Chapter 42: Clan Blood and Spirit

As the group returned to camp, there was a noticeable lack of hostility. Darkstripe had settled down and Fireheart looked notable more at ease. It seemed each cat in camp noticed the change because suddenly Fireheart's orders and duties were reacted to with more respect. Most cats in camp wouldn't admit it, but they used Darkstripe as a reference to a cat's character. If Darkstripe didn't like them, there usually was a reason. Now that Darkstripe wasn't actively pushing Fireheart away, many cats began to investigate their deputy on their own.

Whitestorm was one of the first to start aiding Fireheart with his position now that the drama was fading. Whitestorm had avoided Fireheart, not out of malice, but more that he saw Darkstripe as a lonely younger brother. He didn't want to sever ties with the cat who taught him how to be closer with his aunt/adoptive mother.

Darkstripe was able to finally resume his dealer and warrior duties. He just was a bit more aggressive than he used to be. His fear was manageable, but he was turning part of it into a low rage. It wasn't the kind that would make him fight some cat, but it did leave him even ruder than he was before. His snide comments didn't have the same purpose backing them. On the other paw, Darkstripe was gentler and kinder to those he trusted. His voice would be softer in their presence. This was especially true with kits. Despite how Bramblekit kept accidentally frightening Fireheart, Darkstripe would assure the kit that he wasn't like his father. He'd even gone so far as to explain to the kits why Tigerclaw had to be exiled without making it seem that it was the kits' fault. His snarky behavior was suddenly reduced one day when he made an offer to the kit.

"What did dad do to get kicked out? I thought he was the deputy and greatest warrior?"

"Unfortunately, your father had a fatal flaw. He was strong and fierce, but his ambition outweighed his loyalty. Your father developed a twisted sense of self-importance after his father, who was a clan leader, abandoned his clan, and he was trained under a zealot cat who became twisted after an accident involving his mate. A lot of unfortunate circumstances taught him he couldn't trust any cat but himself. He also misunderstood at a base level what the clan means. Your father believed in bloodlines and that being born of the clan made a cat special. He is wrong. A clan is just another word for a large family. We of Thunderclan are family. Maybe not of blood but of spirit. You know Cloudpaw is my son, but he isn't my blood. You are like a nephew to me even though we aren't directly related."

"But why did he abandon us? Why didn't he do the right thing?"

"Unfortunately, every cat does what they think is right. Right for yourself does not mean right for everyone. For example, eating a mouse I caught in leafbare when I am hungry might be right to myself, but it is wrong to the elders or queens I just deprived of a meal. Do you understand what I am saying? Tigerclaw chose to be right to himself, but that harms us."

"So, dad chose himself over us? I wish he hadn't I wish my dad was like you. I wish he chose right to me."

"If you want, I can be your dad with Goldenflower's permission. I won't be your dad by blood, but I'm willing to be your dad in spirit if you wish."

Bramblekit's eyes lit up. He was excited to have a dad that chose him. He'd always seen how well Cloudpaw and Darkstripe got along and had always wished Tigerclaw would have done the same for him.

Before he scampered off, he asked, "Can Tawnykit be your daughter as well?"

"If she wants to, but don't force her. She may not want some cat to replace her dad."

With that, Bramblekit sprinted off to his mother to ask if Darkstripe could be his dad. Goldenflower had never thought well or poorly of the tom. She appreciated his care for kits, but his attitude towards the rest of the cats in the clan was not to her liking. She understood where it came from after Fireheart's big reveal, but just because she understood it, did not mean she would accept the behavior forever. She decided, maybe if she let Bramblekit get adopted, she could try to change the tom. She was older than Darkstripe and knew he'd never been taught proper manners by his mentor and mother. That didn't stop him from being a good schemer or occasional diplomat. He just didn't know how to interact with clanmates respectfully.

Darkstripe didn't like the look in Goldenflower's eye. She was a cat he knew could be a good dealer. She could manipulate cats with her light and cheery attitude, but her flaw was her desire to change cats. He knew that she'd been trying to make Tigerclaw more honest for moons, but Tigerclaw had been a good actor when he was in her presence and avoided her when he wasn't in the act. The last thing Darkstripe wanted was another cat trying to make him better in the wrong way. As a dealer, he only knew of one solution. He'd have to make an agreement with her or else he'd be pestered by her until he was an elder. Goldenflower also had a lot of sway with current and previous queens, so outright refusing her wasn't an option.

Goldenflower approached her patient (victim).

"Hello Darkstripe. I've heard from Bramblekit that you are willing to be his acting father."

"That is correct." Darkstripe said warily.

"I know how good you are with kits, so I know you'd never hurt him. He'd probably learn a lot from you, but there lies the problem."

"Ok?" Darkstripe tested.

"Kits tend to imitate their role models and currently your behavior is somewhat distasteful."

Darkstripe decided to act before she could spring her idea of changing him.

"I'll make you a deal. I'm sure with how much you and the queens gossip, you know how much I value a deal."

"I'm listening."

"I'll tone down my rudeness. I'll never be rid of it. It's who I am, but I'll try to keep it light. I'll even teach the kit about the subtleties of what is and is not appropriate to insult or tease. He's going to get insulted because of his blood. He needs a way to respond."

Goldenflower saw Darkstripe's point. She never wanted to see her kits insulted or looked at like they were, but it was unavoidable after all Tigerclaw did. She knew Bramblekit and Tawnykit were hurt by the stares and words cats said to them. If they developed a bit of the sharp tongue Darkstripe had, she imagined they'd be better accepted in the clan. Afterall, it would be obvious who their teacher was, and if Darkstripe approved a cat related to Tigerclaw, any opposing arguments wouldn't have a paw to stand on.

"Ok. I'll let him have you as a dad, but I want to approve of what insults he can learn."

"Deal."

It wasn't a deal that Darkstripe found all that favorable, but he was the type to sacrifice a bit of freedom if it meant helping a kit.