Chapter 8: Filler Episodes and Some Character Development.

Toastpaw had been nervous these last few days, the same with all of Thunderclan.

Where was Breadclaw? What had happened to him to make him resort to murder? He would question his mother's actions, too, but he kinda knew why. Was he really the reincarnation of some so-called demon? He really needed answers, but he couldn't find them with all the tensity within the clan. No one could even answer him, for they had no idea as well.

Toastpaw's thoughts were interrupted by his mentor, Heartburn. "Toastpaw, stop staring off into space, you have to spar." She yelled in somewhat annoyance. Lizardpaw stood by him with questioning, cold eyes. When Breadclaw left, Heartburn had volunteered to teach Lizardpaw as a replacement, despite the stress of having two apprentices.

Toastpaw nodded quickly and faced the jet black tom. "You can go first..." He murmured, intimidated by the tom's expression, although it didn't look too menacing. Lizardpaw nodded and leapt at Toastpaw, throwing him into the dirt. The brown tabby flinched and coughed as his back hit the ground, he immediately kicked up at the other cat and threw him off. Lizardpaw fell on all fours and flung himself at Toastpaw. The wrestling between the two cats looked like a brown and black blur, Toastpaw could catch an approving gaze from Heartburn, and he soon felt the motivation to continue.

Training had finished for the day, and Toastpaw was heading for the Medicine Cat's den when Monkeytail and Normalpaw came walking out, towards the entrance to camp. Normalpaw paused to talk to her friend before she left. "We're going to the Moonstone, sorry we couldn't hang out today..." She sighed, smiled, and went off to join her mentor. Toastpaw groaned, he didn't have anyone to talk to now. He glanced around the camp, everyone seemed to have someone to talk to. Newpaw and Lizardpaw, Shiningbeauty and Goodstar, and all the mentors with their apprentices. The tabby didn't know what to do, then a chilling voice rang behind him. "Good afternoon, Toastpaw."

The tom sprang forwards and turned around, his father Stevehawk stared blankly at him. The red tom was taller than the average cat, so his shadow completely towered over the tiny Toastpaw. He had never really spoken to the deputy, the tom was usually busy and had no time for his kits. When the apprentice did get a glimpse at his father in his kithood, he was arguing with Brightlight about something. "Um... Hello sir."

"Call me father, please."

Toastpaw was at first shocked, but nodded slowly. "Hi dad, may I ask what you are doing..?" The deputy blinked, and shrugged his shoulders. "I thought, since the whole issue with your mother and brother happened, we should probably get to know each other better..." He sounded genuine about it, funnily enough. The brown tom had always been told he was a cold, aggressive cat. Guess you shouldn't believe everything you hear. Toastpaw looked up at the other, and asked somewhat boldly. "Um, si- Dad. How did you and Mom get together..?"

Stevehawk seemed reluctant to reply. "Your mother and I were set up by our parents. Me and Bloodclaw, your uncle, were strong independent toms. But my parents decided that I needed to continue the legacy and set me up with Brightlight, who's father agreed to the situation. Both of our parents died in a battle with Shadowclan, and I thought it was the end of our relationship. Then one day soon after, she came up to me and told me that she was expecting. I didn't want to raise kittens with her, I've seen her personality. It's rather... Aggressive.

"I was stupid enough to put my duties before you two, and I ignored what Brightlight had done to you. Brightlight tried to get me to get back together with her, even slashing me in the face." Stevehawk pointed to a scar on his forehead with his tail. Toastpaw stood in small shock. His mother had done that..? Stevehawk continued. "Then you grew, and time passed. She soon started to ignore me, and vice versa. Then, as you know, she was killed. I've seen her in my dreams since then, trying to warn me of something. I could hear her screaming clearly, but I couldn't make out her words."

Toastpaw had scooted closer to his father, who had gotten teary eyed. "... It's okay that you didn't see us, you were only escaping her."

"I should have taken you with me." He said, his claws sinking into the ground. The brown tom was about to argue, but he noticed the moon in the sky. The half-moon. "What's it like at gatherings?" He said, trying to steer away from the topic at paw. "They're strange, to say the least. Lots of drama, lots of old friends. I personally just chat with the deputies of each clan, Amberflash of Windclan, Firebird of Shadowclan, and Beechroot of Riverclan. I think you'd make some good friends there. I'll take you there next time." His father smiled, and Toastpaw reflected it.

It was nice to have actual family.

Wowie I'm SUPER late on posting, sorry! I just don't have any muse for anything except for drawing and playing the Sims. But hey, you get Steve Hawkins the cool cat. I love him.