"Come live with me."
Pinestar shook his head, trying to clear out whatever was clogging his ears. "Excuse me, say that again. It sounded like you wanted me to live with you."
"I did say that. And I meant it. I want you to live with us. You can live in the elders den with Halftail and One-eye and Smallear and everyone! We'd treat you real good and you could tell the kits stories and I could see you every day and-"
"Tigerclaw. I know how much you want that. I want it too. But I just can't." Pinestar had meant it too. He really wanted to be a part of ThunderClan.
Tigerclaw looked crestfallen. "Why not? We could be a family again. Just the two of us, and Leopardfoot watching over us."
Pinestar smiled sadly. "There are lots of reasons. A would take up bedding and food. The other elders' crankiness would rub off on me. But the truth is, I'm just used to the life of a kittypet. I would get cold in leaf-bare, and I wouldn't be able to stand the shortage of food. I would miss this place. What you think is disgusting I think is wonderful."
"I guess somewhere in my heart I knew you wouldn't come. I just want to see you again, to be with you every day. I can't come here all the time, it would take me away from my clan."
"I know. But all that matters to me is that I know you aren't mad at me for what I did. And that we got to spend time together, as father and son. We'll see each other someday, in StarClan. I'll be waiting for you. Until then, make me proud." He touched noses with Tigerclaw.
Tigerclaw drew back, hurt still in his eyes. "I must be going then. I have a clan to feed." He brightened up. "And I will make you pround. I will be the greatest warrior in the forest, you wait and see." He turned around and dashed off, over the fence, and out of sight.
You already are, my boy. My son. Pinestar sighed and slowly walked back to the door. He scratched and scratched until his Housefolk let him in.
He got in his warm, fuzzy nest. He turned around a few times before plopping down and going right to sleep.
And all night he dreamed about the forest, ThunderClan, and Leopardfoot and Tigerclaw. Everyone loved him, Pinestar.
He was no longer Henry.
End of story! Sorry I couldn't think of a better ending. And I liked writing about Tigerclaw's softer side. Maybe Pinestar's refusal to come with him made him evil. Thanks to everyone who even read it and special thanks to the reviewers!