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Description
Batpaw

Batpaw stared in disbelief, his ears folded back to try and hide his shame. Standing just a few fox-lengths away were his father and sister, Coyotemask and Softpaw. Looking at them both, he felt his chest tighten and his breathing become laboured, he had snuck away in the middle of the night, not wanting to see the disappointment in his fathers eyes as he ran from his problems. He couldn't stand the guilt of Petalmoon and Primrosekit's deaths. He couldn't take the stares of his clanmates. Going with the group of runaways was his ticket out. But here stood Coyotemask and Softpaw. Hesitating, he stepped forward, his kinked tail swishing nervously,"Coyotemask? What are you doing here? Why aren't you back in Sunclan?"he quietly asked, "If this is about coming home, I'm not going back. Just leave"he urged while casting his gaze down.

Coyotemask

He'd look down at his son, face contorted as he struggled to reign in his emotions. He didn't know what to think or what to feel. Here he was, meeting his child face-to-face oncemore after he abandoned him, and forced him to go through yet another heartbreak. Having two family members die and then the other run away nearly killed him. Luckily, he had Softpaw all along. At the thought of his daughter, he'd glance to look at her, warmth vibrant in his eyes. They got through it together. "Well, that's one way to greet your father,"He'd meow, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice. "Is that really what you want? For me to leave? We came looking for you after you left us. So here we are, seeing if you're alright."Coyotemask would take in a deep breath trying to calm his jittery nerves and the fire burning deep in his throat. There were so many things he wanted to say, but most of them he couldn't. "Why did you leave? Why did you abandon us, son? We're family, and family isn't supposed to leave each other alone. Especially not through hard times. I thought you knew better than that."Concern filled his gaze, tail lashing slightly in his frustration. "Do you have any idea how hard it was for myself and your sister? To lose a mother and daughter, and then you?"

Batpaw

Batpaw clenched his jaw shut, bunching his shoulders up as he lowered his head, "I left because of you! All of you!"he defended himself, flinching at the mention of his mother. "You all look at me like it's my fault! I know! I didn't need you all talking like I'm some soft little kit who doesn't understand what happened! I hated it!"He had already known leaving would hurt his remaining family, but Lostmind had told him it was ok to do what he thought was best for him. Leaving was going to free him of everything! He wouldn't have to think about anything that made him feel sad or guilty, everybody made it out like he was never going to be able to get over what happened. Feeling himself shaking, he struggled to breathe, "Petalmoon is dead and I know it's because of me!" Batpaw choked out the words. "You don't know what that's like! Even when I got my apprentice name I could feel her watching me even though I know she's gone!"He seemed to spit the words out, the fur on his neck rising slightly as he listened to the words nobody dared say. That he caused it.

Coyotemask

He'd stare at his son, confused. The thought that he'd been blaming himself, much like he had, sent a sickening feeling to his stomach. Closing his eyes, he sighed. "When did I ever show any sign of believing what happened to P-"He'd choke up, dipping his head. "I never blamed you for Petalmoon's death, or Primrosekit's. Nor did anyone else in the clan, so where are you getting that from? How in the slightest could it have ever been your fault? If anyone should be to blame, it should be the warriors that murdered them."His tone was sharp, quick to the point, a knife in the dark. However, echoing pains of sadness lingered as tears rose to his eyes. Stars, he missed her. Petalmoon would know what to do in this situation, to soothe her frustrated boy. "I don't know what it's like?"The comment sent a sharp wave of pain rushing towards him, hot tears slowly falling out of the corners of his eyes. He refused to meet his sons gaze, he would rather calm himself first than allow his son to see him cry. Taking a deep breath and allowing the tears to dry, he stood tall, straightening his back. "Batpaw, I think you're forgetting something. Petalmoon was my mate I loved her with every breath and every fiber of my very own being. Don't you dare tell me that I don't know what it's like. I can feel her too, and I miss her just as much if not more."

