The Final Decision [OPEN]

After his talk with Smoke, Silverstar left his den and approached the High Ledge. It was finally time. Regardless of his own beliefs, he had to leave this cat's fate in SkyClan's paws. The leader leaped onto the large rock that jutted outside of the camp wall. He stared at the cats around camp before drawing in a long breath and releasing it. He then yowled into the camp.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join here beneath the High Ledge for a clan meeting!"

Lilypaw padded over, thinking she knew the subject. She sat down as one of the first cats to heed the call, and she waited for her family and friends to gather. She gave a meaningful nod at Smoke, hoping the meeting would go well.

Smoke followed after him and sat up front. He knew this was what determined his fate but he felt a little excited.

(Sorry, bed time, night :3)

Honeyed gaze casting a meaningful you'd-better-explain-this-whole-mess glare in Lilypaw's direction, Acornpaw's delicate features were turned upwards as she eyed Smoke the way one would eye an appalling disaster- too upsetting to look at, but also bizarre to look away from. Her denmates had quickly filled her in on the worst of the gossip, and it did little to soothe the prick of frustration and envy that she had missed an opportunity like getting to meet such a stranger during the height of the chaos.

Hurriedly skipping forward in search of a pair of ears willing to trade a whisper or two, the little tortoiseshell couldn't help but skim the edges of the crowds as she eagerly awaited the ensuing drama that would likely unfold.

Hawkflight sat towards the end of the crowd, her body language signaling a proud yet frustrated disposition. It took great personal restraint not for her lip to curl upward in disgust towards the cat in question, one she had done her upmost hardest to avoid within the last moons. There was a great defensive stature behind her gaze, ever on alert to ensure the safety of her clanmates. Especially her apprentices. Despite their affinity, the motherly instinct of Hawkflight had spoken otherwise - she was not going to allow anything to happen to her apprentices and the young cats she was to dedicate her life to teaching.

Icepaw padded toward the gathering assembly of cats at the sound of Silverstar's call. He quickly found a spot next to his sister, Lilypaw, and sat down. "This is about Smoke, isn't it? Do you think Silverstar will let him stay?" he asked quietly. Though he was apprehensive about the clan harboring a murderer, the tom had something no other cat had been able to give him. A sense of belonging. Skyclan was his home, but he'd always felt like he was missing something. Like he'd been asleep, but could remember his dreams. Whatever Smoke's crimes, Icepaw couldn't afford to let him go.

Hailkit tumbled out of the Nursery. His mother didn't call after him so that meant he could join. He couldn't catch his own prey but he was old enough to do so! Plus he was just as important as any cat in Skyclan. Just because he was a kit didn't mean he couldn't understand things! Hailkit sat near the front of the crowd treading over everyone's tail.

Shrikethorn walked over, her head held high. She had a feeling she knew what this meeting was about, and seeing the look on the rogue's face confirmed her suspicions. She couldn't get a read on the rest of the crowd, but she certainly wasn't going to let this go quietly. SkyClan could not sink so low as to accept a murderer, especially one who's victim was one of their own!

Mistedsong sat on the edge of the clearing, just outside of the growing group of cats, resting his head on his paws to observe the happenings. He had an idea of what was going on, and he wasn't sure how to feel about it.. rogues made him rightfully uncomfortable, but he saw no reason to distrust Smoke's word, as he had proven himself repeatedly not to be a threat any longer, just in need of rehabilitation.

Silverstar watched as the clan gathered, even Hailkit, but he didn't stop her. He just blankly eyed the many warriors start to sit behind of Smoke as they prepared to judge his fate. 'Whatever happens...' he thought to himself as he prepared to speak. He held his head up high, expression not changing from an empty one.

"It's time for us to decide on Smoke's fate. Whether he will join our ranks and earn StarClan's forgiveness or if he will leave the territories and continue his life as a rogue," he explained, though he knew many of his clanmates knew what this meeting was about. "Many of you questioned my decisions regarding Smoke in the past. That's why we'll all vote on whether he stays or goes. But, let's keep it controlled. This is a community discussion, not a civil war," he continued. He then took a deep breath, sending a silent prayer to StarClan that this situation wouldn't escalate any further. He already felt deep in mud as it is.

