[Random Melody]

"You do realize this means you'll just be seeing more of Springwind, don't you?" Ratheart didn't look pleased with this fact as he sat down beside Hunterfang, pretty much glaring at his son. He'd been going on and on about it trying to make him understand but Hunterfang would only nod and look away. Ratheart was just about done with it. "Hunter, look at me when I am speaking to you." He snarled. Still hardly any reaction, but he saw the other Tom's ears twitch a bit. Finally, Ratheart simply lashed his tail at Hunterfang's shoulder, prompting his son to flinch and finally, finally turn to him. "Now, like I was saying, since Springwind is mentoring your sister, it'll be harder to stay away from him, but I think you can manag--"

"For StarClan's sake, shut up!" Hunterfang wasn't taking this crap anymore. He was done. Done with his father's abuse, done with putting up with someone so idiotic and foolish and selfish and - ugh. The black and white Tom pushed himself to his paws, shaking out his fur, which fluffed up, bristling. His ears flattened when he realized what he'd just said, but he did feel a deep rush of satisfaction when Ratheart jerked back in surprise. "I really, really don't care what you have to say about this anymore. Springwind is pretty much the closest thing I have to a father and I will not avoid him because you say so."

StarClan's sake this felt good. Getting this off his chest felt so good.

"Where is this coming from?" Ratheart was too shocked to be angry at this point. What was going on with his son? Hunterfang never talked back, much less interrupted him in the middle of a sentence. And he never, ever spoke to Ratheart like this. Now the Tom was beyond confused.

"I'm done. I'm done listening and following your stupid rules and being afraid, I'm done." Hunterfang spun around. "Look, I'm busy and I have an apprentice now, so, bye. If you don't like it, why don't you just leave?" And Hunterfang left. For the first time he was the one to walk away, and he did so feeling free and light, yet at the same time, feeling like something heavy was pushing down onto his chest. The warrior shook it off and looked around, searching for his brother. Since he couldn't see him in the clearing, he assumed the Tom would be in the apprentices den. Well, it was still early. Sighing, he turned and headed for the apprentices den, poking his head inside and scanning for his apprentice. "Lynxpaw?"

@Constellation