Tenebrousrequiem had been curled up beside his mate, jolting when he heard the shrill cry blinking his eyes blearily. "Wh-who- where!" He growled pushing himself up head jerking around looking for the danger, for the threat.

He blinked rapidly to clear his vision, view clearing up to show him nothing but the warriors den, with sleeping clanmates around him and Ferventprayer. Though the smell of Ferventprayer's fear scent made him turn his attention to his mate, seeing her awake and her pelt bushed out.

He sighed frowning softly as he saw the distressed look on her face, he moved forward nudging her with his muzzle. "Are you all right Ferventprayer?" He asked softly.

Tenebrousrequiem nuzzled her. "I'm fine Ferventprayer." He assured her softly, he cast a glare at any warriors giving Ferventprayer dirty looks. They could get over themselves or he'd 'help' them go back to sleep with a good smack to the head.

He focused back on Ferventprayer as she continued rasping his tongue over her head trying to soothe her like he'd seen others do. "If you want breakfast we can go out and hunt some together," He assured her.

Tenebrousrequiem shot one last warning glare at the other warriors. If they didn't get a hint he might pay off some of the apprentices to leave nettles in their nests. He was certain he could win them over with some treats if need be.

But he pushed that aside to focus on Ferventprayer, watching as the sun cast warm golden beams onto Ferventprayer's gorgeous fur. He wished the warmth of the sun could warm and ease Ferventprayer's trauma.

Though that would be something not so easily remedied.

He walked alongside her as he always did, glancing over to her as she spoke slowing down and stopping at her side. Ears pricked forward as he listened.

The dark brown tabby frowned as he listened intently. He narrowed his eyes as she spoke about her 'father' Bloodycrow.

He still haunted her even now.

If Tenebrousrequiem could go back in time it would be to smack his younger self and do more than just try and use Ferventprayer when she'd been younger. Instead he'd tell himself to be a good friend, to be a supportive cat. To be better.

But there was no do overs. So this was where they were at.

"You went through something terrible." He said softly. "There's nothing wrong with being upset by it." He assured her, ears lowering as he thought about his own family life before shoving it aside.

He hesitated. "What can I do to help?" He asked. "I'm... no expert on any of this, but I want to help. Do you need me to hunt him down and make him apologize?" He didn't think that would actually help but he wasn't sure what to do.

This shadow that haunted Ferventprayer he couldn't chase off with the muscles and warrior skills he'd developed over the years. This was a different beast entirely and Tenebrousrequiem was at a loss for what to do to help her

Tenebrousrequiem's eyes widened. "Ferventprayer... Ferventprayer no, darling this isn't your fault." He said quickly coming to a stop and going over to her side, wrapping his tail around her and pulling her in close, head resting against hers.

"Bloodycrow was manipulating you. He was cruel and I should've pushed harder, clawed him harder when he hit you... when he-" He growled pelt bushing up at the memory. The pure OUTRAGE that had pulsed through his veins when Bloodycrow had the gaul to strike Ferventprayer his most devoted daughter, despite being stolen.

Bad enough Bloodycrow had been subtly chipping away at her. Using her for his own gain, trying to make her mate with cats of his choosing because of his own goals. Ignoring her pain and suffering.

Tenebrousrequiem sighed. "Whatever your relations are with your parents, or the one who took you and raised you... it doesn't have to define you okay? It'll definitely hurt, I know that... but-but you're still Ferventprayer, you're an amazing cat! You know that right?"

Tenebrousrequiem pulled her closer and hugged her. He wanted to argue against Bloodycrow truly loving her, after all he'd stolen her away. But he knew it was a moot point and would only further upset her so he held back.

"What more could you have done?" He asked her. "I don't think even Bloodycrow himself knew who he was anymore, how could you have known he had changed, if he truly had?"

"The fact it was so unclear, that even the Sun God himself simply said he was unrecognizable means that it was beyond the god to see what was wrong. At least bound as Bravewolf was. So if Bravewolf couldn't see, how could you?"

"In fact why is it up to you? Father's don't hurt their children! Father's don't force them to get into a relationship they don't want to be in! They comfort their children when they're in pain!" Tenebrousrequiem couldn't help it as the words spilled from his lips.

"Please Ferventprayer, why is it your fault that your father hurt you? Why is it your responsibility to save him when he delved so willingly into the depths?"

Tenebrousrequiem shook his head. "The mind isn't something I understand super well." He admitted. "But at a certain point you have to realize he's responsible for his own wellbeing." He pointed out.

