Hey everybody! Here I am, with another update! I love this whole "being ahead" thing... it makes for a lot less stressful updating.

Thanks to my THREE reviewers - thank you SO much for reviewing. And Legend (do you mind if I call you Legend? XD), I'll be sure to get a Jayfeather oneshot written as soon as possible, just for you! And I completely understand about romance - but we've got one last saddening (yet pretty fluffy, in my opinion), oneshot to get through, then I promise that tomorrow's oneshot will be very romangsty (new word - I love it).

A Father's Love
A DustXFern Oneshot
Song: Lucy by Skillet


The brown tabby stared up at the moon, his pelt fluffed up against the cold. The black, star-filled sky reflected perfectly in the lake, but that didn't matter to him. It had been so long since the clans had come to the lake, but he remembered that time, even if it tore his heart to shreds.

One night every leaf-fall, without fail, he came and sat beside the lake, just to remember what he'd left behind.

But what made him hurt was the fact that he'd had to leave three kits behind, left in the cold earth, left to face the twolegs on their own.

What kind of a father was he? He hadn't been able to protect his kits... He dipped his head, closing his eyes at the onslaught of painful, bittersweet memories.

He didn't realize a father could feel so strongly for his kits - he hadn't even known his own father - but he wouldn't change it, even if he could. He wouldn't miss being a father for anything in this world, even at the pain it brought. But a father was meant to protect his kits, something he hadn't been able to do...

Why couldn't he have died, instead of them? He'd have gladly laid down his life for them, to save them their pain. He'd have done anything for them... And he'd do anything to have them back, to start over.

He raised his eyes back to the moon, though now they betrayed his pain. The pain of a father's love.

A rustle in the undergrowth startled him, but when he turned he saw only Ferncloud, her beautiful green eyes relieved when she saw him.

"So here you are," she purred, going to sit closet o him. "What are you doing? It's cold out here."

He looked down at her, concern flashing through him. "I could ask you the same thing. What about the kits?"

"They're with Daisy," she mewed, leaning against him with a sigh. "I needed you."

He looked at her once more, worried for his love. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied quickly. "I just... when you weren't in your next, and I couldn't find you... I was worried." She gave his shoulder a tender lick. "Now answer me, please. What in StarClan's name are you doing out here on a night like this?"

He looked back up at the moon, relieved that nothing was wrong, but scared to reopen old wounds. "I just needed to think. You shouldn't worry so much, love," he purred, trying to reassure her.

"You're thinking about them, aren't you?" She blinked up at him. "I miss them, too, Dustpelt."

He stared down at her, amazed at how perceptive she could be. "I didn't want -"

"Didn't want to what?" She interrupted, her voice quiet, but stern. "They were my kits too, Dustpelt. I think about them all the time."

"You do?" Was his quiet reply. He 'd wished that she wouldn't. He didn't want her to hurt.

"If course I do - I'm their mother. I can see them every time I look at Birchfall, and at Spiderleg," she looked up at the moon now, not meeting his eyes. "And when I look at you."

He shut his eyes tightly at her words. "Oh, Ferncloud..." He turned to rest his chin on the top of her head, tucking her against his chest as if he could protect her from the painful memories and bear her sadness himself. "I just... I want them so bad, it hurts."

She reached up to lick his cheek. "I know, my dear. I know."

He buried his nose in her shoulder, breathing in her scent as if his very life depended on it. "I love you."

She stroked his flank with her tail, giving as much comfort as she could. "I love you, too, my darling," she purred. "I wish the clan could see this side of you, so they could see just how wonderful you are."

He pulled away, giving her ear a lick. "I'd rather just be wonderful to you, if you don't mind."

She purred, but simply stood. "Come on. You can walk me back to camp - I imagine your kits are probably wearing on poor Daisy's nerves by now."

He purred as well, but before he stood, he looked back to the moon.

Good-bye, my kits,he thought up to StarClan. I hope you're happy.


Warriors belong to Erin Hunter. Lucy belongs to Skillet.