ORIGIN

Since Wilder's visit some days ago, Rift had been considering how he'd respond to this. Pride had mentioned a trial of some sort, that he had suggested it to the cat, but it had ultimately failed. Perhaps...perhaps it was appropriate now, then, in the wake of the news that she was dead, to bring her forth, alive, and let the world decide what to do with her instead of simply one person.

He lounged on one of the roots, his eyes gently closed behind his mask. It was foolish, now, to thing that the Kingdom would throw a party. He couldn't do it in good conscious, not knowing that she was still out there. But yet...to just hunt her down like an animal, to kill her in cold blood, that wasn't right either. That wasn't the Kingdom's way. Justice and fairness was their way, neutrality, preserving life on all levels. That was what they would do.

The time had come. The cat stood from where he was and jumped down to the lowest of the roots, where he had taken to standing to make his announcements. A good place, still above everyone else so that they could see him and hear his voice, but not so far above that he was towering, intimidating. He glanced up at the great tree and willed it to move, to shake, to alert the cave as he did during the fight, but just as he was about to cast the spell, he thought better of it. He did not want to put the world at high alert. Perhaps he would save that for when they were under attack.

So, instead, he sat on the roots, sucked in a deep breath called out as lout as he could. "Come, Kingdom of Eridanus!" he cried out into the forest. "It is time to gather at the Home Tree!" He waited, then, for his Kingdom to appear. It was time to begin.

He watched quietly as the Kingdom gathered, wondering how many of them had come, expecting the party to be taking place. How many had arrived, thinking that the announcement would be joyous, fun, and in preparation for the party he had wanted to plan? How many would despair at the news that the murderer that had tried to destroy their home was still alive? That she begged forgiveness?

If Rift was correct, though, she wouldn't fight it. From what he'd heard, she was a shell of what she'd been - broken by the tragedy that had struck her all at once, ruined by her own injuries, and changed from the cat, however foolish she'd been, that had shown her kindness. He didn't think that old Blackberry would, in any way, come quietly, but perhaps this one would. At least, he hoped she would.

Once most of them had gathered, he cleared his throat. "Kingdom of Eridanus! Thank for gathering here." He nodded to them all, meowing a greeting to Aetius and a soft purr in Oliver's direction. "I wish I could say the news I bring was one of good things for Eridanus but, unfortunately, it is not. The murderer Blackberry, who we thought was dead by the word of the Kingdom of the Seven, has been confirmed to be still alive and active. She is in hiding, although we do not know where, presumably with the wolf Jayberry and what remains of her family."

He paused to let this knowledge sink in, pain hidden in his features behind his mask. "My source of information tells me that she is changed now, no longer a torturer or a murderer but regretful of her actions, to an extent, and broken. However, her daughter, Jayberry, still remains a threat. She was seen in Eridanus only a cycle ago. We have been keeping watch since to make sure she does not do anymore damage." He glanced towards Yew, being careful not to move his head to alert the Kingdom that he was looking her way. He wasn't sure if she wanted everyone to know, yet, that she had been attacked, but it would be better to keep it on the low, only for their safety and to stop a widespread panic.

He cleared his throat. "It has been decided that we will hold for Blackberry a trial. It will be held in neutral territory - Polaris, perhaps, or Pisces - and it will be a time of truce. There will be no fighting, no arguing, no interacting with those we consider our enemies. All will be welcome, whether from this Kingdom, the Bonebound, the groupless, and even those that were once members of the Bloodberries. We will take every precaution to ensure that the trial stays as safe as possible. Those that may cause harm will have eyes watching them at every moment. Those that do not wish to participate in the trial are not obligated to be there - you may, instead, remain here to guard the tree and tend to the garden. I promise, on my life, that there will not be a repeat of the war that nearly destroyed this place."

He paused again, glancing at the Hollow, where still the scars were visible, where small flowers served as memorials for what they had suffered. He wondered if there would be anyone besides the cat that would even vote in her favor - but this was to be fair. Everyone would have a say.

"There is much to do before the trial begins. I will personally travel to each of the groups to inform the leaders of what is happening. In the meantime, we'll need to spread the word. I want every gembound in the caves to know what's going on - we need anyone and everyone that ever knew Blackberry that is still active to come and give their word to the trial as well as neutral parties to decide her fate. We'll need guards ready to calm any kind of trouble at a moment's notice and, most importantly, we need to find Blackberry. Scour every cave, every tunnel. Find her and Jayberry but for the love of life, be careful! Do not instigate them into a fight, whatever you do. If you find her, come straight back and we'll send out an enjoy to collect her! Don't try to bring her back yourself!"