Bristlenose

I walked out of my den in the nursery, awakened by gasps from the camp. I was greeted by my mate, Slateface, being rebuked by our leader. I was horrified and upset as I heard the news: He was planning on leaving! I raced to him, trying to bring him to his senses, but somehow I knew it wouldn't work. "If you leave I'll still love you, but I can't leave the Clan."

He made fair points. He talked about how he was a failure and he was hurting the kits. I felt his pain and honestly pitied him, but I wanted him to say! He was my mate, my forever and always. And the kits! The kits needed him. When he brought them up I figured I could pull some strings and get him to stay. "Slateface, don't worry about being a failure. Worry about being a father. Think about our kits. Our beautiful, lovely kits. They look up to you so much!"

He wouldn't listen. I knew he wouldn't, he was so stubborn. He kept making points and bringing up fair things. He had even been training! I should have been able to spot it, to realize what was happening, but I hadn't. I felt bad for not stopping him earlier but I hoped I could now.

Then Yellowstar came in. She was bristling and she even spat. She shrieked at him, telling him he wasn't welcome anymore. I saw the little progress I had made crumble and watched him prepare to leave. True to his character he left, but his tail drooped and his head hang. Cats were hurling insults. "STOP!" I screeched. "Stop. He's not like that! So he left, so what? He thought it was better for the Clan. We should still love him. I know I do."