Huckleberry looked over at Mercurius and gave him a small dip of his head. "Y-yes, I've been good. Thanks." He wanted to continue speaking to continue to thank Mercurius for what he'd done for him, but Rift was beginning to speak again so he looked back.

Everything went cold. For a moment it was like everything was gone, nobody was nearby, Rift wasn't speaking anymore. Mama was alive. She wasn't dead. Every bit of hope that had been building with Huckleberry for the last few cycles since the announcement was suddenly gone. She was still alive and active and the family would return again.

Anger came next. She was still alive. And after everything she'd done, to him, to Yew, to the Kingdom...she was begging forgiveness! No, he would not accept that, no! He shook where he was, but it wasn't from crying. He was furious. Not with Rift for the trial, but simply with Blackberry for still existing. Shiny stopped purring and glanced up as Huckleberry rose. "I'll testify," he growled. "I'll testify against her. You can be neutral, Rift, but I'm not."

Atinneas knew exactly who Blackberry was. She was the goose who started a war in Eridanus, which made Rift form the kingdom. She heard stories of the goose from Rift himself, and from her former guide Enka. Atinneas didn't know what to think for she was not even there from when the war started. In fact, she was not even hatched yet! But the white lioness was grown now, which meant she was old enough to participate in this trial. Atinneas spoke up with confidence from the crowd, towards Rift. "I will take part in this trial." Atinneas did not find it dangerous to attend due to her blindness. She had been trained to see without her eyes after all.

Aetius listened closely as Rift spoke, and it sounded that this Blackberry gembound was a very dangerous creature. The snowy owl felt uneasy knowing that a dangerous gembound was roaming the caves. Not just for the safety of others, but for the safety of her child whom was in the process of hatching. The owl quickly spoke up to voice her interest for the involvement in the trial. "I will attend this trial as well." Aetius was completely unaware of the horrendous crimes this Blackberry had committed, but nonetheless, if it would bring justice and peace to the caves, she would gladly testify.

Orlaith was now a member of the Kingdom of Eridanus, and she had learned quite a bit from her friend, Atinneas. As much as the trial sounded tempting to be a part of, Orlaith decided she would best be put to use looking after the garden as well as keeping an eye out for Eridanus. "I will stay and guard Eridanus, as well as tend to the garden. My water magic can best be used tending the garden." With that, Orlaith kept quiet, for her top priority was showing Rift she could help tend to life in the group, as well as be trustworthy.

The others gathered, slowly.

The white lioness, the snowy owl, even the stag he had seen here and there, made their way to the Tree. He nodded a greeting to each of them, tapping his tail and twitching his ears, waiting to see what was going on.

And... well, this wasn't good. Blackberry was not dead, but in hiding. Still capable of harming, of killing and hurting others. Even if she was 'broken, regretful'. He dug his claws into the ground thoughtfully, casting out his magic and reaching out to see if the bird was nearby.

But he saw only Lessers, nothing of particular interest, and so he pulled his Magic back in to focus on Rift. His hackles rose, and he licked his lips--some offered to join the jury, and to his shock Huckleberry said he would testify. That was... incredibly unexpected.

The puma shook himself, speaking up in his rasping voice, "I will not testify, or act as a juror. But I will guard the activities to the best of my ability."

H E A T H E R
and lo the hues arrange to show
it's perfectly clear

An excited busybody wasn't uncommon around the heavy forest of Eridanus. This one in particular seemed to have found herself in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

Nervous ears flickered as she scrabbled over the low branch she was on, ears pricked forward as she listened. She couldn't catch most of whatever the odd green thing was saying- was it a plant? Would it hurt her? A long tongue flickered out of Heather's canine muzzle, licking at some scraps of nectar she'd just scavenged moments before. No- there were many odd creatures. Maybe something like her was down there. Multi-colored eyes gleamed in excitement as feathers and fur shifted, light playing across the strands.

A squeak lifted from the thumb-sized creature as she tumbled forward, her new wings shooting out from her and causing a second squeak at the tinge of pain from her shoulder blades. She had to learn to be careful, but for now she was gliding down to the forest floor.

She landed with a run. Weaving between legs, her feathered tail trailed behind her as she set her sight on the plants around the area. There was so much good here- did the others gather here for the plants, too? She trembled with excitement as she slowed to a stop. She'd already become hungry again. Why wasn't anyone else eating, then? With a huff, she went to slink forward, stopping in her tracks as words were clearly spoken over her.

And over them they went, almost literally. She didn't understand most, but she did sense an odd sense of unease over everyone. Was this not okay? Was all the plant life not ok? Was she eating all of the plants? No, they were all there. Besides, they'd have to stop her themselves if they wanted to.

That didn't seem to be the issue, thankfully. Something called Blackberry- she liked blackberries! Her trailing tail started to wag as she stepped forward, her stomach rumbling. "Heather eats blackberries!" She declared, holding out her chest proudly. "Heather will be where blackberries are!" Hopefully they could lead her right to the delicious treats.

ATTIKIAS
violence for violence
is the rule of the beasts

Despite his age, Attikias definitely did have an idea of what was going on. He'd heard the call. He didn't know what a kingdom was, or what Eridanus was, but perhaps it was something he should know. With spear in hand, the elf trudged through the thick undergrowth of the forest, his whip-thin tail hovering behind him. Narrowed eyes took over the other Gembound about.

Some looked like prey. Shaking his head, Attikias shoved the thought down to the bottom of his mind. No- they had spoke, curiously. They couldn't be prey. They were the various creatures he'd overheard speaking and using words among the walled forest.

This was one of the rare times he saw their faces. He usually hung back; he refused to get this close, usually. No, something had compelled him; these loud words, they sounded... Important.

