Cicadapaw
| He/him | ThunderClan Apprentice (36/100) | #BugFamily @sleepyjax @Dolomedes @Starfall
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Cicadapaw felt Hornetpaw lean into his touch, heard her speak so highly of their father and suddenly there was a lump in his throat, unable to speak. His ears flicked back, and his chest felt tight. He wanted to speak - wanted to tell Spiderthroat off for being reckless, for pushing through pain like he was invincible. He even opened his mouth to try, the words on the tip of his tongue, but nothing came. No sound as he took in the sight of his father; wary, tired... yet solid in a way he couldn't describe.
[Tap]. His father hopped gingerly down from the Stormcrest and leaned in, pressing his forehead against Cicadapaw’s. The apprentice went utterly still. Then Spiderthroat moved on, doing the same for the others crowding around for their own silent touch. Cicadapaw’s breath hitched.
You’ve got to be strong. Look how good Dad is holding it together. He tried to convince himself, clinging to the thought. Dad was still standing. Still leading. But Cicadapaw wasn’t like his father. He wasn’t unshakable. He wasn’t fearless.
The tears came, unwelcome and burning. He ducked his head as they welled up and rolled silently down his cheeks. He didn’t sob, didn’t make a sound - but he couldn't stop the trembling in his shoulders. Couldn’t stop feeling like a scared kit as he tried to accept the fact that his father was going back out there.
The apprentice turned away in frustration and, by chance, caught sight of Wasppaw - her face crumpled in anxious grief, breaking apart without a sound. It was like a slap to the face.
You have to get it together. Now wasn’t the time for tears. Not with his siblings watching. Not with his father watching.
He knew five things. Their father was alive. He was strong. He loved them. And no matter what Cicadapaw said, there would be no stopping him from doing what he'd set his mind to do.
But there was one thing he could do. He remembered his father’s words from not so long ago - words that now carried more weight than before:
Be sure to watch after your sisters.
That, he could do. That, he would do. Not just for his sisters, for all of his siblings.