Lilypaw looked at Acornpaw nervously. That look didn’t seem to be too good. She turned to Icepaw. ”I really don’t know.” she mewed nervously. She watched Hailkit tumble down with a smile. She hoped nothing bad would happen that would scare or sadden the bright tom. The apprentice watched as Shrikethorn made her way over. She wasn’t going to accept Smoke easily, Lilypaw knew that. Hawkflight, her mentor has also emerged, as well as their medicine cat, Mistedsong. She listened as Silverstar spoke, deciding not to speak first. She wanted to hear her clanmates opinions before she voiced her own.

He had missed the bulk of everything to do with Smoke, being too focused on Coalpaw and finishing his apprentice training, although he hadn't turned a blind eye to the tom that had been allowed to lounge around the clearing, a prisoner with almost complete freedom, being allowed to consume their prey while contributing nothing, especially after murdering one of their own. He murdered a SkyClan cat, what in Stars was Lilypaw thinking - let alone Silverstar? Lionflame sat near to Shrikethorn, sensing her thinly veiled annoyance towards the tom like it was his own, he knew she wouldn't support his stay and quite frankly, neither could him.

Smoke had weaselled his way into the life of his siblings, proven he was a bad influence on all of them, picked a fight with his mother, killed a SkyClan cat. The list was quite literally endless, and he could not find it in him to forgive this cat for what he had done. Standing, his tail-tip flicking in annoyance, he was the first to voice his opinion.

"He cannot stay. How can you trust a cat that showed no remorse for murdering one of our own? How can you comfortably sleep at night knowing we have a murdered in our midst, how can you let your kits play with him?" he began, eyes travelling to Hailkit at his last statement. He knew he was young to be throwing his weight around like this, but how could he not? "What would the other clans think of us for taking in a rogue, let alone one that killed a clan cat? What would StarClan think?" the cream tom finished, tail now lashing in anger as he forced himself to sit, claws sliding in and out against the ground. How could any cat allow him to stay?

Hailkit listened to what Silverstar had to say. There was a vote. Lionflame spoke first. And so Hailkit decided that he was next.

"Well I think that Smoke." Hailkit began in a silly voice before nearly bursting out laughing unaware at the dire situation at paw. He soon calmed down and put on a straight face. "Well I think Smoke can stay because we kill prey all the time. How can killing cats be any different? Also the clan is mostly Breezebranch's kin. We need some new blood!" Hailkit said. "But if you do break into a fight can I join please?" He added.

OOC: Hailkit no. You could die. Your smol child

After the call of Silverstar reached her ears, the she-kit flitted from the nursery and settled near the back. In her youthful ignorance, Robitkit knew little of the world, nor the clan politics that came along with it. But as accusations and words filled with various convictions cascaded around the clearing, she found herself most puzzled by the the words of a denmate. The best way to describe Hailkit was perhaps bold and rash. Herself being a rather logical creature, red-brown eyes screwed down the bridge of her nose for a moment as she pondered what he had said, seeking some deeper meaning. However, there was not much deeper logic to be drawn from his declaration.

Robinkit offered him a dumbfounded look at first. Wondering paws lead her to pad over to his side, and with one forepaw, lightly smacked the top of the other cat's head, "Should we add you to the freshkill pile?"

Icepaw remained seated, but couldn't hide his irritation at Hailkit's behavior. "Hailkit! Icepaw suddenly snapped at the kit in a manner that was so uncharacteristic for him. "Go back to the nursery. You're too young to be involved and you need to learn your place! A cat's life is nothing to joke about," he growled before turning his gaze back to face Silverstar and the clan. "I agree with my brother. It is one thing to take in a kittypet or a loner, but a rogue who has killed one of our own? Ignoring the other clans, what would our fallen clanmate think knowing that we have barely mourned the loss before welcoming their murderer in the place? It's shameful. Smoke must not be allowed to stay, or I feast we will all pay the consequences." As Icepaw finished, he gave his brother a supportive nod, waiting for the next opinion to be heard.

"Are you kidding? Surely you must be, as I can't believe that a single cat could only have the thought capacity of a dead squirrel!" Acornpaw, whom had purposely pressed herself into close proximity with Shrikethorn and Lionflame, rounded on the hapless Hailkit in a startling display of uncharacteristic rage. Even if the words were meant only as a joke, it was done in such poor tastes that her fur prickled uncomfortably.

