Jetclaw glanced at her brother, Skipstep nodded slowly and then Jetclaw followed after them, letting Lionpaw go ahead, the she cat's fur puffed out and ears flattened. Angry at herself and at Leatherfern for starting the mess in the first place, then she moved to follow after them.

It seemed to Fernpaw that everyone, Including her mother and brother, were determined not to allow her a lick of time alone with Leatherfern. Irritation was easily detected in the flick of the tip of her tail. She stepped bravely to Leatherfern's side. Leaving a respectful amount of space between their pelts. The massive tom beside her left her with many questions and she felt she was not being trusted with the whole truth. "Why did you come Leatherfern? Just to be sent away?" she looked up at her larger copy. Mocha pelt and emerald gaze a perfect match.

Leatherfern kept his eyes focused on the path. He seemed unfazed by the treatment he had received. The large tom gave his pelt a shake riding the feeling of Jetclaw, Lionpaw, and Singedwolf glaring into his back. "You may not know this Fernpaw, but your mother and I have a rare bond. Something no other cat will ever have in this lifetime. When she is in pain or needs something. I will always be there. I am not the monster everyone seems to think I am. I didn't show up to start a fight to steal you away when you were a kit out of selfishness. I fought for the right to be with my children. The seedlings of a love that will never die. Maybe fade a bit and be sealed away in the dark corridors of our hearts, but never gone."

Leatherfern flicked his ear in amusement. "You are your mother's son Lionpaw. I can see very little of your ancient bloodline in you. Except perhaps your pelt." he meowed in sad amuesment. Part of him had hoped when he saw the large kit that he would grow to be a powerful fighter like so many in his blood-soaked line. "I did not come to stop the pain. I know pain. Pain is not something to run from or to fear. It teaches you valuable lessons. I wanted to stop her pain. And I knew you were coming. I was desperate to see you. SunClan made you soft. Gave you a plush nest and a full belly. You had no struggles as a kit." Leatherfern shifted his gaze back to to the corner of his eyes to see Lionpaw. "Sometimes pain and struggle are best learned when you are small and malleable. The lessons are so much harder to learn as an adult."

He turned his attention back to the path before him. "I came to see you Fernpaw and your brother. But I also knew your mother was pregnant. I knew how terrible her last pregnancy had been. It is true. Sometimes passions and desire get in the way of clear thinking. Makes us do foolish things like barging into a territories camp without proper invitation. But love also drives you mad and sometimes, weather it is reciprocated or not, you can't help but listen to its call. I wanted to make sure she was alright." Leatherfern could tell already that Fernpaw took after him in more ways than physical features. She had a passion all her own that pushed her towards her own informed conclusions. She wanted to hear both sides not just one.

She did not respond. Simply kept pace. She was curious how a tom who claimed to love their mother so much was ever in a situation where they weren't together. What was the story from beginning to end?

Fernpaw sent her brother a glare. He seemed so determined to rid the world of a necessary evil. Would he take her down someday if it meant achieving his agenda? She was a fighter and her skills and training had proved that. Hunting was just a daily task. But fighting was in her blood and her actually enjoyed battle moves and the adrenaline. Before she could shoot back a sarcastic bite of a response, leatherfern spoke again.

"You seem ill informed Lionpaw. And too young to understand that love is not always given to only one other. Its a long story. But this looks like my stop." he meowed as they stepped across the border. He turned to fully face them. Ignoring Jetclaw and Singedwolf. "I would tell you the whole story. Beginning to end but your mother expects you back. Return to the border in days to come if you wish to hear it from me. Otherwise ask your mother. Though even she does not know all the details. If I had had my way. I would have been with your mother from the day I met her till the day one of us died."

He dipped his head and took a few paces back.

Lionpaw nudged his sister "yeah come on sis, best not keep mom and dad waiting". He watched as the older tom left, utterly bewildered.