Burning Justice pt 2 - THE TRIAL (OPEN FOR ALL)

Spottedleap rose from his rest outside of the warriors' den, injuries from his encounter with the owl healing nicely and a curious glint in his eye. A warrior did not belong on the Tallbranch; not even the oldest, most respected elder deserved to stand where the leader and deputy stood. Burningsun spoke of a trial for the leader and the spotted tom wondered if such a thing had ever occurred before. He stalked through the gathering crowd and stole a quick glance at the sky. Bright sunlight, and not a cloud in sight. Just like at Sparrowpaw and Maplepaw's trials. Spottedleap supposed StarClan simply did not care for justice since they left such an important subject to the whims of whoever yowled the loudest. He cast a sidelong glance at his half-brother, Sandblaze, as he wove through the crowd. He couldn't resist a snarky eye roll and a disdainful hiss in his mind. To him, SkyClan's honor was inherent in their blood and more deeply rooted than the trees of their ancestral home.

The warrior had made his way to his destination, Foxpaw's side, before Burningsun spoke again. "You must be confused." He meowed quietly to his apprentice, keeping his gaze trained on Tinystar. "You were not alive when Tinystar did what Burningsun accuses him of. Several of the warriors here had not been born yet, either." His amber eyes flicked very briefly to the young she-cat standing in Tinystar's place, her glare reminiscent of smoldering cinders. He paused and listened intently to her commanding voice, half impressed with her bold command. The other half of him mentally remarked that such a rebellious cat would likely never see the Tallbranch from her position again. The system she proposed seemed flawed to him, but he couldn't quite put his paw on what was bothering him - save for the bit where Spottedleap had been meticulously trained to never question his own leader, naturally. But of course. Tinystar shares his side and answers everyone's questions, and no matter what he says, he is still... 'punished.' She even had potential punishments picked out before the mock-trial had begun. StarClan knows what Burningsun believed to be fair compensation for being embarrassed by the other clans. Sparrowpaw had probably left out the part where she demanded Tinystar's claws be the cause of her death.

"It's easy to accidentally make complicated things sound simple when you've only got part of the picture to go off of, Foxpaw. It's good that Burningsun wants all of the information. Tinystar's experiences are valid, even if some cats don't want them to be." Spottedleap mused out loud, rather intrigued that the small leader was willingly participating. His word was law. He could shut it all down and punish Burningsun if he so desired, but he was restrained and respectful through and through. It was... unlike him to be so meek in such a dire situation. If Spottedleap had to guess, he was probably allowing this trial to prevent the outside clans from forcing their own demented ideas of justice on them. Better a plucky upstart with SkyClan blood than some filthy outsider dictating right and wrong.

Sitting among his clanmates, each cat’s eyes bore into his back like the sharp claws of an eagle and his ears grew hot with embarrassment as he glanced down to his paws. He didn’t know why he was embarrassed, seeing as though he was simply sitting amongst them, but supposed it was because he was even in this spot to begin with. If he hadn’t let his pride and poor judgement get the best of him… none of this would be happening, and he’d never felt more horrible for something in his life. Not just because of his own mousebrained decision, but because of the trouble he was causing his family and clan.

Turning his light blue gaze back up to Burningsun, his grey ears perked up with interest. So she’d been visited by Sparrowpaw herself, that explains the sudden day of judgement. Deny StarClan? He would never dream of doing such a thing. All his life, he’d been loyal to his ancestors and the stars above. He knew they were up there and had faith in them, no matter how hard the times had been in his many moons of being alive. They hadn’t warned him against or even tried to stop him regarding Sparrowpaw’s execution, which he was confused about, seeing as though they most likely didn’t agree with his methods either, but he pushed such thoughts aside. If they had wanted to stop him, they would’ve. But, they didn’t. Maybe this was their way of telling him that they didn’t want him at SkyClan’s leader, but why in Silverpelt’s name would they allow so much to happen just to get that point across?

Upon her request for him to join her up on the Tallbranch, the mini sized stood up and began his way to the towering tree, forcing himself not to look any-cat in the eye on his way there. Jumping up the trunk and branches, he soon stood at the same level as the she-cat, now facing SkyClan and their collected confusion.

