The Truth Always Comes Out [OPEN, Lionspark's Murder Trial - Self-Defense/Protecting The Clan]

Blizzardstar walked out from her den with sad eyes and paws that felt as heavy as boulders. Her chest ached, knowing that the first time she was going to call her clan for a murder trial it was going to be against one of her best friends…she just hoped the rest of the clan would understand that while she did kill a clanmate it was an act of self-defense and to protect the clan, a last second decision that was forced upon her, not a foxhearted action that came from a dangerous murderer “Sit there…” She pointed at a spot beneath the Highrock that would be good enough for the whole clan to see her during the trial, but its position would also make it extremely hard if not impossible for any cat to be able to escape like Rockthorn did if the thought crossed their mind.

After Lionspark got to the indicated spot she jumped on top of the Highrock and after taking a deep breath to calm herself and not let her voice crack she finally made the call “All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highrock for a clan meeting!” Her voice was heavy with sadness and nervousness, she could feel the fur on her tail standing on end just by thinking on the worst case scenarios that could come out from this trial.

Lionspark was silent as she followed after the leader, only giving a soft dip of her head in acknowledge as she padded down to the spot Blizzardstar had pointed out. Sitting down, she stared down at the ground beneath her as she heard the calling for everybody ring out above her, swallowing past the lump in her throat. She deserved this - she knew she did. She had crossed a line with her actions and she...She wasn't worth it. She wasn't worth lying over like Specklefang had done. She had to own up to her own actions that night...It felt almost impossible to remove the sicking taste of blood from her mouth...Whatever the Clan decided, she knew it was best. She doubted any of them truly cared for her - if they found her guilty and exiled her...Then that would be her fate. No reason to fight what she always knew...

Shadowleaf had been taking a nap in the warriors' den when Blizzardstar's words woke her up from her comfy nest. What was it now? The gray and white warrior blinked the sleepiness from her eyes. She stood and stretched before padding out of the den and over to in front of the rock. Her amber eyes looked at Lionspark before looking up at Blizzardstar. This was a bit more serious than just a simple announcement wasn't it? The warrior let out a sigh before settling down for a somewhat long meeting.

Emberpaw was almost done with her current duties, and at Blizzardstar's call she rushed to finish it. Hoping it wasn't too sloppy, she made her way to the Clan meeting, wondering what on earth this meeting could be for.

Crowpaw walked out from the apprentice den and went over to highrock as hi heard his leaders call. What was going on now? he wonderd.

Daisypaw came out of the apprentice den when she heard the leaders call. When she got out she saw that her mentor was at the rock. She walked over to crowpaw and asked what was going on. "lionspark what is going on." she yelled at her mentor. "if you leave who will train me." she started to cry.

Spottedpaw came out of the den and noticed that Daisypaw and crowpaw where already there and that Daisypaw was in tears. She looked at the rock and gasped. Daisypaws mentor was up there and that couldn't be good. She walked over to spottedpaw licked him then tried to comfort Daisypaw.

Birdflight walked out of the warrior's den at the sound of Blizzardstar's voice. She noticed Lionspark sitting in an odd spot. She narrowed her eyes in confusion but said nothing.

Specklefang knew the very instant she saw the defeat on her mothers face and Blizzardstars serious expression. 'Oh no...' Did her mother not understand that the very lie she went through the effort of constructing was to keep her mother safe? And now it was jeopardized! Not only that, but Blizzardstar could possibly be exiling her mother. Specklefang would not allow that to happen. Specklefang padded out from the medicine cat den, her face stormy as she waited for Blizzardstar to start the meeting.

At the sound of Blizzardstar's despair-laced summons, Leopardclaw paused in his grooming and looked up, his greenish-hazel eyes rounded curiously. Hmm? What could this be? Rising to his paws, the golden spotted tabby weaved his way through the crowd until he found a spot near the front; it was then that he took notice of Lionspark. The half-blind warrior was sitting below the Highrock in clear view of the whole clan, looking uncomfortable. Instantly, the tom was concerned. He remained silent though, and looked up calmly at his white rosetted leader. All would be explained soon, he was sure.

