More art for my Crowfeather stays in ThunderClan AU.
Lionpaw paced nervously waiting for Crowfeather to arrive. His short stocky body causing his paws to slam hard into the ground. Crowfeather NEVER said he wanted to talk. He just said it, the cat was direct to a tee and had no problem with confrontation.
All his pacing was put to a stop when Crowfeather entered. Lionpaw looked at him slightly confused, instead of the rage or disappointment that he had been expecting Crowfeather’s face looked slightly concerned almost worried.
“Lionpaw... I know about the tunnels.” Crowfeather said plainly, though there was a sad twinge to his voice.
Lionpaw tensed and his fur stood on end, “Did Hollypaw tell you?”
Crowfeather nodded and Lionpaw’s claws started digging into the dirt. ‘Of course! She could just mind her own business.’
Crowfeather looked at Lionpaw’s claws and the lithe warrior sat and wrapped his tail around the short apprentice’s back.
“I’m not mad, Lionpaw I’ve been there.” Crowfeather said looking at Lionpaw with real sympathy. “To feel like clans don’t matter because you have a connection.”
Lionpaw felt a sudden rush of anger at those words.
“Do you? Really? Do you know how it feels to have the rest of your clan look at you like you’re a mistake? Wanting to be the best for your clan but they only see you as an outsider? Heatherpaw knows, and doesn’t care!” He screamed his anger from Ashfur and his shame of being caught fueling his words.
Crowfeather looked at him with a confused expression.
“When has anyone every said that? Who said that?” The warrior asked with a bit of a sharp edge to his voice.
Lionpaw flinched back, “It doesn’t matter all that matters is it was said.” He said pulling away from Crowfeather’s tail.
Crowfeather’s face changed and the sympathy that was there switched to cold determination.
“Should I talk to Ashfur about it? He is your mentor after all.” He said coolly. “NO! DON’T!” Lionpaw barked, he didn’t need Ashfur to be mad because he told his dad.
Crowfeather’s eyes grew angry as he realized that it was Ashfur, but softened as he looked at Lionpaw and how scared he looked.
“Did I ever tell you about what it was like just after I decided to stay?” He asked, looking at the nervous apprentice.
Lionpaw shook his head, Crowfeather always got touchy if you asked him about that time.
“It was not fun...” Crowfeather started, and his body stiffened. “You can imagine I wasn’t the most popular person both for being from another clan and for being mates with a medicine cat.” He sighed, “I missed WindClan so much, so many times I just thought about leaving, but I made a choice to stay with Leafpool and I would not leave her. Still, I didn’t belong and everyone made sure I knew it. Whether they knew they were doing it or not. I felt so alone and I tried so hard to prove myself. In the end I learned that while I was born in WindClan, I CHOSE ThunderClan and it is my home now.” He looked at his son deeply, “Just because you are half WindClan doesn’t mean that you are any less a ThunderClan cat, you grew up here, this is your home and don’t let anyone take that away from you.”
The grey cat paused and placed a paw on Lionpaw’s chest, “I’m proud of you. You are going to be a great warrior some day.” Lionpaw beamed, “Thank you!”
He pushed himself into Crowfeather’s dark gray fur. A mixture of happiness, pride, and a small bit of guilt at the thought of his training in the dark forest buzzed in the back of his brain. ‘I don’t need to prove myself! This is my home.’ He thought as he felt Crowfeather tap him on the top of the head.
“Let’s go you big mush!” Crowfeather snapped, though there was a playful undertone in his words.
The two got up and left heading back towards camp.