I've re-read some of my stories and I just read the part in my Fire and Ice fic where Tigerclaw saved Cloudkit from becoming an icicle and just thought of having some bonding time between them!!!

review!!!

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Kits were distracting. Tigerclaw had never planned on having any of his own. Why have any when he'd be too busy being a leader to help raise them? It would be the job of the mother in that situation and who knows how she would nurture them. The thought of having an heir, a legacy left behind to flourish and take root long after Tigerclaw was gone, was tempting.

Though the risk of raising failure's with his blood running through their veins also made him physically sick. It's what held him back for so long, contemplating on the matter.

While his Clanmates were off taking mates or having kits, Tigerclaw was making future plans for when he became leader. For so long that was Tigerclaw's firm resolution. Tigerclaw didn't need a mate or have kits.

Then for some reason that only StarClan seems to know, he gained an interest in Fireheart. The beautiful former kittypet wasn't like any of the she-cat's raised in the Clan. There was a good head on her shoulders that questioned and saw through almost everything. Fireheart didn't back down or shy away from Tigerclaw's hostile temper or attempt of intimidation, in fact, Fireheart almost seemed to goad him on, trying to make the massive dark tabby warrior react.

Fireheart didn't complain much, though when the flame pelted warrior did it wasn't the annoying sort, it was the kind that made Tigerclaw huff out a gruff sound of amusement.

Fireheart was probably one of the best hunters, fighters and problem solvers the Clan has ever seen embodied in one cat.

Tigerclaw contemplated that perhaps having a mate, a partner that could stand and advise at his side, wouldn't be such a hassle, so long as no kits were involved.

Then Fireheart went out one day and brought a kit back to camp claiming it was her nephew.

The utter ludicrousy of what Fireheart went out and done left Tigerclaw baffled and trying to wrap his head around.

Be that as it may, as the Clan gathered around and the whispers rippled amongst his Clanmates, Tigerclaw was aware that if someone didn't speak up for the sake of the kit then there was a likelihood that they would never accept him. And who better to vouch for the white ball of fur than ThunderClan's own deputy?

Therefore Tigerclaw spoke on the kits behalf, saying things that he half-heartedly agreed with, made sure that the newly named Cloudkit wouldn't be kicked out and also that Fireheart was happy with the results.

Tigerclaw had then planned on never speaking, associating or coming into contact with Cloudkit ever again. Never outside of warrior duties.

Though nonetheless, like his aunt, Cloudkit ruined all those plans.

The kit, once up and active, would constantly follow Tigerclaw around camp. Yes, it was mostly admiration that every kit had for a deputy or leader and who they inspire to be, Cloudkit was no exception to that.

Though most kits would admire the warriors from afar and simply act out their own dreams in a playful safe manner, Cloudkit was more than eager to get started as soon as he left the nursery.

There were a number of instances. Some of which Fireheart was thankfully unaware of. Where Cloudkit would make the most bold attempts at trying to sneak away and follow a patrol, only to be escorted back by an exasperated warrior and dumped at the paws of either Brindleface or Fireheart.

There was always an eye out for the fluffy, snowy-white kit when coming and going from the gorse tunnel. It was tiring at times for everyone. During that time it made Tigerclaw regret ever speaking on Cloudkit's behalf and keeping him as part of the Clan. Cloudkit was more of a hassle than an asset. So Tigerclaw had thought at the time.

Tigerclaw's views on Cloudkit began to change slowly over time. It began with nothing extraordinary, something many would overlook, but Tigerclaw didn't-Tigerclaw, when coming back from a hunt had found Cloudkit on his own at the back of the nursery. Tigerclaw had seen the kit slip behind the thick bramble bush as he deposited his catch on the fresh-kill pile.

The massive dark brown tabby had grunted in irritation, thinking once again that Fireheart's nephew was making yet another escape attempt, and so stealthy followed the kit around to the back of the nursery, wanting to sneak up on the kit and catch him in the act.

However, that's not what Tigerclaw found Cloudkit doing. Tigerclaw was crouched half hidden by the wall of brambles, his pale amber eyes focused on Cloudkit, watching as the snowy-white kit was practicing the hunter's crouch in secret.

The kit was wobbling, though he was in the right position, and though his belly dragged on the ground, he was setting his paws down gently as any apprentice or warrior would if hunting a mouse.

Tigerclaw could think back to his own kithood. When he himself would train in secret on how to navigate hunting with his paws the size they were. It was easier without judgement, without the eyes of his peers to stare so intensely at him that it would cause him to be nervous and mess up. It was easier being alone in those moments.

Tigerclaw backed away slowly from the bramble bush, going unnoticed by the intensely focused kit. The ThunderClan deputy saw Cloudkit doing no harm and left him to his secret training.

After finding out Cloudkit's little secret, Tigerclaw would deliberately make a stop near the nursery at least once every three days, just to ask how the queens are doing as a ruse to instead check on Cloudkit. Without fail, Tigerclaw would always attract the attention of the kits and they would be swarming Tigerclaw like bees to a flower in a matter of heartbeats. Though he was polite to the other kits, Tigerclaw's focus would always be on Cloudkit.

Tigerclaw would talk to him as though he were an apprentice. Giving pointers on how to better steady oneself when using the hunter's crouch, worded in such a way that wouldn't seem as though Tigerclaw meant to tell Cloudkit, and watching later behind the bramble bush as Cloudkit worked in Tigerclaw's advice into his training routine.

Tigerclaw didn't imagine being anymore closer to Cloudkit than that. It was simply Tigerclaw helping out a future apprentice, that's all it was, that's what he'd tell himself as he was pestered into a live demonstration of the hunter's crouch by the small kit one day.

He wasn't close to Cloudkit by any means.

The times the dark tabby flicked his tail as he passed Cloudkit, allowing him to stalk his tail, was just to check his hunting skills progress.

The times he'd spend lazily tossing a moss ball for Cloudkit to run after was merely to see how well the snowy-white kit's physical reaction was in chasing off an enemy or running down prey.

He was as worried as any Clanmate would be when Cloudkit would put himself in dangerous situations, accident or not, just like his aunt would. Though Fireheart put herself in more dangerous situations deliberately than Cloudkit ever could.

Tigerclaw didn't warm up at the sight of Cloudkit, soon to be Cloudpaw, turning around to look back at Tigerclaw with glowing excitement in his blue eyes. If Cloudkit cocked his head, looking for approval in Tigerclaw's own gaze, then Tigerclaw might say he looked back at Cloudkit with a look of pride and dipped his head in a show of encouragement.

Maybe later on Tigerclaw can say how much Cloudkit meant to himself, and later on tell Cloudtail just how much he still meant to him.

Maybe.

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Fun Facts:

Tigerclaw/star never planned on having a mate or kits. Finding them distracting to his life goal.

Well we know how that went. Fireheart came in like a monster riding down the Thunderpath and hit him full force!!

Then Tigerclaw thought that having a mate was enough. BAM!!! Cloudkit came in and hit him in the feels!!!

Tigerstar still loves Cloudtail like he is his own kit.