Batpaw

Batpaw looked up at his father, somewhat intimidated by how tall he was in comparison. He watched with a pang in his heart as Coyotemask had to compose himself. His words were sharp, they cut into him like jagged stones, and it left a hollow feeling in Batpaws chest. The silence between them lasted a few moments, Batpaw unsure of what to say. He had been sure that Coyotemask blamed him for what happened to her... "I'm sorry I left..."the words were barely above a whisper, and Batpaw folded his ears down in defeat. "I d-didn't know... I just felt trapped" His tail drooped onto the grass by his paws, and he kneaded the ground between his claws nervously. A familiar scent wafted around him, wrapping him in warmth and rustling his fur gently. He knew his mother would've hated to see them fighting like this, but they were both wounded and lost without her. "But I still don't want to go back. The cats here, they don't talk about the past or Sunclan, they just keep moving forward. If Starclan gave them a sign to go then surely it must be right, and I want to go with them. Dawnstripe already offered to mentor me"he explained, casting a glance over his shoulder toward the small group huddled together, swarming with cats from every paw of life. Older warriors, young parents, kits, apprentices, barn cats they found along the way - it wasn't like the clans, listening to one cat's every word. They all looked out for each other, they all cared. It was different. It made him feel less alone."You could both come with.. if you wanted. But you don't have to"

Coyotemask

He'd glance over to his daughter, bumping heads with her. Yet as Batpaw continued to speak, he glanced his way and padded closer. "It's okay, Batpaw. Its all in the past now. I just wish you wouldn't blame yourself for something that was out of your control."With a headbump to his son, he'd look over to the group behind him. "Did she now? That's great for you, I'm glad you have somewhere to go." Ears flicking he considered his words, frowning. "Batpaw, where you go, we go. It seems as though you have a nice little clan over there, and I know it's filled with the finest and kindest warriors. We'll stay with you. Family sticks together, no matter what."

(From Left to Right)
Primrosekit, Softpaw, Coyotemask, Batpaw, Petalmoon

A collab piece between LoveKosmo and Griz-The-Ambear
I did the Sketch, background, shading/lighting
They did the flawless lineart and colouring

Coyotemask and Softpaw belong to LoveKosmo
Batpaw and Petalmoon belong to Griz-The-Ambear

Description
Batpaw

Batpaw stared in disbelief, his ears folded back to try and hide his shame. Standing just a few fox-lengths away were his father and sister, Coyotemask and Softpaw. Looking at them both, he felt his chest tighten and his breathing become laboured, he had snuck away in the middle of the night, not wanting to see the disappointment in his fathers eyes as he ran from his problems. He couldn't stand the guilt of Petalmoon and Primrosekit's deaths. He couldn't take the stares of his clanmates. Going with the group of runaways was his ticket out. But here stood Coyotemask and Softpaw. Hesitating, he stepped forward, his kinked tail swishing nervously,"Coyotemask? What are you doing here? Why aren't you back in Sunclan?"he quietly asked, "If this is about coming home, I'm not going back. Just leave"he urged while casting his gaze down.

Coyotemask

He'd look down at his son, face contorted as he struggled to reign in his emotions. He didn't know what to think or what to feel. Here he was, meeting his child face-to-face oncemore after he abandoned him, and forced him to go through yet another heartbreak. Having two family members die and then the other run away nearly killed him. Luckily, he had Softpaw all along. At the thought of his daughter, he'd glance to look at her, warmth vibrant in his eyes. They got through it together. "Well, that's one way to greet your father,"He'd meow, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice. "Is that really what you want? For me to leave? We came looking for you after you left us. So here we are, seeing if you're alright."Coyotemask would take in a deep breath trying to calm his jittery nerves and the fire burning deep in his throat. There were so many things he wanted to say, but most of them he couldn't. "Why did you leave? Why did you abandon us, son? We're family, and family isn't supposed to leave each other alone. Especially not through hard times. I thought you knew better than that."Concern filled his gaze, tail lashing slightly in his frustration. "Do you have any idea how hard it was for myself and your sister? To lose a mother and daughter, and then you?"