Swallowing the frog his throat, or at least attempting to, Tinystar let out a deep breath. Seeing as though Sparrowpaw had visited Burningsun herself, or so they had been told, he knew that he could only give them the truth and nothing but the truth, not that he would’ve shared anything otherwise. He’d never lied to his clanmates and wasn’t about to start now.

”SkyClan, I stand before you to face my judgement and consequences of my actions. I never meant to keep what happened that day a secret from anyone who was not around for such an event, but I did not see any reason to bring it up again after that, seeing the impact it had on every-cat,” he began, still keeping himself from meeting any one-cat’s gaze as he scanned the crowd. ”A good pawful of you are familiar with Sedgstrike, one of SkyClan’s former warriors. He was a violent minded cat, and like him, Sparrowpaw began to show the same nature after he was e-exiled, and the last thing I wanted was another cat with goals such as him growing to be yet another threat to the clan,” StarClan help him not trip over himself and look as though he was hiding something.

”On top of that, Sparrowpaw lashed out and attacked Mintwhisker. I do not know the full story, but just the fact that something of tthe sorts even happened is enough to prove she had grown violent,” Tinystar finished. There was more he could’ve said right then and there, but he decided not to say too much, seeing as though the other point would most likely be brought up when the clan asked him their questions. ”Please understand that I never meant to bring such turmoil to the clan,” he continued. ”At the time, I thought I was doing us good. StarClan didn’t warn me or any other cat against it and didn’t try to stop it from happening, even though they could’ve. I suppose that drove me to do it even more…” Tinystar finished, his voice trailing away like a cool, Greenleaf breeze. It was hard going over the truth yet again and this time with the clan listening, but that was all he had to say, for now at least.

Finally, the leader arose. Her eyes followed the tiny cat every step of the way, her jaw set firm in her face. Though she despised the cat, she still gave the respectful nod to the leader as he joined her. Even still up here, she was bigger. Bigger in size and bigger in morals. The warrior's mind briefly flashed to life in SkyClan under him after this. Would the tyrant really change his ways? For the first time, fear for her own life came to the front of the mind. With a fluttering heart, she looked to each of her clanmates as Tinystar began the formalities of his trial. The blue and green eyes settled on each of her loved ones for a few heartbeats. Lightfang. Daylily. Sandblaze. Swallowthroat. Firflower, if for the fact that she was the mother of the three. Even if she died, she was dying to protect them.

Burningsun restrained from rolling her eyes as the leader spoke. He was hiding so much for the clan. Her worst fear was true- Tinystar really was not going to change here. The pebble was selfish and power hungry, too caught up in his image to truly love SkyClan in a way she always did. As he finished her words, her red warrior started to shake in disproval.

”You forget to mention what this ‘violence’ entails, Tinystar.” Her even, but slightly chilling voice rang out, despite the cat she was talking to standing next to her. ”The violence on the day of Sparrowpaw’s execution- the one that tipped it for you- she was defending the Clan’s borders as would any other cat.” She turned her head to face the crowd. ”As Sparrowpaw’s representative, here is the story that I was told in the stars…” The warrior trailed off for a second, vividly recalling her dream.

”It was the day of her assessment. She had been hunting for the clan nonstop. Hunt after hunt. Day after day until she was weary and ragged. You tried to force her up a tree, despite her being scared. You knew both her mother and her twin sister died from falling out of a tree, yet you got upset with her. But you sent her out to hunt. As she was hunting, a ShadowClan was trespassing on the territory, well inside our borders. This was a warrior, and Sparrowpaw attacked – as any of us would – when the intruder refused to leave. She didn’t even maim or kill this warrior. You then forced her to bring the trespassing warrior back to his clan, marched her back to camp, and murdered her for doing anything anyone in this clearing would have done.” Burningsun finished, allowing the story to settle in the ears of her clanmates. ”And clearly, StarClan disagrees with your decision of her danger as she resides in StarClan where she is forced to live without even receiving her hard earned name. StarClan can't control every action in this world, you cannot put blame on them for not stopping it.”

Finally, it was time for the clan to take part. ”Clanmates, do you have any questions for Tinystar on this day?”

OoC: Sandblaze and Leafwhirl (and one other warrior, if we can- sign up in Plotting Pages) will rapid fire questions at Tinystar. Burningsun will stop them, and reiterate them for Tinystar. Tinystar will answer and Burningsun will ask Amberdawn to step forward and ask questions.

