by Arcaii » Mon Sep 15, 2014 1:26 pm
Choices:
1. Bring her home
2. Bring her home
3. Bring her home
4. Bring her home
5. Convict him
6. Convict him
7. Convict him
Roll says... 4: Bring her home.
"We'll have to bring her home first," you say. You figure that it'll be better if everyone sees the body for themselves before you start flinging accusations.
So saying, the two of you trot to the northern river, Cinderpaw dragging out Knotpaw. You collect the fur sample under the rock and tidily wrap it in one of the broader leaves on the lower tree branches, and together you carry the evidence and the body home.
By the time you're back, most of the stars have disappeared. Cats are very slowly getting out of bed, and the first one you see is Eveningstar. She reacts with surprise, then horror.
"What happened?" she whispers, looking very upset.
"Is everyone in camp?" you reply.
"Wh-" She looks around. "I...yes, I believe so."
"Including Beefur and Batstream?"
"I think-" She turns to you again, eyes wide. "Oh no. Not her."
You nod. "Keep everyone in camp. We're having a trial."
She stutters for a moment, then heads for Divercloud's den to alert him. You glance at Cinderpaw, who looks coldly determined. The two of you carefully place her before the leader's stump and deposit the leaves by her head. Divercloud trots out, looking grieved, and Brightpaw soon follows him, eyes wide.
"Don't do anything other than check for the cause of death," you say. "We need her in top condition for this."
He seems surprised by your sudden authority, but all Eveningstar says is a weary, "Do as she says."
While he carefully inspects the body, the Clan begins to wake up from hearing you talk. One by one, cats sleepily trot out of the dens, first confused and then shocked. Cinderpaw walks to the entrance and sits down in front of it, only answering any questions with, "No one leaves." Hailfang soon joins her under Eveninstar's orders.
Eventually, everyone's out, all talking at once. You sit before Knotpaw, refusing to let anyone touch the body. You narrow your eyes when you see Beefur and Batstream, who only look uneasy for a second before masking their face with shock and grief like everyone else (something gives you revulsion at the perfect command Batstream has over her expression).
Finally, Eveningstar jumps up onto the stump and calls for everyone's attention.
"I know this isn't the best way to wake up," she says. "We lost a warrior yesterday, and now we have our Knotpaw dead as well. However, grieving will have to happen later. Right now..."
She pauses, glancing down at you. You narrow your eyes to near-slits.
"Right now, we have something very important to discuss." She takes a breath. "Rookpaw, shall you?"
Let her say it.
Say it yourself.