A... Punishment? [C]

Bloodstrike walked with Wolfstar to the border of Shadowclan that night and waited patiently for a border patrol to come along. Once one had, Bloodstrike himself requested that they go retrieve Flintstar, as he had something important to tell him. Bloodstrike himself wasn't sure exactly how important he felt this was, but it was what Wolfstar wanted, so he would do it. He hated the fact that it would end up being Flintstar to most likely tell Briarthorn that she was accepted into Skyclan and not himself, but that was just how this played out. Hopefully she wouldn't be too angry about it. He sat down on his haunches and waited, sighing quietly to himself. From the way Wolfstar had spoken to him in the leader's den, he wasn't about to try to make small talk. The two of them could sit in silence if that's what his dad wanted. He'd been in trouble with Wolfstar before, when Mistpaw and himself were caught at the Fallen Oak fighting an owl. He'd been given elder duty then... so he wondered what Wolfstar was thinking right now. Maybe Bloodstrike wouldn't be deputy soon and the thought made his lip twitch in annoyance. The whole reason he was bringing Briarthorn to Skyclan and he didn't join Shadowclan was because he was Skyclan's deputy. If that changed... well... Bloodstrike could very well end up in Shadowclan instead. The resentment was there, however slight, though Bloodstrike was doing his absolute best to ignore it.

The journey into ShadowClan's territory was a quiet one, save for the nighttime fauna that avoided the two toms as they moved quickly towards the border. Wolfstar had been to this border countless times, as an apprentice, a warrior, a deputy, and as a leader - but never had he come here with intention to cross it. He sat at the border at Bloodstrike's side, close, but not close enough to touch, his long tail streaming out behind him in the grass. Together they waited, until finally the scent of fresh ShadowClan made Wolfstar glance to the side, just in time to see a few cats materialize from the shadows. He didn't know any of them by name, but after explaining that there was important information he needed to share, they agreed to lead him to Flintstar without much of a fight.

As they trailed the ShadowClanners through the marshy territory, Wolfstar glanced sidelong at Bloodstrike. He had handled the information poorly, he knew that, but the deputy was so... so... reckless. He always had been, even as an apprentice. Wolfstar had hoped naming him deputy would change that, make him more responsible, but if anything it had proven to do the opposite. Bloodstrike feared no cat, living or dead, and while he had the qualities of a good leader, if he kept on this same path, he wouldn't be a very long lived one.

He was still silent and brooding by the time they made it to ShadowClan's camp, and Wolfstar realized he hardly even recalled the path. Angry at his own foolishness, Wolfstar shook his head, clearing his mind and quietly thanking their escorts before sitting down to wait until Flintstar came to greet them.

Flintstar groaned as he stepped into view - rather annoyed at the idea of having to suddenly speak with other cats. His eyes glanced up to fix at the two SkyClan cats, eyes trailing onto Bloodstrike. ...Ah, he recognized the tom - he had spoken to him once at the border many moons ago. He...Was the deputy of SkyClan, wasn't he? As he thought about it, he was rather sure he had seen him sitting with the other deputies but it wasn't until he was staring at the tom straight on that he recalled. Hm...He had seemed rather keen in keeping the peace between their Clans...But why was this matter not something that could wait until the next Gathering?

"Wolfstar," he meowed, dipping his head to the leader as he fixed his gaze onto him. "I was rather...Surprised when one of my warriors informed me that you were waiting at the border. Now, do either of you wish to tell me what is so important that you have sought to seek me out? I do hope none of my warriors have been a bother to you or anything..." he sighed, sitting down as he gave a shake of his head and glanced back and forth between the two, simply waiting for an answer.

Bloodstrike watched as Flintstar approached and gave the leader of Shadowclan a respectful dip of the head. He could tell the leader wasn't exactly... thrilled about being disturbed, and it was only then that Bloodstrike second-guessed whether or not this conversation would be a breeze. He sighed quietly to himself before answering.

"Good... night Flintstar." Weird... certainly odd for a greeting but that was the Shadowclan way. "I have been ordered to inform you of a change that you should be aware of. Your warrior Briarthorn and I... are expecting kits. I know this is unbecoming of a deputy, and I am sorry that you had to find out this way. She has informed me that she would like to join Skyclan, in the interest of keeping our family together. Wolfstar has agreed... for now." He looked at his father with uncertainty when he added the last part. He didn't think Flintstar would care much... but Wolfstar's hesitation to definitely allow Briarthorn to stay beyond the raising of kits was a cause for understandable concern. Still, he wasn't about to lie to Flintstar. He was one of the few leaders that he didn't need to feign respect for.

Upon Flintstar's arrival, the SkyClan leader lifted his head, holding the other tom's gaze for a second before also dipping his chin in a respectful greeting. Wolfstar liked Flintstar - he was blunt, and didn't beat around the bush. Nor did Bloodstrike, apparently, who launched into his explanation before he even got the chance to speak. Wolfstar's tail flicked in annoyance, but he waited - at least Bloodstrike was being responsible enough to own up to his mistake.

Once his son had finished - after thoroughly ensuring that Flintstar knew this visit was not his idea - Wolfstar picked up the conversation. "I apologize for this situation, though I was not aware of it until today," the SkyClan leader let out a short, irritated huff. "I am unaware of ShadowClan's protocol for things of this nature... hence why I was adamant about bringing this to your attention personally. I would not have your warrior sneak away in the night without explanation." Truthfully, he didn't know if that had been the plan, or not, and a part of him felt like he should have asked, to make sure, but it was too late for that now.