Sandblaze took a big gulp, his paws moving forward of their own accord. Was this truly the whole story? StarClan didn't often outwardly lie, even if they did tend to be vague and misleading on occasion. He hadn't intended to ask Tinystar all that he wanted to know in such a public forum, but since the situation had presented itself, he felt he had no choice.

"Please, Burningsun," Sandblaze called out, signalling that he had something to say. "Tinystar, my sister's exile was... justified. She had broken your rule, you showed mercy to her. I know you're older and wiser now than you were before, but did you offer that mercy to Sparrowpaw? Was she given warning? Did you give her the option to flee instead? Did you even speak to anybody else about what you were planning before you did it?" Sandblaze bowed his head a little, respectful to the very end. "How did you execute her, s-sir?"

Swanpaw met Amberdawn's eyes as the medicine cat spoke softly to her, searching the other cat's gaze. Somewhere deep inside she could hazard a guess as to what it could be, but she refused to jump to conclusions just yet. "I would rather see what happens," She mewed quietly, her voice rasping slightly from the cough that still plagued her.

As Amberdawn moved back to the entrance, she followed, coughing again as a tickle rose in her throat. Immediately, her eyes sought out Tinystar, and a strange mixture of emotions rose in her chest to see him looking so small - even more so than usual - as he stood in the clearing. Then a commanding voice echoed from the Tallbranch, and she twitched towards it, incredulous disbelief rising in place of her worry. Up there, Burningsun stood as though she had been made leader, her pelt blazing with righteous fury as she stared down at Swanpaw's father.

Then the words poured from her maw, a commanding speech made with flashing eyes that burned with knowledge they had never witnessed personally. Swanpaw swallowed hard as the memory of that day crossed her mind again. Ice cold eyes had flashed with anger that day, a cat that was - and yet wasn't - her father slicing a young molly's throat out before she could begin to live her life. But along with the memory of that day, others arose of Tinystar's gentle gaze, every time he had played and interacted with them. And deep in her heart she knew this cat didn't know everything she thought she did.

As the trial went on, Tinystar standing on the branch to give his own account, she felt an odd sort of fire begin to burn deep inside her chest while Burningsun responded. There was something almost familiar to this whole thing, to the tone, and the feeling that pervaded the camp. A familiar cold flash in eyes that believed they were right in what they were doing. The chill of realization tingled up her spine as she gazed up at those differently coloured eyes. Whether the young warrior had intended it or not, this trial was eerily similar to that one long ago.

"She risks making the same mistake Father did," Swanpaw murmured, half to herself and half to the others beside her. Just what does she intend to do for punishment? If she so much as tried to give the same judgment Tinystar himself had.... She raised her head, ice blue eyes staring at the ginger figure in the tree. I will not crumble as I did before.

The roaring in Leaftwirl's ears didn't cease, but instead only grew louder. Tinystar explained his side of the story, the weary uncertainty in his voice making the she-cat's heart burn. Burningsun was relentless, raising truth like a claw and crashing it down on all of SkyClan. Leaftwirl almost wished to help her leader and mentor, to save him from the trials his clan put him through. However those blue eyes weren't as careful and deep as they once were. Perspective had turned the white tom's face to one of a stranger. Leaftwirl wondered if she had been following a different cat all her life, one she never really knew. It was pointless to defend the unknown. The she-cat gazed at Tinystar's face and found nothing familiar. All these accusations, all these truths. Suddenly the tom didn't seem friendly, nor leaderlike. In fact, Leaftwirl found herself scared. Scared for her friends in the clan, scared for herself. From what Burningsun spoke, Sparrowpaw was living and breathing just as a warrior should. She fought well, defended the clan, and died for it wrongly.

Leaftwirl found her paws and took a few wary steps forward, feathery tail as still as the atmosphere. What did this mean for herself? She was a cat who had fought fiercely, and regretted it deeply. She was a cat who had frolicked like a kit and cried like those broken. In finding herself, just as Sparrowpaw did, did this condemn her to a future of death? For the good of the clan? What was a clan, if the code bounded only the warriors and still could not protect them from their fate? Tinystar had stood above it all, and Leaftwirl had been a fool not to notice. She was angry, sad, and confused. The truth was heavy and yet there was no denying it, Tinystar had spoke of the murder himself. It meant that the code was his morals, not the morals set in place for centuries. They all rested in his will, and in a flick of a claw, they would die for it. The she-cat flattened her ears and dug her claws into the ground, wondering how much alike she was to her mentor. After all, the small white tom had taught her to hunt, to fight. Did he know who he was? Or was he resting in the unknown just as Leaftwirl did?