"This is not a joke. If you believe the lives of your Clanmates, those you've lived with your entire life, to be comparable to the lives of witless prey that we only kill for survival, than you're hardly more than a foolish rogue yourself- are you without loyalty to your Clan or kin, are you without any semblance of empathy?" The little tortoiseshell's lips were peeled back in disgust at the small tom, pristine teeth fully displayed as she scowled, spine arching in a blatant display of how badly she wanted to box the little tom between the ears until he saw stars. "Go back to the nursery, evidently you're too brainless to give any input of value." Thankfully watching Robinkit smack the young kit quelled the urge before she found herself unable to resist the temptation herself.

Snorting out an irritated breath in hopes of forcing away the sluggish, drugging presence of anger, the young she-cat turned her attention towards Silverstar as Icepaw spoke up. "Forgiveness is luxury that can pose more trouble than it's truly worth. Smoke showed us who he was when he went out his way to murder our Clanmate, who he truly is down to the very marrow of his bones." Acornpaw began after a few long moments of regathering her composure, soft voice flavored by an unwavering note of conviction. "He is nothing more than a murderer who treated the life of someone that we love as nothing more than disposable at his whims- he might smell sweet to some, but he is nothing more than rotten corruption down to his roots."

Tail giving an agitated twitch, the little tortoiseshell threw a pensive stare in the direction of Smoke and Lilypaw, slightly ashamed of her sister in the moment. No matter how much you enjoyed the presence of someone, how could they be worth the life of your Clanmate? "And even if we did allow him to stay, would you be comfortable with knowing that this could possibly happen again? If he was willing to hurt our Clanmates before, what's stopping him from indulging in that same instinct again? StarClan forbid he kills a cat from another Clan and jeopardize the safety of everyone even more."

Hailkit felt the scolding of his clanmates hit hard. He turned around and headed back to the nursery. But before he headed inside he turned back his head and muttered, "Well if you actully noticed me and taught me what was right and what was not then maybe I wouldn't have said that." His voice was cold and quiet like an icy rain in a snowy plain. And with that the white tom disappeared into the nursery.

Smoke just sat there as the whole clan started speaking. When Lionflame spoke he grumbled low enough for know one to hear as he didn’t pick a fight with BreezeBranch. The story must have been going around like a rumor and it annoyed him. These cats were deciding his fate and they didn’t even know the whole story. He knew what he was going to do as he knew what the votes would be.


Swiftpaw wasn’t allowed to go to the meeting seeing as she couldn’t understand it but when she saw how sad Smoke was she couldn’t help herself and ran out of the apprentice den to sit beside her sister, lilypaw, and try to comfort her as both the she-cat sisters knew what was going to happen to smoke.

Shrikethorn was pleasantly surprised when Lionflame's words echoed her own thoughts. Maybe there was hope for SkyClan after all. Any positive thoughts and feelings evaporated like dew soon after, though, as Hailkit's words were spoken into existence. They never should have been. The black and white she-cat felt her fur begin to bristle and stand on end, as white-hot rage filled her.

"Ex-cuse me?" She snarled, rounding on the kit. She didn't touch him, but even her average sized frame would tower above the kit and would likely be intimidating. Not to mention her face, which was rather off-putting even in neutral, but with green eyes blazing with her irritation at the ideals that certain cats expressed over and over again, trying to chip away at the base of SkyClan until it was no better than the rogues that were presently being allowed to relax in their camp. "Did you really just compare Sorrelpaw to a piece of prey? You'd better ask StarClan, including Sorrelpaw, for forgiveness, kit, because someday you'll feel loss and I hope those words echo in your head and you realize how downright disrespectful you've been. Not just disrespectful, but heartless." She was pleased that he listened to the overwhelming majority and headed for the nursery, because frankly she didn't want to see the kit anymore with how he was making her blood boil. "Don't blame SkyClan for your lack of empathy. StarClan knows parts of our Clan have too much of it, so it's not like you've never seen it."

She turned her attention back to Silverstar and Smoke and the rest of the Clan that had more than bees in their brains, she took a deep breath, although her narrowed green eyes still held anger.

