His mind was made long ago, before Cowtuft's crimes had come to light.
The reaction of the Many merely cemented it, leaving no sense of doubt in his decision. Since Cowtuft and Crowtooth both voiced their thoughts on the herb situation, Scorchedfang decided to state his own stance. Bravebird spoke first of exile - perfect.
"Regardless of your intent, you knowingly brought poison into this camp. You kept its presence a secret not only from Lightningstorm, but also Twilightstar and Fallownose. And, if we are to believe that you did not do this deliberately, at the very least you did not care to monitor the poison you brought in here." His tongue drew over his lips, thoughtful. "I personally find it difficult to believe a different cat managed to sneak in, find the berries, tamper with herbs without drawing attention -- when considering you yourself have stated you concealed the berries from so many, including the cat that you den with."
Realistically, odds were in favor of Cowtuft being an infallible culprit. Where his motives lay ultimately did not matter - wolves could be in sheep clothing.
"Because of your choice and lack of supervision or thought, seven cats are dead. There is no second chance for them, they are gone. Buried.
"A simple demotion will not undo this damage, nor does it stand to protect WindClan from a blantant misuse of responsibility. I stand with Bravebird in exiling him."
The orange she-cat’s bluster and bravado deflated immediately as she looked into the medicine cat’s eyes when she felt his paw at her shoulder. She wasn’t sure what all of his signs meant, but after spending a moon in the medicine cat’s den she was able to decipher most of it. He was… thanking her? And telling her not to be violent? But… What if something bad was going to happen to him? What if someone tried to attack him? What if… She didn’t even want to imagine any more possible scenarios that led to Cowy getting hurt. She opened her mouth to stop him, to beg him to stay behind her, but the gentle giant leaned down and gently bumped his head to her shoulder, and any argument forming quickly dissipated.
Cowtuft walked off.
Cowy left her behind and approached Twilightstar before turning to address the clan.
She wanted to call out to him, tell him that he didn’t need to do this, that maybe if he just stayed they’d be able to figure something out. She wanted to promise him that things would be alright as long as he stayed by her side, that she wouldn’t let anyone hurt him, that she could do something, but as she opened her mouth nothing came out. She couldn’t make that promise, she couldn’t tell him that things would be okay, she couldn't tell him that his little sister would handle it all and clear things up – convince everyone it was a misunderstanding. Why?
She was weak.
As much as Firestorm talked about being “cool” or having all kinds of skills, the truth of the matter was that she was a weak, fragile little girl who had an overly simplistic and optimistic view of the world. She wanted to believe that everything was all sunshine and rainbows when deep down she knew it wasn’t.
It was evident when she lost her mother as a young kit, it was evident when her two mentors disappeared – she hadn’t seen them since, it was evident when her sister, Sunpaw, left without a word, it was evident when Milknose disappeared as an apprentice and again just after she became a warrior. Then there was the fire, Pignut dying to save her life while on patrol, the body found at Twilight Falls, the reoccurring deaths, the sickness that led to the deaths of seven of their clanmates, the cat at the border with Scorchedfang who’s leg she had to break, and then more recently there was the time she went out with Bravebird and watched one of the coolest cats she knew drown a RiverClan cat for crossing the border.
As much as she wanted to hope and believe that things would work out in this event too, there were just too many others calling for either the exile or the death of the cat whom she had grown accustomed to. Things wouldn’t work out this time, there was just no way that they could.
And deep down, she knew that.
She hated herself for it, but she knew that something was going to happen to Cowtuft, and she’d be powerless to stop it. She was too small, too weak, too young, too naive… There was nothing that could be done for him, and it seemed that her older brother knew that.
She was powerless.
Cowtuft stomped on the ground to get the attention of their clanmates, and Firestorm felt as though a part of her heart was being crushed under those large, heavy paws. Then he started explaining. Stars dammit, the tom started explaining everything starting with how the berries got there in the first place. With each sign, things just got worse and worse and worse, Cowy just dug the hole deeper and deeper. Why wouldn’t he stop?
Firestorm stood in shocked silence as the large cat recalled the details of the recent check-in event, the one that she had been chosen for. Now that he was saying it, and she actually it gave it some thought, the only cats that had died were the ones who’d been given herbs. The ones that had been treated. Her eyes widened in horror with the realization and suddenly grew nauseous. Had she… killed Foxkit…?
No.
No no no no no.
She didn’t want to believe it.