"So what he gets a free pass on hurting you because 'he might've been unwell?' That's ridiculous. He took on the role of a father and he should've done everything in his power to do better. I refuse to let him get away with all the bad things he did just because he might've been unwell. If I had a seizure then not only would I do better to make sure I didn't hurt you again because you're important to me, I'd apologize! Profusely! I wouldn't just allow myself to go off blameless because I hurt you! My being sick doesn't mean it's an excuse to hurt you! And the same goes for Bloodystar!"

"He's the adult, the parent, the leader in this situation. He was surrounded by cats older than us that should've stepped up to fix things and instead either enabled him." He growled as he remembered Bloodycrow's sister trying to get between him and Ferventprayer when Bloodycrow wanted to force her to get together with Bravewolf. "Or they should've stopped him and worked to treat him!" He thought about Duskslayer and Mountainsound. They were in difficult positions yes, but arguably THEY were the ones tasked with fixing such a thing, not Ferventprayer!

"The only one who actually DID something was your mother and Bravewolf, and by that point your father had to choose to be saved. And when you went to help him he made his choice. He hit you, and I'll never forgive him for that."

"If I had the strength and I hadn't been stopped I'd have honestly tried to kill him for it." Tenebrousrequiem muttered. "You would've been mad at me but at least then you'd be free, because it's not up to YOU to fix his mess, or cure him. Or even save him. At some point someone has to decide to save themselves and Bloodycrow refused. It's his mess now, not yours."

Tenebrousrequiem grit his teeth and his ears drooped, he had gone too far.

"I'm sorry, I got carried away." He apologized, even if he felt that burning hatred towards Bloodycrow and would've loved to end him and end the torment he'd inflicted upon his mate.

"My wishes don't matter in this moment, and it's obvious that though I think he'd be better off gone... you don't feel that way." He said.

He sighed going back over to her and hesitating nudging her head with his muzzle gently. "But I will not allow you to blame yourself for his sins. You can love him Ferventprayer, you can feel your complicated feelings. But at some point you have to make Bloodycrow take responsibility." He said firmly shifting back.

"I will support you in whatever you need. If you want me to leave him alive, I will. I will hate him with every fiber of my being for what he's done to you and the pain he's caused you and the confusion of feelings inside. But I will not kill him."

He straightened up. "But I will not yield on this, Bloodycrow's actions were his own. He had every opportunity to seek help. He was the adult, the parent, the leader, it was on him to do what was right for him, the clan and for you as the one who took the mantle of father. That's the fact of the matter." He said firmly. "Feel what you like, but put responsibility on the one who deserves it. Put aside your emotions and your feelings, and look at the facts. His actions were all at fault. His decisions caused you pain. He was in charge, you did everything a child should and honestly so much more."

Tenebrousrequiem shivered. "I've seen good parents," He murmured thinking of Lionpride and other fathers he'd seen in the nursery. "The only thing they ever wanted from their children was their love, not to be the ones responsible for them. You were reprimanded even for crying about your sister!" He stressed. "And you were just an apprentice who had been through a terrible trauma, a trauma he went through as well! If he wanted help, if he wanted support, if you had any prayer of reaching him... it would've been in THAT MOMENT."

Tenebrousrequiem's gaze hardened and he shook his head. "And he reprimanded you for crying despite your trauma. He'd closed the door to you, and that was his decision. So make him take responsibility, and free yourself from blame. Even if you can't stop loving him, stop blaming yourself. You did more than what any decent parent, no cat would expect of someone they cared about."

Tenebrousrequiem's tail lashed when she said she was weak. But he forcedhimself to take a deep breath then let it out.

"You, were young Ferventprayer. You just lost your sister, an apprentice is expected to grieve her sister that died horribly." And tranquilpaw had died horribly.

"Your prayers didn't bring her back something was cursed in that land," Tenebrousrequiem said. "You still did what you had to do, we all did in the end, but only you did he reprimand for crying and that's not okay. Expressing yourself isn't wrong okay? Anger isn't strength, apathy isn't strength... Being vulnerable, and letting yourself be seen vulnerable is strength... one I still struggle with at times, so take it from me on that."

Tenebrousrequiem stared at her aghast. Then he shook his head.

"Not when you're around those that care about you. Or at least, that's how it should be." Tenebrousrequiem meowed. He stepped close to her pressing his nose into her fur. "Do you think I'd attack you if you admitted your vulnerabilities? Or anyone in the clan?"

If there were he'd make sure to assure her, and also make sure they thought twice before doing so.