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fallenclan · 8 months

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Ravenpaw wants to be like his dad.

Gyoza does what he wants, when he wants. Gyoza doesn’t care what other cats think. Gyoza knows the funniest pranks!

Ravenpaw talks about it all the time.

“So you’re my mentor now, Bub!” he crows, delighted after his ceremony. “You have a name like my dad, so you must be cool!”

The colorpoint simply huffs with amusement, giving the young tom a blinding grin. “I must say, I am pretty cool. But who could be cooler than your old man?”

Ravenpaw has to agree with that.

Littlepaw wants to be like his dad.

Gyoza stands up for what he believes in. Gyoza chases after the things he wants. Gyoza can lighten a room with smile and a joke.

Littlepaw doesn’t tell so many cats this.

Ravenpaw lays in their shared nest, cuddling close to him as they talk quietly through the night. “I can’t wait to show Dad the battle moves I learned today! I swear, I’ve seen him demonstrate the exact ones for me one time!”

“Raven,” Littlepaw murmurs quietly, much quieter than his brother had been. He was always just a little quieter than his brother. “What if I want to be like Dad, too?”

“Who wouldn’t want to be?” Ravenpaw asks with a flash of a smile. Cloudpaw shushes him from across the den.

The dark furred apprentice continues, only a little softer. “If you ask me, though, I think you’re more like Momma.”

Littlepaw has to agree with that.

Ravenshade wants to be like his dad.

He is now, right? He’s worked so hard, days and sometimes even nights, without much break. Even Bub had gotten tired most days, leaving him to practice on his own. And it’d all paid off.

It’s not often there’s a warrior of ten moons.

But sometimes he wonders.

How can this be like his dad? Gyoza didn’t graduate early; he didn’t graduate at all! Would he have worked this hard, or would he have relaxed more? He didn’t even take a warrior name.

Lost in thought, Ravenshade comes across a ShallowClan patrol.

It feels good to taunt them. Certainly better than being wrapped up in his head.

Littleleaf wants to be like his dad.

He likes his name a lot. Leaves are beautiful in the autumn, and they can heal so many things. His name makes up for the fact that he’s two moons behind their brother, right? They graduate with Cloudtuft, at least; expect, he’s a moon younger than him, so it’s not really the same.

This is the normal age for graduation.

But sometimes, they wonder.

Did Ravenshade miss his warmth in the nest these last two moons like they did? Gyoza never seemed bothered when Troutspeckle spent the night on a solo patrol, but every time Ravenshade went out to hunt without letting Littleleaf know, he felt very alone. Their brother would always be there for them, but sometimes, they couldn’t seem to remember.

“I know you boys look up to Gyoza,” his mother says, her eyes half-closed with something wistful. “But I’m glad you’re a little more like me.”

It feels nice to talk with her. He knows she understands what’s going on inside his head.

Ravenshade wants his dad.

He doesn’t care what he has to do. He wants him back.

Gyoza would know how to make it better, he thinks, and spirals a little further.

He is not like his dad. He is falling apart when Gyoza would be calm. He is angry where Gyoza would be making jokes. He is wandering the borders when Gyoza would be home.

Oh, he is nothing like his dad.

He is alive, and Gyoza is dead.

Littleleaf wants his dad.

They know nothing is going to change it. He still wants him back.

Gyoza would know what to do now, he thinks, and sinks a little deeper.

They are not like their dad. He is lying alone when Gyoza would be with clanmates. He is letting Ravenshade go out alone again and again when Gyoza would go with him. He is so, so tired where Gyoza would be working.

Littleleaf has never been like his dad.

And now Gyoza is dead, while they are alive.

Troutspeckle watches, and yearns for her mate.

She wonders if tomorrow Ravenshade will come back from one of his patrols with blood staining his paws.

She wonders if tomorrow Littleleaf will stop talking altogether, and simply close themself off to the rest of the world.

She loves her sons so much, just the way they are. But

She wishes she were a little more like their father.

Gyoza would know what to do.

I’ve wanted to write a Raven/Little comparison about Gyoza since Raven got his name early, but I only got up the motivation today when I realized Gyoza had been killed by the dogs too— I don’t know how I missed his name before! I wasn’t going to include the little part about Troutspeckle but it practically wrote itself lol

HOLY SHIT THIS IS SO EPIC?????????? i absolutely LOVE your analysis, it's so interesting and in character, and written so well. the dichotomy,,, the brothers.... AUGH im going to b thinking about this one for a while i just know it

#fallenasks #fallenfic #smoothsands

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