Had Cowtuft known? She vaguely recalled a dream in which a worried cat with stars in his paws approached her, warning her of the imminent danger brought on by the head medicine cat. She had dismissed it then, choosing to believe in Cowtuft, but now… Now she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t know what to believe anymore, and it seemed as though Lightningstorm didn’t either. The younger of the healer duo had already maneuvered around her and started to approach her former mentor, tears streaming down her face. It was at that moment that Firestorm realized that her own cheeks were stained, and her green eyes wet from the tears. She had a mind-splitting headache as a result of the stress and constant bickering and she wanted to relieve the contents of her stomach somewhere, but she had to see this through. She had to find out the truth.
Stepping forward, she slowly walked to the front – to where Twilightstar, Cowtuft, and Spots were. She had to know if there was more, if there was something that could clear the cat she had come to see as family of the accusations. The small tabby faltered as she drew near, stopping in her tracks as an anguished voice rang out above the others. It was Spots. Lightningstorm, whom she was still confused about how she felt about was pleading with her mentor, seeking answers for what he’d done. Why he hadn’t come to her for help, or why he hadn’t at least told her?
And it broke her heart.
Firestorm could feel a piece of her heart being torn and stomped upon with each word that left the younger healer’s mouth. Her first reaction was to rush to the calico’s side, to lay her tail upon her back and tell her that it was okay. But she didn’t, and it wasn’t. Nothing was okay anymore. Everything she knew was unraveling right before her very eyes, and she had no words of comfort to give to the cat she’d fallen head over heels for. Again, she was powerless. Powerless to save her brother, and powerless to comfort the object of her affection.
Braving the last few steps, she took up a spot next to Lightningstorm, afraid to be too close but craving the warmth that the healer brought. She turned her gaze to Cowtuft, unable to hide the despair lying behind her green orbs. ”Cow…tuft…?” she said, voice cracking with uncertainty ”You… are- This is all a misunderstanding, right…?” Despite it all, she still desperately wanted to believe that he was innocent, but the facts were facts and he had given up so easily. Just then, a voice rang out behind her.
Looking back she saw that it was Bravebird – Birdie calling for his exile. No, not her too! She sent her a pleading look, begging for the older warrior to stop, to reconsider, but another voice rang out in agreement. This time her eyes were met with Scorchedfang, he also wanted Cowtuft gone. What could she do to help in this situation? What could she say that would get the gentle giant out of this mess?
Unable to find a solution, she pinned her ears back and shut her eyes tightly, praying to all the stars above that this was just some kind of sick nightmare and she would wake up and everything would be fine. ”Please… stop…” she whimpered silently. She wanted this to end, she just wanted things to go back to normal.
Poppysong sits outside of the clearing, fur puffed out and eyes as full as the gathering moon. After forcing their fur to sit still, they walk into camp with their slight limp, which is frankly becoming just as annoying as painful now. Walking is a chore and Poppysong just wants to flop over and never wake up again.
When they rip their eyes away from their paws, they see…… everyone. Their fur immediately puffs back up again after all the work they put into keeping it down. Lightningstorm, Twilightstar- and Cowtuft.
They hadn’t heard anything they said but the way everyone was acting tipped them off that they missed something… big. Stars, they sit themself near the back, trying desperately to ignore their aching pain in their leg, which almost seems like it intensifies when they look at either medicine cat.
Now, they decide, it’s set in stone. They aren’t going to get their leg checked out any time soon. What if they give them herbs that were bad? What if they are near a cat who’s sick from that mysterious illness? What if Poppysong spends the last moons or even moments of their life in a cramped, airless den instead of outside? On the battlefield, even?
No. They refuse. And as they refuse they block out the world around them, not listening or seeing anything except their own fear.
The orange she-cat’s bluster and bravado deflated immediately as she looked into the medicine cat’s eyes when she felt his paw at her shoulder. She wasn’t sure what all of his signs meant, but after spending a moon in the medicine cat’s den she was able to decipher most of it. He was… thanking her? And telling her not to be violent? But… What if something bad was going to happen to him? What if someone tried to attack him? What if… She didn’t even want to imagine any more possible scenarios that led to Cowy getting hurt. She opened her mouth to stop him, to beg him to stay behind her, but the gentle giant leaned down and gently bumped his head to her shoulder, and any argument forming quickly dissipated.
Cowtuft walked off.
Cowy left her behind and approached Twilightstar before turning to address the clan.
