this tragic accident is never repeated."

[Dawn]

“The fact here is one of our kits, my daughter, is dead. Plain and simple. Look to your left; her body is right there. Waterlogged, and empty. She died afraid. Fear was the last thing she felt before she joined StarClan. And the cat who killed her is probably snuggled up in his nest at camp. What were you thinking, allowing a cat who isn’t mentally up to par to become a warrior? Is that what BrookClan considers worthy of defending their Clan? You raise slow warriors who become kit killers. Accident or not, he broke her neck. She didn’t drown. Her neck was snapped. Egretstar, if you don’t do right by Firekit, then PeakClan will.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m taking my daughter back to camp so we can begin her vigil,”

Lynxstar watched Ashfang pad over to his little daughter, feeling her heart constrict. She had no kits to lose, but she felt the strength of his grief as though it was her own. The loss of such a young, promising cat was really a blow to all of PeakClan. It was the first time Lynxstar's eyes really fell on Firekit since she arrived, and she felt her throat tighten. She looked tiny, with her water logged fur and twisted neck. It was hard to even accept the fact that she was now dead. Lynxstar had seen her and Petalkit that morning before leaving the camp, happily playing as little kits should, and now she was dead. Never to experience an apprenticeship, a warriorship, a lifetime of happiness and love.

"It is not PeakClan's decision who BrookClan warriors are. Blackheart has been nothing but a loyal warrior since he received his warrior name. I do not have to justify to you why he was apprenticed, or why he received his warrior name. What happened here was an accident, and I won't let you destroy the life of a warrior that was only trying to help. Go home, and think on this before you do anything rash. BrookClan will deal with Blackheart to make sure that this tragic accident is never repeated."

Lynxstar turned her face back to Egretstar, not even bothering to try to wipe the sadness from her face. She felt drained. For one of the first times in her life, she wished she was a kit again and could curl up against the soft fur of her mother, with her brothers. Even Bramblepelt. She held Egretstar's gaze though, for her strength surely showed through this grief, because she felt the resilience and bold fierceness that had allowed her to overcome so many obstacles through her life bubbling inside her along with her anger.

"Granting a cat warriorship simply because you feel bad not doing so is not a kindness to that cat or any others, Egretstar. You can try to halt the events that are sure to come from this cat, but if the past is any indication, you are not in control."

[/color] She forced herself to sheath her claws, wanting to return to the PeakClan camp and comfort her grieving Clanmates. "But rest assured, if Blackheart is not punished for his actions against a defenseless kit, PeakClan will not hesitate to intervene. You may be afraid to do the things that are necessary to lead a Clan, but I am not."[/color] With that, Lynxstar turned her back on the BrookClan cats and followed Ashfang's trail back into PeakClan territory and out of sight of the BrookClan border.
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[pretzel]

Things were happening too quickly, too fast for Moosejaw to stop them. Lynxstar was calling Blackheart an idiot (and to be fair to the PeakClan leader, they were his words first. But hearing it come from the mouth of a stranger made it wrong.) Ashfang was leaving, taking the kit's body with him. Egretstar was backing up Blackheart and as much as Moosejaw wanted to join in, to fight for his friend, he knew it would be better if he stayed quiet. He had already said far too much.

"Granting a cat warriorship simply because you feel bad not doing so is not a kindness to that cat or any others, Egretstar. You can try to halt the events that are sure to come from this cat, but if the past is any indication, you are not in control. But rest assured, if Blackheart is not punished for his actions against a defenseless kit, PeakClan will not hesitate to intervene. You may be afraid to do the things that are necessary to lead a Clan, but I am not."

Moosejaw felt his hackles raise at Lynxstar's words and wanted nothing more than to defend Egretstar's honor. He knew, however, that doing so would make matters even worse, would cause even more tension between the two clans. And so he held his tongue, keeping quiet as Lynxstar also left the clearing, leaving Egretstar and Moosejaw alone.

The brown warrior turned to his leader, eyes downcast and head hung. "Egretstar, I am so sorry. Please, I tried to keep Blackheart safe and I just wanted to help, but I seem to have made things worse." He looked up at her, his once vibrant eyes tired. "What are we going to do?"

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[Rachel]

"Granting a cat warriorship simply because you feel bad not doing so is not a kindness to that cat or any others, Egretstar. You can try to halt the events that are sure to come from this cat, but if the past is any indication, you are not in control.But rest assured, if Blackheart is not punished for his actions against a defenseless kit, PeakClan will not hesitate to intervene. You may be afraid to do the things that are necessary to lead a Clan, but I am not."

Even as Lynxstar sheathed her claws, Egretstar felt a wave of rage roll through her body. She hadn't even been the leader of BrookClan that had given Blackheart his warrior name! Still, as she thought on it she realized she would have done the same. She would of given Blackheart the chance too. He deserved it. She swallowed her tongue, allowing Lynxstar to vanish back into her own territory. If she fought more with her now, it would only lead to a fight.

Almost as quickly as it came, she felt the rage vanish along with PeakClan's leader. It was replaced with exhaustion. The cuts on her shoulders burned, and her whole body ached from the physical pain of her wounds. Her mind was not much better, filled with worries, and problems without solutions.

"Egretstar, I am so sorry. Please, I tried to keep Blackheart safe and I just wanted to help, but I seem to have made things worse. What are we going to do?"

Egretstar looked at Moosejaw, surprised to find her frustation at the warrior had subsided as well. "We go home. We go home and we tell the Clan what happened." She didn't know how it would be taken, she didn't know who would take what side. It would be chaos, but she knew that everyone deserved to know what happened. "Silverwind, take Blackheart into the medicine cat den when we return. I don't want him in the clearing when I inform the Clan. Afterwards, no cat can visit him without my permission, and he is not allowed to leave."