On Trial (CLOSED)

Despite the early thaw and the promise of newleaf being right around the corner, the night was still rather cold. It was the night after the Gathering, and the moon hung overhead, slowly beginning its waning process, bathing Fourtrees in silver light. As agreed, it would be this night that Scorchstar would meet with RiverClan’s leader Jaystar, his ally and friend, to discuss what truly happened right here about a moon ago between the accused RiverClanner Coldgaze and his disappeared son Poppyheart. It had been his other son, Asterspark, who suggested it had been Coldgaze who broke the truce between the two Clans and after tonight they would all see if his suspicions were correct.

Speaking of Asterspark, his son had insisted he come along with his father to the meeting place, saying he needed to make sure Coldgaze told the truth. At first, Scorchstar was hesitant about this; this was supposed to be a meeting among leaders. But then he considered the fact that Asterspark had been the one to tell him who he thought had committed the crime in the first place, and the cat who had gone missing was his brother; he himself was just as worried about his son’s well-being. Finally, he allowed it, and now the bluish-gray warrior was padding alongside him.

---

Asterspark kept an emotionless expression about him the entire trip to Fourtrees alongside his father. If he showed even an inkling of aggression, things may go awry, and they would never learn who he knew was the real criminal. Asterspark never forgot a scent, and he knew the one he caught a whiff of during the investigation the night after Poppyheart’s disappearance belonged to Coldgaze.

Not only that, but just last night during the Gathering, he confronted the suspect and briefly interrogated her. He already knew he had assumed the correct cat to be the criminal, but watching the molly dart her eyes back and forth and flick her tail nervously absolutely set it in stone for him. Coldgaze was the one who attacked Poppyheart and caused him to disappear.

He stood next to Scorchstar where the large tabby tom stopped in the clearing, and the two of them waited for Jaystar to bring Coldgaze to the clearing from the other side of Fourtrees to discuss the guilty cat’s fate. And if she doesn’t confess to her sins tonight, I will kill her sister, just as I had promised her.

This was indeed a delicate situation. The large leader wasn't certain of the facts of Poppyheart's disappearance but he was sure that Coldgaze was involved. He just hoped she didn't kill him... Jaystar turned her gaze to the warrior when the tall trees could be seen. "I don't know what happened back there but for your sake, I ask you to be completely honest tonight, Coldgaze, or I'll be forced to take harsher decisions. Believe me... lies will only consume you so be prepared." He mewed strictly, remembering his own failures as a leader. This she-cat could do better than him, he was sure. He just hoped... she truly didn't kill that young Shadowclan warrior like the accusations say.

Finally, the two RiverClanners made it to the clearing where Scorchstar was waiting with another, unexpected witness. The silver leader frowned and stepped closer to his friend and ally, looking slightly confused. "Greetings, Scorchstar. As promised, I've bring you my warrior so we can ask her together about that night... I didn't expect you would bring someone else. Mind if I ask why is he here?" Jaystar didn't mean it with bad intentions or trying to be rude. He was honestly curious about this odd-eyed tom that was next to the Shadowclan leader. Who was he? Someone related to the missing cat? Maybe an escort? Either way, the Scorchstar never said nothing about him.

OOC: Thanks to the gathering not being over, I ask you to try to avoid details from it about the Jayden situation so we can avoid future paradoxes. Thanks :3

Coldgaze didn't say anything on their way to Fourtrees, when the leader spoke to her she just looked at him, she were gonna be completly honest tonight but only for the sake of her sister, no one would get to hurt her because of what she'd done. She let out a sigh, she were just so mad at herself it had been so stupid of her to attack Poppyheart, all because of that dumb pigeon.

When they entered the clearing her eyes widend as she saw Asterspark, she let out a loud hiss "I'm not saying a word as long as he's here!" she stared at the blue tom, her eyes were filled with hatred. "Scorchstar, I'll have you know that this tom here treatend to kill my sister, Flurryshine." she meowed with as sweet of a voice as possible, she was more than happy to tell the Shadowclan leader about what his warrior had done, if he thought that she wouldn't say anything about it he had been so wrong. She really wanted to jump at him, maybe give him the same scar that she had given his brother? She grinned at the thought but quickly realized that it wouldn't such a good idea to do that, not now atleast... She sat down and gave Asterspark a faked smile "That was you right? Or maybe there's another odd-eyed, blue tom in Shadowclan with the exact same scent as you Asterspark?" she asked, keeping that sweet tone. Maybe this was her way out? Oh Asterspark how foolish of you to come out here... He had just given her a perfect way to turn the attention to him instead of on herself. If she were able to do it then maybe she'd get away without a punishment.

Scorchstar heard -- and scented -- the two RiverClan cats' approach before he saw them. He dipped his head respectfully to Jaystar. "Thank you, Jaystar. I truly do appreciate this. Rest assured I'm not accusing your warrior, I'm simply going to ask her if she knew anything that happened to my own." At Jaystar's inquisition, he glanced over at his son standing by his side, who was narrowing his eyes at Coldgaze. "I had planned on coming alone tonight, but my son Asterspark here insisted on accompanying me. He is Poppyheart's brother, the one who first accused Coldgaze."

Before he could say anything more, his head rose up to the sound of Coldgaze's outburst, seeing her glaring angrily at his son. When she told him of Asterspark's threat, he immediately glared at the bluish-gray warrior. "Is this true, Asterspark?"

