terrible things [c]

With the help of the warrior, who she'd been to distracted to even identify properly, Smokepetal half-carried Myrtlebloom into the medicine den. There were always fresh, clean nests available... it was something both Smokepetal and Thymelight had joy for, and when there was excess, she even crumpled lavender and mint into them. She did a quick glance around the den, to see if Thymelight or Hemlockfox had yet returned, but it was as empty as she'd left it, and with a worried crease of her brow, Smokepetal hummed in disappointment. She hadn't seen either of the two in quite some time, and neither had they told her where they were going. If they weren't back by the next morning, she'd approach Wolfstar about sending out a search party.

Myrtlebloom was guided gently into one of the nests, and Smokepetal immediately turned and headed to the herb stores, calling over her shoulder. "Just try to get the worst of the wounds cleaned up and keep her calm if she wakes." Sorting through the herbs, Smokepetal gathered goldenrod, feverfew, and thyme, and began chewing them into a poultice as she turned back towards Myrtlebloom.

With one cat punished, Wolfstar strode toward the medicine den after reentering camp. Myrtlebloom had been unconscious when she'd gone after Shatteredpaw, with Smokepetal quick to tend to the she-cat. To Wolfstar's limited knowledge, her wounds had been terrible enough to leave her in such a state, and she worried for the younger warrior. To have to balance that worry with discipline... Wolfstar did not like it. Not one bit.

The sound of voices caught her ears at the entrance to the den, giving the leader pause. She recognized Myrtlebloom's - being awake should be a good sign, right? Chest tightening with the discomfort she felt at the sounds of sobbing, Wolfstar stepped into the den.

Her mind wandered to Shatteredpaw's explanation, doubt prickling beneath her fur. There were two sides to every story and she hadn't been there to witness the fight. She wanted answers, just as much as she wanted to guide her clanmates onto a better path. That Myrtlebloom seemed so distressed about it only made her feel guilt for the punishment she would have to face. If she wanted her clanmates to learn, an example needed to be set.

She only hoped that none of them would act so foolishly again. Myrtlebloom had never caused trouble before to her knowledge, and with this situation... The leader shook her head. Myrtlebloom was far from having Shatteredpaw's nature, and given that she must have only recently woken up, Wolfstar would act accordingly. Given her current state, she did not think she needed to be as forceful to start out with. "Nobody is being kicked out of the clan." Wolfstar offered tired reassurance to the words that she had caught, a low sigh escaping her.

"Gave us quite the scare being dragged into camp, I am glad to see you're awake." Her voice was soft, and not unkind. "How are you feeling, Myrtlebloom?"

Wolfstar had been prepared to have to drag an explanation out of the warrior, but it seemed she didn't have to - it was volunteered freely. And what she also had not expected... Myrtlebloom confirmed Shatteredsky's explanation, had attacked first. Stars... What has gotten into my clanmates? Why such a propensity for claws? The leader listened quietly as the injured she-cat spoke, a soft sigh escaping her.

"Thank you for being honest." She hadn't wanted to believe that one of her clanmates would attack their own, part of her hadn't wanted to believe Shatteredsky at all. Not after how he'd acted. Good to know I'm not the only one he wants dead. Really. She thought sourly. "You don't need to defend him - he has a history of threats and... erratic behavior." It was impossible to hide the bitter disapproval in her voice at that. The newly-scarred ear she hadn't told anyone about flashed in her mind... But that was during an emotionally-charged conversation. Still, the leader felt her heart sink in dismay. Two cats now, who could not be trusted with their own clanmates. But one had the honesty to own up to the fault, at the very least. Still... The leader knew that these actions could not go unpunished, either.

That it had happened before... Foxdung, she thought. "Perhaps pairing you both together as mentor and apprentice was a mistake. I wish one of you would have come to me when problems started to show." Wolfstar's tail flicked. Honeydew must not have known the extent of things either, that was something she and the deputy would have to discuss. "No conflict between clanmates should have ever reached that point. Much less against a cat who should have taught you better than he did."

The leader took a steadying breath. After Shatteredpaw, she was... Tired. This must be done, though, and hopefully the cat in front of her would not incur more punishment for being belligerent. "You both are to stay away from each other. Until you've learned how a warrior is to behave, you will be demoted to the name and rank of apprentice, Myrtlepaw. I cannot tolerate infighting and using claws against our own, no matter how infuriating someone can be." A demoted cat with an apprentice herself... The leader frowned, "I will not confine you to camp as Shatteredpaw is - you at least have owned your transgressions. But you are to be accompanied by another warrior when outside or when training. As for Hawkpaw..." The apprentice was young, but... "I believe he will learn from his mentor's mistakes and continued behavior. Honeydew and I will be watching."