For Crimes Unanswered

Murkystar's eyes were cold and angry, and unnatural state for her as she emerged from her den and immediately turned to climb up Jaggedrock. The usual soft smile and warm expression that graced her face had been replaced by a grim frown, and she gazed down from her perch for several heartbeats. The information that had been brought to her attention changed many things... How often had Burningwing done something like this? Were there any other cats that did the same with their own apprentices? Why did Burningwing think that this was okay? Why had Nightpaw not spoken up sooner? What would the revelation do to the clan? She sighed, eyes picking out each familiar figure below before she straightened, steeling herself for what would come. "All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock for a clan meeting." Her summons rang out over the camp, echoing through the brambles in the quiet air of night. Her breath billowed in front of her mouth as she waited for the clan to gather below.

---

OOC: I will post the full announcement within 48 hours, to give time for people to join.

Frostgaze had sat near the base of the Jaggedrock, awaiting Murkystar's call to gather. He knew it would happen sooner than later, and despite his still exhausted state he refused to attempt any sleep until this issue had been addressed. He was unsure of how Burningwing would respond to the news that his apprentice had snitched on his poor training habits. Thankfully, Nightpaw and Burningwing wouldn't be together alone under Burningwing's punishment, and he was fairly sure Burningwing would do nothing within the confines of camp. Or maybe the tom wasn't that smart, he had always thought with his heart. Regardless, the deputy silently sat, slow breaths coming out as fog. Whatever happened, this would serve as a warning against any further poor training techniques, at the very least.

Mistyfalcon could see his breath in front of him as he exhaled, and he shifted from paw to paw, impatiently waiting for his apprentices to emerge from their den. It was far too cold to be standing around doing nothing, and the clan needed to be fed. With any luck they would have a successful hunt and return to camp quickly, no sane cat wanted to be out in this weather.

Murkystar's call cut into his thoughts, and Mistyfalcon turned to see her standing atop the jaggedrock. She looked furious, and Mistyfalcon resigned himself to the edge of the slowly-forming crowd. Something had happened, clearly, and whatever it was Mistyfalcon was almost sure nobody was going to be happy about it.

Murkystar's appearance caught Webshadow's attention, and he watched her mount the Jaggedrock through narrowed eyes. Her expression was fierce and cold, a look he had only seen on her when they'd gone to retrieve Batglow from Vea. Ears flicking, the tabby found his way to Frostgaze's side, settling next to his friend without taking his eyes off their leader. "She looks grim," Webshadow commented softly, tail twitching. Hopefully this was nothing so great as another Clanmate being stolen, or going missing, or more rogues, or–

Swiftpaw padded out of the apprentice den confused ... was this her big ceremony day? Was she going to become a warrior? She shook her head in disbelief surly Forstgaze or Mistyfalcon would have told her... no?

She quickly started to groom her uneven fur that was sticking out trying to look presentable, she truly belived that's what this meeting was for, I mean what else would it be about? she told herself

She walked over to Frostgaze  bounce in her step clearly very excited "Oh I can't wait!!!" she meowed happily

her mind raced excitedly what would her warrior name be?

hmm... why did Frostgaze and Murkystar look so ... intense ... wasn't this supposed to be a happy meeting?

she tilted her head puzzled at Frostgaze's and Murkystar's angry looking expressions "uhh, huh?"

Her mind raced... did she do something wrong? She worried her mind making crazy assumptions... She told Frostgaze recently she felt not ready to be a warrior...that she needed more fighting experience... had Frostgaze told Murkystar about that? why would that need a meeting?... Her anxiety went crazy...

uhhh frostgaze I didnt think you were gonna tell everyone about what I told you! she hissed in a low whisper.  Incorrectly assuming that was what this was all about.

Cicadapaw grumbled when a meeting call woke him from his slumber, forcing him from his warm dreams to face reality, which was currently plunged in a cold winter. He didn't want to leave his soft moss nest, but hefted himself onto his paws anyway. It might be something important, something he didn't want to miss.

Stepping out into the snow and glancing up at Jaggedrock, a sense of unease filled him as he caught the look on Murkystar's face. Whatever this meeting was about, it wasn't going to be a happy occasion. Had something happened? Was there danger? After a moment's hesitation, he joined the mass of cats starting to gather beneath the rock, his amber gaze locked onto the tortoiseshell she-cat.