Sandblaze remained respectful, however the blood that rocketed through Leaftwirl's body brought voice to her maw. A strong, confident thing, never losing that kit-like squeak that seemed to forever remain in her tone. The warrior didn't feel strong, but she could pretend. It was a game, like hide and seek. As whimsical as pine trees in the snow. Except this time the consequences bordered death, and danced with exile. The tabby held her head high and decided today, she needed answers, finding herself ever closer to an identity of her own. "I've spent my life following the code, Tinystar. That's what you taught me to do as my mentor. And I've been a good warrior, I've hunted and fought with all my might. I love SkyClan, and I know you do as well. But do you follow our code? You killed an apprentice, just trying to be loyal to her clan. What... what does that mean for us? If we step out of line do we have to die as well? Tinystar… Who... who are you?"

The she-cat that wound her way through Skyclan territory was radically different than the she-cat who had left it six moons ago, although not in a way that was easily visible. A cat studying her might note that something about her was off, but they wouldn't quite be able to describe what it was. Her change wasn't the kind that was easy to notice while it was happening, like watching snow cover a once-green landscape, or the sun setting on the horizon. It was comparable to the slow, steady way a plant grows, or the gradual change of autumn leaves from green to gold. Until flowers bloom and the trees are red, you can hardly tell that anything is different.

From an outside view, Mintwhisker seemed almost perfectly normal: her legs still bowed slightly when she walked, her fur was the same shade of taupe it had been when she left, and her eyes were still the same shade of murky green.
But on the inside, Mintwhisker was a whole new cat. She felt invigorated, reborn. Free from the pressures of secrets and lies, her mind was allowed to take a break and heal itself, and the effect it'd had was dramatic, although not to those who hadn't known her well. Her stance was more purposeful, her pelt was glossier, her eyes shone just a little bit brighter than before.

This wouldn't last long.
The medicine cat's eyes narrowed as she listened to the ongoing trial, her whiskers twitching as more cats spoke up. If she had decided to become a warrior, perhaps she would be on their side. She wanted to- oh Starclan, she wanted justice for Sparrowpaw more than she wanted life -but she couldn't allow Burningsun to disregard some of the things that Sparrowpaw had done. For now, she'd try to remain as close to neutral as she could, working towards uncovering the truth, or at least whatever broken fragment of it was left in her shattered mind.

"You seem to have disregarded a fairly important piece of information, young one." Her voice was gentle but firm- the same tone she'd used when correcting Aspenheart when he made a mistake. Mintwhisker stepped through the entrance and padded towards the crowd, her tattered ears twitching. "I cannot say if Sparrowpaw committed any crimes against an outsider, but she did attack me."
She gestured with one paw to the scar that marred her face, five ugly claw marks that stretched from her left ear to her right cheek. "Attacking a medicine cat is not a small crime. Cats have been exiled for less. I understand that Tinystar's punishment deserves an explanation, but I need to remind you that Sparrowpaw was not an innocent cat, and there are two sides to every trial. Don't follow Burningsun blindly- her heart may be in the right place, but she is only representing one of the two cats involved."

Burningsun's gaze turned to Sandblaze as he spoke. The image of him standing below her stirred up some inconvenient feelings for the moment. The two had not spoken a word since the night at the heartbreak rock. That night upon returning she had moved her nest from being perfectly centered with the three brother's nest closer to Lightfang and Swallowflight; dangerously close to Lightfang's out of pure necessity. Yet, even in that fog of sadness she couldn't help but to admire the tom's bravery in this situation. She silently noted his question.

Next, her attention was drawn to Leafwhirl. A rather pleasant surprise, as the she-cat was obviously quite fond of her former mentor and Tinystar's son. Her voice was confident and strong, yet still youthful. The firey warrior couldn't help but to be pleased with her accusations. It was true, SkyClan really didn't know their leader.

