Chapter 34: Royally Dark Clouds

Cloudpaw saw how his adoptive father looked at the camp and at him. It was deeply upsetting to the young tom. Why was he acting so odd? Cloudpaw was going to investigate. He watched to see who particularly scared the cat. He'd seen Darkstripe act wary to most cats. Some cats affected him differently. He'd become entirely submissive in their presence. One thing was obvious. Darkstripe was especially wary of Fireheart. He wouldn't say a thing to Cloudpaw's uncle and mentor. He'd just give him this dirty look.

Cloudpaw wanted to test his theory on if it was looks that scared Darkstripe, so he enlisted the assistance of Bramblekit to see if Darkstripe feared him for looking like Tigerclaw. Oddly the inverse happened. He was very kind to the kit telling them that they weren't their father and he'd support them if they ever needed it. In Darkstripe's mind, Bramblekit looked nothing like Tigerclaw. His eyes were golden with childish innocence while Tigerclaw's were yellow in treacherous envy. His pelt was a woody brown which gave him lively qualities while Tigerclaw's was a soil brown like the dirt on the elders after burying a body. They were nothing alike to him.

The next morning, Cloudpaw observed Fireheart leaving camp with Greystripe and his kits. Something told him his uncle's friend wouldn't be back. He also noted that since Fireheart wasn't going to be in camp, this would be a good time to see Princess. He first decided to ask if Darkstripe would come. Being out of camp without a warrior would look bad if he was caught. He made his way over to his father.

"Hey dad."

Darkstripe looked spooked like he didn't see who just spoke to him. His glassy stare searched the entire camp before resting on Cloudpaw. They cleared up a bit at seeing the cat he helped raise, but there was still a distant quality.

"Cloudpaw? What is it?"

"I wanted to visit mom. Could you come with me? I thought you might like some time away from here."

Darkstripe stopped to ponder the request. On one paw, he'd be away from all the green-eyed stares. On the other, he'd be trusting someone be accepting their request. He puzzled for a moment before deciding he really wanted a break from being so on edge. He'd relent to the request.

"I'll go with you. Just let me tell Bluestar first."

Bluestar had been watching the exchange. She'd been a bit defensive of Darkstripe ever since that day. He was fragile like a kit. Her maternal instincts were the only thing keeping her sane after the reveal, so she let them guide her to protecting one of the few cats she still trusted. It was an odd coping mechanism, but it did help a bit. Seeing Darkstripe talk to kits and Cloudpaw eased her mind as well. If Darkstripe could trust them, maybe she could too. She saw Darkstripe coming. He looked a little more at ease than she'd seen him since the reveal.

"Bluestar? I thought I'd let you know that I'm going with Cloudpaw to see one of my old dealer friends. I'll be back before sundown. "

To Bluestar, it felt like when a kit asks to go outside and play. With all the paranoia she had been feeling, playing mother helped relieve her stress greatly. She nodded and watched him leave with Cloudpaw. She hoped some day he'd recover because if he did, she knew she would follow.

When Darkstripe arrived at Princess's house, he was pleasantly surprised to see her eyes were normal. They weren't that green or yellow.

"Darkstripe! Cloudpaw! It's been too long. You don't look too well Darkstripe. Have you been sick or something?"

"No. Just have had a lot on my mind. Something I was sure of turned sour and I've been paranoid ever since."

Princess gave him a puzzled look before turning to Cloudpaw.

"How has your training going my clever little kit?"

"I've been doing good. I can hunt in any weather and still come back with a lot of prey. Darkstripe and Uncle were good teachers."

Princess picked up what Cloudpaw was implying. Something had happened between Darkstripe and Fireheart that made them unable to train together. She didn't push the topic since Darkstripe had flinched at the mention of Cloudpaw's uncle.

"Well. What brings you here this time? Were you wanting to learn more about dealing?"

"I actually came to ask you for some advice and to get dad out of camp."

"When did you start calling Darkstripe dad?"

"It was actually not too long ago. We'd both always felt that family bond, but apparently, we were both too scared to tell the other about it. I guess I inherited that from him."

Princess suppressed a laugh. It was good to see her kit had a father figure without her. He'd grow up strong and wise if Darkstripe and her continued to influence him.

"Anyway. About that advice you wanted to ask for. Do we need some privacy or is here fine?"

"I'd like some privacy. I love dad, but I don't think it would do him good to hear what I need to talk to you about."

Princess guided Cloudpaw inside her home while Darkstripe waited in the yard. He didn't mind since he could just relax and take a nap without worrying about any cat jumping him.

"Alright. What is it that's gotten Darkstripe so distressed? Tell me everything."

Cloudpaw relayed everything he'd heard and seen during the big reveal. He made sure to say when Darkstripe started to act strange during the reveal while recounting the events.

"So why is he so upset mom?"

"Deary, you've known Darkstripe most of your life. Would you say pride was an important part of him?"

Cloudpaw nodded.

"I've known Darkstripe for a long time as well. Something he's always taken pride in was his impenetrable confidence. Part of that stems from how cats see him. His cocky nature is his best way to hide his insecurities. He never told me about his apprenticeship because he thought it would change the way I'd look at him. For him to have told some cat about it means he trusted them deeply enough that he thought they'd never reveal it without his consent. When it was revealed to your whole clan, it was a massive betrayal to him. All the insecurities he worked so hard to hide were brought to light by a cat he thought he could trust. He's likely in a state of whiplash where he doesn't know how to trust anymore."

Cloudpaw thought he'd known his uncle well, but for him to betray his dad so brutally seemed impossible.

"Why would Uncle do that?"

"Your uncle is a kind cat, but he often acts before he can think. He likely wanted to air all the crimes of Tigerclaw without realizing he was hurting someone else in the process. He could have even said it because he wanted Darkstripe to confront it and get better, but that wasn't his decision to make. Darkstripe should have been the one to say it if he ever wanted it in the open. Now Darkstripe's scared. He doesn't want others to see him as what he thinks he is. He likely thinks he's a weak coward, but we know better. The best thing we can do for him is be support him and remind him that he isn't that cat. He's the brave Thunder. The lover of kits and the bold."

Cloudpaw made it his mission to save his father from those thoughts even if it took moons of careful work. He'd remind his father of who he truly is and always see his father as the great Darkstripe and Thunder even if no other cat saw him that way anymore.