She wanted to call out to him, tell him that he didn’t need to do this, that maybe if he just stayed they’d be able to figure something out. She wanted to promise him that things would be alright as long as he stayed by her side, that she wouldn’t let anyone hurt him, that she could do something, but as she opened her mouth nothing came out. She couldn’t make that promise, she couldn’t tell him that things would be okay, she couldn't tell him that his little sister would handle it all and clear things up – convince everyone it was a misunderstanding. Why?
She was weak.
As much as Firestorm talked about being “cool” or having all kinds of skills, the truth of the matter was that she was a weak, fragile little girl who had an overly simplistic and optimistic view of the world. She wanted to believe that everything was all sunshine and rainbows when deep down she knew it wasn’t.
It was evident when she lost her mother as a young kit, it was evident when her two mentors disappeared – she hadn’t seen them since, it was evident when her sister, Sunpaw, left without a word, it was evident when Milknose disappeared as an apprentice and again just after she became a warrior. Then there was the fire, Pignut dying to save her life while on patrol, the body found at Twilight Falls, the reoccurring deaths, the sickness that led to the deaths of seven of their clanmates, the cat at the border with Scorchedfang who’s leg she had to break, and then more recently there was the time she went out with Bravebird and watched one of the coolest cats she knew drown a RiverClan cat for crossing the border.
As much as she wanted to hope and believe that things would work out in this event too, there were just too many others calling for either the exile or the death of the cat whom she had grown accustomed to. Things wouldn’t work out this time, there was just no way that they could.
And deep down, she knew that.
She hated herself for it, but she knew that something was going to happen to Cowtuft, and she’d be powerless to stop it. She was too small, too weak, too young, too naive… There was nothing that could be done for him, and it seemed that her older brother knew that.
She was powerless.
Cowtuft stomped on the ground to get the attention of their clanmates, and Firestorm felt as though a part of her heart was being crushed under those large, heavy paws. Then he started explaining. Stars dammit, the tom started explaining everything starting with how the berries got there in the first place. With each sign, things just got worse and worse and worse, Cowy just dug the hole deeper and deeper. Why wouldn’t he stop?
Firestorm stood in shocked silence as the large cat recalled the details of the recent check-in event, the one that she had been chosen for. Now that he was saying it, and she actually it gave it some thought, the only cats that had died were the ones who’d been given herbs. The ones that had been treated. Her eyes widened in horror with the realization and suddenly grew nauseous. Had she… killed Foxkit…?
No.
No no no no no.
She didn’t want to believe it.
Had Cowtuft known? She vaguely recalled a dream in which a worried cat with stars in his paws approached her, warning her of the imminent danger brought on by the head medicine cat. She had dismissed it then, choosing to believe in Cowtuft, but now… Now she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t know what to believe anymore, and it seemed as though Lightningstorm didn’t either. The younger of the healer duo had already maneuvered around her and started to approach her former mentor, tears streaming down her face. It was at that moment that Firestorm realized that her own cheeks were stained, and her green eyes wet from the tears. She had a mind-splitting headache as a result of the stress and constant bickering and she wanted to relieve the contents of her stomach somewhere, but she had to see this through. She had to find out the truth.
Stepping forward, she slowly walked to the front – to where Twilightstar, Cowtuft, and Spots were. She had to know if there was more, if there was something that could clear the cat she had come to see as family of the accusations. The small tabby faltered as she drew near, stopping in her tracks as an anguished voice rang out above the others. It was Spots. Lightningstorm, whom she was still confused about how she felt about was pleading with her mentor, seeking answers for what he’d done. Why he hadn’t come to her for help, or why he hadn’t at least told her?
And it broke her heart.
Firestorm could feel a piece of her heart being torn and stomped upon with each word that left the younger healer’s mouth. Her first reaction was to rush to the calico’s side, to lay her tail upon her back and tell her that it was okay. But she didn’t, and it wasn’t. Nothing was okay anymore. Everything she knew was unraveling right before her very eyes, and she had no words of comfort to give to the cat she’d fallen head over heels for. Again, she was powerless. Powerless to save her brother, and powerless to comfort the object of her affection.
Braving the last few steps, she took up a spot next to Lightningstorm, afraid to be too close but craving the warmth that the healer brought. She turned her gaze to Cowtuft, unable to hide the despair lying behind her green orbs. ”Cow…tuft…?” she said, voice cracking with uncertainty ”You… are- This is all a misunderstanding, right…?” Despite it all, she still desperately wanted to believe that he was innocent, but the facts were facts and he had given up so easily. Just then, a voice rang out behind her.
