"Viperstream?" The deep voice of Thistlestar called out, though it came from the complete opposite direction from which the deputy was facing. Thistlestar stood some tail lengths behind the silver tabby, his deep emerald eyes taking in the tom with curiosity. He had just finish visiting Beedust and the kits who were all finally tucked into their large moss bed and passed out for their afternoon nap. It was the perfect opportunity for the leader to step away and take a nap of his own. As comforting as it was to be at his mate's side, it was an uncomfortable idea to sleep aside the other queen and her kits.

"Is everything okay?" There was concern in the leader' words and his expression grew sterner than usually as he took in the surprised deputy's expression, searching deeply for any sign of immediate urgency.

"It's no bother Viperstream." Thistlestar spoke, stepping past the Deputy to enter his den, turning his head back to glance at the deputy "Come in please; anything you have to say I have interest in." He spoke, his words friendly and thoughtful. Though he would have enjoyed a small nap, he took genuine interest in the Deputy's train of thought, despite not truly knowing what the matter could be.

Thistlestar went to settle on his moss bed, sitting back comfortably as he listened on, taking in his deputy with deep interest. The concerns spoken out loud were all to familiar to the leader. It brought a small smile to grow across his expression.

"Well... it was not easy feat." Thistlestar admitted with a small, casual shrug, his gaze veering off for a few moments as he reminisced on old emotions. The remembered the fears he had himself as he stepped forward as deputy. There would be more attention placed on him, more questions delegated to him, and higher expectations. His silence went on a bit longer than he had anticipated but the leader caught himself before he could zone out longer, blinking away the distracting memories as his gazed focused back once more on Viperstream. "Let me ask you this; are you comfortable with where you are at, with your social skills?"

Thistlestar smiled at the deputy's words offering of nod of understanding to the tom as he spoke on, knowing perfectly well the feelings he was speaking out on. "Then you are already on the right path." The leader meowed confidently, his gaze trialing off to the entrance of the den in a short moment of deep reflection "Change is uncomfortable which is why many cats struggle to make changes, especially crucial changes that can push them forward on their path in life.

"You already made the first step in your quest for growth and that is acknowledging that there is a need for not only this clan's sake but your own self." He praised kindly, his voice gentle but firm "I have to be frank, I wasn't comfortable in my process and I still am not wholesomely comfortable, but that is a sign for me that I am still on the right path.

"I think the next step you need to do is assess your "why", your reason for wanting to change and grow, because without the constant awareness of a reason, it can be easy for you to stray off the path." Thistlestar's expression softened as his own words brought his experiences forward in his thoughts "For me, it wasn't easy growing up in Springclan being half-clan." The words felt odd on his tongue like a curse word that was not mean't to be spoken. He could remember his mother's stern expression the first time he mentioned the phrase. She never wanted him to feel different because of her choice nor did she ever want him to speak that kind of doubt within himself. It was the last time he ever spoke the word in front of his mother and it was one of the few times he had said it out loud to one of his clanmates. "Springclan was not as accepting of outsiders as we are now. With my mother making the choice she made and my siblings all losing their lives too young, I was seen as a bad omen, especially to the eldest of warriors that lived in Springclan at the time.

"I was uncomfortable with any kind of attention because I could guess the underlining thoughts that went through cats' heads. So I became comfortable in the reservations, never truly trying to build relationships that weren't necessary, my goals shifted to just making it by and proving myself on a daily basis but when I was chosen to be deputy, things changed." He paused, sighing softly as he thought back to that day. It was terrifying, more than he ever let on. It was the first time since his mother's untimely death that he felt like another cat had faith in him. Blackstar's decision to pick him confused him at the time and many other cats, especially warriors with vaster experience and strength, but with time he realized he had to not only trust Blackstar's decision but also trust himself to be able to take on the responsibility. "My goals had to change to fit the role I was given. I was trying serve my clan in the only way I knew how which was through servitude, but now it became more than that because I had to look further in the future knowing that there would be a day where I would have to step up as leader and leaders serve in different ways. My "why" in life no longer could just serve me and my survival in the clan through my work, it was going to take into account at the fact that I was going to have to lead other, psychically and emotionally. To do that, I had to reconfigure my reasons to change and do better aside from my own self." He stopped, finding himself feeling rather vulnerable, more than he let anyone else on aside from his mate.

"I believe the next step is to reflect on why it is you want to grow before you actually take on the weight that this journey will add to you."

"Do you really?" Thistlestar challenged respectfully, his words holding genuine intrigue. "Why do you want to do this?" The leader's tone was stern, but his expression was surprisingly kind, his deep green gaze holding onto the deputy's with quiet intensity.