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[silverfang218]

Shadowgaze buries his nose in Owlstar’s fur; he doesn’t like the tone in her voice, not to mention the actual words coming out of Owl’s mouth. The words are cold, like she’s cutting away all love and care for her own daughter; that’s a scary thing. For now, there’s nothing Shadow can do for anyone, though, so he continues doing the only thing he knows how in these situations.

He settles into Owlstar’s sidefluff, but it almost looks like Rainfur is in even more need of comfort. Shadow reaches forward to start licking the top of Rain’s head (or, if Rain’s head is lost in Smoky fur, then he starts licking Rain’s shoulder) to let his adopted dad know that he’s here for him. Shadow makes a mental note to let Brooksong know what happened to her apprentice, but that can wait. Everything can wait except this family.

[M'Lady]

It was as if she no longer heard Rainfur's voice. Or if she did, it didn't fully register. She was in a strange state, at the moment. Not quite there but certainly not gone. Not quite emotionless, but not quite caring any longer. It was that betrayal that was still clawing at her, that fueled her fury and only made her sadder. The best thing to do would be to close it off. If Owl didn't get an ounce of care from Starling, then she would get none from Owl. A fair trade, she figured.
Family was supposed to love each other.

But family was a right.

She didn't push away Rainfur because he wasn't born Ivyclan, she loved him because he stayed by her. Loyalty had always meant the most to Owlstar. Her father had driven it into her mind, her beliefs had only been proven when her friends, her clanmates, left her. Only those that had stayed, had become close with her. Only they did she trust fully.
And she so foolishly gave that trust and love to her children, without a second thought. By Starclan she was wrong, maybe it wouldn't hurt so much if she hadn't.
Maybe she wouldn't feel like walking straight onto a Thunderpath.
Or picking a fight with some Mothclan warriors.
She wondered if it was possible, to die from emotions tearing you up inside.
She figured she'd find out.

---

He was glad when his father came to rest beside him, and resting his head atop his dad's neck. Smokypaw didn't like analyzing situations, not like his mother did. Instead he was content to be, and exist for those who needed him. Rainfur definitely needed him, never in his whole life had he seen his father so desperately sad. Smokypaw was sad too, he guessed, but he hadn't really known his sister all that well. If she was happy where she was, he was content to let the issue go. Glancing back at his mother, however, who had molten yellow eyes... He wasn't so sure that it would be the same case for her. He cast his gaze up to Shadow, worry flickering in those golden green irises. A silent question.

What can I do? What can we do?

He was the older siblings, he'd lived through much more pain and heartbreak than Smokypaw would hopefully never know. He must know what to do, or at least have an inkling of an idea, right?