😸 favorite relationship dynamic in the clan?
I absolutely adore the relationship between Sleekthorn and the Splashshade/Siltdew brothers! I fully expected Sleek to be an antagonistic figure when I started because she was kind of annoyed by everyone.
She joined the Clan with major eldest daughter burnout and absolutely resented the idea of being responsible for more kids. But Splashpaw was so earnest and goofy and all he wanted to do was help and make Sleekthorn proud. He's very endearing and she wouldn't stand for Lightninggrowl shooting down his bright spirit.
By being close to Splashpaw, Sleekthorn could see that Owlfleck was struggling hard as a single, young father. Siltpaw was also a well meaning, if foolishly bold young cat that swiftly endeared himself to her. Sleekthorn ended up stepping in as a secondary parental figure since she's familiar with knowing a young cat's limits.
The boys were deeply shaken by the death of Owlfleck, as this is the third parental figure they've lost in their young lives. A rift actually began to form between Splashshade and Siltdew after this. Splashshade depended heavily on his parental figures and all he could focus on was Owlfleck, even as Siltdew carried his own mutilated apprentice-- a younger cat that he was responsible for-- on his back.
Splashshade began holding resentment that Siltdew wouldn't join him when he visited Owlfleck's memorial. Sleekthorn would try to remind him that Siltdew was grieving in his own way, but Splashshade isn't so receptive when he feels he's alone in his mourning. He couldn't see past his own grief that Siltdew was also mourning Acaciapaw and seeking comfort in his friends that also loved the young tom.
Sleekthorn does partially blame herself for the losses of Owlfleck and Acaciapaw, as she was too late to stop the bobcat that killed them. Her guilt was exacerbated with the death of Almondfox and Sleekthorn now feels personally responsible for the mental wellbeing of these two boys.
She loves them both dearly and hopes the two of them can move on one day from the weight of their grief. For Splashshade especially, she hopes his resentment for Siltdew will absolve so he won't estranged to his brother the way Sleekthorn is to Briar and her many other younger siblings.
