#'joining the war on lizardstripe on the side of lizardstripe'

[bonefall]

Lizardstripe Continued: The Fading Echoes Scene

I'm not done, actually. I just finished talking about how Yellowfang's Secret villainizes Lizardstripe SOLELY on being a woman who didn't want children, with there being no direct evidence of physical abuse because of Sagewhisker forcing Yellowfang to stay away from them. Even Brokenkit says nothing about specific instances of being hurt or insulted, but mentions overhearing Lizardstripe talking to Amberleaf that she feels he is stealing milk from her other children.

But we do have ONE place where it's said that Lizardstripe bit Brokenkit; Omen of the Stars Book 2: Fading Echoes. A book released in 2010-- two years before Yellowfang's Secret.

Yellowfang's Secret was released in 2012 and gives us the FULL backstory, so it's safe to assume that any inconsistencies should be ruled in YS's favor... or at least make you question, "If this was so important, why did they choose to change it?"

The scene in Fading Echoes happens on page 292.

Jayfeather enters Yellowfang's memories, and sees this;

These are supposed to be Yellowfang's memories, with Jayfeather living through her paws and feeling her emotions.

But we see in Yellowfang's Secret that she never saw any biting or nipping. No one ever mentions it in Yellowfang's Secret, not Sagewhisker, not Brokenkit, no one. The ONLY thing that we see is that Lizardstripe did not want children and felt trapped in motherhood.

So,

How does Yellowfang have a memory of this, if there's no way she saw it?

In Yellowfang's Secret, why was it not shown? Why did Brokenkit cite Lizardstripe talking to Amberleaf for why he feels Lizardstripe doesn't like him (and thus will not stop his littermates from bullying him) over actually being bitten and starved?

Why did the writer believe that Lizardstripe being vaguely "ambitious," resenting her unplanned pregnancy, and having another child she didn't want forced on her would be evidence enough of abuse, to the point of not having to show real cruelty?

This covers all of Lizardstripe's canonical interactions with Brokenkit so far, except for the 2007 field guide which is just a beta version of the Yellowfang's Secret scene. For the 20 years this character has existed, there has been ONE scene that states she hurt him "as punishment for being born," retconned out of existence 2 years later.

[bonefall]

Struggling to find posts u've made in the past about Stoneclaw, but I love her sm. Definitely one of my BB Blorbos

I don't think I've ever put together a particular thingie on her, she's a beloved background character who tends to show up on her own in various places. Like when I talked about sign, before making the deafness guide!

BB!Stoneclaw is a gray-and-gold tortie, and the sister of Thrushwing. They come from one of the field guides, where it's revealed the two of them were sitting their vigil on the night that ShadowClan drove WindClan out of their home. In canon, Thrushwing is the survivor, but for BB, we all just kinda liked Stoneclaw's name more than Thrushwing's, so I decided to hit him with the Woman Beam.

On the night of the WindClan Massacre, Stoneclaw and Thrushwing were sitting vigil.

Daughters of Flytail and Eagleswoop, and grandkits of Tallstar himself. They were a promising young pair.

Before they even knew what hit them, they heard Brokenstar's yowl.

A squadron burst from the shadows, sliced Thrushwing's throat open, and smashed Stoneclaw's head to the ground

ShadowClan wasn't showing mercy, survivors were incidental. Their goal was to kill as many cats as possible.

Stoneclaw was dazed for a few seconds, going limp, but when she came to she leapt right back into the fray. She watched the rest of her family fold.

Tangleburr and her squadron went right for her father, Flytail, out of revenge for Lizardstripe, mobbing him and pulling him down

Eagleswoop just had a stroke of bad luck, failed to dodge, and was killed like prey

It was a horrific night, and what was once a large family was decimated to a couple of cats. She lost auncles, both parents, and her sister in one fell swoop.

Injured and aching, Stoneclaw said nothing as WindClan escaped the scene. The other survivors took it as a sign of great honor from the young warrior; that she had upheld her vow to the bitter end, even after losing so much.

