You Caused It (CLOSED)

The Gathering was over and with it, Riverclan had returned home to rest. However, he was not done yet. With a lashing tail, the leader stood up in Goldeneye's way before she could go to her den. He also called Scorchclaw to follow him so the three of them could have a serious discussion about the current situation. "Goldeneye, follow me to my den, now." He demanded shortly and cold.

There was no emotion in his eyes and his expression was far from the kind one he always had. Making sure Scorchclaw escorted the medicine cat with him, the three of them entered into the cave under the willow tree. The tall silver tabby landed his sharp gaze on the feline who betrayed him and the clan behind their backs. He was furious, there was no point in denying that. However, he was done of letting out his rage. He was so done of letting his emotions control his actions. No... this time he had to act with diplomacy and not be afraid of punishing Goldeneye with what she deserved. "Goldeneye... do you have any idea of what you've done? What were you thinking when you decided to go and negotiate with Brindlestar and then simply don't tell us a thing about the retrieve of a safe passage to the Moonstone? You have plenty of time to just come to me or Scorchclaw after Lichenmask death yet you decided to keep as a secret, work behind the back of your clan with another clan's leader and hide important information. I would have never thought... that I would ever consider you as a possible traitor... and I don't want to." His words were straight to the point and were spoken with true honesty. The tom didn't know his former mate anymore. The she-cat he knew and loved... was a devoted Riverclan cat who knew what was the best to do for her clan. She motivated Ivystar to start a war against Windclan in order to have enough herbs and food and now, she was helping them, letting her clanmates' sake far behind. Even though she might do this to save their clan from another fight, leaf-bare was coming and with her little bargain, Riverclan had been suffering attacks in the Gorge, one of their hunting places. How were they going to survive the cold season with so many cats and less hunting ground?

Goldeneye's jaw clenched and jutted as she looked away from Jaystar, her whole form stiff and rigid. "But that means you now currently are?" She snorted. "You seem to have forgotten that I was sick at the time; I still am. It was completely my intention to let you know as soon as I could but time slipped through my paws. Training Fallowpaw, Briarpaw, the Moonstone Journeys, the Medicine cat Meeting. I suppose now is a good time as any to let you know that as per agreement I will be training their medicine cat." Goldeneye continued to look away, she wanted to tell him about the war agreement, but if he knew then she wouldn't be able to warn Windclan if she had to. Her ears flicked, "I know you. So I know you're worried about how we will get our food, and Windclan is a bit too strong of a clan to take on, their perseverance through Leaf-bare last season is a testament to that. I was hoping to proposition Skyclan, they're small and weak with plenty of a territory full of prey and herbs." Divert this away from her, get herself out from under the limelight, that's what she needed to do right now.

Scorchclaw's paws were leaden as he strode once more into RiverClan camp. The full moon, like a singular eye, stared unblinkingly down upon the island. It was late at night, and the large deputy was beginning to feel the toll of a long day on his body. What he would have given to retreat to his nest right then... Unfortunately, there were still matters to deal with before he could sleep. The Gathering was over and done with for another moon, but it had not ended without another important revelation. It seemed that these StarClan-ordained assemblies seldom held good news. Tired as he might have been, the simmering anger and sense of betrayal from Goldeneye's actions far outweighed any weariness he felt.

At Jaystar's order, Scorchclaw followed the leader and medicine cat into the den at the base of the willow tree. The stares of his curious clanmates--those who had been present at the Gathering, and those who had not been--followed the trio across the clearing. Undoubtedly, the news would spread all over camp before long. His tufted ears picking up the whispers that had already begun, he silently furrowed his brow in displeasure.

