The trek back home was long and anxiety enducing for Snowfrost. She was utterly exhausted, and still in quite some pain from her kitting. But that all seemed like a minor nuisance compared to the fierce protective instincts raging within her now. Jaybird, Ambereye, and Goldenpaw were carrying three of her newborns, and Snowfrost was resisting the urge to box their ears for it. She wanted nothing more than pull her kits back to her belly, and keep all prying eyes away from them. It wasn't logical. Snowfrost knew that her kittens were safe. But her maternal instincts didn't care; couldn't differentiate friend from foe. It was an annoying feeling. This was nothing like Snowfrost. She wasn't the physically aggressive type. Nor was she very protective over any particular clanmates. But this was different. These were her kits that she was risking herself for; ready to fight tooth and claw to defend. Silly as it may be, Snowfrost could understand why queens could be so snappy when it came to their little ones. Even if the need to protect was unnecessary in the moment. I'm sorry that I ever doubted the strength of a mother's love.
The rain was subsiding a little, allowing the faintest bits of sunlight to trickle through the clouds as the patrol made it's way up one last hill. Apprehensively, Snowfrost followed her clanmates towards the bushes which surrounded Grassclan's camp. Her anxiety seemed to peak at this moment, as she stood in front of the bramble tunnel. It had been an entire moon since she'd stepped paw on this land. A whole moon since she had been Grassclan's medicine cat. How would the clan feel, seeing her return? How did Snowfrost feel about it? She did not know exactly. Relieved for sure; Snowfrost had missed the meadow terribly. But there were other emotions making her belly bubble.
As she stood there, trying to ponder them, Jaybird stopped to shoulder her. Snowfrost jolted slightly feeling her littermate's touch, but softened, seeing the reassurance in her eyes. Jaybird tilted her head gently, inviting Snowfrost to go ahead of her into the tunnel. Snowfrost nodded slightly, and finally slipped through.
As they made their way through the bramble tunnel, several pairs of eyes were already upon the patrol from the dens. The mewling of helpless kits had most likely alarmed the clan. If it were not that, then it was the Twoleg stench which clung heavily to Snowfrost's pelt and the tinkling of her collar's bell. Either way, they had an audience to greet them. Snowfrost wanted to shrink back, shame prickling her pelt. Now the whole clan would see what she'd done, and realize where she'd been. Her reputation was ruined for sure. But for a few heartbeats, Snowfrost didn't care. She could still preform her medicine cat duties, even as a mother. She was strong enough. She was dedicated enough. Surely, the clan would understand and show mercy?
But they didn't. Harsh whispers and hisses came from the cats hiding around the clearing as the four she-cats carried their precious cargo to the nursery.
"Is that Snowfrost?"
"Why is she wearing a collar?"
"Ew, what's that awful smell?!"
"Where did those kits come from?"
"Are they hers?"
Some seemed to say. Snowfrost's pelt grew hot with embarrassment. Perhaps this transition back into clan life wouldn't be as smooth as she could have hoped.
As the patrol paused in front of the honeysuckle bush, Posytail, the Den Mother, emerged to greet them. She gasped at the sight of the sopping wet kits, beckoning the visitors inside with a swish of her plumed tail. Her own kits, each three moons old, watched on from their nest with curiosity. Posytail gathered some of the wool from the ground, piling it in such a way that it would make the perfect bed for the new mother and kits. Snowfrost practically collapsed on it, a purr rising from her throat. She carefully placed the kit she was holding by her belly, using her tail to guide the little one to suckle. Her helpers placed the remainder of her litter at her side to do the same. Snowfrost bent around to groom each kit until they were dry, before laying back and relaxing in her nest. Relief washed over her, and happiness swelled in her heart. Despite what cats were saying, she was content. Her kits were finally here. Snowfrost was a mother. It would seem several cats were trying to speak to her, but between her euphoria and exhaustion she had blocked them out, eventually falling into a deep slumber.
A while later, she was brought back to the waking world by a hard prod in the side. Snowfrost hissed as she peeled open her eyes to glare up at the cat who dare wake her. Two Guards; Butterflytail, an arrogant young tom, and Pheasantstripe, Posytail's mate, stood on either side of her. Their expressions were stern, hard as stone.
