Spiderleg and Daisy

I can see it, honestly.

I think he always loved her. And she still loved him. But not in the way that mates typically would. This seems like a case of him loving her but not being able to fit into the role he's supposed to fit into. There were scenes of him playing with his kits, I do remember that, especially after scenes where he was not keen on it. It at least showed he got used to it enough to accept it more. I don't think he's a horrible father at all. I just think he really was not suited for fatherhood, even if he was trying his best to attempt it.

I think he loved Daisy, but was not ready or suited or mature enough to reciprocate the kind of love she had for him. She clearly is possibly the most capable she-cat in the clan when it comes to caring for kits, and being emotionally prepared for parenthood. I love this pairing because it's so unique and realistic and heartbreaking at the same time. She was ready to settle down with him, be a parent with him, but he was not ready and not suited, and both of them were too late to adapt to that. Their kits turned out perfectly fine. Heck, look how trusting the clan is with Rosepetal at mentoring!

Even so, I do think Leafpool slapped some sense into Spiderleg, and that them breaking up yet still raising their kits respectfully alongside eachother was a stroke of maturity and the best course of action. They were just not compatible in the way they each desired. That's not going to change if you love someone or not though. Spiderleg is not weird for still loving the cat he, well, fell in love with! Daisy simply had a more mature and emotionally capable aspect to her that allowed her to move on. She's not clanborne. Rouge cats and loners seem to me to have more mates and certainly in Daisy's case with Floss and her both having Smokey as a mate. Spiderleg probably was not used to that kind of experience, and seemed more focused on warrior duties anyway. Spiderleg was more like Mousefur, ironic, since she DID mentor him. Daisy has been a Queen from the start. Kits and parenthood are her specialty.

This is a smidge personal, but it's a really positive and good thing, and a reason I love how the Erins handled this couple. My own parents separated in this exact same manner, where they broke up but still did everything they could for their kids together, worked together with maturity, and while they may not love eachother romantically anymore, they still love eachother as the other parent of their children and as their friend. I remember just kind of appreciating how it was clearly stated in the books that they were not together, but that there was not a scene of hostility or abuse at all. Spiderleg still played with his kits, still tried to be a father to them, and Daisy did perfectly fine and was successful as well on her own. Both seemed to be civil with eachother and were good clanmates. It made my own situation feel normal and mature.

I'm droning at this point, but I personally headcanon that Daisy and Spiderleg were still really close friends and tried their best to be mature and raise their kits without any drama. I headcanon that Spiderleg's death really crushed Daisy and that she loved him deeply as the father of her kits and her good friend. I do genuinely think they'll be together in Starclan, and try again when there's nothing they have to fear for their own personal issues, and nothing for them to have to change for.