The long hilt of Attik's makeshift spear dragged through the ground as he pushed through the treeline.

He was stopped by the towering tree before him. His heart soared at the sight. It overwhelmed him; the thing was huge, and completely captured the young Gembound.

Hanging back, Attikias folded his legs in a squat and propped himself against his weapon, listening from the back to the words of the creature on the tree. The words 'torturer' and 'murderer' sat heavy in his gut. He didn't have much of an understanding of them, but from what he knew, this wasn't the hunting he took part in. No, those who kill for the kill, the very thought disgusted the humanoid. He found his lip curling in anger as more words washed over him. Why should he not hunt the murderer? Why not give this creature what it had done to others? The child couldn't really wrap his head around it as the speaker continued.

His eyes brightened when tracking came across the feline's lips. Finding someone? Hunting? He was perfect for that. An excited smile played across his features as he stood. He could do this. Finally, for the first time in his life, he has something to do other than just survive. He had a mission.

Not a word was offered as he turned tail and paced away, his grip on his spear strong.

He would find this Blackberry, and he would put them down.

exit Attikias unless stopped

The other citizens of the Kingdom came out from the underbrush, gathering at the tree's foot and acknowledging him accordingly with pleasant greetings --- Mercurius met each one with a bow of his head, though he was more focused on three specific presences: Huckleberry's, Oliver's, and Yew's. The first in that list responded rather kindly, though he quickly grew stony in the face of the oncoming Trial for Blackberry--- and Jayberry, should both be found. The old storyteller grimaced at the mention of a trial, though he couldn't help but feel a slight bit of pride at the moose-goose's desire for non-violent action against the one that had abused him. Mercurius hoped that the soft smile aimed his way was enough to say as much.

Rift spoke further on the trial, and asked of their positions in it. Once it seemed to come to his turn, Mercy simply shook his head, "I will not be part of this." Since it seemed that the meeting would come to nothing else, moonset eyes turned away as he stood. Spiraling moonstone arced through the air as his gaze first met Oliver's and distractedly glanced over to the hybrid cowering in the brush--- Yew. Mercurius quickly looked away for a moment, as much as he wanted to immediately trot over to the little humming-wolf and assure her and learn what had happened, but---

Not quite yet.

He moved softly --- treading rather lightly and loosely on cracked paws --- toward Oliver. His gaze roamed across the crow-dog on instinct, checking for injury outside of the nervousness that seemed to creep up and down the hybrid's limbs. Mercurius brushed lightly against black fur --- if allowed --- and murmured softly, "you don't have to stay. Come and meet me in my garden later, if you'd like." With that, he padded over to Yew in the brush with a reassuring rumble, lick atop the head, and picked her up by the scruff of her neck with all the gentleness in the world.

Off to the Monarch, he went.

;exit Mercy with @Yew unless stopped

The others arrived. The white lioness, the owl. A stag she'd never seen before.

The King addressed them, and the hybrid shuddered, huddling in on herself at the mentions of Mother--Jayberry, not Mother--and Grandmother. No, no, she didn't want to see her. Never again. She didn't believe that Grandmother could be regretful, didn't believe it, never.

A... a trial? She didn't know what that was, didn't think she wanted to. Yew huddled down, blaking back, and shaking her head "N-noo, don't wan-want to, I won't." she wouldn't, wouldn't watch, wouldn't testify, wouldn't go near them. Never.

To her shock, Huckleberry agreed to testify. Wasn't he on Grandmother's side? He had always held tight to the Berries, had loved them dearly.

Her attention flew to Mercurius, he approached her and she hunched down, but he only rumbled a comforting sound that loosened the knot in her chest, licked the top of her head, and picked her up by the back of her neck. She allowed herself to go limp, absolutely confused but not wanting to fight him.

-exit Yew-

Rift listened as the Kingdom began to raise their voices, in agreement, in denial, in apathetic refusal. He nodded his head to each one, grateful for Huckleberry's support, as well as Aetius and Atinneas. He turned his head towards Sebastian and blinked slowly at him. "Thank you," he rumbled. He watched as Mercurius leave, at first a little disappointed that he would not be a part of it - a truly neutral party would be helpful in the trial, but he knew why the old storyteller would not be attending and he was grateful that Yew was following him. If she had not been as confident as Huckleberry, he probably would have refused to allow her to be involved - she wasn't ready to face her family again.

Olive was the only one that hadn't spoken up. He glanced towards him, worry distracting him from the matter at hand for a moment. The horrible battle was still heavy on many of the Kingdom's minds, but Oliver still seemed to be in complete shock over the whole thing and Rift wasn't sure how to approach that. Perhaps he should ask Mercurius to look out for Oliver, since he had already proven himself to be horribly inadequate at facing emotions correctly.

He shook himself out and brushed the matter aside, for now. "Thank you all. For those that wish to have a part in the trial, whether to watch, to testify, to guard...we need to spread the word now. All corners of the caves need to hear about this. I will visit the other groups myself to tell them about it and their leaders can decide if they will be a part of even know about it, but everyone else - make sure the word reaches them." A flash of movement caught his eye. Someone was disappearing into the trees. He didn't recognize them, not that he'd really seen much, but all the same, it worried him.

His sensitive hear picked up a fairy faint sound - a squeak, really, coming from the plants. He waved his tail as a sign that the meeting was over and hopped down the roots, brushing past Sebastian on the way down. "There was someone here. They just left, into the trees. Follow them - I need to know that they're not a spy." He gestured with his muzzle in the direction that they'd gone before pressing on to where he'd heard the little voice.

It took a moment to find them, a little creature in the plants, so tiny he could have easily stepped on it. He leaned down, needing to move his head so that one eye peered down. "Hello there, did you speak up just now? I've never seen you before."

@Atinneas @Sebastian @Heather