At the first glimpse of tortoiseshell fur, Emberleap’s paws steered him toward the Jaggedrock. Leaders and deputies were the only cats allowed up there as far as he knew, and he’d never seen Murkystar or Frostgaze climb it just for the view. This had to be a meeting—but for what? Judging by Murkystar’s severe expression and the purpose in her stride, it couldn’t be pleasant.

He thought back to the pelt tucked underneath his nest, cut, gutted, and thoroughly washed. Maybe Murkystar had changed her mind. She was well within her rights to do so, especially if her Clanmates complained. But, Emberleap reminded himself, they were friends; surely she would have talked to him in private rather than confront him in front of the entire Clan. Which meant this was something else. Probably. Hopefully. A shiver ran through his limbs as he sat at the edge of the growing crowd. Whether this involved him or not, he hoped it would be over before he froze solid.

Ratpaw answered the call almost timidly, stepping into the gathering of cats. There was something in Murkystar’s voice that he had never heard before — not even when she spoke to Daystar, that day in the Hidden Outcropping: and her face was a reflection of it. It was quieter, but spoke of a storm brewing beneath. It couldn’t... be about me, could it? But no, it had been too long since that battle, and her reaction hadn’t been so severe. It was only his anxiety. Something was wrong, though.

The young tom — nearly a warrior, now, and all but fully grown — weaved around several dark pelts before identifying his mentor, and sat down beside him. Webshadow’s ear was turned toward Frostgaze, and Ratpaw wondered if they knew what this was about.

Batglow had perked at Murkystar's call, yellow green eyes blinked up at his leader for a moment, taking in her expression and posture. It didn't look good. His ears dropped as thoughts raced in his mind. What happened? What was going on? The black tom glanced around.. did.. did his 'family' return? Stars he hoped not. He stood up from his spot before padding over to the meeting. Hopefully whatever it was.. wasn't too bad, but he doubted it from Murkystar's expression.

The atmosphere seemed rather... tense today. The warrior was unsure of what, yet decided to step out from the warriors' den anyway. Murkystar's gaze was.. Unusually stiff. And very much cold. Something wrong must've happened, right? Cats began to crowd up, gathering underneath the Jaggedrock. He figured that he'd do the same, though looking for a familiar face to sit with would ease it much more. Duskflight has always disliked such complicated things, no matter which forms it might've taken. His mentor's familiar face in the crowd was spotted, and since Ratpaw seemed busy— he approached the warrior instead, taking a spot beside him. Even he seemed tense, too. Everyone was.

Nightpaw when he entered the clearing, could feel the tension and anxiety in the camp that it could be sliced with a claw. And he couldn't help but feel the same, looking up at his mother's furious expression. Surely not? Frostgaze went and snitched, he knew, he had basically hauled tail for the leader's den the minute they were done with his moonstone journey. But he had thought that too much time would have passed for them to punish Burningwing. Anxiety thrummed under his skin as he went to join his clan-mates, an inkling of thought crossing his mind. 'Would Burningwing do something to him?'

The clan gathered beneath her swiftly, their confused and curious, and some frightened or uneasy, gazes resting on her pelt. She could feel them all burning into her as she collected her thoughts. Finally, the she-cat let out a breath and began to speak. "Everyone, I've gathered you all here now because it has come to my attention that there is a warrior that knowingly and purposefully put their clanmate in harms way - and not just any clanmate, but a newly named apprentice who was assigned to train under their guidance. As clanmates, and as warriors, you have sworn to protect your clan, including the cats within it. I should not need to remind every cat standing here today of this oath, as apprentices training to uphold our code and as warriors who have finished your training and sworn to uphold this oath it should run in your very being. However, it appears that some cat has, and this is not the first time that there has been issues with them questioning or threatening to go against the code that we follow." She mewed, her voice cold and unwavering. Her eyes searched over each face in the crowd, narrowed and harsh as she searched for a heartbeat, not readily finding the transgressor among the gathered cats below. "It was reported by an unnamed witness that on Nightpaw's first excursion from camp, Burningwing, his mentor, was aware of an owl closing in, and allowed it to attack the newly named apprentice with little warning. Burningwing stood aside while the owl attacked, something that every experienced cat knows could easily result in a young cat's death or disappearance. Nightpaw was luck to have sustained few injuries, as Burningwing did jump in after the initial attack. However, he should not have hesitated even that long. There is no excuse for putting any clanmate in danger in this manner, regardless of any claims that it was for training purposes or any other excuse that could be called out. In knowingly  allowing his apprentice to be attacked and doing nothing about it, Burningwing is guilty of breaking the first rule of the warrior code, in defending your clan even with your life. Nightpaw's quick thinking and ability to react to avoid further injury is simply incredible, and speaks to his own instinct rather than any nonexistent training that he had received. At the time of their initial return, there was no reason to believe that anything as terrible as this had occurred, but given the new information brought to Frostgaze and myself we must take action. Nightpaw was young and unaware of many of the nuances of the warrior code, so his punishment will remain the fact that he was allowed by his mentor to be attacked by an owl. Burningwing, on the other paw, will not be allowed to leave camp without at least two other warriors of my or Frostgaze's choosing for one moon*. Additionally, he will not be allowed to attend the next Gathering. Until their training is complete, Cicadapaw and Nightpaw will have at least one other mentor and apprentice pair with them while training. If Burningwing is caught in the process of or attempting to circumvent his punishment, he is to be confronted and stopped, and report the incident to either myself or Frostgaze as soon as possible." She mewed, tail lashing once as she fought to keep the growl out of her voice.

