Chapter 31: DarkDad

It was finally the day when Cloudkit would be made an apprentice along side Brightkit and Swiftkit. The other kits were older then him, but had been traumatized by the Shadowclan kitnapping and only now felt ready to be apprenticed. Cloudkit didn't mind. They were good playmates who would admittable tease his kittypet roots. He didn't mind. Darkstripe had taught him to ignore it or laugh with it.

The three kits were called before the clan to receive their mentors. Brightpaw got Whitestorm. He was an older cat, but every cat looked to him for advice. Swiftpaw got Longtail. Longtail was cool because he was good friends with Darkstripe. He was a patient and loyal kind of cat. Cloudpaw was shaking with excitement when his mentor was to be named. He hoped it was either Darkstripe or Fireheart. Those two cats were his favorite cats in the clan. Fireheart was his uncle. He would play sometimes, but he was always busy. Darkstripe was cooler. He'd come to play and tell stories. He'd comfort him when he was sad. Darkstripe was the father he never had. Finally, his mentor was revealed. It was Fireheart! He'd finally get time to know his uncle better and become a warrior like his idols.

Brackenpaw was made a warrior following the apprentice naming.

Darkstripe watched the naming with pride. The little white cat that he cared so much for was finally making his first step to being a warrior. Darkstripe suppressed his worries about what troubles may come in Cloudpaw's future. Today was about the little cat who he'd raised for one of his best friends. After the initial pestering of his mentor, Cloudpaw made his way over. He had to tell Darkstripe everything he was feeling and what he wanted to do. Darkstripe listened closely and reassured the him that he'd make a great warrior one day and to listen to his mentor. Then he got in close to the new apprentice to whisper something.

"I think if Fireheart allows it, I'd like to train you with your mother on how to be a dealer."

Cloudpaw excitedly whispered back, "you know my mother?"

"Of course I do. She and I are dealers. We've worked together since Fireheart was a paw. If you get Fireheart's permission, we could see her soon."

Cloudpaw bounced off to his mentor leaving Darkstripe chuckling at the apprentice. He'd initially hoped that he would have mentored Cloudpaw, but Fireheart never taught a cat to warriorhood, so it made sense that he'd get the kit. Darkstripe made his way to congratulate Longtail on getting an apprentice.

It had been about half a moon since Cloudpaw was apprenticed. He was out hunting with Fireheart and Darkstripe. Darkstripe made it a habit to train with the pair. Cloudpaw could see how the two looked at each other. The two were obviously close, but something was confusing it. He felt a bit jealous his mentor was getting close to Darkstripe. His father! His father? Cloudpaw felt he needed to talk to him.

"Darkstripe?"

"Yes?"

"Can… Can I talk to you?"

Darkstripe looked at Fireheart and ushered him away. This was a moment Cloudpaw wanted privacy for.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Can… Can I call you dad?"

Warmth blossomed throughout Darkstripe. He never thought he would see the day. He could feel himself tearing up.

"Yes… Yes! I'd love if you called me dad my little precious kit."

Darkstripe wrapped Cloudpaw in a warm embrace and started grooming him.

"Dad! Come on! Stop! I'm not a kit anymore!"

"I know. I'm just so happy. I couldn't stop myself. My precious son decided he'd let me be his father. I always wanted to have my own kit, but I never thought I'd have one."

Cloudpaw embraced Darkstripe again.

"I love you dad. I just didn't know if you saw me as your kit."

"I always saw you as my kit. I just… I guess we were both too scared to ask. Let's go tell your uncle the good news! I'll race you!"

"No fair! You're so much bigger than me!"

The two ran off to find Fireheart who had been secretly watching the exchange. He had walked a loop to throw off the pair so he could watch. It had left him feeling warm and happy. Cloudpaw now had a bit more family in the clan. Fireheart didn't notice the pair leave. He suddenly found himself wooking at an empty stretch of woods.

"What are you looking for?"

"I was watching…"

Fireheart quickly turned to see Darkstripe and Cloudpaw staring at his with serous expressions on their faces before they burst out laughing.

"We snuck up on you Uncle Fireheart!"

"Yes, you did. Maybe you should apply that sneakiness to your hunting."

Cloudpaw loved his uncle and father. They were his reason to be Thunderclan. Sometimes his uncle would take him out to see Princess. Princess would dote on him. Sometimes Darkstripe would take him out to see Queen. Queen was just Princess, but Darkstripe told him she's Queen when she's a dealer like how he's Thunder and Cloudpaw was Lightning. He liked the name Lightning. It was a special name given to him by his dad. When he was Lightning, he'd get to learn from his dad and mom on how to be a dealer. It was fun. He'd get to talk to other clans. He'd learn about different plants and items. It was so much more complex than being a warrior. He'd also get to make more friends. Thunder had introduced him to Rusty and all the clan dealers. They all were generally nice, but River kept trying to trick him into bad deals. Shadow didn't like to make deals unless necessary. Wind backed out too quickly when a deal went out of his favor. They all were different, but this dealer thing let them meet and chat.

Cloudpaw, or Lightning as a dealer, got scammed a couple times, but Thunder, his dad, was never mad. He just taught him how to avoid it next time. He could tell his dad was a wary cat from experience. He could see the scars under his pelt when he got close. He had tried asking once about it, but Darkstripe refused to talk about it. It wasn't a defensive response like he'd done something wrong. It was more fearful. Cloudpaw dropped the topic assuming that his dad would tell him when he felt comfortable enough. Cloudpaw had always been a smart kit, able to read a cat's emotions and help them. What his dad needed most was a cat that cared for him without wanting more. Cloudpaw made himself that cat willingly. He wanted his dad to be happy.