But it lasted long after that night. The vigil has never truly 'ended' in her mind, so her vow of silence hasn't either.

Unfortunately, WindClan gets rough shake after rough shake from this point on, and she barely has a chance to heal in the constant barrage of violence and aggression. Between Nightstar's invasion, TigerClan, the BloodClan battle, the destruction of the White Hart woods, the Great Journey, and the Civil War... things only really started settling down years into her life, during Po3.

During the Civil War, Stoneclaw was actually ideologically aligned with Mudclaw, but took Onestar's side. She wanted to believe that Tallstar was lied to, but... she knew her grandfather better than anyone. Once the shock wore off, she had to face the horrible truth that he made a sudden, naiive decision.

It didn't take her long to stop regretting her choice, though. Her feelings are complicated, but her line too far is Mudclaw's willingness to attack his Clanmates.

Had she taken his side, she would have gone into battle with her future mate as a target. She doesn't think about it-- dismissing that she ever could have made such a choice.

Her internal monologue is a lot more afraid, frustrated, and exhausted than other cats would guess it is. Her actions don't match her thoughts.

She's hardworking, always trying to make her Clanmates comfortable, frets over her friends and family endlessly. Pair this with WindClan's assumption that her selective mutism is a "vow of silence," and most cats see her as an "ideal warrior." Someone kits should look up to and aspire to be.

She got into a relationship with Snapstorm waaaay too quickly; but luckily, Snapstorm is a really good mate.

After everything she'd been through, Snapstorm's cheerful, easygoing attitude was soothing and attractive. Snapstorm just had to say, "Hi Stoneclaw! Mice to see you around!" and then hand her a mouse for lunch and it was all over

Snapstorm was a BloodClan trader who joined along with Brushblaze, and one of the targets of the Civil War. She's a bit flighty and doesn't always think through everything she says, and doesn't worry about much either.

Their oldest kit is Buzzardclaw, who takes after Snapstorm a lot. So far I also gave them Crouchfoot in a later litter, but I've been thinking about giving them a bunch more.

The oldest litter was definitely accidental.

But not unwelcome. They both responded to it enthusiastically, Stoneclaw because she suddenly felt like she would have a big family again, and Snapstorm because she loves kids and just wanted to be a parent one day.

As mentioned before, they got into their mateship very quickly. They made each other happy and that's the whole reason.

Unfortunately, they would start seeing the difficulties of their personalities clashing while raising kittens. Which I just find FASCINATING which is honestly kinda why I want to throw more kits at them (not to mention how small WindClan is, padding is super appreciated)

See, Stoneclaw is dealing from serious CPTSD. Her mutism is NOT a vow. She can't speak and it's frustrating to her.

At the same time, watching the very helpful tail-signals that WindClan uses to communicate across the distant moor reminds her of battle signals, like she had to deal with during the fights with TigerClan. It's triggering, and that's ALSO stressful.

She's also lost so, so much of her family within the span of a few years, and is dealing with attachment issues as a result. Especially to that first litter, which she would be terrified of losing.

This makes an individual who can't communicate, but is desperate to. She hasn't been able to work well in groups for years, and unlike a more solitary cat like Willowclaw, this is not the result of a choice.

Snapstorm, being an outsider, is the first and only cat to not treat her behavior like... well, some kind of solemn vow to be "respected."

And that means a lot to Stoneclaw. Even if she was poetic, these are complicated feelings which would be hard to describe.

And Snapstorm is a sweetheart, but, she is putting a lot of effort into this relationship. She's not really great at focusing on one thing for too long, and a bit "forgetful" in the way that details go missing for a while until they come back later.

So sometimes an important bit of info slips her mind, or she misses a social cue and makes a joke that's a bit gruesome, or the fact that Clanmew is her second language rears up and she forgets words or translates a Townmew idiom directly and it Does Not Work.

While all this is happening, especially with the early litter, Stoneclaw is being a helicopter parent. Too worried to give her kits the freedom they need to develop, and Snapstorm is both trying to be a good parent and a good mate.