Birchpaw dropped the old moss in the dirtplace, finally giving into the uncomfortable feeling of her nest as it dried out. She plopped near the front, more experienced clanmates sat closer but she wasn't going to let that stop her.

Spottedpaw looked up from Daisypaw to see her mother and remembered that lionspark was her grandma. She ran up to specklefang and sat down since Daisypaw was only in shock that she might need a new mentor. "mom what's going on will my friend Daisypaw need a new mentor?" she asked her mom. She looked back to see Daisypaw still in shock and she got worried.

Flowerpaw padded forward and sat down, feeling anxious. What's going on? she wondered.

Darkflight hovered near the fresh-kill pile, watching. The old she-cat had been in a haze since the news reached her ears. That her son, Bramblefrost, one of her last living children, had been killed. Every day she would see him from the corner of her eye, only to turn and remember what had happened. While she still had Shrewheart, the camp still felt so much emptier without him. Parents were not supposed to outlive their children. The forlorn she-cat found herself staring into a puddle that reflected the sky, and her, perfectly. When did she get these grey hairs? Was her fur always this disheveled-looking? Her eyes were lifeless, the color of the dying leaves that usually clung to the trees all around ThunderClan's territory this time of year.

The warrior did not approach at Blizzardstar's call. She remained, waiting. Motionless.

Blizzardstar took a deep breath before finally speaking, wishing deep inside her that she didn’t have to do this to begin with “Lionspark came to my den earlier with…unexpected news, regarding the death of Bramblefrost” She allowed some seconds to pass, feeling her heart beating quickly against her chest “We all know the version told to us by Specklefang, about the fox. Well, there was no fox, and I don’t blame Specklefang for telling a lie, we all probably would have if in her position” Her eyes drifted towards Speklefang as she spoke. Making public that she had lied wasn’t something she enjoyed in the slightest, but it had to be done.

She, however, had to force herself to carry on, not allow her words to get stuck in her throat like they intended to “Lionspark explained to me what happened at the Stony Hollow that day. How Bramblefrost admitted the lack of true love towards her and a thirst for power most of us ignored, how he landed the first blow and how she reacted…in self-defense and to protect our clan as she had sworn to do many moons back during her warrior ceremony” The white leader first made sure that the most elemental points were made across, to let the clan know that, according to Lionspark’s version of the story, this had been done in self-defense and to keep the clan safe and not following any kind of darker intentions.

“However, this doesn’t takes away what was done. The fault I gathered you all here to discuss and come with a fair punishment for. Lionspark admitted to me that she murdered Bramblefrost that day” The last words left an awful aftertaste on Blizzardstar’s mouth and caused her whole body to go tense, awaiting for her clan’s reaction. She started praying to StarClan, praying that they would realize that while what Lionspark’s action was terribly wrong, the intentions behind it lacked any kind of evil…that they wouldn’t force her to…exile her…

Lionspark could feel the gazes of the Clan upon her - even if none of them knew the reason she stood beneath the rock...Her ears slicked back at the sound of her own apprentice's voice, her gaze flickering upwards toward Daisypaw. She was near the end of her time as an apprentice - she knew that she would be fine if things didn't turn out well. No, in all honestly Lionspark found herself more worried for Thistlepaw - her own granddaughter...She straighten up slightly, scanning the clearing for Thistlepaw but couldn't make her out in the crowd. However, a familiar pelt caused the warrior's blood to turn cold as she saw Darkflight standing there among the cats. 'I'm sorry...' she mouthed toward the much older warrior, knowing that the blood of her son was on her paws as Blizzardstar started to speak and Lionspark lowered her gaze to the ground once more - her ears flat on her head as the leader explained what she had done to the whole of the Clan, ready to accept any sharp words thrown at her. Her fate was on their paws but she already resigned herself to whatever they decided to do with her.