SplashStar's Vision - Caves, Grass, Sea and Sky - Warrior Cats Adventure

Chapter Thirty

The leaders had all jumped on the stone, and called the meeting. Again, Cragstar mentioned smelling unfamiliar paws on his territory and three mice going with it. Sandfang held her chin high this time, but Redstar had something to say on this matter. 

"We know who strayed the borders. She has admitted to doing this for moons now, and stealing large dealings of prey for our pile. We've seen this prey, but she rolled them in ferns, and we thought some warrior just caught them straying over. Then, with further investigation, we've discovered her scent on each one. She's owned up to it all." Splashstar prayed that wasn't true. 

"Sandfang is responsible," he let that sink in before considering. "We've decided to deal out her punishment here in front of all the clans." 

"Sandfang is banished from Meadowclan. If you find her in your territory, you can choose to take her in or send her away. If she comes back, the punishment is death. If she catches more on other territories, we will ban her from any area near here, and send her far away as a rogue, or into twoleg clutches as a kittypet." 

"Surely that's too harsh of a punishment for prey stealing?" One cat piped up from the gathered below. Redstar opened his jaws, but closed them after thinking for words. 

"Stealing isn't good at all. Our clans are new, and they are small. Elders are dying of old age, arriving from the time these clans were created. Starclan is about the size of one of our clans. If we lose a young cat to starvation, we might have just lost the next leader. With such a small clan, you never know." Cragstar answered darkly for Redstar. The Meadowclan leader nodded along. 

"Sandfang, Mountainclan won't accept you. Your legs aren't long enough to leap for high areas of mountain. Your pads aren't tough enough to walk on rock all day. You'll be a burden, and an outcast. After stealing so much of our prey, we don't accept you." 

Splashstar knew he had to make a decision, fast. "Sandfang, I have seen you around at gatherings a lot. You would seem like a good addition...but we know the truth. During leafbare, we are shortened to the beach alone. We have searched, and Currentstar almost lost an unnecessary life to starvation. After stealing from the beach, you could have killed our old leader early. During newleaf, we are trying to get back on our paws. Stealing then would make things harder, too."

"I have decided you cannot come to Seaclan, not after what you did."

Sandfang let out a low hiss. "Splashstar! You of all cats? That's it. I don't have time for your stupid announcements. I don't want to live in the stupid sea anyway! Or the high, rocky, uncomfortable mountains! Or the underground system of lung collapse! And absolutely not this stupid, stupid meadow!" She whisked her tail, and dashed into the trees without another word.