The three of them took a seat on the sandy ground. Within the privacy of Jaystar's den, no one would interfere with the ensuing conversation. This was a trial of sorts--one in which the loyalty of an essential figure within RiverClan was questioned. Scorchclaw made no move to offer Goldeneye the sympathy Jaystar had left out. His severe expression made his feelings clearer than his words probably could. Fiery green eyes bore scathingly into the golden-furred molly. There was plenty he wanted to say, but he remained silent for Jaystar to have the first word. When even Goldeneye had said her piece, he finally spoke up. "Is that your excuse?" Contrary to the flames that seemed to dance within the depths of his gaze, his tone was frigid. "You prioritized your other duties over informing us of this major development? Did the weight of your bargain with Brindlestar perhaps not strike you? If you were well enough to travel all the way to WindClan alone, risking your own safety, you were surely well enough to spend a few minutes speaking to Jaystar." Goldeneye really should have come up with a better defense, except it was impossible for her to do so. Nothing could justify her keeping such an important secret from the leadership of her clan. Scorchclaw knew that, and it was a point that he quickly homed in on. "Goldeneye," He hissed the name out through gritted teeth, "because of your actions, everything that went on between you and Brindlestar had to be revealed at a gathering. Was it your intent to have every other clan believe that RiverClan's leader cannot even manage his own medicine cat?" He lashed his tail in outrage, dark fur bristling.

Even if Scorchclaw had not always seen eye to eye with the medicine cat, he still respected her. The job of a medicine cat was no easy one. He had thought that she was loyal to RiverClan and its leader, at least. It seemed that he had been wrong again. "You did not and do not have the authority to make such decisions." He stated sharply.

The tom didn't take any of her excuses. There were millions of ways she could have told him, Scorchclaw or even her own apprentice, Fallowpaw! It was not like she went mute or something. And even if she forgot about it, it was still a terrible mistake his clan had to bear through the last two moons. The tom lashed his tail, annoyed, but kept a neutral yet strict expression. Once Scorchclaw finally talked with nothing less but the harsh, yet honest wisdom he had always shown, the leader decided to speak. "As Scorchclaw stated, there are no excuses for not telling any cat about your negotiation with Windclan if you're truly loyal to your clan. If you had the time to train a cat in another clan, why couldn't you make time for your own clan's sake? I don't want to doubt your loyalties, Goldeneye, but you're making it very hard..."

Unlike the she-cat, the tom never looked away and kept his sight on her, harsh and persistent. She was not any longer his former mate but the medicine cat who just went to the backs of her clan and betrayed them with the omission of truth. "Windclan might be perseverant but we outnumber them in warriors and apprentices. If we were going to war, I have no doubts we will win... however, I dislike the idea of just rising up the tensions between our two clans anymore, especially after how the last war, that, let me remind you, you started, ended up with stealing not only herbs but prey and land. It may have saved some of our kits but thanks to that Windclan had a rough time too and Brindlestar has a justified resentment against us." The leader spoke with confidence and pride for his clan yet he kept his mind calm and decided not to rush into another war against Windclan. After all, he was going to talk with Brindlestar and would make new negotiations with her, like it should have been. Jaystar was even considering giving away the Gorge so it could return to their previous neutral state and in that way, both clans could hunt at least a little in that place. But training their medicine cat? That was out of the discussion. "Your agreement with Brindlestar has no validation and I forbid you from training their medicine cat. Starclan can train them since they seem to like the control over the Moonstone after all. I understand your intentions were good but the way you did it... was not. That's why I'll have to punish you. You will be not allowed to leave your den but to go the dirt-place and there will be always an escort that will bring you food and water until I decide that you've truly regained your former loyalty to the clan. Moonstone journeys will be under your apprentice's supervision as well as Scorchclaw when she can't do it. And if none of them can't, then I'll be doing them, as I did in the past so you don't have to worry. You'll be confined in your den only to perform your duties as a medicine cat, healing, treating the wounded and assisting queens when you're needed." Jaystar determined firmly.

The scarred leader gave his deputy a short glance, hoping to hear his opinion about he had just said. He was his second in command and this trial wasn't determined only by his words but with the complement of Scorchclaw's. "If you have something else to add, I'll gratefully hear your criticism, Scorchclaw. And you... do you have anything else to say against what we said, Goldeneye?" He turned his face to the golden tabby as soon as he made that last question. She might have had betrayed his trust and have doubted loyalties, yet he didn't see her as a complete traitor. She made a mistake and for the sake of all her past work, the tom wanted to her a second chance to redeem herseld.