"I think we all know how I feel about the murderer. He's been sitting in our camp, eating our prey, when he already killed one of our own. And if loyalty and love of SkyClan isn't enough, then think of it logically. He killed one of our hunters. So for him to be eating our prey is basically him killing another of our ranks, because that's even more prey not going to our queens, kits, or elders. I concede that allowing the kit into the Clan, while not my first choice, was within the bounds of the warrior code, but this is not. He doesn't deserve a second chance. What leader would allow an actual member of their Clan to remain after killing a Clanmate? This is a rogue we're talking about! He is outside of the warrior code, he is outside of the Clans, and he would destroy us from within if we accept him as one of us." She spat, forcing herself to cut off the stream of words so as not to lose all credibility to her passionate rage.

"But if we're okay with killers in our Clan, then why don't we just kill him? Then we have our murderers in our midst but not ones without the good of the Clan at heart." She couldn't help herself from adding, her tone taking on an almost sickly sweetness.

This had not gone as expected. First, Lionflame spoke out. Her brother. And it wasn’t for Smoke. And although Hailkit spoke for Smoke, it didn’t help their case. Not only did he say some ignorant things, he was also only a kit. Next was Icepaw. Her heart dropped as she realized none of her siblings would speak with her. She watched as an annoyed Hailkit left the meeting, and she fought the urge to follow him. Swiftpaw’s presence slightly comforted her. Shrikethorn’s statements were the last straw. ”Ok, I understand that you are mad about Sorrelpaw. I am too. But maybe, you should consider that where Smoke grew up, he may have never learned that murdering was wrong! How is he supposed to know that if he was never taught. I also think that we should give him another chance. Everyone here has made mistakes. I have, Silverstar has, and Smoke has as well. But maybe, now that he knows that it is wrong, he could possibly learn from it! Has he done anything dishonorable after we let him live in camp?” she said loudly, trying to defend him. She wouldn’t accept the fact that she was on the losing side of the argument.

The arguing had barely begun and yet it had already made Mistedsong's soft-natured heart hurt. He stood, finally, from where he had been resting just away from the commotion, and padded into the middle of the group. His green eyes met those of his Clanmates, before he looked to Smoke-- he could not lie, his heart broke for the sad young tom. He was probably the same age as Lilypaw... the same age as Sorrelpaw had been. The medicine cat's eyes filled with steely resolve at that realization, the scars from his recent run-in stinging with phantom remembrance of what savagery had been done to him.

"I have never been a proponent of violence," Mistedsong began, voice wavering a bit before he caught himself. "I may have spoken on his behalf to begin with, but for those who might have been occupied otherwise, I was beaten within an inch of my life by another rogue not long after we took Smoke in. I can imagine what Sorrelpaw experienced because I lived it. I cannot feel safe with this cat in our home, but I do not think any further harm should come to him for that. We do not need to be violent in turning this outsider away."

The medicine cat eyed Shrikethorn in particular. "We should not let ourselves stoop to the level of rogues and rat-eaters lest we lose the respect of StarClan. An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win their battles-- and this is no battle." He looked down, at his white paws, remembering the feeling of his own blood crusting his fur into a dark red. So much red. "We are better than blood for blood."

It took a lot of strength within her bones to not snap. Snap at the kit, snap at her own apprentice. She had deep rooted feelings on the situation, and many of her clan-mates punctuated it well. Inhaling deeply, Hawkflight gave a nod towards Mistedsong, Lionflame, and Shrikethorn. She was on their side completely. "As a mentor to two apprentices in this Clan, I cannot allow myself to acknowledge Smoke staying. With an apprentice dead, I cannot help but think what if it happened to my apprentices? What if Lilypaw had gotten killed, or Swiftpaw? I would not be able to live with that."

Her green eyes had hardened into emerald daggers, staring straight ahead. "I would not be able to live knowing that the killer of the young cat I was to teach was in the same camp as me. I would never be able to look them in the eye. Smoke may not have to leave violently - I agree with Mistedsong there. We are better than that. But we are also better than keeping a rogue in our camp. I believe he should leave. Treated as every other rogue around Clan territory. If he stays away, we do no harm. If he crosses borders or terrorizes any of the Clans, then may StarClan allow our wrath." Her tail as lashing furiously at this point, dancing along the ground to articulate just how she felt. It was one of the very few times she was not hiding within the trees of the Camp, and there would be reason.

