Risk Assessment (Open Clan Meeting;; IMPORTANT)

Anger blazed through Sparkpaw at Ashstar's words. How dare Rippedstar say that? Guilt is a good enough punishment? He did not imagine Rippedstar would be so naive. He was a leader! He wanted to shout "Yes! Go to war!" but he was wise enough to see the consequences of a battle against SkyClan. SkyClan had three other allies which would probably fight for SkyClan, since they were stupid enough to side with SkyClan in the first place. Many cats would be wounded, and they were only just recovering from RiverClan's despicable attack on them. Finally he meowed, "No. We shouldn't go to war against SkyClan. It would be stupid. If we fought, many more cats will get injured, or die. We can't afford that."

Listening as Ashstar explained the situation at hand, Smokepelt's fur stood on edge and he bared his teeth. Rippedstar... that foxheart. He knew that traitor would never make a good enough leader, and just having been appointed to his new rank, he was already showing his faults. Looking around, most cats seemed to be outraged at what they're heard, which was expected of course.

While Smokepelt would've personally liked to claw some SkyClan pelts, he silently agreed that going to war wouldn't be beneficial for the clan, seeing that they were still recovering from the battle with RiverClan. They couldn't afford to lose anymore cats. Him and his mother both hated that coward of a cat, Rippedstar, equally, and he understood where she was coming from. But, if she was smart, she wouldn't let her anger cloud her judgement in deciding what was best for the clan, especially if it was all just over a single cat's death and Rippedstar's inability to deal with his transgressions...

Fernpaw’s heart broke at learning this horrific news. One of her Clanmates was killed by SkyClan, and that fiendish Clan refused to do anything about it. What if it was one of their apprentices who were killed? Would they have expected Ashstar to do nothing to punish the perpetrator as well? Or would they cruelly attack WindClan in vengeance anyway?

SkyClan were just as cruel and merciless as RiverClan. And the two Clans were allies now. If WindClan attacked SkyClan, RiverClan would surely overpower them, and who could imagine just how many dead WindClan cats there would be when the dust settled?

She didn’t like SkyClan anymore because of this, but risking countless lives to avenge one wasn’t worth the risk, as much as she hated to admit.

”May I put in my input?” Fernpaw meowed, though she went on without waiting for permission to speak. ”SkyClan and RiverClan are both allies now. If we attacked SkyClan, RiverClan would back them up. RiverClan has no problem killing any other cat, and I don’t think SkyClan cares if WindClan cats die either. If we go to war with SkyClan, it would be a massacre!” Her meow turned into a fearful squeak at the mere thought: her father, her aunts and uncle, all the cats she loved... dead. She couldn’t bear the thought. She whimpered and shut her eyes tightly, trembling all over, trying not to cry.

"Of course we should attack them!" Nectarleap cried, than realized he was a bit louder than he had intended. Well, he didn't even care. His son was dead, so why should he have to hide his anger? He thought Ashstar was being so much smarter than Rippedstar, yet she was still stating this as a question! Why wasn't it an order? Growling, he pushed his way to the front. "If we take them by surprise, how would they have time to ask for RiverClan's help? We could just attack with an advantage, and force them to punish Hazelpaw in at least some form more than guilt and a delayed warrior ceremony! Just one battle to avenge and get justice for Willowpaw's death! It doesn't have to be a forest-wide war! If another battle ensued, we could ask ThunderClan for help! But why hesitate when we could have a big advantage? Though ThunderClan is our allies, they didn't know it when we were being stacked! Why would RiverClan magically be able to tel with SkyClan? There is no reason we shouldn't show our strength and show those mouse-brained fox-hearts that we don't allow them to get away with murder!"

