Chapter Text
"My father helped me make my nest." Icepaw. Whatever that wasn't a big deal.
"My father caught me a squirrel." Poppypaw in that stupid detached voice of hers. Didn't she realize how lucky she was?
"My father told me a story about the old forest!" That idiot, Lionpaw. He could have asked the elders if he wanted a story like that! Why did it matter so much that his father told him? Ugh.
Berrypaw could boast about his mother all he wanted, but he couldn't boast about his father. His father never visited. He could barely remember him at all. Daisy was kind and caring, but it was still frustrating. Was it too much to ask to have his father in his life?
...
"I wish I could go visit my father," Berrypaw confessed. Honeypaw looked sad at the thought while Poppypaw remained indifferent. Berrypaw wasn't sure which reaction was worse until Honeypaw spoke.
"But I'd miss you." Berrypaw paused. He would...be missed? The thought made him feel a little better.
"I'd miss you too, Honeypaw," he admitted.
...
"Forget Smoky. I like being in Thunderclan," Hazelpaw said, confidently. That hadn't been what Berrypaw meant at all! Of course he liked being in Thunderclan!
"I love Thunderclan too! I would never abandon it!" he hissed, "I just wish Smoky would visit us sometimes." Mousepaw shrugged. "I'm fine without him." Berrypaw stared at his littermates. There was a bit of frustration there, he was sure of it. There had to be. He couldn't be the only one of them who...who...
Whatever.
...
Berrypaw found himself confiding a lot in Honeypaw. She listened to him and was sympathetic. She agreed that Smoky should have made an effort to visit him, Mousepaw and Hazelpaw.
"Hey Father, you want to come hunting with me and Berrypaw?" Honeypaw called to Brackenfur, one day. The tom wasn't busy with his usual building duties. He brightened and padded over.
"I'd love to," he answered. Berrypaw smiled, trying not to feel jealous of the bond Honeypaw had with him. Though on the hunt, his jealousy faded. Brackenfur was a kind cat. He had been a good father to his daughter. He might have even acted like one to Berrypaw. The cream colored tom wasn't sure, but Brackenfur had been good company nevertheless.
...
"I'm pregnant with Spiderleg's kits. Isn't that exciting?" Daisy asked. Her eyes glowed while Spiderleg couldn't look more disinterested. Berrypaw shot him a glare while his littermates congratulated their mother. Berrypaw wondered if fathers typically didn't pay their kits much attention. But that couldn't be right, Brackenfur spent time with Honeypaw and Poppypaw!
"I hope I'll get a little sister," Hazelpaw commented.
"I'd like a little sister and a little brother!" Mousepaw said, excitedly. Berrypaw looked at them. They cared more about having younger siblings than missing their father. How could they?
"I don't care what younger siblings I get," Berrypaw muttered.
"Whatever kits I have, they'll be amazing," Daisy spoke. "Right, Spiderleg?" The tall black and brown tom glanced at her.
"Of course," he replied, blandly. Berrypaw quickly realized that he hated Spiderleg. He was the father, he should have cared. Brackenfur cared for his kits. Apparently every other father in Thunderclan did! How could Spiderleg not?
...
"I can't believe we're warriors now," Honeyfern purred. Berrynose nodded. The ceremony had been nice. He had basked in the attention. Still there had been some attention he had missed.
"Want to go hunting later? Now that we can without needing to ask permission!"
"Yes," Berrynose agreed. That would be nice. It wouldn't fix the fact that he had no father to congratulate him, but it could be a distraction. Besides he really did like spending time with Honeyfern.
...
"I wish Spiderleg would be a better father," Berrynose muttered. Daisy's kits were playing outside the nursery with Ferncloud. He hadn't seen Spiderleg visit them once. Expected but still frustrating.
"So do I." Daisy agreed. Berrynose let out a snarl, "He's a fox heart." His mother shook her head.
"He's just scared. He's been through a lot."
"That's no excuse. He's in Thunderclan, he should be visiting Rosekit and Toadkit!" Berrynose growled. His mother nodded, unable to disagree.
...
"Do you ever miss Smoky?" Brackenfur asked while fixing a den. Berrynose immediately shook his head. He had better cats to think about! What had Smoky ever done for him? Well...besides taunt him with mouse brained ideas.
"Sorry, I was just wondering," Brackenfur apologized.
"It's fine." Berrynose liked Brackenfur enough not to lash out. He'd be wasting time, and he had wasted enough longing for a cat who wasn't in his life.
"I didn't know my father long," Brackenfur confessed. Berrynose tried not to feel so surprised.
"Was he a fox heart too?"
"No, he was a lion heart, actually. He died in battle when I was a kit. It was difficult, not seeing him anymore." Oh. Brackenfur's father wasn't lazy, he had died.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's okay, you didn't know," Brackenfur assured him. "I was just thinking that if you were my kit, I'd be proud. You're a good friend to Honeyfern, and a strong warrior." He...Brackenfur thought he was a good friend to his daughter and a strong warrior? Berrynose held back the urge to run around, excitedly. The words were so warm, and they almost felt...fatherly.
"Thank you," Berrynose said, keeping his composure. Brackenfur blinked at him and pressed his nose against Berrynose's fur.
"Of course, son." Tears welled in Berrynose's eyes. Maybe he never had Smoky, but why would he want him when he had Brackenfur?