But what really surprised her was who spoke next. As Leafwhirl's words hardly dropped out of the air, Mintwhisker entered the camp. Immediately, Burningsun's eyes narrowed at the ton coming from the medicine cat. Surely she didn't hear she had spoken to StarClan herself, and her condensation was unnecessary in her eyes. But for the first time, a flicker of doubt danced in her belly. Was Sparrowpaw truly guilty?

"Quiet! Please, everyone!" She called to quiet the rumble of a surprised clans, and the former questions. Everything was happening quickly, and Burningsun needed to keep on top of it. "Welcome back, Mintwhisker." The warrior finally said after the quiet died down. "This is a trial, and I cannot represent Tinystar as well. It is up to Tinystar to do that, and if he fails to do it successfully that lies on his paws. If I may, StarClan itself has decided that the punishment was unjust, by allowing her into it's ranks. We've all made mistakes, but that doesn't mean we should all be murdered." She gazed down at the medicine cat as she spoke, slowly feeling the respect for her drop out of her like the blood from a cut. What was her intention with trying to discredit her?

Finally, she straightened back up and turned to Tinystar. "Tinystar, the questions asked to you by Sandblaze and Leafwhirl was these: Did you offer mercy to Sparrowpaw through giving her an option to flee? Did you speak to anyone in the clan before executing her?" She paused, the questions floating in the air, trying to figure out how to question Leafwhirl's comments. "What is your moral code? If we step into your bad Grace's, what will that mean for us? Will we die too? Who are you Tinystar?" And will you kill me for this?

She almost let her monologue finish before she remembered the last bit. "And if you wish to speak on Sparrowpaw attacking Mintwhisker, please do so now." With a flick of her tail, she motioned for Tinystar to speak. Her eyes were fixed on him, but in a guarded and careful manner.

Oof; mobile. Tiny will post next. Then burningsun will call for amberdawn.

Amberdawn's gaze fell on Burningsun again as the bold warrior called for her Clanmates' attention again. The very first words that the younger she-cat spoke sent a wave of cold over her body: "Last night I was visited by StarClan in my dreams." The feeling of confusion and devastation that swept over the young medicine cat showed itself clearly on her face. Her expression, which had already been troubled, became darkened with hurt.

StarClan... didn't come to me...? the she-cat thought, feeling small and insignificant. Why? Why would they go to a warrior, not the medicine cat? Her heart pounded. Th-The half-moon, Sparrowpaw could have visited me! I could have spoken with her then! Why was Burningsun chosen? Why not me? Amberdawn wondered despairingly, yet in a deep part of her that she wouldn't be able to acknowledge for months, she knew why. As Burningsun called for justice and a trial, demanding that Tinystar stand before them to tell his truth, the conviction in her voice drove the nail further.

Of course StarClan chose someone else. Amberdawn would never have been able to do this. She would've kept quiet forever.

She would never have been able to protect the Clan.

The crumbling realization came over the golden tabby she-cat while Burningsun explained how the trial would go. When she was finished speaking, Tinystar's voice rang out. His words were accepting and understanding of the consequences he might face, but Amberdawn couldn't keep the foreboding from prickling on her skin as her grandfather stood before them. She hated to hear his explanation again of the day that he executed Sparrowpaw. The medicine cat had heard his hollow logic the following day; what he said now was no different. Sparrowpaw was dangerous, like her father; she couldn't be left to threaten the Clan like Sedgestrike; Sparrowpaw had attacked Mintwhisker; he thought he did what was best; StarClan didn't warn him against it.

The last excuse was too bitter for Amberdawn to accept. I tried to warn you against it. Even Mintwhisker didn't wholly support you, whether she obeyed or not. You wouldn't have listened if Rippedstar himself came down to tell you it was wrong.

Burningsun had begun to speak, explaining exactly what had happened the day of Sparrowpaw's execution. The gritty details made Amberdawn's heart burn with deeper and deeper shame that she hadn't risked herself for Sparrowpaw. The SkyClan warrior on the Tallbranch continued to explain how StarClan clearly disagreed, for they had placed Sparrowpaw in StarClan. That fact made an uneasy murmur ripple over the crowd.