Looking back she saw that it was Bravebird – Birdie calling for his exile. No, not her too! She sent her a pleading look, begging for the older warrior to stop, to reconsider, but another voice rang out in agreement. This time her eyes were met with Scorchedfang, he also wanted Cowtuft gone. What could she do to help in this situation? What could she say that would get the gentle giant out of this mess?
Unable to find a solution, she pinned her ears back and shut her eyes tightly, praying to all the stars above that this was just some kind of sick nightmare and she would wake up and everything would be fine. ”Please… stop…” she whimpered silently. She wanted this to end, she just wanted things to go back to normal.
✩｡°°｡✩ he . . him ➔ massive white tom with black splotches and floppy ears. scars cover his neck. x-marks on his shoulders and his left hindleg is covered in burn scars
╭₊˚purrks﹕monkey's paw, the collector, herb knowledge, kitty softpaws ₊˚੭ ✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
disclaimer : any dialogue in italics is being communicated by sign language and body language. it is completely non-verbal.
⌦ .｡.:* ✮ @BEAR. @Moonraven @Dark @Alchemist Kitsune // mentioning those who he directly interacted with but cowtuft is addressing everyone!
A scream ripped through the camp, calling out the name of his previous patient. Cowtuft stiffened, his heart beginning to thump, thump, thump, thump erratically. Again. Again. Again. A beat. He threw his body into the storage, scrambling desperately to get ahold of the herb ThunderClan had given them. He hadn't gotten time to test it, he didn't think Leafspot could be poisoned. It was a cold. All it was a cold.
He stepped out of his den, everyone's voices were blended together. It was so loud, all he could focus on was the mist that lurked near the ground, near the limp body. There was no sign of life, he could see the crimson. The seventh had fallen. Seven. Snow Fever had also taken seven of their clanmates. Everyone was arguing, throwing out guesses on what could've unfolded. No one seemed to have registered the fact he was there. (he didn't want to be there, he wanted to be far, far away)
Someone was quick to defend him, stepping in front of the medicine cat. Firestorm. There was another cat nearby, Lightningstorm. He looked at her apologetically. Cowtuft did not have the answers this time. His legs were shaking, but he stepped up to Firestorm's side. He placed a paw on her shoulder, eyebrows furrowing together. "Please,, we do not need violence.." He signs slowly, a plea in his eyes. "Thank you .. for defending me.. but I'll be quite alright... " He pulled back, gently bumping his head against hers. Gratitude.
Twilightstar steps up, beginning to address the clan. Despite what ThunderClan had said, Cowtuft firmly believed it had to be a plague. Poison did not make sense, it couldn't make sense but this worldview was quick to come crashing down. Lightningstorm had found the cause of death. ThunderClan was correct.
He jerks back, any wits he might've gathered crumbled. What? What? What? whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhat
The splotched tom shook his head back and forth in denial, his breathing beginning to pick up. He felt sick, incredibly sick. They were poisoned. His herbs were poisoned. He gave his helpers poisoned herbs. He hadn't - but how? When? Why? Who? Who would've done such a thing? A quiet whimper came from him, his paws stung from the aftermath of his experiments. Cowtuft had been struggling to discover a cure for a plague that didn't exist.
His fate depended on how well he could convince them. It was ironic, really. He's never been good with words but, his life depended on them. There was no doubt of it. He would no longer remain as WindClan's medicine cat and as far as he was concerned; he was already dead. He was not talented in hunting or fighting. He couldn't bare to see how his clanmates looked at him if he remained or came back to WindClan.
Cowtuft was either a medicine cat who poisoned his clanmates intentionally or without knowing. StarClan had succeeded. He had to be incredibly unaware or have malicious intent. (Briefly, he wonders if it was the latter. His memory was full of gaps, holes, events that became a blur. Could he have done it and simply forgot? How could he have not noticed? If he had done it in his sleep..)
Strangely enough, not all of his clanmates were quite processing the full information. Instead,, they were shifting the blame to Lightningstorm. Or, one was? He wasn't sure. Twilightstar wished to hear what he had to say. The medicine cat knew not how to defend himself, but he would tell the truth. It was all he had. All he could give.