"If I hear of anything like this happening again, whether it be Burningwing or any other cat in ShadowClan, they will face punishment based on the circumstances. Continued instances will result in a formal trial, which could result in exile from ShadowClan for putting your clanmates in danger. I hope that I have made this clear, as I don't wish for it to come to that - however I will protect my clan and the cats within it. There should be no reason for any cat to fear a clanmate, or have any reason to not trust them. If you have any questions, or anything else to report, please let me know. If you ever see or experience something you are unsure of, please let someone know, even as an apprentice your voice will be heard and listened to. I can promise you that. Frostgaze and I rely on every single one of you to help our clan be the very best that it can be, and want to help in any way that we can to support and aid each of you." Murkystar finished, gazing at her clanmates once more. Her expression had softened somewhat as she encouraged her clanmates to reach out to her or Frostgaze. They couldn't be on every patrol, or attend every training, and they relied on their clanmates to be their eyes and ears when they couldn't use their own. The frigid wind tugged at her fur, and she looked to the sky, searching for the distant starlight through the brambles. After a heartbeat, she turned her attention back to the cats below. "You are dismissed, ShadowClan. Please resume your normal duties, and if there is anything further you would like to discuss with me, I will be available for you." She mewed, lowering her head as she released her clanmates and ended the meeting, jumping carefully from Jaggedrock and padding to stand near Frostgaze. Her expression wasn't as angry as before, the fire of rage having ebbed, and she now looked solemn and melancholy as she sat down near her deputy and simply watched and listened.

---

OOC: For reference, one moon* will be equivalent to two irl weeks

Swiftpaw squinted in confusion at the first part .... hmm so not her ceremony? ... oh that was too bad

she looked even more shocked as the rest of the announcement was made ... she blinked rapidly making sure this wasn't some weird dream...

Nothing made sense, when the owl attack had first occurred Nightpaw had talked about how Burningwing had saved him... whaaaa before this she looked up to Burningwing with great respect and saw him as the cat who had saved her brother... now she saw him as a traitor.

She gave a quick worried glance to Nightpaw. She felt awful that Nightpaw was stuck with such a monster for a mentor, she considered herself even more lucky now that she had Mistyfalcon.

When Mistyfalcon and her encountered an owl in a similar situation Mistyfalcon had jumped in immediately saving her life, she couldnt imagine being left to fend for herself in that situation... Nightpaw had done well to not get carried off.

Nightpaw was definitely a better fighter than she was if he was able to get out of that mess, there was no doubt in her mind that Nightpaw was perhaps the best apprentice in terms of fighting strength at this time in shadowclan.

A pit formed in his stomach as it became clear what and who this meeting would be about. Burningwing. Of course Burningwing. It seemed like everyone in this dreaded clan had an agenda against him, disbelieving in their own clanmate. He didn't understand what was the issue this time though, as it had nothing to do with blood. Owls were common in the marshes, any Shadowclan warrior worth their prey would have to know how to fight one. Burningwing had simply found an opportunity to teach and had taken it, obviously he wasn't going to let Nightpaw get killed. Apprentices get hurt, big deal! He had been attacked by an owl on his first night out and no one threw this much of a fit.

But Nightpaw was Murkystar's son... Nepotism, that's what this was. Murkystar was just upset her son got a few scratches, and now his training was going to be dumbed down by some other pair. Cicadapaw snorted, his tail flicking back and forth in irritation. Leadership should know better than to let bias taint their vision. At least Burningwing's punishment was relatively light... Hopefully, cats would come to their senses soon enough.