Boreen looked out from above the crowd of his tribe. They all stood nervously waiting for what he had to say. "Yesterday during our celebrations six of us decided it was fun to beat a child to death!" his words reverberated across the meadows. He was surprised with himself. Just two days his father told him he was to quite to be a true warrior. He even went as far as to insult him suggesting he just become a thief. Remembering what he was doing he shook his head and continued. The pause seemed to work in his benefit. The crowd looked to be on the edge waiting for his words. "When I came upon them I did as any good warrior would and interfered. It turned out I was too late." he looked down at the body laying on a pyre next to him. "This young girl, not even five years of age, was killed simply for being from the same clan as me." the entire crowd began to chatter amongst themselves. Boreen didn't let it phase him. "The only surviving member of the murderous gang is chained here. I wish for him to die just as the other have, but I will not let my rage defeat my better judgment. The head shaman shall hold a trial now. And when it over, I will be in charge of punishment." The crowd stayed completely silent.
"We must decide if the accused is guilty or not.* Grantaw yelled out across the crowd. "We will start with one simple question," looking at the chained cat she pointedly asked. "Did you help kill this young kitten." The chained cat defeatedly nodded to her. The crowd began to chatter again.
"Silence!" Boreen roared out. The crowd started and obliged him. He glanced over to Grantaw and she began again.
"Why boy did you do this?" The chained cat said nothing at first until Boreen started to walk towards him.
"We wanted to punish them, scare them. They don't deserve to have a chief in their clan!" The last words he shouted out. It was then Grantaw realized just who chain cat was. It was her nephew. "He killed your husband and you know it. There is no way he came home and the chief didn't. The Torikks must be punished!"
"Why do you think that?" Grantaw questioned attempting to keep her composer.
"The chief was too strong, he would never lose to that tribe!"
"And you believe that this young man was strong enough to kill him?" The chained cat stayed silent for some time then spoke in whispers.
"He must have snuck up on him
"And you think Rawn could be bettered by a cowardly assassin?" The chained cat had nothing to say. "It sounds as if you believed my husband to be weak." The chained cat began to cry. Just then the crowd went into an uproar. It seemed the crowd had formed into two major groups. One saying enough had died already and the other saying the chained cat should die as well. "He has been found guilty now the chief will choose his fate." Grantaw looked to Boreen.
"For the crime of wanting to kill my clan simply for being related to me, the entire clan should die!" He still fought with his rage. "But I do not want there to be more bloodshed." The chained cat's shoulders slumped in relief. "As such, I forgive him of this major crime." The crowd erupted again, anger and happiness filled the area.
"As your clan leader," Grantaw spoke now to the chained cat "I say you must serve Boreen directly for your crimes." The chained cat's fur went up.
"Now we lay this kitten to rest." Boreen began as he grabbed a torch and headed towards the pyre. He inserted the flame into the center of it and watched as the entire pyre went up in the ceremony of a life that once was. Grantaw removed the chains from her nephew's limbs and whispered to him
"Do what's right by Rawn." Her nephew looked her in the eyes, nodded, and then charged at Boreen screaming.
"For Rawn!" Boreen heard the shouts coming and stepped to the side. The once forgiven cat now went up in flames with the corpse of the cat he helped murder. Screams of pain and terror echoed throughout the meadow, yet no one moved to help him. Everyone knew what this meant.
Boreen looked to Grantaw and asked simply, "Is this war?"
