#EDIT; DISCOVERED CINDERHEART WAS A QUEEN AT THE TIME. PRETEND ITS HER.

[tomlivingspace]

Would I be wrong to suggest that the way the Clan would talk about FernIvy would also be toxic to some extent?

Ex:

*Fernsong steps into the nursery* “Oh look at him!! Such a good dad!”

*Fernsong goes on patrol* *no comments made*

vs

*Ivypool steps into the nursery* *no comments made*

*Ivypool goes on patrol* “You know you should really be watching your kits :/“ “Bet it was hard being away from the kits, right?” “What if the kits got hungry?” “I wouldn’t be able to leave my kits!” “Do you not love them?”

OH ABSOLUTELY NOT. i think that's right on the mark and where the whole thing stems from, and why fernsong starts doing it (besides as an excuse to mollify ivypool's worries about getting pregnant/having kittens). I think he doesn't really care for fighting much, but it's less about spending time w/ the kittens and more about the attention whenever he's in the nursery (which may be slightly more than other toms but is still not often). and i think at the same time the expectation that ivypool will stay in the nursery full time until her kittens are apprenticed make her feel like a prisoner and is a big reason why she's so eager to get out of there.