He steps out from behind, lifting his head up and trying to ignore the knot in his throat while he approached Twilightstar. He hung his head low, unable to meet her gaze. "I'm sorry. There is nothing.. I can say to express my deep regret. I -- after twenty moons, I should have ... noticed. Anything, something .. but I firmly believed the cause of death was a sickness, perhaps a variation of snow fever ,, but nothing I can say can bring our clanmates back. This failure is my own,, and it will reside with me until the end of my days," He signed slowly, taking a deep, shuddering breath. A part of him wished to gravel at her paws, to bend his neck and expose the soft flesh; to beg for her to kill him there and now. He does not, if only for what little honor he had left. Cowtuft looks up to meet her gaze, wondering if there was disappointment, regret. She had said he was one of her best.
He shuts his eyes, opens then, and turns to address the rest of his clanmates. He stomps his paws loudly on the ground, trying to grab their attention. If they wanted to listen, that was. "The deathberries were brought in by me,, This was my act and my act alone. ...Lightningstorm only knows briefly what they are - until now.. I did not inform her of them. I did not inform anyone of this decision... After treating Russetpaw I had came to a conclusion... There may be times ,,where our clanmates are in dire suffering and where their ailment cannot be overcome,, In this situation, offering them a swift death would be a mercy.. Those were my intentions and have been my only intentions. I hid the deathberries away to keep them separated from my main supply." He looks at the singular rotten berry. The color of crimson mocking him. His ears pull back, tears forming in his waterline that he desperately started to blink away.
Cowtuft sucks in a breath. "Afterwards .. Lilypool came to me. She had the symptoms of a cold, perhaps the beginning of whitecough or greencough - that is what it appeared to be,,. She was sniffling and coughing. I fed her catmint and soon after, she was gone.,, Plagues are not something new to WindClan,, Poison was not an option.. I,, am still .. struggling to believe someone could do such a thing.,, but uhm, as a result.. I wanted to stop the sickness from spreading.." It feels foolish to talk about it now. If it was only poison then his efforts were for nothing. He was a fool.
"I ,,picked Firestorm, Fallownose, and Lightningstorm as my helpers. Any herbs they were given or any knowledge they had about them came from me,, My experience outweighs their own, no one had.. any reason to doubt otherwise,, Berryfrost presented with a headache and chills. Whiskerwing was coughing.. I gave Berryfrost feverfew and Whiskerwing tansy to ease their symptoms, " They likely knew some of the bits, but not the specifics. He would present the evidence. Every piece of the evidence. Then, they could decide.
"Foxkit was given burnet to treat her weakness,,, Stickpaw had similar symptoms to Lilypool but was much more visibly sicker.,, He was given tansy. All four of them died after.. being administered the herbs.,, Inspecting the bodies they all ..were in similar states; this only furthered my belief that it was a sickness,,, I searched, and searched for herbs that could help. "
"..Uhm,, the day of the Gathering I went into the nursery. Wispkit was coughing and in the midst of attempting to get her to come in for treatment, she collapsed,, I tried to give her catmint, but my efforts did not amount to anything.. I buried her alone as I did not know if the sickness could spread even through death,,.. The only cat I was able to tell was Twilightstar before we had to leave to the Gathering,," Cowtuft looks towards his leader, he wasn't sure if he should've brought this up but it seemed connected. Had to be, right? Maybe she wanted to reveal this, he hopes not.
"There it was revealed StarClan had spoken to ThunderClan, giving them the cure... I have yelled at the stars to give the answers they hold captive many times throughout my lifetime... They are frustratingly vague, but they have always gone to one ..of our high ranks. Never.. have they expressed that they did not approve of my role.. I do not not understand it or trust their words,, but I have been trying to test the cure to see if it could truly help,, "
"Then,, Leafspot came into my den... He was coughing and weak. I gave him catmint and burnet,, Throughout all of this, supervising the deathberries became something that slipped my mind,, I had no use for them. They were not a major concern,,,, As far as I know, I have been the only cat who knew about them... " Cowtuft furrows his eyebrows, his tail swishing back and forth.
"Lilypool first passed away three moons ago,, I,, do not believe all our herbs are tainted.. I have successfully treated other cats in the span of three months without them having adverse effects,," (a memory flashes of scorchedfang curled up in his nest, refusing to move or accept help.)
"Herbs wither,, which means the culprit would've had to slipped into my herb storage on multiple occasions to replenish ,, the poisoned herbs. The den is rarely empty - if I am not there, then Lightningstorm is typically there. It is not uncommon for... there to be cats in my den. I,, struggle to believe the culprit would have managed to slip in so many times without someone noticing. If even a small detail, something they wouldn't focus on at first,," His signs trail off for a moment, it would be great if someone knew. Saw something. He doesn't think he'll be so lucky.
