Author's note: I mixed up the order of events when it came to Silverstream's kitting and the Gathering about Brokentail. I will move forward the story as if Silverstream kitted before that Gathering. Expect the story to start diverging more from the original canon from this point forth.
Chapter 30: Brokenstar's Trial
The full moon was upon the clans and each clan had their own agendas coming in to the Gathering. Nightpelt spoke first.
"It has come to our attention that Thunderclan is sheltering Brokenstar!"
Many yowls of anger swept through the clearing. Bluestar looked on seemingly undisturbed by the outburst.
"What do you have to say for yourself Bluestar!" Tallstar hissed.
"We are not sheltering him. We are preparing him for trial." Bluestar responded smoothly.
"Trial?! That isn't your right!"
"You are correct. We are too biased because of what he did to us as well. That is why Riverclan will be the one trying him. They will punish him in the spirit of the code."
More angry yowls rang out. They wanted Brokenstar dead now. Crookedstar spoke next to settle the cats.
"Brokenstar will be sentenced for all the codes he broke including driving Windclan out, stealing kits, apprenticing kits too early, killing kits, not caring for his elders, and murder of a leader. He will not get off easy. I assure you there will be justice done."
The anger was much lower now, but it was obvious that it would remain until Brokenstar was punished.
"In light of Brokenstar's deeds, Riverclan will invite two representatives of each clan to watch the trial to ensure justice is done."
Crookedstar paused before changing the subject. "In other, but no less tragic, news, Silverstream, my daughter, now hunts with Starclan. What will Thunderclan do with her kits?"
Crookedstar had shifted the attention and animosity in an instant. He'd implied Thunderclan was there when Silverstream passed and hinted they were kit thieves. Bluestar had to react as calmly as possible.
"The kits are currently being cared for by one of our queens. They are currently too young to travel anywhere. When their eyes have opened, we'll settle the issue."
Bluestar had carefully worded her reply to not give an answer of if Riverclan would receive the kits or not. It was a respectful response that settled the cats listening, but there was now a tension between Crookedstar and Bluestar.
The gathering concluded with a lot of tension, but no declarations of war. Bluestar already knew who she wanted the Thunderclan representatives to be. She called Darkstripe and Greystripe to her den when they returned.
"You two will be representing Thunderclan for Brokenstar's trial. Greystripe. I want you to try and dissolve the tension about the kits. Talk to Crookedstar about how to deal with them going forward. Like it or not, you two are family now."
Greystripe had to ask, "what about Darkstripe? Why does he need to go instead of say Fireheart or Tigerclaw."
Bluestar and Darkstripe looked at him somewhat annoyed.
"Darkstripe has what I'd call an interest in Brokenstar's sentencing. He's there to insure Brokenstar doesn't pull a fast one and get off easy or hard."
Darkstripe nodded. The trial was a farce. The outcome had been decided long ago by Riverclan's dealer and himself. It was more of a tension breaker to host it.
Greystripe and Darkstripe made their way to Riverclan. The trial was to be held in a clearing instead of the camp to keep Riverclan from having too much control of the trial. Ten Riverclan cats would attend with two being the representatives of Riverclan. The rest were enforcers or judges. Nightpelt and Runningnose were in attendance with Tallstar and Onewhisker representing Windclan.
"We gather here today to witness the trial of Brokenstar. He has been accused of breaking several of our most sacred codes including abuse to killing of kits, abuse of elders, and driving a clan from their territory. Do you deny any of this."
Brokenstar knew there was no point in denial or acting as if he was repentant at all. He just replied calmly, "I do not."
"Brokenstar has acted outside the code to the point where I am not sure he was ever inside it. I suggest we punish him as such."
The representatives agreed eagerly expecting blood.
"Brokenstar. We deny you your right to ever have called yourself a clan cat or a cat of Shadowclan. Brokenstar is no longer your name. We strip you of leadership. You have never been Brokenstar in the eyes of Starclan from this day forth. Your name is not Brokentail. Brokentail is a clan name given by Shadowclan. We strip you of that name. Your name has never been Brokentail in the eyes of Starclan. Your name is Broken. It represents what you are. A fake cat who will forever be too shattered to ever earn a place within our noble clans' ranks. You are not exiled. That would imply you were once part of the clans. Instead you will be driven off into the Twoleg Place where you may survive or die. It does not matter. You mean nothing to us and the clans."
The stripping of names seemed to have a profound effect on Broken. Each name stripped seemed to make him wheeze like he was having life stripped out of him. It likely was with Starclan's assistance. The other representatives weren't perfectly happy, but denial of his existence as ever being part of the clans was pretty powerful. It also in a way absolved Shadowclan of their wrong doings since now it was a rogue never associated with the clans who committed those deeds. Windclan accepted because they knew the horrors of being without their destined home and family from when they were driven off. It was an acceptable arrangement that completely hid that this was all prearranged.
All the representatives made their way off with the Riverclan enforcers guiding Broken away to his prearranged dump off location. Greystripe and Darkstripe hung back to talk to Crookedstar.
"Why do you two still remain?"
"We wish to discuss the kits in a setting without prying ears."
Crookedstar looked back and forth to assure he was the only cat in earshot before asking, "What are my grandkits like?"
Greystripe's calm broke into loving thoughtfulness.
"The two kits are named Featherkit and Stormkit. Featherkit is a striped grey shekit who looks like a perfect cross between her mother and myself. She's a calm but somewhat fussy kit who appears to have a gentle personality. Stormkit is a solid dark grey tom who is always active. I can tell he's going to be a fighter in the future. They are just so perfect. I wish Silverstream could see them."
"If I know anything, she can see them. A mother's love does not stop at the end of her life. I don't know if you know this, but Silverstream was the only family I had left. It's been hard without her."
"I know how you feel. I feel my heart will never be whole again without her, but seeing our kits keeps me going."
"I hope you let me see them eventually. I'd love to spoil them and raise them for their mother."
"We both feel we can't leave them. I do not have an answer to this problem. I'd love for them to know you and their mother's clan, but I also want them to be with me and know mine. Since I'm their living parent, I need time to think. I'll try to come up with a good answer for you by the time they've opened their eyes."