mending / private

[Arrowstar]

Blackthorn Jean-Jacques Leroy

It was time to check the borders again, just to be sure. I wouldn't be able to put my mind to rest if I wasn't sure that we had a secure border. My paws carried me to FireClan with little effort, stopping at the thin treeline separating my clan from the rabbit-eaters. Everything seemed in place, but just as I was about to leave, I smelled a cat.

Turning my head, I noticed the black and white furred tom approaching, my eyes beginning to narrow. "What are you doing here?" I asked my father, hostility clear in my voice.

[Blackthorn Jean-Jacques Leroy]

An old habit of his was to check the borders. Despite retiring from being deputy the feline had old habits embedded in him that hadn't died. He had recently returned to his home. With IceClan's issues with the avalanche he found himself heading back to his old home, IceClan did not have much left for him there. Then again.. neither did FireClan. Blackthorn's family ties with everyone had dwindled, especially with his children.

Hearing a voice, his ears pricked as a familiar tone filled the air. His eyes slowly met the figure and he smiled calmly, though he knew very well even showing a welcoming face wouldn't change the tenseness in the air.

"You wouldn't believe me if i said it was to see you. So I'll spit it out and say I was just on a walk in this cold and bitter territory." He replied in a calm manner, keeping his body relaxed and tried to show little aggression in his stance.

[Arrowstar]

I snorted at his response, tail lashing in agitation behind me at the way he held himself. Calm, peaceful... what an idiot. "I don't know why you would want to see me now of all times. We have duties to our own clans, not to each other," I said bitterly. "Oh, so now you're realizing your mistake. You should have just stayed here. It would have created far less problems."

I paused though, curiosity getting the better of me. "... how's mother?" I asked quietly, not meeting his bi-colored gaze. I couldn't. He was the reason she left, it was his fault...

[Blackthorn Jean-Jacques Leroy]

It was obvious appealing to a peaceful state wouldn't have much effect. Arrowstrike had already felt the brunt of what Blackthorn had done. He knew there were no special things he could say that would lead to any redemption. The best he could do was treat his son with respect and dignity, what he deserved. "Duties or not, you're still my son. A father should have duties to his son, that alas I failed to fulfill in the past, I know."

He did not let himself be swayed into being upset or depressed over the things his son said. He knew Arrowstrike had reason for the things that came out of his mouth and it came from a place of hurt. "I should have. But what's done is done. I can't change what I did if I thought otherwise now I'd be silly wouldn't I?" He tilted his head curiously at what would be his son's reply.

...how's mother? "Fine from what I know. I'm sure she misses you."

[Arrowstar]

I narrowed my eyes at him skeptically. Why was he deciding to act as a father should now? I was a grown cat, a deputy of an enemy clan for that matter! "At least you acknowledge your mistake," I said bitterly, trying to hold my tongue from verbally attacking my father.

I was shocked to hear that he agreed with what I had said. It was clear on my face, even though I didn't wish him to know that I was amazed by his words. I had no clue what to say. "... then why'd you go?" I managed to ask.

My ears flicked, a small pang in my chest. I missed her a lot, sometimes wishing I had convinced her to come back with me to TreeClan. But there was no way she'd leave Blackthorn's side. "I haven't seen her since I left."

[Blackthorn Jean-Jacques Leroy]

"I've lived with it ever since I've made it." The surprise on Arrowstrike's face had even managed to amaze Blackthorn. Had he not known that he'd regretted leaving his home Clan? "You've clearly never heard your father's confusing backstory have you?" He laughed quietly. His laughter wasn't from him finding anything particularly funny, instead it was a dry and plain laugh purely coming from the fact that most of the things he did held a certain air of regret around them.

"I couldn't exactly come back to TreeClan y'know. I killed Skywing. Whaever affiliation's he had by the end he was still part of TreeClan. But he wasn't the reason I left. Just the reason I couldn't get myself to go back. I never fit well in TreeClan. I wasn't born there. I had encounters with FireClan before, I knew a few cats in the Clan but I had little idea of joining them. When I did I felt an easy overcome me that this was the place I suited. I gained friendships even without all that status. Before I knew it I'd already gotten so involved with the Clan I couldn't bear the idea of leaving."

Blackthorn's warm smile returned. "She'd be proud of you. Look at you, deputy of a Clan, became a good warrior. You did well, even with our absence.."

[Arrowstar]

I shook my head, suddenly plopping down on the soil and dead leaves under my paws. It was like I was a kit again, listening to my mother tell me stories of her life. I was suddenly so interested in my father's life that I forgot the hatred I had felt to him for pulling me away from my beloved TreeClan. But it seemed to make so much sense now that...

"... I'm sorry," I apologized, my head hanging slightly from shame and embarrassment. "For holding all of it against you for my whole life. Dragging mother and I to FireClan... I didn't know all of this, and it makes sense now, but..." Wow, I had been a terrible son.

I shrugged. "Good is questionable... you never knew, but I was captured by two-legs. That's how I have Arrow in my name."

[Blackthorn Jean-Jacques Leroy]

...I'm sorry, His ears pricked and his head cocked to the side. "It's alright. I apologize for putting you and her through all that. I had my reasons but I could've tried to handle things differently. I apologize for anything I might have put you through." He dipped his head a little, his smile fading a little. He wished things could have turned out better than they had.

"Two-legs? Well the fact that you managed to get yourself free. A lot of cats get taken by twolegs and we never see them again. Some aren't so lucky. Truly CloudClan saw something in you. I'm glad you were able to handle yourself." The thought of his son being taken by those two legged creatures truly was a frightening thought.

"I can't imagine what I would've done if I'd known. I would've tried to come for you. I'm sorry you had to face that alone."

[Arrowstar]

I shook my head. "Mother didn't care. She would go to Darkpool for you if you were there. It was me who held that grudge against you. And I'm sorry I did and avoided you for so long." It was wrong for me to never ask when he did what he did and ignore him.

"Well, they were pretty dumb. It was easy to escape from their den," I said like it was no big deal. "They did put me in water and put this slimy, smelly stuff all over my fur. It made me sneeze a lot..."

I shrugged. "It was fine. I think they just wanted to keep me."

[Blackthorn Jean-Jacques Leroy]

"It's alright. We should have been there for you more when you needed us." He knew he could've done more. Blackthorn didn't have his parents in his life very much. He always wished he could have had a better relationship with them and he was hoping maybe he could have that with his children but it hadn't ended up that way.

"They do seem pretty scatterbrained." He noted with a small laugh. "Bleh that sounds awful. I guess it could have been worse but that also doesn't sound like you had a very good time." He frowned. "Pff... trying to keep a warrior in their den. Are they dumb?"

[Arrowstar]

I paused. "Well... I suppose we could always try to be a family..." It would be very hard though, with my father and mother in FireClan while I was in TreeClan. I couldn't drop everything like them and leave. I had responsibilities and duties to attend to in TreeClan; I couldn't abandon it.

"It was very warm, and my nest was soft, but it was very stuffy and cramped there. They weren't smart enough to block off their entrance." I gave my father a small grin.