Asterspark looked incredibly startled, but his initial expression was quickly replaced with cold fury as he glared hatefully at Coldgaze. He only broke his gaze from the molly's when his father addressed him, looking up at his vibrant orange gaze. "It was only a threat. I wasn't really going to do it. I was just taking necessary precaution to make sure she told the truth."

Unfortunately for Scorchstar, he wasn't able to completely read Asterspark's expression for even an inkling of guilt, regret, or remorse, so couldn't tell if he was lying or not. "I highly doubt any other cat would consider threatening the life of another cat a necessary precaution, Asterspark, whether you planned to make good on your word or not. You do not threaten a cat from our allied Clan, do you hear me?"

"Even though she attacked Poppyheart?!" Asterspark shot back, looking completely bewildered.

"We don't know yet if she's guilty or innocent; even if she may be, at this moment, until we find the truth, she is now considered an innocent cat. I am very disappointed in you, Asterspark." Stars above, how embarrassing! Having to lecture his own son as if he were an apprentice in front of another Clan leader! He gave his bushy tail an angry lash. "I don't believe you deserve the right to stand beside me this evening anymore. Go back to camp."

Asterspark blinked, startled. "B-But Scorchstar--"

"Go back to camp now, or so help me, I will demote you." Scorchstar made sure his command was spoken in such a way that left no room for further argument. Unlike Asterspark's threat made to Coldgaze, he was completely ready and willing to make good on his own word if his son didn't comply.

Asterspark shot Coldgaze one last murderous glare before turning and stalking away back to ShadowClan camp.

Scorchstar waited until he had left before turning back to Jaystar, heaving a soft sigh, his ears practically on fire from shame. "I am so truly sorry for my warrior's behavior, Jaystar. He hasn't been in his right mind ever since Poppyheart disappeared."

The leader was at first surprised by the sudden hiss of his clanmate. Maybe even a little concerned about a violent reaction. However, when the words came out of his mouth, his concern soon turned toward Scorchstar's warrior. Saying he was going to kill one of his cats because of revenge because of his supposed murder? That was something he couldn't stand. Thank to Starclan, the Shadowclan leader soon realized the implications of his son's words. The silver tom watched the discussion between father and son in silence until the blue-furred tom left the clearing. Jaystar fixed his eyes on the apologizing dark tabby and nodded at him calmly. "I understand his anger, Scorchstar but I'm glad you knew that it couldn't be tolerated. Now, returning to the topic that matters..."

The Riverclan tom now turned his face to Coldgaze standing right next to him. "Would you mind explaining us what happened that night?" He mewed with a calm voice but there's was no kindness behind it. The tom just wanted to get to the bottom of this and decide what to do from now on.

Coldgaze let out a low sigh when Asterspark where forced to leave, now she had to tell them everything... She looked at Jaystar, there was no kindness in his voice as he asked her what had happened. She looked at the two toms, she had no other choice than to tell them, the truth would come out someday anyways. She gulped "I didn't kill him!" she quickly meowed, a hint of panic in her voice, she had to make that clear that she hadn't killed Poppyheart.

After looking at the two toms in silence for a few moments she continued "It was stupid... It was all stupid and I know that so you won't have to tell me that... I guess I'll start from the beginning... I was bored, there was nothing to do so I went to Fourtrees, at first I just tried hunting a little, I tried catching a pigeon but I missed it so I jumped up at that rock" she paused for a second and nodded towards a rock "I brushed my pelt for awhile, when I was done Poppyheart appeared and he'd caught that pigeon I'd failed at catching... So I started a fight about it... About a pigeon, how stupid could I have been, it was a pigeon for Starclans sake!". She looked down at the ground and shook her head as she forced herself to remember the words he'd said to her before she left "He was so nice to me.. I don't understand why..". She quickly looked up, no she wouldn't feel any guilt, not now atleast... "Way nicer than his brother." she quickly spat out. "Then when I'd won the battle I took the pigeon and started walking back to camp, leaving him at Fourtrees, alive." she told the leaders. Her tail lashed back and forth nervously as she waited for her punishment.

So Asterspark had been right all along. Coldgaze had attacked his son. Scorchstar had to fight to keep his pelt from bristling with anger. Usually, he was a calm and understanding tom, but whenever cats attacked his family he couldn't help but become heated. He fixed the guilty molly with an intense stare, his bushy tail giving a single lash behind him. How could she have broken the alliance? Why was the alliance always being tested by immature, hot-headed, and downright stupid warriors and apprentices? Okay, Scorchstar, calm down. Nothing will be resolved if you're angry. Taking a few deep breaths and exhaling them slowly, he turned his gaze to Jaystar.

"Jaystar," he began slowly, "I do trust you will understand when I say that this is not acceptable. Your warrior has committed a great misdeed to my Clan: ShadowClan is not only one warrior short, but it was all the cause of something as trivial as boredom. With all due respect ... I do not believe she is to be trusted while she remains in your Clan. I wish to keep an eye on her and make sure she truly learns from her mistakes and atones for the crime she has committed against our alliance. I wish to take her back with me to ShadowClan until she has learned to honor the alliance.

"However, I will not take her back with me just yet, Scorchstar continued after a puff of frustrated breath. "I will allow her time to bid her Clanmates farewell. Once the moon has disappeared in the sky as a new moon, I will come to RiverClan to retrieve her. Again, I truly do hope you understand. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but I will not let this go unpunished. I truly do believe this is the only way to fix your warrior so she will not attack mine again."