Forgive

Chapter 8 - Exile

         "What is this!" shrieked Ivysting. "You think, you can go and mate with a random tom and bring back kits and think it's okay!?"

         Snowbriar cowered under the glare of the empress and whimpered, "I- "

         "Do you think just because you're an Upperpaw, you're allowed to break the laws!?"

         Fallen Ember tried to reason, "I'm sure she-"

         Ivysting whipped around to face the veteran and hissed, "So you're the empress of this clan now, huh?"

         The elderly molly shook her head rapidly.

         Ivysting smiled, "That's what I thought. Now," she stared at Snowbriar, "What shall we do with you..."

         "Please, I'll do anything!" the white feline pleaded.

         "Shut your flea-dunged maw! You have no say in this! You didn't ask my permission. It is law that you ask the leader's permission before taking a mate from outside of the clan! You thought you could break the law and get away with it," the empress snapped.

         Snowbriar was at tears, trembling, "I didn't. I really didn't!" Ferret gazed at the white molly, eyes glazed with sympathy. Her paws itched, she wanted so badly to scream at Ivysting to 'flea-off'. But the trainee forced her jaws shut, the consequences wouldn't be pretty.

         Ivysting circled the shaking she-cat and demanded, "Then what did you think."

         "I didn't mean to! It was an accident! I'll do anything!" Snowbriar sobbed.

         The empress pressed, "What DID you mean to do."

         Aldertwig stalked into the conversation and snickered, "She meant to run away with her mate. She meant to abandon this clan and run away with her flea-dunged mate and kits." He smiled  maliciously, "Isn't that right sister?"

         "No I didn't!"

         "Are you saying my trusted council member is lying?" the grey tabby lashed her tail.

        It was a trap. Snowbriar had to format her words very carefully to not fall into another one, "No! But I didn't want to-"

        "So you admit it," Ivysting yawned.

       Ferret could could see Daffodil bristling with fury. And soon the cream molly snapped, "Can't you see she's sorry! Leave her alone!"

        "Watch your words trainee. I wouldn't want to wake up, unable to breathe."

         Before the young feline could protest further, Ferret slapped her tail on Daffodil's maw and whispered, "Shut up!" Her friend glared at her but said nothing and huffed.

         The empress continued to Snowbriar, "If you're really so loyal. Then kill the kit."

         "No!" Snowbriar screamed.

         Cherrybee interrupted into the conversation and gritted, "You can't ask a queen to kill her kit!"

         "I'm sure I can. Unless, you're challenging me to be empress? And disobeying The Spirits. "

         The council member winced, as if she was remembering a terrible memory. Her eyes glinted in agony and she murmured, "No. No I am not. I- I would never. You know that."

         Ivysting gave the cream molly the sarcastic stare reading, 'I thought so' while Aldertwig smirked. Ferret analyzed the empress's every move. From the way her expression stayed demanding and deceptive barely wincing to how her stance was bold and elegant clearly stating her power. The trainee marveled at how Ivysting had the entire clan wrapped around her paw, using bits of their story to assert her own dominance. It wasn't the same as manipulation, it was more open but yet more personal and confrontational. Like insulting someone but formatting it in a way it doesn't sound like an insult yet still hurts.

         "Kill the kits and stay in the clan as a Lowerpaw. Or be banished along with the kit who is only a few days old," the grey tabby repeated.

         Snowbriar dipped her muzzle and murmured, "I'd rather have it have a chance at survival. I'm sorry I broke the law. It was wrong of me." The last two sentences was laced in bitterness but Ivysting paid no attention.

         The empress glared at the former Upperpaw until she exited camp with her mewling kitten in her maw. Daffodil seemed as if she wanted to speak out against the actions but was again silenced by her ginger friend. Though Ferret felt sympathy for Snowbriar, she respected the leader and believed her decision was for the best. 

         A few minutes of gossip later, most cats dispersed. The heavy tone of shock still lay in camp though. The mentors had cleared training for the day so Ferret took the opportunity to speak with the veterans.

         Fallen Ember and Moonrose was chirping amongst themselves but stopped once Ferret entered the den. The trainee had guessed that Fallen Ember was not born in the clan due to her foreign name. Fallen Ember was empathetic and lenient while Moonrose was strict and headstrong. For Ferret's questions, she preferred Moonrose's unbiased answers instead of Fallen Ember's opinion based ones.

         "What did Ivysting mean that Snowbriar had to ask her before taking a mate from outside the clan?"

          The white and black veteran purred, "It's about time you learn a little bit about this colony's culture," She cleared her throat and made herself comfy, "Most cats outside of the colony are considered untrustworthy, for reasons you could probably guess. So if a cat asks before taking a mate from outside, the emperor or empress has the chance to ask the Spirits if the match is acceptable. Just in case it could bring a bad omen to the clan. Most of the time, it'll be fine but there have been some instances where things didn't end so well. All cats involved in the relationships are considered bad luck if not approved by the Spirits which is why Ivysting may have been a bit harsh. If Snowbriar had stayed and killed the kit, the kit would later pose no threat and as a Lowerpaw Snowbriar would be a lesser threat. If both were banished, all threats are cleared."

         Fallen Ember interrupted, "But such a young life, gone to waste."

         "You'll never understand our traditions," Moonrose mumbled. "Anyway, Ivysting was just scared of what would happen to the colony. If Snowbriar asked, this would have never happened but for some reason that molly kept it a secret." The black and white feline shook her head, "But you're right. The kit could have been a valuable asset. Again, why that molly kept it to herself, I do not know."

         Ferret slowly nodded. Perhaps there was more to Ivysting's actions and some of the colony not speaking out. Some may have been afraid of Ivysting, but many more could agree with Moonrose and believe that Snowbriar was bad luck.

Picture above is Snowbriar.

So, a bit more clan traditions.

Do you think Ivysting was right to exile Snowbriar and her kit?

Why do you think Snowbriar didn't ask for permission to take a mate outside of the clan?

The veterans were also given a bit of personality :)

Sorry for the long wait D: It won't happen again(maybe)