Run Away Bravely (Stormwind)

Leafpool arched a kittybrow at the unexpectedly mild punishment, not seeming all that bothered. “I’m afraid I’ll only be able to help them for about a moon,” she said dryly. “I won’t exactly be capable of it after that.” She wondered if anyone would catch on to why. She doubted it. She’d probably have to tell them.

“You two are confined to camp indefinitely.” Lionblaze Mewed.

“And-“ Firestar added, a slight smirk crossing his face. “-You will assist the apprentices with their duties for the next three moons.”

Leafpool blinked back at them with a bored expression, well aware of how irritating she was being.

Firestar And Lionblaze each voted in favor of this sanction as well, which prompted the pair of them to turn back towards Leafpool and Crowfeather.

This time Blackstar and Onestar did vote in favor, with Mistystar adding her own vote. While she wasn’t in favor of harsh punishments, especially after the fact, there was no getting around the facts that the two were obviously mates again, and that Leafpool was still a medicine cat.

“Who’s in favor of confining them both to camp?” Asked Lionblaze next.

Blackstar and Onestar shifted and scowled like they wanted to vote yes, but having been forcibly reminded of the fact that they couldn’t afford it, they said nothing.

“I guess we need to vote on these things individually, then.” Lionblaze Mewed, glancing around at the leaders. “Who’s in favor of stripping Leafpool of her medicine cat title, and the rights that go along with it?”

Mistystar sent Blackstar and Onestar a glare. “That’s what I’ve been trying to say. They just won’t listen.” Because I’m a half-Clan cat went unspoken.

Lionblaze finally interjected. “We can’t take away her ability to heal. And what good would stripping her of her right to do so do? We need all the help we can get.”

Leafpool leaned against his side, resting her head on his shoulder with a sigh.

Crowfeather sighed, listening to the leaders bicker as he leaned against Leafpool, licking the top of her muzzle once.

Leafpool sat down and wrapped her tail around her white paws when the leaders resumed their argument.

Firestar turned back to the other leaders with a sigh, returning to debating on an appropriate punishment for the pair.

Leafpool sighed in exasperation. This was so much more efficient when we only had one leader.

Firestar shook his head. There was no consensus as of yet.

“Well?” Leafpool finally asked after several seconds of the tense silence stretching on, cocking a kittybrow. “What are you going to do?”

Lionblaze looked back and forth between his mother and his grandfather, his heart practically tearing in two.

Leafpool lifted her chin defiantly, staring back at her father with a challenging expression.

Firestar turned to face his daughter and Crowfeather, giving the pair a strange, sort of strangled look as he glanced between them.

Leafpool arched a kittybrow in mild disappointment when she saw that the leaders were still embroiled in an argument, seemingly not yet having decided what to do. Really, they haven’t decided yet?

Mistystar spotted Leafpool and Crowfeather approaching from the corner of her eye and quickly alerted the other leaders.

Crowfeather’s Head was also raised high. When he finished crossing the bridge he curled his tail tightly around his mate’s once more, a slight smile on his face despite the disapproving looks he got from all over the camp.

Lionblaze could see from the direction of discourse the leaders were taking that he’d be the deciding vote yet again. And as much as this was his mother and father they were discussing, he had to try and keep the interests of the majority of Darkclan in mind, not just his family’s.

Hollyleaf was also being kept near the leaders, said quartet not certain what to do with the deserter yet. Jayfeather had finally approached his older sister and stayed close to her side.

Leafpool kept her head and tail high as she made her way to the center of the island and the gathering of leaders.

Crowfeather followed over the bridge as well.

Lionblaze joined the meeting of the leaders somewhat unwillingly, his mind not made up on what to do about his mother and father.

Mistystar glanced at the other three leaders once Breezepelt had alerted them. The four had been meeting to decide what to do with the medicine cat and warrior, and while Blackstar and Onestar were all for strict punishment, Firestar and Mistystar were both uncertain, Firestar because it was his daughter and Mistystar because she had been half-Clan, too.

Leafpool crossed the bridge, leaping down from it and glancing back at Crowfeather.