"Since he's in a different clan now and everything there probably isn't much you'd want to do differently either way, is there? - he did ask after his kits."

"They're doing fine."

"That's good. Where's their mom now, is she ThunderClan?"

"Yes."

"Okay. It seemed to bother him that they weren't in his Clan but I guess if she isn't then there's not really a straightforward resolution there."

"Goldenflower's ThunderClan; Tigerstar was ThunderClan when they were born, and they were born in our camp.  They're ThunderClan; it's not anywhere near as ambiguous as, say, Graystripe's kits were."

"Twoleg custody arrangements usually have more to do with which parent is going to be raising them, if the parents separate."

"That makes sense, since you don't have Clans really?  I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

"Uh, my parents got divorced when I was a baby, and my dad stayed where I was born and my mom moved somewhere else, and I went with her, and visited him during the summers."

"Cats can't live with a paw in two worlds.  Given that you haven't got paws I suppose that doesn't apply to you."

"I assume it's a metaphor even in the original case."

"Yes."

"But anyway I think a Twoleg in a situation like this would be taking as input that Tigerstar might reasonably want a relationship with his children even if they live with their mother by default and that doesn't seem to be culturally how things work here?"

"I suppose I do still visit Princess.  It wouldn't make sense to have them live in ShadowClan part of the time, though."

"Why not?"

"Clans have secrets from each other, and fight each other, and it would be cruel to pull kits in two directions like that.  Of course there are cases like Graystripe, and - if he wanted to come back to ThunderClan and it were my decision I'd take him back, but - switching Clans knowing you're going to come back later is . . . not very good for fostering loyalty.  And it would be against the spirit of the warrior code."

"They could maybe have visits somewhere neutral?"

"I think visits would be fine.  Or, I'd say they were if it were any other cat.  Maybe they still are even though it's Tigerstar."

"I'm not planning to make a fuss about it and he didn't obviously seem to be either but it's something to think about."

"Thank you for letting me know."

"You're welcome."

"Is there anything else he mentioned?"

"He suggested I meet Bluestar."

" - Of course.  There's a chance she might be occupied today, but of course you two should meet each other at some point."

"Occupied?"