the past i've tried forgetting [c]

Sablestrike grumbled to himself, resisting the urge to touch at his missing eye. The herbs that Heatherberry had packed his wound with almost made him forget that he was missing it, but the lack of vision was a constant reminder that he would have to live like this for the rest of his life. Knowing what he did now Sablestrike wished he hadn't been so lenient with the Windclan apprentice. She had disfigured him, and all he had done to her was was give her a few nasty scratches over her shoulder. Her wound would heal in a matter of moons. His however would last until he was buried in the ground.

The tom's head raised as Leopardstar joined them. Sablestrike offered the molly a short nod. "I'm glad you're safe, Leopardstar. Part of me was wondering if those fox-hearted fools would try something with you." At least some of Windclan had enough sense not to cause problems. Still, Sablestrike didn't like the way his leader spoke, implying that he could be in the wrong here. He had done nothing wrong in his trip to the outcropping. His attack on the apprentice was mere self-defense. "Very well. Let's talk then."

She had been fussing over the forever lost eye of Sablestrike when the newly replaced curtains swished open, allowing the outside light to flood the den before plunging it again into darkness more fitting for a ShadowClan cat. It was relief at seeing her mother in one piece that had her shoulders drop and jaw unclench, not a single scratch giving way to the sent of blood. Leopardstar was safe. That was all she wanted, though she gave a nod of gratitude for being included in whatever this was about to be. While the tone was level when she addressed Sablestrike, it was clear Leopardstar was not happy.

Her brow scrunched at the news even if it wasn't all that surprising: the outcropping had been claimed without notice. A classic WindClan trait of taking what wasn't theirs - like the lives of her long dead brother and sister. A scowl began to form, fully expecting to hear something even worse... Only to fall into a look of dismay. "An apprentice...?" Sablestrike had hurt a what was essentially a kit over a border dispute? So that was how he lost his eye. By being a complete moron. "So you saw a child on a border now marked by WindClan, and decided to take it upon yourself to execute them? Respectfully, Sablestrike, you are second in command. That is extremely irresponsible." She felt bile rise to her throat, unusually anxious after having been rather relaxed only moments ago when it had just been the two of them. Alongside that live bird he purposefully handed off to a kit was Sablestrike--

The next words from Leopardstar ripped her from her thought, the vision of blood pooling at her paws and the lifeless bodies of Batswarm and Moondancer... "Leopardstar is right. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past by rushing into violence at every opportunity. I get your anger, but we can't do this right now. We have too much to lose. The outcropping was not worth the weight of ShadowClan lives. I don't want to hear any talks of war. Not when it was clear who the instigator really was." As much as she would have loved to be able to stand up for Sablestrike and call her own mother a liar and a fool for believing WindClan could ever speak the truth... The deputies past actions proved well enough that this was a situation that could have really happened because of his actions alone. Just like someone else she knew.

The tom's eye narrowed at that. Severely injured? Stars, they were really milking this whole situation, weren't they? Sablestrike had half a mind to speak up and let his leader know that he had actually been quite lax in his countering of the young molly, but it was clear she wasn't done yet. Who cares, he thought, let them know who did it. At least that way they'll think twice about taking swipes at me for fun. That next part stung. Maiming a child. A few good scratches were apparently the equivalent to a maiming now, but not the eye missing from his head?! As far as he could recall that Windclan apprentice had been able to hobble off just fine, she had even tried scenting another rock right in front of him! It took every ounce of self-control not to spit those facts back at Leopardstar's face, but she was already accusing him about training rabid predators. It was clear she wouldn't trust a single word he said right now, what would even be the point. Sablestrike was forced to sit quietly, letting his claws dig up the earth below as he stared at his leader with one eye.

"You what? That land is ours Leopardsun, and you just gave it away? Windclan should be the ones begging for our forgiveness. Moons pass and they simply think that our prior claim to the outcropping means nothing, but it's okay because our leader is just giving away territory like it's fresh-kill. I suppose we should invite them to take over the marshes next, then our camp? Our home is theirs, isn't it?" The deputy's tirade was cut short as Heatherberry cut in, accusing him again of doing something more than what he had with that child. "Execute? Stars! You two are talking as if you were there! I apologize then, I'm sorry. The next time someone takes my eye out I'll just leave it be, perhaps I'll even thank them for that. If they tear my body to ribbons all I can do is thank them for sending me to Starclan quicker." As a deputy it was his duty to let those from other clans use him as their personal training dummies, how could he be so foolish!

As if his actions had been curated to stoke a war. All he had wanted was to fix the borders and reclaim what was rightfully theirs, but these two didn't see it that way. His defending himself had quickly become a one-sided execution meant to start a war with a clan that, until now, he had hoped would become a future ally. He wouldn't win this, not with the both of them looking upon him like he was a monster. Stars, his interjections had already done enough to make him look worse to the two, what point was there in trying to defend himself. In a more defeated tone, the tom mewed. "What's next for me? You gonna give me to Windclan to be executed for my crimes? I'm ready to go whenever you are." That was what they wanted to hear, right? It sure felt like it.