Beside Amberdawn, Swanpaw mumbled, "She risks making the same mistake father did." The medicine cat's ear twitched in acknowledgement, but a chasm had begun to widen between herself and SkyClan - or perhaps it had always been there and she was only now noticing it. She listened as Sandblaze and Leaftwirl stepped forward bearing questions. Amberdawn somewhat knew of both of their turmoils; they had both spoken to her between this trial and the Gathering that revealed his crime. She didn't look at them when they had said their pieces.

However, the sound of a third voice made Amberdawn's heart physically hurt. The she-cat lurched as if she'd been struck as a gentle but unarguable voice rang over the clearing. Amberdawn's eyes had turned glassy as the river as she listened to her mentor... Mintwhisker... returned after all this time...

... and her first words were to shift blame back to Sparrowpaw and defend Tinystar's actions.

Amberdawn couldn't get herself to look at the grizzled she-cat that was miraculously around right when the morality of something was being discussed. She stared dumbfoundedly at the ground, her claws digging absently at the surface as she struggled to understand what was happening.

Mistyrain's heart dropped as Burningsun delivered her verdict. Watching Tinystar execute Sparrowpaw had weighed on her for moons, but she had found in herself the strength to forgive him. Now, Burningsun was stirring up old wounds, things she thought had been healed at least most of the way. After the events of the Gathering, she had hoped that the Clan would calm down and let the issue lay to rest. She looked on silently, occasionally making eye contact with Tinystar worriedly.

Listening as Burningsun explained Sparrowpaw's side of it, part of him didn't want to believe it. How did they even know if the apprentice had been telling the truth? Maybe she wanted him gone, it was a very viable idea, but at the same time, he couldn't help but wonder how paranoid he was being. Maybe she didn't have it out for him, but wanted justice, like Burningsun did? Whatever the answer was, he would never know, which sent a shiver down his spine just thinking about it.

Perking his ears up from being flat against his head, Tinystar listened to his clanmate's questions with open ears. What they said were valid curiosities, ones he wished they didn't have to fear or even contemplate... It was all his fault and there was no excuse for his actions, no matter how hard he tried to think he was in the right.

Before he was even able to open his maw to begin to answer the questions, a cat whom he'd not seen in moons waltzed into camp and a wave of mixed emotions practically knocked him off the branch in which he was sitting on.

Mintwhisker, his granddaughter and medicine cat had returned from supposedly training WindClan's medicine cat apprentice. She'd been gone for what seemed like forever and while part of his was relieved to see her home safe and sound, the other part was sorrow from not having seen her for so long, but began to grow into anger. How dare she be gone for such an amount of time, with no contact whatsoever with SkyClan? Had she even thought of her own clan while she'd been away, doing StarClan know's what? And how dare she return at just the right moment, as if she knew what was going on. Luckily for him... her sudden appearance was in his favor, which he would soon learn to appreciate.

Padding through the crowd, the she-cat spoke over the whispering cats, telling her side of the story, which was what he'd initially tried to explain. As she spoke, whatever brief resentment turned into thankfulness for her unexpected return, and the tiny tom's eyes began fill with tears. Great Silverpelt how he'd missed Mintwhisker. She always knew what to say, what to do... without her, it was as if a piece of his family was missing. Well, because it was.

Pushing the tears away, Burningsun began to speak once more, her words like a fox's claws along his pelt. Listening to the she-cat, he didn't dare meet her multicolored gaze and instead looked at his paws for a few moments before he lifted his head to share his side of things, though he doubted it would help his case much, if at all.

"I..." he began, trying not to get his words caught up from the lump that'd returned in his throat. "I did not show her mercy through giving her an option to flee, nor did I speak to any-cat about my decision. I was so caught up in protecting my clan that I didn't think twice about checking with deputy or even my clanmates.

"My moral code is to... to... protect my family and clan," Tinystar mewed a little more confidently than before and sat up a little taller, his gaze scanning the clearing bellow. "Yes, I shouldn't have taken it as far as I had, I know that now. But at the time, I only wanted what was best for every-cat. I'm sorry I did what I did, I'm sorry for Sparrowpaw, I truly am. I'm a mousebrain, I accept that. But whether you want to choose to believe my heart is up to you, but I have spoken the truth," he mewed, finally turning and looking Burningsun in the eye. If she wanted to not even consider accepting how he felt and his obligations as a leader to protect his clan, even if he'd made a grave mistake, that was her hill to climb over.

