A whole half moon went by. Increased tensions from the Gathering spilled over to the border. Every clan was laying scent marks more often; patrolling more frequently. There had been several small spats with Fernclan and Flaxclan at their respective borders too. Nothing serious, but it showed things were at a boiling point. Something was bound to give sooner or later.
Dappledshade had been out on dawn patrol that morning, and was resting up in the afternoon sun before a dusk hunt. It was the time of day the vast majority of the clan was in camp sharing tongues. She sat with Sedgetuft and Mottledtail, lounging and chatting in a relaxed air. Mottledtail was bragging about sending a Fernclan patrol packing at a skirmish a few days ago. To hear her tell it, it was practically her doing so single-pawed. Dappledshade could only roll her eyes at her aunt's antics. The clan regularly said Mottledtail had never mentally graduated from her apprentice days. Dappledshade guessed that was accurate.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed movement of a red pelt. Her ears swivelled as she took note of Rowanfall skulking into camp looking rather agitated. He had been making himself a bit scarce ever since the Gathering, at least to her. Perhaps he had noticed her watching him let Keapaw and Lionpaw go, and was nervous about that. Then again, he had been acting odd since Kowhaifall's death; perhaps he had graduated from normal conspiracy into pure paranoia.
"Hey, Rowanfall!" She called out, both trying to get his attention and alerting her companions to his presence.
"Oh there he is! Hey Red, where have you been?" Sedgetuft sat up slightly to lightly tease Rowanfall.
Rowanfall flicked an ear in their direction, but seemed to be keen to ignore them. "Aww, don't you wanna play, Rowanfall?" Mottledtail joined in. She was quite happy to join in on their usual taunts towards him when she could.
The tom continued to walk on, only a small growl to indicate he even heard them. Mottledtail seemed to deflate in disappointment, her large untidy coat bouncing as she flopped back down. "Hmph, isn't he boring lately?"
Dappledshade tuned out the conversation between her brother and aunt, instead narrowed blue eyes followed Rowanfall's progress across camp and up to Icestar's den. Now what was he going to see the leader about?
More movement drew her attention away from where Rowanfall had vanished inside Icestar's den. Longfang was coming back into camp through one of the side entrances near the herbalists' den. That in itself wasn't unusual, he was constantly coming and going gathering fresh herbs; it was his manner that was suspicious. The tom was especially jittery looking. His hackles were raised all down his spine, his eyes were darting around nervously, and his ears were flat as he hurriedly scurried into his den before anyone could interact with him. He also had no herbs in his mouth. What was he doing? And why had he come back to camp just after Rowanfall like that? Had they been speaking outside about something?
"Wonder what's up with Longfang?" She broached casually to her companions, unsure if they had even noticed him on their own. Sedgetuft followed her gaze, just catching the herbalist dart into his den.
"He does look a little tense."
"What isn't up with Longfang?" Mottledtail let out a snort. "Cat's weird; how he and Sorrelwind are littermates I'll never understand. They're day and night." Okay so maybe she really shouldn't have expected much from her aunt's observational skills.
"Not unlike you and our mother." Sedgetuft observed cheekily, causing Mottledtail to push him over with one of her large paws. He hissed and leapt back up playfully, but Dappledshade hissed to shush them.
"Shut up, something's happening." Her ears strained towards Icestar's den. She was sure she had heard a faint scuffling from within.
She didn't have to strain to listen for long; a loud yowl erupted from the leader's den, drawing the confused and worried attention of everyone in camp. Several cats such as Waspsting and Cuckoofeather bolted to their feet, ready for action. Dappledshade was also on her feet, crossing the camp automatically before coming to a halt as Icestar emerged from the crevice entrance to his den. In his jaws was Rowanfall, struggling and spitting as Icestar held him by the scruff. The leader had a new wound on his broad neck, bleeding sluggishly.