"A momentary advantage is just what it sounds like- momentary." Brindlewhisker stressed, head swaying slightly in emphasis to her brief statement, "Irregardless of the outcome of the potential battle, it could just be nothing more than a few mere heartbeats until we bring down the wrath of the entire forest upon our heads. Even with ThunderClan by our side, there's no plausible outcome where we don't escape with brutal damage and mass causalities." The weary resignation that clung to her words hardly masked the embers of fury that still simmered deep within her chest. Each thoughtful contribution and subsequent display of emotion upon her Clanmates faces only served to further tighten the ever strengthening knot of conflict deep within her gut. They had already witnessed SkyClan's blatant disregard for life once, were they really willing to try it once again? Were the lives of her Clanmates really worth a brief moment of satisfaction?

Defeat weighed down upon her shoulders and bitterness pooled upon her tongue. Twisting around to gaze up at Ashstar, Brindlewhisker hesitated for a heartbeat before speaking once more. "Rippedstar's leadership abilities are greener than the forest during early Newleaf, but even that doesn't denote an easily won battle. We have too few Warriors, too many Apprentices, weak allies and hardly any herbs. If we choose to fight, we risk the destruction of everything we've built. Willowpaw's name deserves to be laid to rest with justice, but actively seeking vengeance will not ensure such."

Featherlight let out a soft breath of relief as at least her mother saw sense. "Brindlewhisker is right," she spoke up, her usually soft voice loud (well, loud for Featherlight) and clear. "We don't have many warriors, and despite the blessings of Newleaf we certainly don't have many herbs. We simply can't afford to go to war with SkyClan, especially when they're allied with RiverClan." Besides that, there was no way that the answer to violence was more violence, but she kept that thought to herself for now.

Foxpaw was stuned. She turned to Shadefall "Guilt?! What kind of a punishment is that!" How could Rippedstar say such a thing?! Foxpaw was surprised that a leader could be such a foxhearted flee-brain.
After calming herself down a bit, she began to think about what they should do. "I think we should tell Thunderclan what happen,so Rippedstar doesn't go spreading rumors." She concluded.

Poppypaw frowned. Was WindClan really ready for another war? And if they were ready for it, what good would it do them, especially if they lost to SkyClan?? It was sad to see her Clanmates so hurt, and clearly the SkyClan apprentice that had committed this horrible crime wasn't being punished enough. Clearly, though, war wasn't the best option? But she kept her mouth shut. Complaining wouldn't do her any good, especially with Nectarleap in such a rage. She would fight for her Clan if she had to, but she wasn't about to support the idea. Brindlewhisker and Featherlight were right - there was no way they had enough herbs to sustain the Clan through another battle.

Sweetpaw listened to the other cats speak, paying especially close attention to Brindlewhisker's words. The longer they spoke of this, the quicker Sweetpaw's anger disappeared, replaced by weariness and grief. Finally, as Featherlight and Foxpaw spoke up, Sweetpaw realized that only vengeance would be found in a war, not justice, and she knew in her heart Willowpaw would not have wanted that. Nodding to herself, Sweetpaw spoke up once more.

"Brindlewhisker and Featherlight are right, we aren't ready for a war, but Foxpaw has a point as well. We should send someone to tell Thunderclan what has happened and then at the next gathering we should demand that Skyclan punish the murderer properly. Attacking their entire clan wouldn't get use the justice we want, and Willowpaw wouldn't have wanted us harming innocent cats to seek out vengeance in his name." Feeling she had said all that she needed to, Sweetpaw turned and went back to her brother's side to touch noses with him one last time.

As the clan bickered among themselves, Boulderkit couldn't believe what he was hearing. How weak were they? He didn't quite understand how serious death was, only that an apprentice had went to StarClan and that she'd never come back, but it was all SkyClan's fault! They'd broken the warrior code! And the best WindClan could do was ... talk about it? And that was it?

"That's so... so... mouse-brained," He mumbled. It left a bad taste in his mouth and with ill thoughts towards the clan across the forest. Make him an apprentice now! He'd go fight them all himself!