"Like I said before, Sparrowpaw lashed out and attacked my medicine cat, which Mintwhisker confirmed herself," he finished, turning his blue gaze down to the faded tabby molly. 'Thank StarClan you're home.'

The words that came out of Tinystar's mouth greatly surprised the firey warrior. In all of her wildest thoughts after the Gathering that Tinystar left as soon as he was called out for what he did, Burningsun did not think he would own up to his mistakes. Though through this process Burningsun had lost all respect for her leader - and she doubted it would ever return - she could respect him taking ownership of his actions. Briefly, it forced her to contemplate if he would just as easily accept the punishment she was going to suggest and not leave satisfied until he did.

Yet, something in her stomach felt weird when Tinystar once again mentioned Sparrowpaw attacking Mintwhisker. Perhaps it was Mintwhisker's inconvient timing, perhaps it was the fact that Sparrowpaw was in StarClan. Maybe it was the fact that Tinystar kept repeating the reasoning without explanation. There was silence in the clearing for a second as Burningsun scanned the crowd, thinking on what to do now when her gaze landed on Amberdawn. The she-cat looked nervous. Distracted. "Since neither of you will explain the situation behind why Sparrowpaw attacked Mintwhisker, I look now to Amberdawn." She didn't know what to expect from the medicine cat, but it was reasonable to think that perhaps she would have something - even a comment - to this trial. "Amberdawn, as a fellow medicine cat to Mintwhisker as well as a medicine cat whom has shown extraordinary kindness to everyone in this clan, do you have anything you would like to address about this trial? Has Mintwhisker ever confided in you about Sparrowpaw's attack?" For the first time since the trial started, Burningsun's gaze did soften as she made eye contact with the fellow ginger she-cat, awaiting what she had to say.

". . . I look now to Amberdawn."

The medicine cat's anxious fidgeting immediately froze, her claws loosely buried in the earth as she realized her name had been spoken by the bold she-cat that StarClan had spoken through. No... No, not me, Burningsun, Amberdawn thought desperately as slowly she raised her head. I'm not strong enough. That's why Sparrowpaw went to you! Still her dark amber eyes were downcast, searching for anything but the prying, tormented eyes of her Clanmates. She listened with her ears half-flattened as Burningsun continued in a fair, even voice that Amberdawn was a medicine cat who had trained alongside Mintwhisker. The warrior's words that Amberdawn was known by the Clan for her extraordinary kindness caused her gaze to lift slowly. My kindness has earned us nothing, she wanted to protest, or perhaps, I'm only doing my duties.

When Burningsun's last words hung in the air, Amberdawn felt herself trembling slightly. At last her dark amber gaze locked with the multi-colored stare of the young warrior. The medicine cat tried to portray the despair and turmoil she felt with simply a look. StarClan chose you! Why must you choose me?

But she knew why, and Amberdawn blinked slowly, her glassy eyes keeping locked on Burningsun's as they reopened with a sorrowful, dutiful acceptance. She refused to see her mentor who had moved towards the front of the crowd. She refused to see her grandfather, though his aching blue eyes were not far to the side of Burningsun. Amberdawn did not want to see the cats beside her who had come to her for understanding or refuge; she couldn't give them either. She couldn't give them anything that they needed. All her belief and sharing tongues with StarClan and gathering herbs and healing their wounds meant nothing when she would never be able to protect the Clan from her own kin - from their own leader.

In the span of an instant, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind: her crushing failure as a beacon of faith for the Clan; her debilitating fear of disappointing Tinystar; her feelings of heartbroken betrayal at Mintwhisker's disappearance and sudden return as if she'd never left; the fire of bitterness that Mintwhisker had never explained what happened at Sparrowpaw's Moonstone.

The trembling golden tabby sat up the best that she could. Amberdawn continued to stare at Burningsun; the brilliantly vibrant and terrifyingly brave warrior's face had softened. Her gaze was supportive, but imploring. The medicine cat nodded and raised her voice. "Mintwhisker has n-never confided in me about Sparrowpaw's att-t-tack," Amberdawn stated, her voice cracking and wavering. She cleared her throat and glanced at the ground, then back up to the judge of the trial. "There are many things that Mintwhisker never confided in me, despite being my mentor."