Batpaw

Batpaw clenched his jaw shut, bunching his shoulders up as he lowered his head, "I left because of you! All of you!"he defended himself, flinching at the mention of his mother. "You all look at me like it's my fault! I know! I didn't need you all talking like I'm some soft little kit who doesn't understand what happened! I hated it!"He had already known leaving would hurt his remaining family, but Lostmind had told him it was ok to do what he thought was best for him. Leaving was going to free him of everything! He wouldn't have to think about anything that made him feel sad or guilty, everybody made it out like he was never going to be able to get over what happened. Feeling himself shaking, he struggled to breathe, "Petalmoon is dead and I know it's because of me!" Batpaw choked out the words. "You don't know what that's like! Even when I got my apprentice name I could feel her watching me even though I know she's gone!"He seemed to spit the words out, the fur on his neck rising slightly as he listened to the words nobody dared say. That he caused it.

Coyotemask

He'd stare at his son, confused. The thought that he'd been blaming himself, much like he had, sent a sickening feeling to his stomach. Closing his eyes, he sighed. "When did I ever show any sign of believing what happened to P-"He'd choke up, dipping his head. "I never blamed you for Petalmoon's death, or Primrosekit's. Nor did anyone else in the clan, so where are you getting that from? How in the slightest could it have ever been your fault? If anyone should be to blame, it should be the warriors that murdered them."His tone was sharp, quick to the point, a knife in the dark. However, echoing pains of sadness lingered as tears rose to his eyes. Stars, he missed her. Petalmoon would know what to do in this situation, to soothe her frustrated boy. "I don't know what it's like?"The comment sent a sharp wave of pain rushing towards him, hot tears slowly falling out of the corners of his eyes. He refused to meet his sons gaze, he would rather calm himself first than allow his son to see him cry. Taking a deep breath and allowing the tears to dry, he stood tall, straightening his back. "Batpaw, I think you're forgetting something. Petalmoon was my mate I loved her with every breath and every fiber of my very own being. Don't you dare tell me that I don't know what it's like. I can feel her too, and I miss her just as much if not more."

Batpaw

Batpaw looked up at his father, somewhat intimidated by how tall he was in comparison. He watched with a pang in his heart as Coyotemask had to compose himself. His words were sharp, they cut into him like jagged stones, and it left a hollow feeling in Batpaws chest. The silence between them lasted a few moments, Batpaw unsure of what to say. He had been sure that Coyotemask blamed him for what happened to her... "I'm sorry I left..."the words were barely above a whisper, and Batpaw folded his ears down in defeat. "I d-didn't know... I just felt trapped" His tail drooped onto the grass by his paws, and he kneaded the ground between his claws nervously. A familiar scent wafted around him, wrapping him in warmth and rustling his fur gently. He knew his mother would've hated to see them fighting like this, but they were both wounded and lost without her. "But I still don't want to go back. The cats here, they don't talk about the past or Sunclan, they just keep moving forward. If Starclan gave them a sign to go then surely it must be right, and I want to go with them. Dawnstripe already offered to mentor me"he explained, casting a glance over his shoulder toward the small group huddled together, swarming with cats from every paw of life. Older warriors, young parents, kits, apprentices, barn cats they found along the way - it wasn't like the clans, listening to one cat's every word. They all looked out for each other, they all cared. It was different. It made him feel less alone."You could both come with.. if you wanted. But you don't have to"

Coyotemask

He'd glance over to his daughter, bumping heads with her. Yet as Batpaw continued to speak, he glanced his way and padded closer. "It's okay, Batpaw. Its all in the past now. I just wish you wouldn't blame yourself for something that was out of your control."With a headbump to his son, he'd look over to the group behind him. "Did she now? That's great for you, I'm glad you have somewhere to go." Ears flicking he considered his words, frowning. "Batpaw, where you go, we go. It seems as though you have a nice little clan over there, and I know it's filled with the finest and kindest warriors. We'll stay with you. Family sticks together, no matter what."

(From Left to Right)
Primrosekit, Softpaw, Coyotemask, Batpaw, Petalmoon

A collab piece between LoveKosmo and Griz-The-Ambear
I did the Sketch, background, shading/lighting
They did the flawless lineart and colouring

Coyotemask and Softpaw belong to LoveKosmo
Batpaw and Petalmoon belong to Griz-The-Ambear