Icestar dragged Rowanfall to the edge of the High Stone, and tossed him roughly down from it onto the hard ground below, at the feet of the bewildered clan that were quickly gathering. "Rowanfall just attempted to kill me!" Icestar yowled. His hackles were raised, his fangs bared. He had tufts of Rowanfall's fur between his claws.
Rowanfall picked himself up, shaking his head to no doubt clear the ringing that had come from hitting the ground. "That's right." He spat defiantly as he glared back up at Icestar. "I was." Confusion ran through the camp in voices that all blended together along with fear scent. Dappledshade didn't understand what was happening. She felt Sedgetuft's pelt brush up against hers for comfort as he came to her side, but couldn't return his gesture. She was staring at the bizarre, unfathomable scene before her.
"He admits it." Icestar hissed, lowering his head like he was about to pounce down on the young warrior.
"Only because you murdered Kowhaifall!" Rowanfall's voice was filled with absolute venom as he accused the leader and shocked the clan further; his legs were shaking, but Dappledshade could not tell if it was fear, weakness from the fall, or simply with fury.
"Traitor! Are you working with the rogues to bring Gorseclan down?!" Icestar yelled over the end of Rowanfall's words.
In turn, the red warrior yelled back over top of the leader; their accusations blending together. "What about you, are you sure you aren't the one doing that?! Why don't you tell us all where Ringkit really came from?!"
Ringkit? Dappledshade was baffled. Where Ringkit came from? Was that why he was poking around the border where the kit was found? She glanced towards the queen's den; where Shadefeather was standing outside, preventing the kits from leaving. She could see her younger siblings' curious faces behind her legs. She was sure Wekadash was inside, curled up with Boarkit and Ringkit.
"Your own patrol found Ringkit, Rowanfall, you know exactly where he came from. What is this nonsense?" Icestar snorted dismissively. "In fact…" He hissed slowly. "You found Kowhaifall too, alone… If we should be suspicious of anyone, it's you."
"You seriously think anyone would believe I'm a traitor?!" Rowanfall snarled, but he faltered as he glanced around the clan, now gathered all around them. They murmured quietly to each other, looking at Rowanfall with confusion, concern, or even suspicion. The clan seemed inclined to side with their leader first. Icestar had always protected them, after all. He had rebuilt the clan after his predecessor nearly tore them down. Why wouldn't they believe him first? Rowanfall turned his head this way and that, and for the first time, Dappledshade saw a spark of fear in him as it sank in that the clan mood was not going his way.
"Rowanfall…" Horsefoot was backing away; he was clearly horrified, considering Icestar's veiled suggestion Rowanfall might have had something to do with Kowhaifall's death. "She cared for you like her own son…"
"Horsefoot, he's lying! I would never-" But the black tom was already deaf to his attempts to defend himself, being shushed by Blackbird gently.
Seeing that Horsefoot would not listen, Rowanfall looked elsewhere for support. "Mother?" He appealed towards Wattleflower, who was the visage of distress. She tried to push towards her son, calling out for him, only for Kauribark to hold her back. His father would not meet his eye, and tried to keep his back to his only kit.
Rowanfall flattened his ears and grit his teeth as he turned again. "Longfang!" But the herbalist did not answer. In fact, he was nowhere to be seen.
"You know…" Sorrelwind then piped up, padding forward from the crowd. "I happened to see something very concerning at the Gathering. Rowanfall let two Fernclan apprentices go during the battle. He had one pinned and then he let him go after talking to the other… Icestar and I were willing to overlook it, but in the face of this treachery, it paints a concerning picture…" The deputy's angled head turned slowly towards Dappledshade, her eyes boring into her. "Dappledshade can confirm it."
Dappledshade suddenly felt every eye of the clan on her; it made her pelt crawl uncomfortably. Sorrelwind and Icestar's faces were expectant. Rowanfall's eyes were desperate and pleading. She had never seen him look like that. In itself, that was enough to throw her, and she tore her gaze away, unable to meet his eye any longer. She found herself unable to speak right away, working her jaw and licking her lips.