Am I really doing this? "Yes, I... I do have some things I would like to address." I suppose I am. "I don't know why Mintwhisker returned from Sparrowpaw's Moonstone with her injuries. I... was only a 'paw then. I was barely even awake when she returned home, but I saw the wounds in the morning." Amberdawn almost wanted to laugh as she added, "It wouldn't take a medicine cat to figure out that a cat had scratched her, but, well... I was a medicine cat. Her apprentice even. I couldn't guess what had happened or who could've done it, though. She never told me what happened; she never wanted to talk about it. I didn't ask. I couldn't not see, though.

I couldn't not notice that suddenly Sparrowpaw was never around. I didn't know her well." Those word hurt to say. "But I saw... saw how she kept away from others. But not Mintwhisker. I couldn't guess how close they were, but I know she came around for my mentor often enough. And I saw when she stopped visiting, after the Moonstone. And Mintwhisker never told me why Sparrowpaw..."

Amberdawn trailed off suddenly, her gaze drifting downwards as a thought suddenly came to her. Thoughts of the Gathering when Jaystar's relationship with his medicine cat, Goldeneye had been revealed. Something of Mintwhisker had been revealed as well - something else Mintwhisker had never told her. Amberdawn's face darkened and she looked up to meet Burningsun's eyes again.

"Sedgestrike."

The name rang out in the clearing. "I-I... the Gathering, Tinystar knows... and StarClan..." Amberdawn squeezed her eyes and gave her head a brief shake; tears fell to the ground and spattered in the dirt - tears she didn't know had formed. "Mintwhisker killed Sedgestrike. Tinystar confirmed it. He said that she found him trespassing and defended herself when he attacked first." Her face was dark with pain and heartbreak as her voice began to grow thick with held-back tears. "She... never told me that either. But StarClan told me. If Sparrowpaw shared tongues with StarClan..."

Amberdawn's lip quivered, and suddenly a sob ripped from her and she whipped around to face the medicine den with her back to all the cats who questioned her, shaking as she crouched down. In a voice quieter than the smallest kit, she pleaded through her sobs, "I c-can't do this anym-more... please..."

The anxiety and panic was evident on the medicine cat's face, and Burningsun's heart ached for being the one to cause it on the quiet she-cat. As the silence rang in her ears louder than any battle cry, Burningsun's mind began to wander. Was she really doing the right thing? Maybe Tinystar and Mintwhisker was right. The familiar anxiety began to pick up, but was promptly shut down again with Amberdawn's words. Her heart fell when Amberdawn admitted she knew nothing of the attack. Yet, as the words went on, the she-cat genuinely surprised her. In front of the whole clan, Amberdawn accused her mentor of murder. With shaky paws, Burningsun took in her breath. She was so proud of the medicine cat. "Yes, Amberdawn, thank you so much for your help getting the truth. Just... Are you suggesting that Sparrowpaw attacked Mintwhisker because during her Moonstone, Sparrowpaw found out that Mintwhisker murdered her father?" Her tail tip twitched nervously. What Amberdawn said next would decide whether Sparrowpaw was a malicious, violent criminal or a scared, depressed orphan who saw her father commit violence, found out a trusted member of her clan killed her father, and who had lost both her mother and twin sister not many moons before.

Despite her plea and the kind words that Burningsun spoke initially, it quickly became clear that the commanding warrior had one more question. A terrible question. Was Amberdawn suggesting that Sparrowpaw had learned about her father's murder at Mintwhisker's claws and attacked her during her Moonstone? The medicine cat's sides shook as a few more stifled sobs escaped her; she took quivering, slow breaths, trying to collect herself. Stop! Stop asking me! she thought, yet another part of her chided, It's already too late. You showed them the facts; the least you can do is connect the dots. And it was too late. What choice did she have?

"I-I couldn't say for sure, Burnings-sun," Amberdawn croaked, slowly turning her head to look miserably back over her shoulder. Her voice was tired. "I... I used to think I knew Mintwhisker, but... I don't. I don't think I ever truly did. All I know is that if StarClan told me that Mintwhisker murdered Sedgestrike, and they told Goldeneye of RiverClan, then they could tell stars know who else, and... maybe Sparrowpaw learned the truth, too."

The golden tabby slowly let her head hang again, her back once more to the Tallbranch. With an unusual bitterness, she muttered, "I don't suspect that Mintwhisker will tell you if she didn't tell me. Or maybe she will. Who knows."