"I will not pretend that I am pleased with this development, but, as Bloodstrike said, in the interest of not separating a family in the making, I will allow Briarthorn to relocate to SkyClan, with your blessing. And rest assured this slight to the Warrior Code will not be without consequence."

Flintstar blinked as a name came up - Briarthorn. His...Sister? With a SkyClan cat? ...Well, she could have done worse he suppose. A heavy sigh escaped him, feeling more annoyed that this was what they had come all the way here. As they both spoke, it seemed rather obvious to him - accept Briarthorn into SkyClan. Of course, at that...He couldn't deny that something ached in his chest as he felt like he was losing yet another family member. He had not been a good brother to her - he knew it. Finally he let out another sigh as Wolfstar finished it up, raising a paw to mess with his ear. "Clearly you do not know of our protocols. If Briarthorn wishes to join SkyClan, then so be it. As much as it...Hurts to see my sister go without a word, it would be unbecoming of me to hold such a thing against her when I've accepted cats into ShadowClan when they have not spoken to their leader," he admitted, giving a long swish of his tail. "Honestly, I fear to tell you that your trip here was nearly pointless as that is all I have to say," he meowed as he pushed himself back up to his paws, giving the two an unimpressed look - of course that was the normal look he always wore. "Under my mother's rule, ShadowClan was a safe place for cats seeking a place together to come - but if Briarthorn seeks a place within your Clan, then she has my...Blessing to take it. Punish her and Bloodstrike to your own desire, but know that I, personally, do not care. I do not understand love and the emotions it brings. Its...Beyond me. All I ever ask for his loyalty to their Clan - and if Briarthorn will be loyal to SkyClan...Then that is enough for me." There was a pause, before he sighed and titled his head. "...So, is that it or do you have anything else to say?"

The leader's response drew a long, stunned silence from Wolfstar. He... didn't care? About the kits, about Briarthorn wanting to leave ShadowClan? And to make things even more bewildering, the she-cat was his sister? It took a long moment before Wolfstar could bring himself to respond, and the fact that they were surrounded by ShadowClan warriors was the only thing that kept his tone even remotely cordial. Even so, it was still icy as he replied. "I won't attempt to understand ShadowClan's policy on such things, though your cooperation is... appreciated. However, I will make it known, that if the roles were reversed, and some other-clan's she-cat were to abscond with my son in the middle of the night, I would expect that clan's leader to have the decency to inform me. Otherwise, I think I'd take it personally."

Wolfstar didn't understand. He couldn't even pretend to understand. Flintstar said that all he cared for was loyalty, but abandoning one's clan for another was exactly the opposite of loyalty. What Bloodstrike had done was wrong, but it happened, and Wolfstar was willing to look past it... eventually. But trading clans was another thing entirely... and if Briarthorn ever became a true member of SkyClan, how could he ever trust her not to do the same thing again, except taking all SkyClan's secrets back home with her? The dark tom narrowed his eyes in thought, but then shook his head, turning to his son. "Go, fetch your... mate. It's time we return home."

Another glance to Flintstar, his tone short and clipped as he added, "My apologies for interrupting your night. We'll be on our way."

Bloodstrike could barely keep a smug smirk off of his face when Flintstar, as he predicted, was indifferent to Briarthorn's choices. Bloodstrike had spoken with Flintstar long ago, when he was still Bloodpaw, and had gotten a lot of information from the Shadowclan's leader. He had also gotten a good feel for his personality too. It absolutely took all of Bloodstrike's resolve to not snicker at Wolfstar's reaction. Not all clans shared Skyclan's rigidity for tradition... and if Wolfstar had done more interacting outside of his clan and outside of gatherings, he may have known that as Bloodstrike did. He tried not to let it effect him, but it did. This was the first time he'd ever felt truly smug in front of his father.

Once he was ordered to go find Briarthorn, Bloodstrike then found himself having to force his ears to not lie flat in response to Wolfstar's tone. It was true that while he and Briarthorn had no smitten feelings for one another beyond a respectful curiosity, he liked her enough that Wolfstar's tone struck a nerve with him. He kept his mouth closed regardless and simply nodded. If Flintstar was willing to let him pass to go find Briarthorn, then he would do so.

Flintstar cast Wolfstar a long look, taking note of the words that the tom used. Hm. He titled his head, simply blinking before he gave a small shrug of his shoulders. "And do know that I would. I, however, would simply wait until the Gathering due to vastly different times of activity." There was a pause. "...Or what did you think I was speaking to Ivystar about last Gathering?" He pushed himself up to his paws, giving a flicker of his tail toward Bloodstrike. "Go ahead. Briarthorn should be in the warrior's den," he meowed, dipping his head in the direction of the den as he stepped away. "I'm sure we will discuss this more at the next Gathering, Wolfstar, if only when I check in on how my sister is doing within your Clan."

He could tell that Wolfstar was confused and annoyed, but honestly, the idea of talking to the two was making Flintstar a little annoyed - they did have an entire night of the month meant for discussing things between Clans after all. Why waste his time otherwise? ...But he did suppose other leaders didn't have his dislike of conversation, but the matter was the type that gave Flintstar a headache that he would rather not think about it. If Briarthorn wanted to be in SkyClan, then so be it. He had never been a good brother to her - he could barely blame her desire to get away from him, if that was it. He came to a pause, taking a seat near the entrance of his den so that he could at least watch his sister head off if she decided to go with the two SkyClan cats right away.

Perhaps...

It was the least he could do, at least acknowledge her choice by being there when she left.