Mau had never left Canis, not since she'd found her way there after her birth. Azazel had heard of the trial, however, and suggested she attend- it would be good for the Bonebound to make an appearance at such a thing. He'd sent her on her way with directions, but after the first tunnel, she'd been able to follow a line of traveling gembounds- sure enough, they were all going to the same place.

This cave was happily familiar, but not in the 'oh, I've been here before' kind of way. Comfortable, wet, warm. It reminded her of Canis before the water had begun to dry up. Greedily, and rudely, she darted over to the nearest pool to drink. It tasted much better than the bone-sand waters back home. Licking her lips, she made a note to come back and visit on better days as she wandered towards the gathering jury. There, she'd sit and pay rapt attention to the trial as it played out.

The bear was injured. Leon, was his name, and he was being represented by a lion- oh, goodie- named Makyna Songcat. They were admitting a black spotted cat, Carcino Karkata - or Cancer as they proceeded to call him - for attempted murder. This Makyna woman seemed absolutey certain of his guilt, but as the trial went on, the actual victim, Leon, didn't seem so innocent either. She was shocked to see the sudden outburst from the defendant, his court-side suicide playing out like some fanciful production. Then, an unexpected witness, defending him. He had supporters. The two prosecuting him were so certain, but Mau wasn't so sure. As the trial came to a near end and the Jury was asked to vote, she turned towards the other odd-ball group gathered.

Another lion - oh, wait no, she kenw this one. Usui. He voted for Cancer's guilt, but confirmed he'd like to see Leon punished as well. A fair suggestion. Then, a little furry thing came forward- oh, she smelled juts like this place! A local! She seemed destroyed. Poor thing was probably close to the defense- why was she permitted to be on the jury in that case? Mercy seemed fair, too, though. They were all, after all, meager children. It would be likely Cancer wouldn't have even been able to dig out the bear's stone so easily. Heaven knows a stone was mysterious enough as it was.

"Darlings, we should consider their ages." She started, refined and quiet, each word carefully pronounced. "Both the defendant and the victim here are mere adolescents like ourselves, barely adult. We've none of us have guidance of elder, wiser gems to teach us right from wrong. Only a spare few of us have even heard of the deer father- I have never met the old stag myself. These two have barely begun to live." She almost lectured, confident that if either had been given the chance to be raised by another, as she had with Azazel, then surely they'd have known better and none of this would've been taken so far.

"That's not to say these boys are not guilty of crimes. I vote we lessen the charges. He is clearly already distraught. No monster or killer would be so torn up over their actions like this." She glanced around at the leopard, all but a sodden mess on the floor now, face buried and looking quite pathetic really. Looking quite like a kit on time out.

"I can't deny his intentions, though. Attempted Murder for the black cat in undeniable, but I say we offer him a chance to repent, or at least suggest it. Five cycles banishment, not permanent. That should give him plenty of time to think about what he's done.

"And Aggravated Assault for the bear. He's not innocent. I can't even imagine what it must've been like to be lit ablaze. He attacked that cat with full intentions on harming him."