Nod nod. "What do cats get exiled over?"

"Not the previous leader of ShadowClan but the one before that, Brokenstar, was very cruel.  He apprenticed kits at half the age the warrior code dictates and many of them died, and he had kits stolen from ThunderClan to supplement ShadowClan's numbers.  They drove out WindClan from their territory for a time as well.  The cats who were exiled supported his leadership.

Of course, the warrior code also dictates that the leader's word is law, and Tigerstar claimed at the last Gathering that the ones he allowed to return are all loyal warriors who will thrive with a just cat to lead them."

"Where does the warrior code come from?"

Fireheart cocks his head.  "Why do you ask?"

"...well, it sounds like someone had to invent it and I'm wondering under what conditions that occurred."

"Oh.  I don't really know."

"I'll put it on my list of things to ask an elder."

"All right."

"But all the clans agree on the same code?"

"Yes, of course.  Though some cats are better or worse at following it.  . . . I suppose that wouldn't be an 'of course' for you, would it.  But StarClan wants all living cats to abide by it."

"Not just the clan ones?"

"I imagine they'd prefer it?  Or at least parts; I don't think they expect all cats to stop being kittypets.  But some things, like that you almost never need to kill your opponent in order to win a battle, or not to neglect a kit in danger."

"Those do seem like good rules."

"They are.  - Though I don't know whether the first one would apply to kittypets either; I'm not sure they fight."

"By and large not to the death. I didn't even realize that was a major concern in fights among non-pets."

"Of course it shouldn't be, ideally.  But when you have cats like the way Tigerstar was . . ."

"Yeah, makes sense that it might come up occasionally."

"I shouldn't really know this, but Graystripe mentioned yesterday that Tigerstar came to visit RiverClan, and spoke a bit with Crookedstar but for much longer with Leopardfur, their deputy.  Graystripe said he heard Tigerstar say he'd be back again soon, as well."

"I'm afraid I don't have enough context that the implications aren't lost on me."

"It's not concrete evidence of anything in particular.  But it is a little suspicious."

"Duly noted."

"Are you ready to enter RiverClan's territory or did you have any more questions."

"I'm ready." He picks Cricket up again.

"All right.  Will you carry this?"  Axle paw-poke.  "You seem better suited to it."

Cam pockets it.