Meet Me Under The Elm Tree [closed]

Sprucebark being the very formal and rule oriented cat that he was took careful note of all patrols and who was supposed to be where.... so when a certain tom was missing for ... MUCH... longer than he was supposed to be it worried him. Not to mention the kit he had.

Sprucebark often times found himself gazing over at the nursery feeling sympathy for elmkit.  He never knew his father either so seeing Elmkits dad leave was not easy.  He felt a tinge of guilt that he should be helping the kitten out more.

He glanced over to his mate and nudged her gently and groomed at her pelt. "Have... you ever thought of adoption? he asked quietly glancing at the nursery once more.

He looked at his paws... he was not sure what Scorch would think of all that. "Maybe we could at least ... be there for him, I dont know" he whispered.

The war was still heavy on his mind and he wanted to think of anything else.

She pinned her ears, but immediately was comforted by Sprucebark grooming her fur. "Is he coming back?" she asked, worried of Elmkit’s father. It had been a few days since the Tom had last entered camp, and Scorchlight was starting to worry that Elmkit would be left without a father. She imagined how hard it would be with no one who truly loved you. "I’m not sure," she meowed. "Do you think we’re ready?" she asked, twisting her head to face Sprucebark, gently licking Sprucebark’s ear, smiling. She had never imagined adopting a kit, but maybe it would help Elmkit? She too felt sympathy for the young kit.

Sprucebark hesitated glancing at his mate. She was always really cheerful and a light in what otherwise would have been utter darkness lately. Were they ready?? "probably not. But I cant stand to see him alone" he answered as honestly as he could. He gave her a reassuring smile though, "but... I dont think any parents are ever truely ready, I know that together we can do it... right?"

He gave a nod to her more sure than ever now that this was the right thing to do and he slowly went over to the kitten.

"Umm elmkit?" he meowed gently and knelt down to the kittens level.

"I think... it would be good if you spend some time with Scorchlight and I. I dont... we are not sure w-when your dad will be back" he nearly choked on the words having to say them. It all was a lot to take in and he thought about how he never knew his father either.

"We will look after you best we can" he meowed quietly... He realized thi was a lot for the ktiten to take in but he would rather tell Elmkit the truth than try and hide things from

Scorchlight had felt bad for Sprucebark. It must’ve have been a lot for him having to tell a kit that they supposed his father wasn’t coming back. But even if they thought they were ready, was Elmkit ready to intake all the information they wanted to tell him?

"We don’t know.. if you want to stay with us, but.. we can care for you for the time being since your father is away," she tried to phrase her words in a way that made it not a lie, not devastating news. Seeing how angry Elmkit’s father had been, she didn’t think he would ever want to come back and see his kit again. She wasn’t frustrated by this, but it seemed the kit kept believing his father was out there.. and he kept believing that his father was going to come back, which Scorchlight doubted. But there was still a spark of hope, so why let the poor kit down?

"If you don’t want to be with us, that is fine," she meowed, trying to reassure Elmkit and not pressure him into staying with her and Sprucebark.