Father && Son :closed:

[Spruceburn]

Spruceburn sat toward the edge of the camp, so shadows rained down on him hiding his burnt face. Only the mutilated part was hidden in the inky blackness, just how he liked it. He scanned the camp with his green eye, he would say green eyes if it hadn't been for the fire practically burning his one eye shut. To be honest, he didn't even know if that eye was still there or if it had been burnt out. But either way it made no difference because either way it made the eye useless. He saw that the fresh-kill pile was well stocked despite the fact that leaf-bare was coming. He saw Snowfur's kits playing. These kits were one of the many reasons why he hid himself in the shadows. He saw a patrol led by Rockfall come back to camp. And he saw Wolfstar's den, where he knew his father was.

Yes, his father was the brave and wise leader of SunClan known as Wolfstar. Spruceburn and his father never exactly got along, in fact sometimes Spruceburn down right hated his father. But when push came to shove, the two toms were willing the go to the Dark Forest and back for each other. In fact, Spruceburn went so far into the Dark Forest for Wolfstar that he returned missing half of his face. The young warrior still wasn't sure if he regretted his decision or not. He had thought to himself, There's no point in regret because nothing will change. Words Wolfstar had once spoken to him as a kit. One thing still bothered the tabby tom though, well one thing aside from his ugly face and the fact that he wasn't sure if he would be a warrior ever again. His name... Spruceburn. Just like the burn on his face... Why had his father given him that name? To constantly remind his son of his disfiguring scars that still haunted his dreams? The young tom considered talking to Wolfstar about it, but they had never talked before like father and son... Why should some accident change that now...? But he needed to know why... Why that name?

Spruceburn was half ashamed of himself for not confronting his father about it yet. The old Spruceburn, or Sprucepaw, would have marched up to his father and demanded an explanation right away. The old Sprucepaw wouldn't hide in the shadows like a coward. The old Sprucepaw wouldn't do a lot of things that Spruceburn was doing... The young tom gritted his teeth in frustration. How had one tiny hunting assement changed him so much? Generations of cats had done hunting assesments before, why did it have to happen to him? Spruceburn got to his paws, No! I refuse to act like a scared kit anymore! I... I was going to be the greatest warrior ever and I can't even talk to my own father... Well that's going to change! The young tom padded over to the leader's den, his courgage draining out of him as quickly as it had came, '' Wolfstar... It's Spruceburn... Can I come in? '' he called quietly, he didn't want to wake Wolfstar if he was sleeping.

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar lay his head on his paws, listening to the gentle breeze outside his den. The slowly stirring leaves hummed and everything worked in soft harmony. His eyelids began to feel heavy and he let them close. Warmth and comfort surrounded him as he slowly made his way into sleep.

"Wolfstar... it's Spruceburn... may I come in?" Spruceburn called softly from outside the den. Wolfstar opened his eyes and blinked a few times. He cleared his throat and spoke. "Oh, sure. Come on in, son" he addressed him specifically as if to prove something.

[Spruceburn]

Spruceburn entered the den timidly, his head lowered as he approached his father. Wolfstar had called him son... That was new. Did he think he had to prove something to Spruceburn? Proved that he still cared about his ugly son that was a disgrace to his clan? No, stop saying that to yourself. The deputy of this clan is just as bad as you and you don't see her whining! He told himself sternly. Yeah, but she doesn't have memories that she would rather not have bubble in her mind everytime someone says her name to her... Spruceburn countered. He really needed to stop this arguing with himself... He sat down in front of his father and looked at his big paws, '' Wolfstar... I have to ask you something... I know it may seem kind of stupid but... '' Spruceburn trailed off. Sprucepaw never trailed off. He said what he meant when he wanted to say it. That voice said in his head. '' I wanted to ask you... Why did you give me my warrior name? I mean... Why Spruceburn? '' he asked, looking at his father with his one green eye.

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar sighed. That was really a question he hadn't expected. Why did he? He knew the answe to that, but would Spruceburn believe him? He always had his heart set on that Wolfstar was a liar. Wolfstar looked up from his paws and looked his son in the face, unafraid and unaware to the burns. "I gave you that name because of how you go the burns. You did a noble thing by trying vainly to save me, risking your own life for me. You may think that the name is to remind everyone that you were burned and that your face is hidious, but it's to remind cats that you're a hero. And Spruceburn, you aren't ugly. In any cat's eyes, you're the same. Don't let your injury get in the way of your life. You can't just give up on yourself and expect cats to treat you diffrently. Inside, you're the same old Sprucepaw." he meowed seriously.