High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]
As expected came the roar of her Clanmates. Dovecloud was regarded with a curious expression, but Sparrowflight and Batblood seemed equipped enough to handle it for which she was glad. She figured it would be of no use pointing out the ridiculousness of the notion of breaking his leg in return since several others had that covered.
A few voices called for him to be demoted - an idea that Cinderstar was not entirely comfortable with. After all, she did not want him anywhere near their apprentices where he could potentially harm yet another young, growing mind. Some spoke of putting him on a watch of sorts, which she could see happening - but a cat like Sleethound could easily manipulate his way out of that, she knew.
Those who spoke for exile, Cinderstar was not surprised. Lead by Buckbranch, several others followed until her gaze snapped to a cat she had been most expectant to hear from. Shallowshiver had been his mate at one point, though when that ended Cinderstar was unsure. But she listened intently, blue eyes seeming to flash with an unrecognizable emotion. The large dark furred feline had a point - placing him with those he's harmed the most would only end in disaster.
Wolfspirit's voice rose above the crowd next, and Cinderstar shot him a stern look. She had asked for opinions, not screaming, and the fact that he was a full grown warrior shouting his head off frustrated her. And it seemed he had his facts wrong if he was pointing out that Cinderpaw's leg injury was from rough training. Still, she took in his words before moving on.
It was then her daughter spoke, and Cinderstar was drawn to what she said. Her gaze visibly softened landing upon her, and she could tell that there was some sort of personal experience she was drawing off of. Her heart ached to imagine how difficult this must be for her, to have the possibility of the cat who had so willingly tossed his own kin off the Thunderwillow with blatant disregard to share a den with her. It made Cinderstar sick too. As she met her gaze, Cinderstar returned Softpaw's nod in acknowledgement.
As she was prepared to move on and deliver his punishment, a softer yet confident voice spoke up, and Cinderstar turned to see Brightpath stepping forward. Surprise registered for just a second before the newly named warrior began speaking. Her eyes widened at the revelation and flickered to the prisoners den where she assumed the tom was. He had given Brightpath those marks? She tried to remember what sort of reasoning had been given at the time when they had first come back to camp with them, but all Cinderstar could see was violent red.
'He left me. Outside of camp walls. In a pool of my own blood.'
Suddenly something akin to a switch flipped inside the leader. Gone was her neutral expression, replaced by that of anger. Her eyes narrowed with a raging infero, flickering flames serving to heat up her pelt. Still though, she gave a deep nod to Brightpath, an acknowledgement of her stepping forward. It was brave, and it was something not many could do. Her heart went out to the young cat, who had perhaps gripped all of the courage they had left with tight paws and pushed forward to make sure that justice was delivered.
Then her eyes snapped to the one voice she had expected to hear; Sleethound. Her blood turned into chips of ice, shard digging at exposed nerves and sending alarm signals all up and down her body. Ants felt like they were crawling under every inch of her pelt, and without a second though the silver bengal leapt down from the tree and strode over to Sleethound.
"You disgust me."
A sneer, followed quickly by a look of utter distaste. Blue eyes burned like fire, an inferno fueled by memories of the past, many moons old. She stood rigid, muscles tense as if preparing for this cat to strike out at her. History told her he might - cats like him always did. They always said some suave sentiments and conjoined charismatic words to get others to turn the other cheek and deem them worthy of a second chance.
Sleethound would not get that chance. Not today, not ever. Not while Cinderstar was leader and not while she still had air in her lungs to speak up for the injustice his actions caused, for the pain and trauma they had sewn.
"When Cinderpaw returns," Cinderstar continued, her voice eerily calm. A single twitch of her ear. "I will tell her what I wish someone would have told me. That you are nothing but a fraud. You puppeteer the minds of your Clanmates into holding you to a high degree when in reality you are a coward. You use violence to get your way and you disregard the consequences. I will tell her that I know how heartbreaking it is, to have the vision of your parent shattered before your eyes. To see who they are once the veil is lifted. I will make her understand that she deserves so much better than you as a father. She deserves to be held to the highest degree, not only because of what she has done for this Clan but because she has far surpassed you in every aspect of life. I will tell her that if she is to grieve, it will be of who you pretended to be, and not for who you actually are."
Blood roared in her ears, blocking out everything but the cat before her. Not once had she raised her voice, and not once had she lashed out with unjustifiable words. Cinderstar spoke from experience, from memories she had as a young kit. "You are no longer a ThunderClan cat, and as far as I am concerned you are no longer a cat. You are no better than the crow-food that rots along the side of the Thunderpath. Leave. If I catch you on ThunderClan territory after sundown, I will shred you." A hint of venom laced her words, a badly concealed threat but Cinderstar showed no notion of trying to hide it.
"Shallowshiver," she called for the she-cat, not breaking her gaze away from the rat before her, "escort him to the border. Make sure he leaves, and if he argues remind him of what was said here today." Cinderstar stayed, unmoving as her blue gaze was locked onto Sleethound. She would not continue this meeting until he was gone from this Clan, and no longer a threat to those within its walls.