"It feels as if it would be more plausible if ,, the herbs were poisoned before they reached the herb storage .. or if it was me. I cannot fault you for believing the latter. The evidence is there, but at the same time I can tell you .. I have served as your medicine cat since I was eight moons old. More than half of my life has been as your medicine cat; I know nothing else. I have did my very best to serve you all. Every scar I have gotten has been for WindClan. I regret none of it, I would do it all again in every lifetime given the chance.." Cowtuft glances around, signing swiftly. He's suffered for them and along side them.
"But ,,my lack of supervision did lead to seven of our clanmates dying. To the ones ..who defend me wholeheartedly, I am sure you .. mean well.. but please understand I am not guiltless... Whether I am the culprit or not, I disturbed poisonous herbs. ..This should have been caught sooner, that fault lies with me,, However, I would never knowingly poison anyone. Especially not the children, or my own family. This is my truth, but that is all it is. It is my truth, it is my words. "
"I will let my actions speak for themselves... You all have known me. If you believe I was malicious in my actions, then you may sentence me to my death and I will accept it with a open mouth,,,. If you believe I was neglectful in my actions, then the result is the same.,, No punishment will be enough to bring back our clanmates and this sin will forever rest on my shoulders. "
Cowtuft sets his paws down onto the ground, tail tucked between his legs. He looks at the kits crying, the exhausted warriors, his apprentice. He thought he would be crying, shaking and a mess on the floor. His legs tremble, blood roar in his ears but he feels tired. An overwhelming sense of tiredness; was this surrender?
He looks up to the sky. Every sense he was little he was taught to worship their ancestors. They could do no wrong; they always had a plan. They always had the answers. Cowtuft looks for them, looks for the answers but they are silent.
He decided if this were their plan to get rid of him, truly, then he would follow them no longer. They turned a blind eye to WindClan's suffering again and again. They used it to benefit ThunderClan. The stars could've prevented this all, but they sat in silence. He will let them sit on their pillars of misconstruction. he simply had no interest in joining them when his time came. Solitude would be his prison. Maybe then he could rest.
Spottedpaw
Slowly, ever so slowly Spottedpaw turned her head over to Cowtuft in horror as he confessed his sins. She had been so determined. She had put so much energy into stand up and defending a cat she barely knew and embarrassed herself in front of her leader just for him to come up and basically admit to murder. She didn’t understand, she just wanted to burn up in a fire to not stand here anymore. Why was she so trusting of other cats? Cats who had never done anything for her. All she had seen in her life was that other clanners were ruthless murders, that her clan just wanted blood and that her clan was just so purely incompetent that seven had to die. How could the clan just let deathberries pass them by and if you were going to hold something so deadly, even for something noble in one’s view, why not protect them better than that?
She wanted to burn away so no one could look at her. She wanted to scream so everyone would look at her. She wanted to throw claws so everyone would look at her. She wanted to pull away so no one would look at her.
Her eyes caught Firestorm as she struggled with this realization that what someone that she cared so much for did. She wanted to run over to her mother to say it would be alright. Lying, she hated lying. Firestorm had known Cowtuft for so long that such a betrayal of trust there was no way that there was anything that she could say to comfort her. She wanted to berate Cowtuft to tell him how much a mousebrain he had been for doing this. She wanted to retract her statement but something mattered more to her than her own public image. Her mother.
So she bit her tongue as she thought about what to say. What would the right words be to say here. When she came up short on time and words she spoke anyway. “I do not believe Cowtuft should be killed as a punishment, there has been enough blood already spilled, already enough dead bodies. We don’t need to bury more, even if its just to keep such knowledge around.” Spottedpaw said with no emotion in her voice. She felt like she was puppeting her own body. That she was going against her own will so much that this body wasn’t hers. It was just meat being moved by strings, told by someone else what to do or say. What a pathetic clan.
'CowTuft did it and should be killed! We are supposed to trust him with our lives and he has betrayed that trust by killing others! How are we supposed to trust him not to kill more cats if we leave him alive?'
(I'M SO SORRY COWMAN I LOVE YOU)
Last edited by Ladiebugg; December 31st, 2023 at 03:31 AM.