"Get up," Butterflytail hissed. Snowfrost growled. He tail lashed harshly as she glared up at the rude tom.
"If I move it will wake my kits," she hissed, voice barely above a whisper. Pheasantstripe hit the back of her head with a paw, claws barely sheathed.
"Posytail will keep an eye on them. Now move." Pheasantstripe bent down to grab Snowfrost by her kittypet collar, forcing her to her paws. As soon as she stood her kits began to wail, trying their hardest to lift their little heads and blindly search for their mother. Posytail immediately came to their aid, curling her body around them, surrounding the fluffy babies with her paws. Snowfrost pulled back a paw to strike the Den Mother across the muzzle, but was stopped by a hard shove from the lilac she-cat's mate. As Snowfrost was guided from the den, the lynx point molly opted for swatting the other with her tail instead. Posytail hissed with surprise, and a low chuckle rose in the medicine cat's throat.
As they emerged from the nursery, a crowd of Grassclan cats was there once again to greet her. This time, with the rain gone, everyone was out in the open. Snowfrost stared at her clanmates, wide eyed and confused. What were they all gathered together for? Snowfrost turned her gaze forward. Atop Tall Stone stood Whitestar, head and tail raised proudly. A meeting must have been called. But for what? The crowd parted down the middle to give Snowfrost room to walk. The guards who had woken her escorted her down the clear path to Tall Stone's base. Waiting there for her was Redwhisker and Dewpaw, the clan's Code Keeper and his apprentice. Confusion stirred in Snowfrost's mind. What in the name of the earth and stars is going on?
"Snowfrost," Whitestar addressed the medicine cat. "Today you are on trial for crimes against the Land's Star."
What?! Snowfrost drew her ears back in panic, eyes narrowing to slits.
"Dewpaw, address the charges of which she is being held accountable for."
"The cat you see before you has committed several crimes, breaking both Codes in which she has sworn to follow. In the case of the Medicine Cat's Code, Snowfrost has broken the rule: a medicine cat may not have kits until they have a fully trained apprentice."
"Are you really certain those kits are mine? What if I've brought them to the clan after finding them abandoned?" Snowfrost questioned, not willing to completely submit to this ostracization.
"Goldenpaw," Whitestar called, beckoning the pale ginger molly to testify. "Tell the clan what you saw in the meadow."
Goldenpaw seemed to swallow a lump in her throat, eyes fixed on the cats around her. She was trembling, claws kneading into the grassy earth beneath her.
"Jaybird and Ambereye were accompanying me to gather herbs when we stumbled upon Snowfrost. She was laying in the grass, in labor, and in need of assistance. The three of us led her to the old badger set and helped her bare her kits."
"What kits?" Redwhisker asked.
"The four we carried into camp earlier. Three mollies, and a tom." The young molly's tone hushed as she made her reply, voice almost a whisper by the end. Goldenpaw's gaze turned to settle upon her mentor. Guilt glowed in her pale green eyes, silently begging Snowfrost for forgiveness. Snowfrost looked away. Betrayal gripped her heart, squeezing it and puncturing it like a constricting snake. How could her own apprentice turn on her like this?
Dewpaw cleared her throat. "As for the Warrior Code, Snowfrost broke several rules. First, Snowfrost had not recieved approval to take on a mate outside of our clan. Second, she gave up on loyalty to the clan by abandoning it, using the lie of a 'Starclan given quest' to mask her treachery. Third, she allowed herself to be taken in by Twolegs," she meowed.
Snowfrost's heart dropped. She had no way to dispute the latter two claims. The collar still hanging around her neck was more proof than the clan needed to find her guilty. Though she could try and say she was captured, it would be a hard argument to make given the kits she'd just had. No one would believe she was on a quest if she was pregnant. The reason for her being gone a whole moon was too obvious. But what about the first accusation? Snowfrost had always been so careful when meeting Wolfheart. And Wolfheart made sure to disguise his scent before coming to see her. There was no way the clan could know about their time together.Unless Jaybird told someone about the affair? No, Jaybird was a reliable cat. And she was bound by the Queen's Code. Anything told to her in confidence could not be shared.