"Dappledshade?" Icestar's voice, tinged with a slight growl, snapped her out of it. She couldn't lie. She had seen Rowanfall let those Fernclan cats go. He had always been unusually soft on Keapaw; it could indicate Fernclan sympathies.. He had been acting irrationally. Maybe he really was doing something he shouldn't be. He had attacked Icestar.
She met her leader's eye steadily, making sure to look dead ahead and not at Rowanfall again. She stepped forward, feeling Sedgetuft's jaw brush her back as she moved away from him. Her brother's fear scent and uncertainty was coming off him in waves, and it only further put her on edge. "That's correct. I saw him fighting with Lionpaw of Fernclan, then when Keapaw intervened, he let them both go." Her voice sounded like someone else was saying it; cool and emotionless. "He's always had an overattachment to Keapaw. I've seen it at Gatherings." She can hear that Rowanfall is yowling at her; his voice mingled with rage and upset.
"That settles it then." Icestar said; his voice booming commandingly. He gripped at the edge of the High Stone with sharp claws. "The traitor must be dealt with."
In Gorseclan, traitors were traditionally executed.
"Mercy!" Wattleflower cried, pulling away from Kauribark. "Mercy, Icestar please!" She was then next to Dappledshade, falling to the ground and bowing her head to Icestar in submissive humility. The leader watched her impassively from above, his thick tail twitching.
"Wattleflower, please-" Her mate started, but the look Wattleflower levelled to Kauribark silenced him. Dappledshade wasn't sure how Rowanfall was reacting. She couldn't look at him.
"Icestar, I ask you for mercy… Rowanfall is my only living kit. I cannot lose him." She bowed her head so deeply her nose was pressed into the earth. "Anything… Anything but a traitor's death."
"A mother's love. Admirable, isn't it?" Icestar commented coolly. He tilted his head slightly as he regarded Wattleflower's grovelling. "Was it not the good mother of all Earth that preached for atonement and mercy for the wretched; that put Deepwater to work guarding those sinners against the code and Starclan, instead of destroying him for his actions?" He looked like he was thinking about what to do; orange eyes flicking between the mother and son, before coming to rest on Rowanfall. "Let it be known I am not without that virtue. That Gorseclan isn't absent of mercy."
"Thank you, Icestar, thank you." Wattleflower murmured.
"The traitor's punishment shall be… exile."
Wattleflower bolted upright. Perhaps she hadn't considered exile as the next option. "Wait-" Kauribark was back, trying to nudge her away, and she pushed back against him. "Wait, at least let me say goodbye!"
"You know it's the law." Kauribark replied roughly, not looking at the faces of either his son nor his mate as he tried to contain her. Once a cat was declared exiled, nobody could speak to them. They were cast out the moment the leader said the words. No longer Gorseclan. Not to be addressed. Like they were never there.
Rowanfall had been quiet during the whole exchange. It was only now, as his mother was pulled away, as each face his eyes rested on turned from him in silence, that he responded. His face screwed up into a bare-tooth snarl, one of fury and anguish. "Fine." He spat. "I'll go." He swung his head around, the cats who had been staring quickly looking away, only infuriating him further and causing him to hiss. "Enjoy being led by a lying, bloodthirsty murderer. You're all fools who are going to be dragged down with him, and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it!"
"The exile has until sundown to leave Gorseclan territory." Icestar said coldly, ignoring Rowanfall's rant. "After that time he shall be treated as an enemy."
Rowanfall's ears twitched, clearly listing to Icestar's words though he wasn't looking at him. His green eyes rested on Dappledshade, and she was quick to look away, feeling her hackles raise under his furious gaze, her body wanting to be ready to fight. "I'll be back for revenge, one day. Just you wait." He turned, and kicked out his back feet like he was covering dirt in Icestar's direction, spitting back over his shoulder. "I'll think of something special just for you, Icestar."
The red tom's bushy tail swished, kicking up dry dust as he stalked off, head low. The crowd parted for him silently, every eye of the clan on Rowanfall's retreating back as he walked through the tunnel, fading from sight.