Dovestream's gray tail lashed as she inwardly fought a battle with her own self. Right now, all she wanted to do was sink her claws into the worthless flesh of SkyClan's cats. Guilt? What kind of punishment was guilt? If Dovestream was the leader, she would've given that murderous apprentice something that she'd be able to remember for a long, long time. The warrior's claws sank into the ground just thinking about it. However, a more reasonable side of her was poking at the fire that was ablaze in her heart. WindClan had only recently been mercilessly raided and stripped of territory, prey, and herbs. Sure, they had the territory and the prey back, but herbs were what stepped in to help when cats were injured. If WindClan was already low on herbs, then why would they attempt to get more cats hurt so they can waste more? Well... unless they stole herbs from SkyClan in the process.
"I'm sure a lot of us would love to rip up some maggot-filled pelts of SkyClanners right now," Dovestream started, slowly yet loudly, "But we're low on herbs, now! Our injuries won't be properly healed if we're struggling. However, Ashstar, if I may propose something... if we do end up attacking SkyClan, we can rob them of their herbs in the process! RiverClan did it to us! If it comes down to a battle, we can show them that WindClan isn't afraid to steal to survive. Plus, who cares if those stupid twig-whiskered idiots lose their herbs?"

When Sparkpaw heard Dovestream's words, he shook his head. Although he would have liked to do so, that would just make them look like a bunch of hypocritical mouse-brains. After all, Ashstar had brought it up during the Gathering and exchanged some glares at Ivystar, RiverClan's leader, and now they were going to do it themselves? "That's a bad idea. What RiverClan did was fox-hearted, but if we did it ourselves we be just as bad as they were."

Ashstar listened carefully to the voices of all of her Clanmates, heart heavy with the reason and logic that battled with her fury and sense of justice. Although there were those under the Tallrock who called for war, and to the Dark Forest with the consequences, the majority of her warriors- as well as her deputy, and her conscience- assuaded that war was not the best choice right now. If they hadn't just been razed by RiverClan, and if it weren't for the mouse-brained web of alliances tangling the forest, the larger, swifter, better-trained Clan could easily overtake the rogues and young cats of SkyClan, and give Rippedstar a taste of justice... and a promise that she wouldn't let this happen to her Clan. However, though it was painful to admit, WindClan was not in a fit state to attack anyone and then weather another attack by those bloodthirsty fish-eaters. In her leader ceremony, which seemed like forever ago, her mentor Wolftrot had given her a life for wisdom. "Remember that the lives of others, from the youngest kit to the oldest elder, always rest on the choices you make." Now, it was time for her to use the blessing she'd been given, as much as her heart cried out otherwise.

The leader sighed, then stood up again. She cut through the arguing with a sharp yowl, then turned her attention to each Clanmate in turn, lingering on the faces of Featherlight and Brindlewhisker, whose counsel she valued the most. Both had also counseled against war. "As much as I want to give those feather-hearted SkyClan cats the justice they deserve," Ashstar sighed heavily, "the majority of you agree with my instinct that our Clan is currently not ready for war. However, I will make sure to talk with Blizzardstar and make sure that we have ThunderClan's support, in case Rippedstar and his code-breaking Clanmates decide to make the first move. This does not in any way mean that I do not want vengeance for Willowpaw's death." Her green eyes were on Nectarleap now. "But going to war with SkyClan would inevitably bring RiverClan and ShadowClan down on us. I trust you all not to go looking for trouble, or do anything foolish. Until we are back to our strength, we must trust that StarClan will someday give that murderer the justice she deserves." With those final words, the gray-furred she-cat ended the meeting, jumping off the Tallrock, seeming more worn and old than ever as the consequences of her words lay heavy on her shoulders. However, some of the pain was relieved by a faint breeze that smelled like Wolftrot.

Lilypaw was shocked hearing that one of here clanmates had died by a murderer made here blood run cold. when hearing about a war she felt like it should be like it was justice at the same time she did not have any training yet so it would be very unlikely she would actually go. as so she preferably shut here mouth now.

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Lilypaw of wind clan
Owlkit of thunderclan