"How are you sure that I even had a mate? What if the sire of my litter and I weren't involved?" Snowfrost queried, fur bristling. Whitestar looked down upon the guilty she-cat, darkness in her eyes.
"Days after you had left, a Treeclan tom named Wolfheart came to our camp to speak with me. He asked to join the clan, stating that he wanted to be with his mate and kits. He was shocked to find out the she-cat he had come for had not been present for some time. Wolfheart named that cat to be you, Snowfrost."
A range of emotion began to stir inside of Snowfrost. Amongst the feelings of betrayal, guilt, and shame was love; relief, even. Wolfheart was still in love with her. But how was Snowfrost to feel about this? Had he not shown up, there would be less evidence against her treachery of The Codes. Yet Wolfheart doing so proved to her that the tom still had feelings after everything. After leaving her, after taking on a new mate, after having kits with that she-cat. Wolfheart was still hers, even if they were to remain apart.
"When you told me that you would be leaving, you stated that you were doing so to reconnect with Starclan. Yet it appears that you have not done so. Not only that, but you have come back to us reeking of Twolegs, and bound by your neck with their mark of ownership. Any cat with sight or smell can, at the very least, tell that." Whitestar continued, the tip of her tail twitching ever so slightly now. The look in her eyes showed annoyance at the medicine cat's pointless counter questions. But the leader's face and body showed calmness. Despite the display of Snowfrost's perfidy, she maintained her composure. Was it because she wasn't surprised? Did she not care? Or did she care more about her image than snapping at the accused molly as anyone else would? These were things that ran through Snowfrost's head as she glared icy daggers at the siamese she-cat.
"All the evidence has now been laid upon us, and now it is time to cast judgement. Redwhisker, what is your conclusion?"
Redwhisker turned from his leader to give his attention to the clan. He stood tall, head raised as he stated the verdict.
"On the charge of one count violation of the Medicine Cat Code, and three counts violation of the Warrior Code, this Code Keeper finds the accused to be guilty."
A murmur echoed through the clan, cheers of agreement rising up from the quiet. Redwhisker turned his head to look at his leader once more.
"I find these to be harsher offenses, worthy of punishments such as a Warriorpaw ceremony, shunning, or possible exil."
A hum came from Whitestar's throat, her brow twisting in thought.
"Goldenpaw, please step forward."
The pale golden she-cat stalked past her clanmates, seating herself a foxlength from Snowfrost. "Yes, Whitestar?" She piped, ears still lowered.
"Is Snowfrost fit to travel?"
"I believe so, Whitestar," Goldenpaw responded.
"Good. Then please accompany myself and Snowfrost to the Moon Cavern," the leader requested. Goldenpaw dipped her head.
"Yes, of course I will."
Whitestar nodded curtly, giving her attention back to the clan.
"A case like this has never happened in Grassclan's remembered history. It is because of this that I must seek guidence from our warrior ancestors, to find the truly proper punishment for Snowfrost." With a jerk of the leader's head, Snowfrost's guards returned to her sides. They pressed against her flanks, ready to keep the trembling she-cat from slipping away. Goldenpaw disappeared into her den for a few moments, returning with several bundles of herbs. She placed one bunch in front of each traveling cat and instructed them to eat. Traveling herbs, lovely. Snowfrost grimaced. She never planned on taking these herbs again, and they were no good for her as a nursing queen. She clamped her jaws shut, giving her head a hard shake of refusal. When she did, Whitestar flicked an ear, an order to the guards. Phesantstripe picked up her bundle of herbs while Butterflytail moved to stand behind her. The toms nodded at each other just as a sharp pain shot through Snowfrost's tail. She let out a yowl, followed by a gag. The bitter taste of herbs caught on her tongue as she closed her mouth. Out of reflex she swallowed instead of spitting them out. A low growl rose in her throat as she whipped around to lift her tail. Butterflytail had bit her! Snowfrost whipped back around as she heard Phesantstripe chuckle.
Satisfied, Whitestar led the small patrol out of camp, Snowfrost brought along against her will.