Fernfreckle's Dream

Chapter 4

Leaf-bare went by quickly. Just a few sunrises after Plumfall had Honeykit, Lilacpelt moved into the nursery, expecting Birchflight's kits. Their three sons, Pinekit, Runningkit and Stonekit, were all very well behaved. However, Birchflight paid little to no attention to them after the excitement of them being born faded away. Fernfreckle felt as if he were visiting the kits more than his brother was. They had even called him dad a few times.

It felt weird being an uncle. They were still young, and seeing Birchflight's kits running around camp felt so strange.

I wonder where I'd be right now if I fell for Plumfall.

He watches Pinekit and Deerkit run past the fresh kill pile.

"Can't catch me!" Deerkit laughed.

"Oh just you wait," Pinekit panted, desperately trying to keep up. He trips over a bird and falls on his face.

"You ok?" Fernfreckle asked.

Pinekit got up onto his paws rather quickly and shook himself off. "A warrior never quits!" He races off after Deerkit.

"Pinekit, get inside please, it's your nap time." Lilacpelt pokes her head out of the nursery.

"Mommm, I'm playing tag!"

"You can do that later."

"I can nap later too!"

"Don't be smart with me, young man." She runs in front of him and quickly picks him up by the scruff.

As he flailed and tried to protest, she easily brought him back into the nursery, leaving Fernfreckle with his thoughts.

Why doesn't Birchflight visit his sons? What's more important than his family? ...Doesn't he know what it's like to grow up with an absent father?

He sighs and stands up.

I should seriously go talk to him before his kits forget about his entire existence.

He grabs a vole and walks over to his brother's den. He knocks on the side of it. He hears a bit of rustling inside, and then Birchflight pokes his head out of the entrance.

"What?"

"Can I talk to you? I.. brought you a vole."

He stares at Fernfreckle with a judgemental look. "Uhh.. sure." He moves aside and lets him in. Fernfreckle squeezes through the entrance and sits beside a pile of moss which looks like where Birchflight sleeps.

"What is it..." He sits down beside his brother, a slightly annoyed pitch in his voice.

"Is this a bad time? I can come back later if you're busy."

"No, it's fine." Birchflight sighs and takes a bite of the vole.

"Well... I wanna know why you never visit Lilacpelt and the kits."

He blinks. "She's got them under control. She's fine."

"Your kits need a father, Birchflight. I really think you should help Lilacpelt more."

"Our father wasn't even alive when we were born, and we turned out fine."

"But don't you remember how lonely Mom was? Spidersting would visit Brookmist and their kits every day, and even bring them some small gifts sometimes. It meant the world to little Plumfall and Hollygaze."

"If we can live without our father breathing down our necks, they can too. They need space to grow as individuals." 

"What are you talking about? Parents are very important to kits, and it's important to be there for them."