The warrior then looked to her apprentice, giving her a quiet note. "Lilypaw... I know you have a fondness for this rogue. None of my anger is directed at you. But at the same time, all cats should grow up knowing that killing someone for no reason is not okay." Beyond that, the she-cat had spoken her words. She found herself once more hiding in the safety of the branches, in a perfect perch quite close to the meeting. It was where she found herself most comfortable, the green-eyed daggers clearly visible for any who looked to try and spot her.

Breezebranch somehow found it in her to sit beside Lilypaw, Swiftpaw, and- and Smoke without unleashing fury on him. Leaning down to Lilypaw's gentle ears, she quietly whispered, for Lilypaw's ears and none others, words she'd heard from Briarshine many moons ago.

"Listen closely, my dear. Love is a fickle thing. You can't control it, you can't stop it. It's sweeter than honey and more toxic than deathberries. More addictive than catmint and stronger than all five Clans' warriors put together. It makes you feel like you can fly, and it can make you feel as if you should be dead. You can feel bliss, or you can feel pain. Sometimes, you feel both. Love is the most painful, yet wonderful thing to exist. And sometimes, it is the killer hunting cats down. Feel it, acknowledge it, nurture it, and let it go. If destiny wishes it so, you will cross paths will love again. And if not, then it is not for you. You can't control love, but you can control you. Let your heart guide you, but not dominate you. Love without balance is war. The flames of love can consume things, but the rain of reason can help maintain it. Love and logic should always go together, because if you lack one, it will result in terrible things. Your heart will guide you, and your mind will steer you. Don't let your heart speak louder than your head. Never forget that I will always love you, dear, but I cannot save you from the judgement of others." Green eyes glowed with sympathy, as she went on. "I know the pain of love better than most, sweetpea. Please, make the right choice." She mewed, her desperation pleading in her mew.

She swept her plumy tail around both her daughters, encasing them both in a gesture of pure love. Raising her voice, she gave a nod to both her sons, and her daughter, Acornpaw, Icepaw, and Lionflame as they spoke out against Smoke. Her eyes landed on Shrikethorn, and she gave the young warrior an almost unnoticeable nod.  "We cannot allow a murderer to join our ranks." She mewed sternly.

"I have reason to grieve Sorrelpaw more than others. She was like a daughter to me, as she was Briarshine's kit and my apprentice. She was eager to learn and to prove herself. To allow her murderer to freely join the Clan, no punishment, would be the greatest offense to her legacy and to her spirit in StarClan, let alone to mention an offense to both her mother, Briarshine, and brother, Smallpaw. Tell me, fellow cats of SkyClan, would you not seek revenge for the murder of your sister, or brother, or parent, or any of your kin? I most certainly would. Smallpaw and Briarshine are no different. Our apprentices are not safe with him here. As a warrior, he is no threat to a cat like me, Hawkflight, Lionflame, or Sorrelwing. But what about an elder, like my aunt, Streamlily? Or a kit, like Hailkit, or a Queen, like his mother, Snowdrift? Would you really endanger your Clanmates for the sake of a rogue?"

"I believe firmly in second chances. I gave this rogue two. The first time, I told him to leave our territory and to stay away from Lilypaw. He refused to heed my warning, and he came back. What did he do in his return? He killed one of us. An apprentice, hardly nine moons old! She could not defend herself, and he could have easily defeated her, but no. He killed her in cold blood, then used the pity of my daughter, for her heart is big, and her spirit gentle, against her. He stayed in our camp, faking remorse, gaining sympathy from the young of our Clan, feasting on our prey and fear. As a mother, and a mentor, I fear for my kits," Her voice cracked, eyes glistening with the prospect of tears.

"How can I sleep at night knowing that any morning, I may wake to find them exactly as I did Sorrelpaw? I have seen firsthand the fear inflicted on our young. My sweet, darling Brindlepaw, practically petrified with pure fear. Mudpaw, too scared to sleep at night. Do you know the amount of times I've had to go and lay in the apprentices' den, just so that she can sleep peacefully at night? It is unfair to them. They shouldn't have to live in fear of never waking again. They're not even ten moons! They're practically kits! I fear leaving camp. Why? Because I can't bare the thought I may find them dead when I return! As a mother, I cannot allow this- this piece of foxdung to inflict such emotional trauma on my kits! Have you seen the fables he's put in our young's heads? I've awoken many mornings to find him chatting with my kits, no doubt trying to fill their minds with thistledown to convince them of his feigned innocence."