Hawkfur
WindClan
he/him | 46 moons
[Deep russet tabby with blue eyes and white chest, muzzle and paws]
---------------
[Bravebird - @tallulah ] [Cowtuft - @wolfie ] [Twilightstar - @Moonraven ] [Lightningstorm - @Alchemist Kitsune ] [Firestorm/Scorchedfang - @BEAR. ] [Crowtooth - @Rani ]
---------------
Hawkfur whirled around to face his clanmates as calls for death, exile, and demotion rang across the clearing. What was happening?? Surely--Surely they could all see that this was insanity, right? They should be focusing on finding the cat who purposely messed with the herbs, not hunting the cat that had given so much for them! But as Hawkfur's resolute faith in Cowtuft bubbled to his lips in the form of a defense, he caught Bravebird's eye. He saw the terror in her gaze, the heartbreak lining her eyes and trailing down her lilac cheeks.
His heart snapped clean in two. He didn't know why, but watching a cat as strong as Bravebird crack under the weight of Cowtuft's confession twisted his stomach. He was suddenly glad for Crowtooth's closeness to his friend, soothing her and being soothed. He only wished he could join them both.
Instead, he began thinking--truly thinking--about everything Cowtuft had said. He brought deathberries into camp, and simply forgot about them. He admitted to his negligence, with sad eyes and a silent acceptance of whatever fate the clan deemed him worthy of. Hawkfur was going to be sick. How would Cowtuft prevent something similar from happening again? The answer was simple. He couldn't.
How was anyone going to trust the white tom going forward? Hawkfur knew for certain he wouldn't be approaching the medicine den any time soon, even with Lightningstorm as medicine cat.
Oh dear Starclan, Lightningstorm. Hawkfur's big blue eyes alighted on the calico as she approached Cowtuft on unsteady paws, her voice weak with disbelief as she begged her mentor to tell her why. He couldn't imagine the sort of pain she was feeling right now. Betrayal he knew. But unknown betrayal, where no malice had been meant, and things had simply gone so incredibly awry... that was another thing entirely. There would be no black and white, no just hatred without burning regret.
He could see Firestorm staring desperately at Lightningstorm and Cowtuft, and sympathy overwhelmed the tom. He had seen how close they were, and knew she must be experiencing the worst kind of pain a cat can experience.
Someone shouted that it was the clan or Cowtuft, Hawkfur was snapped back to the present. Many cats seemed to agree with the statement, and Hawkfur's stomach curdled as he realized he did too. Hawkfur's strongest loyalty was to Windclan, and as much as it killed him to realize, Cowtuft was now a threat, whether he meant to be or not. He had unknowingly killed seven clanmates over the course of three moons, and been so certain about the cause that he hadn't even considered another option. No matter the guilt he felt or the amends he would try to make if he remained medicine cat, trust in the tom had been completely washed away.
That was when Bravebird spoke up in favor of exile, a few other cats agreeing with her. Hawkfur swallowed thickly, glancing between the gathered cats and the medicine cat. Exile... exile often lead to vengeful cats who stalked the territories and attacked unsuspecting patrols. But Cowtuft wasn't like that. At least... before all of this, Hawkfur would have been certain of that, but now...
But what other options were there? Hawkfur opened his mouth to say something, to agree with the sentiment, but he caught sight of Cowtuft once more and all the words dried in his throat. He forced himself to look away, working his jaw as he searched for the words in the rubble of his faith.
"I agree. I think Cowtuft cannot be trusted as our medicine cat anymore." Each word was bile on his tongue. "He should never be allowed near camp again."
He wanted nothing more in that moment than to slink back to Bravebird and press his flank against his friend's, but did he really deserve to? After all, her own sister had accused Cowtuft of this in the past and been exiled... and here he was, unable to even look the criminal in the eyes as he condemned him to the same fate.
Hawkfur had once thought himself a loyal protector of Windclan, but now, he couldn't even consider himself a proper warrior. He had been so ready to defend Cowtuft, even after the evidence was laid before him like prey. He raised his head, locking eyes with Cowtuft. "I'm sorry. But we have to put Windclan first. Out of everyone here, I thought you might understand that."
His mind was made long ago, before Cowtuft's crimes had come to light.
The reaction of the Many merely cemented it, leaving no sense of doubt in his decision. Since Cowtuft and Crowtooth both voiced their thoughts on the herb situation, Scorchedfang decided to state his own stance. Bravebird spoke first of exile - perfect.
"Regardless of your intent, you knowingly brought poison into this camp. You kept its presence a secret not only from Lightningstorm, but also Twilightstar and Fallownose. And, if we are to believe that you did not do this deliberately, at the very least you did not care to monitor the poison you brought in here." His tongue drew over his lips, thoughtful. "I personally find it difficult to believe a different cat managed to sneak in, find the berries, tamper with herbs without drawing attention -- when considering you yourself have stated you concealed the berries from so many, including the cat that you den with."
