I don't give up, but I do change plans | A warrior cats AU

: Being Tested :

Clear Sky was watching Snake play with his kits. It was nice to see. His kits loved Snake. That was one of the things that had brought them together.
Then he sighed. Was it sad that his mate was a better father to his kits? Kind of. It kind of was. But I'm busy! Clear Sky tried to reason. . . Despite the fact that he was just sitting there. . . That was it, he was going to act like a father for once in his life.
Clear Sky leaped down from his perch. He padded over to Snake, who flashed him a happy glance. The kits stopped what they were doing and rushed over to Clear Sky.
Tiny Branch let out an excited squeal. “Yay! Now you're both here!”
Snake started purring. “Yep.” he nodded.
Clear Sky sat down beside Snake. He looked at Tiny Branch. “Yes, we're both here right now.”
Dew Petal gave them both a suspicious look. “That not normal. What are you up to?” she demanded.
Clear Sky had to fight back his laughter. In fact, it was almost impossible to tell he had been about to laugh. “We aren't up to anything Dew Petal.”
Dew Petal looked unconvinced, she flicked her fluffy silver and white tail. “Lies. Lies I say.”
Flower Foot tackled her. “You’re the liar!” she fake hissed.
The two blurred into a tumble of fur.
Tiny Branch padded over to Clear Sky. “Hey can I ask you a question?” he asked.
Snake’s tail flicked. Clear Sky knew that meant something. He wasn't sure what, but Snake’s tail would flick a lot.
“Sure Tiny Branch, what is it?” Clear Sky focused back on his son.
Tiny Branch took a deep breath, looking nervous and excited. “When I get old enough can Snake be my mentor?”
Oh. Wasn't it said for cats not to mentor their kits? Clear Sky was annoyed by that thought. So what? Who cares what the other clans are doing? Most of the other clan cats didn't know what they were talking about anyway. “Why do you ask?” Clear Sky inquired.
Tiny Branch shifted a little. “Well Snake is really cool. And I want him to be my mentor.” he explained.
Clear Sky nodded. “What do you think about that Snake?” he turned to the grey tabby.
Snake flicked his tail, again. “I’d love to mentor this little bundle of energy.” he purred.
“Alright then.” Clear Sky ‘accidentally’ laid his tail on Snake’s.
Tiny Branch bounced in excitement. “Yay! Now I only have to wait three moons!” he sqeaked.
Snake laughed. “He’s so cute.” he whispered to Clear Sky.
“I know.” Clear Sky whispered back, starting to purr.
Dew Petal and Flower Foot stopped tustling. “Tiny Branch show dad your jump!” Dew Petal called.
I've seen it. He remarked silently.
Tiny Branch turned to his sister. “I’m getting there!” he chirped, making the usually annoyed response sound like a polite reply. Then he turned back to Clear Sky. “Can I show you my jump?”
Clear Sky acted like he hadn't seen Tiny Branch’s jump several times. “You have a jump?” he questioned, as though he didn't know exactly what his son meant.
Tiny Branch nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! I'll show you!” he crouched down and then jumped up. He fell down a second later, he made it two tail lengths. As he had last time. Tiny Branch scrambled back up. “Was that good?” he asked.
Clear Sky nodded. “Yes that was very good.” he praised.
Tiny Branch leaped in excitement. “Yes!” he exclaimed.
Clear Sky purred. Seeing the excitement in his eyes was so rewarding. Why wasn't I like this with Thunder? A sudden stab of guilt shot though him.
I'm a terrible father. . . Aren't I? Realization fully took its grip. Sure he'd said he should have been a better father. But now that he'd felt how easy it was. . . He realized how terrible of a father he really was.
Snake realized how upset he was, and slightly leaned into him. “You’re trying. Keep doing that.” he whispered in a comforting tone.
Clear Sky felt tears in his eyes, but he fought them back.

The next day Clear Sky was on a hunting patrol with Snake and Thorn.
Snake had gone off to fish. Which he could apparently do.
I've never seen him fish. Actually he's never mentioned it before. Clear Sky wondered why that was.
Thorn suddenly scoffed.
Clear Sky turned to him. “What?” he raised a brow.
Thorn huffed. “I mean. . . You know. . .” he gestured to the direction Snake had gone in.
Clear Sky was sort of weirded out. Why was Thorn acting so weird? “No I don't know. What do you mean?” he felt a tinge of suspicion.
Thorn gave him an incredulous look. “Snake of course! He's so useless, why is he even still here?”
Clear Sky froze, his fur bushed out in anger. Pure rage shot though him. “What did you just say?!” he snarled.
Thorn shrugged nonchalantly. “Don’t get so worked up about it. We both know Snake is a waste of oxygen.” he continued to bash Snake.
Clear Sky had heard enough, the sheer hatred that he felt towards Thorn suddenly burst out. He lunged at Thorn and dug his claws into the golden tabby. Thorn let out a cry of pain, attempting to throw Clear Sky off of him. But Clear Sky didn't get off of him, he slashed Thorn several times.
Thorn let out another cry of pain, his blue eyes were wide with fear. . . Wait was that a glimmer of respect?
Clear Sky didn't have time to wonder, he was yanked off of Thorn.
“Don’t touch him!” Snake snarled.
Clear Sky leaped to his paws. “You didn't hear what he said?!” he demanded, still infuriated.
Snake was panting. “No you don't understand! Thorn just wanted to make sure you actually cared about me! He does this with everyone!” he explained quickly.
Clear Sky froze. “Wait. . . Really?” he questioned, baffled by his response.
Snake nodded, helping Thorn up.
Clear Sky blinked, stunned.
Thorn licked his wounds. “Yeah maybe this was a bad idea for you. . .”
Clear Sky shot him a look of suspicion as to what that meant.
“Because of how protective you are. . .” Thorn added.
Clear Sky padded over to Thorn. “Sorry.” he muttered.
Thorn nodded. “It’s fine. I was the one acting stupid.”
Clear Sky nodded slightly.
Snake flicked his tail. “Thorn you are going back to camp. What is with you and always getting injured?” he only sounded slightly annoyed.
Thorn licked his shoulder. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Snake narrowed his eyes. “Remember when you challenged Frost to a fight and then you got shredded?” he half laughed.
Thorn’s gaze dropped. “A-and then a couple days later we got together. . . I-I miss those days. . .” his voice got choked up. A single tear slid down his cheek.
Snake sighed. “Yeah. . .”
Clear Sky felt guilt claw him. Thorn. . . I'm sorry. . . I didn't know you two were together. . . But what would that have changed? Would that have changed anything? No. . . It wouldn't have. . . But I'm different now! Right? Fear was creeping up on him. Clear Sky tried to hide it. But Snake gave him a worried look. So he couldn't have hidden it that well.

An:
His self awareness can only go so far right now
Yes I did change Thorn’s design, it's how I imagined him in my head so that's what he gets
(Muscular golden tabby tom with blue eyes, notched ears and a scar across his left hind leg)