Her claws dug into the ground, and her eyes blazed with green fury. "He's playing a twisted game of winning sympathy. He's attempted to woo my kit into love he doesn't mean, falsely tried to befriend our young, look at the nonsense he undoubtedly put into Hailkit's mind. He's sick, trying to lull us into a false sense of security, so that we, too, may fall. Just as Sorrelpaw did!" She spat, hatred in her tongue as she pulled Lilypaw and Swiftpaw closer, as if she could single handedly defend them from any harm that may befall them. "He knows well what he does is wrong. Wickedness rests in his heart like a boulder. And there it shall stay, because it is a part of him. We cannot help a cat who doesn't want it. If he wished to change, he would not have killed Sorrelpaw. He would have spared her. He has no good in his heart. Send him away, Silverstar! The Clan have spoken! In unison, no less! He has long overstayed his visit."

Lilypaw listened to the medicine cat. If he was going to be chased out, it would be peacefully. That should have consoled the poor apprentice, but it really didn’t. Hawkflight’s statement really struck the realization. She had lost. She listened to her mentor speak, and nodded in acknowledgement. Finally, her mother leaned towards her, and spoke. Lilypaw listened,  and her eyes started to glisten with tears. She leaned against the warrior, their pelts blending together. Everything that she said, she understood. Again, just as she had done before, she whispered to Breezebranch. ”I’m sorry.” a tear ran down her face, followed with others. They splashed onto her mother. Lilypaw’s heart had been ripped in two. She was sad, scared, confused, and every other remorseful emotion. She knew she probably would never see Smoke again, and that she had caused so much pain and fear. Her sister, scared to sleep. She had hurt them. She had hurt everyone. It was her fault. These thoughts raced through her mind, like a cool, swift breeze. The gaze of everyone had landed on her. ”I...can’t!” she mewed, and without thinking, she raced off. She ran away from the cats gathered, away from everyone. She didn’t know where to go. The territory was forbidden to her alone, so she crawled into her nest in the apprentice den. She curled up, sobbing into her pelt, blocking out the sounds of the meeting. She felt awful about it. Smoke was all alone, and he would be cast out. But he had scared almost everyone who had spoke out, and countless others. Sorrelpaw had been killed because of her. Everything felt heavy, crashing down, onto her. A stream tears continued to wet her tail, the one she had wrapped herself around. She knew they would come down to get her, but she wasn’t ready. She felt as though she had betrayed everyone. Breezebranch said she always loved her, but Lilypaw doubted even that. She wondered how anyone would ever forgive her.

OOC: To interact with Lilypaw in the apprentice den, Click Here

Silverstar listened intently to Breezebranch's speech and everyone else's. They were right. He did try too hard to give this cat a second chance. Maybe, in some kit-like fantasy, he hoped that everyone could be a good cat if they tried. That there was something he could do where everyone was satisfied. Like that could happen. He didn't realize how the clan was so heavily affected.

He thought he knew all the burdens and responsibilities of being a leader, Skystar made it look so easy. But he didn't know a fraction of it, and the sudden realization of what he's done hit him all at once, having more impact than the monsters on the Thunderpath. He went against his clan, possibly against StarClan, for a murderer. Silverstar stared off to the side, using every ounce of willpower to keep up his facade of being calm and collected as he had a moment of "What have I done?". He then stared back at the clan as Lilypaw ran back to the apprentice den. His tail swished to the side as he made sure to swallow down the lump forming in his throat before speaking.

"It's settled then," Silverstar began, "Sorrelwing can organize a patrol to escort Smoke out of the territories. I won't let him die by our vengefulness, he must leave peacefully." His gaze softened as he stared at his warriors. "I'm glad you all bared with my past decisions for so long," he added, eyes flickering away from their gazes. He was ready to speak with his clanmates honestly, not as a leader, but a cat. "This..." his throat clenched up before he could say anything, his own body physically refusing to let him speak from the heart. He closed his eyes, thinking to himself, 'Listening to your emotions just ended up harming all of your clanmates. It's best to just be the stone-cold leader they see you as...'

Silverstar then faced his clanmates one last time. "Anyone who isn't a part of Smoke's escort will go on with their day as normal. You all are dismissed," with that, he jumped off of the High Ledge. He didn't look at Smoke or anyone else as he beelined for his den. He wanted to be alone.