Realistically, odds were in favor of Cowtuft being an infallible culprit. Where his motives lay ultimately did not matter - wolves could be in sheep clothing.
"Because of your choice and lack of supervision or thought, seven cats are dead. There is no second chance for them, they are gone. Buried.
"A simple demotion will not undo this damage, nor does it stand to protect WindClan from a blantant misuse of responsibility. I stand with Bravebird in exiling him."
Grubpaw
He/Him~Windclan~16 Moons~Flock Together 1
"Bad thoughts give me bad dreams
And my bad dreams make me sleepwalk"
Grubpaw's eyes widen at this, he had been watching this all this go down. Not with much interest, but this was interesting. Never really liked that guy anyway he thought slyly. The clan is better off without a second killer in camp...there's only room for one.
OPEN
__________________
★☆"There is no show without an Audience!"☆★
Gentlecrab is Beachclan's Medicine cat, pearl has a semi-open den policy
Please use tone tags when speaking to me Character website Commisions
Basilthroat
They/He~Windclan~24 Moons
"I don't need the world to see
That I've been the best I can be"
"Yeah.." he trailed off. "Well im gonna go rest and hopefully wake up when it's all done, thanks for the chat you actually calmed me down a bit" they smiled cheerfully at the she-cat. Basilthroat padded off to the warriors' den.
Swiftfire-Warrior-She/Her
Swiftfire stared blankly at Basilthroat for a moment, then she shrugged, offering a small, tired smile in return. "Rest well, if you can..." She mewed, watching Basilthroat pad off to the warrior's den. She returned her focus to the clearing. The call for exile was sounding, and even Swiftfire found herself agreeing with the Clan's wants. But was it what they needed? What if removing Cowtuft only endangered them more? What if Lightningstorm wasn't ready? She didn't even know what deathberries were in the first place!
Swiftfire rose to her paws and padded over, dipping her head to Hawkfur, Firestorm and Lightningstorm in acknowledgment of Hawkfur's words. "If we're looking to remove our trained medicine cat for incompetence, then what is going to be our response for when a cat dies from inexperience?" She looked between the arguing cats, letting her gaze linger over Lightningstorm, "Cowtuft has served for moons upon moons. We can see how beloved he is by the cats around him. Permanent exile could do us more harm than good. One moon of exile...let him learn from his mistakes, correct his shortcomings. When he returns, Twilightstar can do a full assessment of his abilities, then determine whether he is fit to remain our medicine cat, or not...." She said softly, almost pleadingly to the cats calling for his permanent departure, whether they wanted to truly send the medicine cat away or not. She knew she was probably the last warrior that needed to add in her two mousetails worth of words. But it just felt...wrong.
The death, needless to say, shook Rabbiteye. The accusations on Cowtuft, too. While he trusted their hard working medicine cat, and didn't think at all that it could be him, there was truth in Twilightstar's words.
__________________
Ain't much that I know what to put 'ere...
"And that, my friends, is how a revolution dies." - Haymitch
An offwhite she-cat, with brown, black, dark gray speckles, and blue/green heterochromia.
VC: a light Hungarian + British accent; a purr after every "r."
Maplekit just stared at the ground while everybody was yelling. Wolffang had joined the voices with his opinion. Demoting Cowtuft temporarily? Look to StarClan to see if he even is fit for the role? Why would StarClan care? After all, they gave foxdunged ThunderClan the cure to WindClan's sickness.
After all,
they're just a bunch of dead cats who don't know what they're doing.
Driftingsoul, a cat who Maplekit has never seen before, then spoke up. Something about how a temporary demotion wouldn't do anything, and that a persecution was better.
"in my eyes, starclan is giving us the chance to get rid of the destruction that Cowtuft brought back with him."
Maplekit just coolly glanced at Driftingsoul and Bravebird, before she opened her jaw to put in her own 2 cents.
"If so-called 'StarrrClan' is giving us the chance to kill off Cowtuft, then they would've done so a long, long time ago. Frrrom what it looks like forrr me, StarrClan is trrying to tearr us aparrt. They'rrre doing this on purrrpose. They give help to some otherr clan who does not need it, and, oh?" Maplekit started to chuckle. "We, the clan who needed the currre so badly, didn't get the help.
Frrom what it looks like to me, StarrrClan is a clan with a bunch of trrraitorrs."
__________________
Skeleton you are my friend,
but you are made of bone.
Re: WindClan Clearing
-
