After some further thought, and considering how Firefeather had died, Reedpelt decided that it had to be Stoatheart, of his two suspects. After all, he doubted that a medicine cat could jump aside so easily from a warrior and then kill Firefeather with apparent ease. He was startled out of his thoughts, however, when he heard Onyxpaw wail. Her cry rose, wavered, and fell, and the big warrior thought he'd never heard a sadder sound. He hadn't thought it was possible to hurt more, but... his daughters! Oh, his daughters! They were his last family in the world- his mate had died, and none of his other kits had survived! If he lost them... He took a few deep breaths, doing his best to compose himself. He would try and offer comfort. He would try and look strong. Even if Onyxpaw rebuffed him, as she so often did (which always hurt his heart, but he could never blame her for feeling that way!), perhaps he could give his younger daughter some feeling of safety... He started padding over to where his daughters stood frozen in shock, intending to offer to groom them, or to sleep in the nursery tonight, or something- but he stopped short when Silverkit called his name. Not for comfort... but as a vote.
Oh, how that stung! The big warrior knew Onyxpaw hated him, but... His younger daughter? He had thought that perhaps she, at least somewhat, cared for him... He turned away, so that they wouldn't rapidly blinking back tears. Foxstar, too, had called his name, and Hollythorn had voted for Onyxpaw. Unless others had decided on one other cat specifically, he was going to be turned out. But even if he hadn't... He hadn't been a good father, and he knew it. And now... his kits hated him for it. The guilt, shame, and pain of that stung his heart. The big warrior turned back to his kits, standing side by side and looking his way, his head drooping lower than ever before. "I'm... so sorry," he choked. "You... deserve better than me." His amber gaze then met Foxstar's yellow one. "I vote Stoatheart," he rasped softly, "but... I am innocent. I am no killer. Nor is my daughter." Whether they believed him or not- whether they exiled him or not- at least he would say that. He wouldn't mind being exiled, if only he knew that the killer wouldn't strike again after he left- but should they do so, and sleep soundly, believing the murderer gone, more cats would die. He loved all of Riverclan, but his daughters...! The thought of them dying was almost too much to bear, whether they hated him or not!
EDIT: First was to add on my reasoning for voting Stoatheart, second was to add this on as I saw Onyxpaw had just posted after me
(Stoatheart)
.png)
.png)
