(1.56) When Will You Learn? (!!)
!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes, such as: violence, anger, and grief. Viewer discretion is advised! !!
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"Enough!"
Lightstar's voice rang out over the clearing, forceful enough that it snatched the attention of everyone nearby. The majority of the clan was gathered already, with the sole exception of Lilacdream, who was still treating Pepperfrost's injury, and the kits of the victim, who were visiting their mother. Every other cat was simply panicking while they tried to figure out what to do about what they'd all just witnessed.
There was no doubting what had happened; Magicburst just attacked Pepperfrost, his own mentor, in a fit of grief-induced rage.
Antstride... pitied him. While he'd never particularly cared for Magicburst's temper, he knew deep down that Birchshine wouldn't be with him if he were irredeemable.
"There will be no more of this! Magicburst, you have taken your anger out on a clanmate for the last time. There must be punishment, regardless of the context."
In the eyes of his sister, his mother, and his leader, Anstride could see that there was a scary sense of familiarity in the air tonight. All of them, unwittingly, were holding their breath. "Pepperfrost could have been killed at your paws; that is an act that no warrior should ever resort to. Until you can act like a real warrior, you will not be treated like one. From this moment forward, you will be stripped of your warrior name. Any cat who dares to call you anything but Magic must answer to me. Am I understood?"
Antstride heard an exhale, surprised to find it was more than just his own. Had he, Birchshine, and Honeypurr all feared the same fate for Magicburst... for Magic?
Had Lightstar knowingly spared Magic from his own father's fate? Or was the situation different now than it was with Skunktooth? Antstride had no way of knowing.
"Yes, ma'am," Magic's voice replied, weak in comparison to the rage of the clan's leader. It was the weakest Antstride had ever seen him, even through tragedy after tragedy.
"Good. Now, all of you are dismissed. If I catch one more cat going feral on another like this, there'll be worse consequences to pay."
Lightstar leaped down from the rock and made her way out of camp, as unceremoniously as she would any other, normal meeting between clanmates. However, none of the other cats in the clearing seemed to know what to do with themselves, because everyone continued to sit near the rock, looking around in silence.
After a few moments, only Honeypurr stood, simply walking off in the direction Lightstar had gone.
Was she going after her, Antstride wondered? He hoped that, whatever was going on in the leader's head, his mother could help put her mind at ease.
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Lightstar publicly punishes Magicburst for infighting by revoking his warrior name. Until he's learned his lesson, he will be known simply as Magic.
Magic will be subjected to apprentice duties and confined to camp as punishment for his actions.