I'm fond of the idea that when Buzzardkit was very little, Stoneclaw was the Mi. But as she started to realize that her fear of losing him was hurting both of them, Snapstorm started taking over as Mi.

I think their dynamic is interesting. I like the idea of each litter ending up having a different upbringing, because of the state of their parents each time. Stone's also going to be sticking around for a very long time; definitely the last survivor of the WindClan Massacre, by many years. It's nice to think she's eventually surrounded by kits and grandkits, growing up in a better world than she did, even if it's not without its problems.

She's also going to start using Pawspeak, being one of its foundational members after developing a little friendship with SkyClan's Fallowfern. It's cathartic to her, finally feeling like there's a new context for WindClan's old tail signs, being used to communicate in a language rather than just be used for battle and hunting.

Stoneclaw is one of my personal little BB blorbos that I think about a lot. It's fun having conflicts like this going on in the background.

[bonefall]

For Bluestar’s friends, choosing Lizardstripe could show a great contrast and help see other sides of her character rather than just bad mom.

Ashfoot is a good choice, could Deadfoot work too? Honestly it’d be interesting if all these friends were in positions of power, drive the angst when they are in war with each other.

Are you going to give Bluestar a friend who isn’t part of the clans? To help her ideology.

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For when it comes with Bloodclan, it would make more sense for Firestar to bring them to the forest rather than Tigerstar since Tigerstar is supposed to represent the xenophobia in warriors society, why would he reach out to ‘filthy outsiders’ for help? With Firestar, it could help push the outsiders are cats too theme he needs.

Would you rename the group as well?

Lizardstripe

Thanks! I've definitely decided on Lizardstripe as one of Bluestar's friends; she's a LOT more noble and passionate while still having a cruel streak. I plan for her to eventually be playing as defense attorney in Bluestar's StarClan trial, and I'm very excited to share what I have planned.

Deadfoot instead of Ashfoot

Deadfoot could definitely work too. He would be the oldest of the bunch, too, and be named Hoprunner until he takes the name Deadfoot at his deputyship. It could make for good drama as he starts to go against his old friends

I did think about him, but picked Ashfoot because she's the one who lives into TNP, and is the only of Bluestar's Buddies who would. She's also still connected to Deadfoot, eventually becoming his mate, and does have influence as a senior warrior.

I also think it would be neat for her to pass on a few stories to Crowpaw, so he's a bit more 'agreeable' in TNP. But, I will reconsider Deadfoot!

One MORE friend, outside the clans

You're so right, I didn't even think of that. She needs an outside friend too; they can probably host, too, if they start to worry about getting caught.

My first thought is Russetfur or Boulder, but this person probably shouldn't join the clans. It could be Quince or Nutmeg; whichever one stays the mother of Firestar's kin (they're becoming full brothers, different litters).

It could even be Barley, who's established as Bluestar's friend already! ...on that note there are actually going to be two Barleys. Senior (uncle) and Junior (nephew) for other reasons I won't get into here but I promise this will make sense

BloodClan

You're completely correct that the best thing thematically is to have Firestar be the one who speaks to BloodClan, meaning they aren't antagonists at all. My rewrite is keeping as many of the "iconic" stuff as possible though, and the most iconic scenes in TPB are Tigerstar's death, and the following battle. Those can't happen without BloodClan being the antagonists.

It's also important to note that the BloodClan Battle does also serve as the very important thematic conclusion of TPB as-is; the statement that the clans DO have to work together, and they are strongest when they cooperate. Firestar unites them all in the end; the only thing that truly could save the clans.

Plus, even if I did decide to give that all up, the technical considerations;

BloodClan is HUGE and well-trained. TigerClan was unstoppable, with 2 + 4 clans worth of fighters. I could shrink BloodClan, but that still means 3 clans against 2, with TigerClan being full of demoralized fighters (Tangleburr, Russetfur, and Mosspelt are named examples in my rewrite)

It would be more fair if cats from Thunder and Wind defected and cats from River and Shadow did in turn, but... someone else is free to pick that up as an idea. I want Longtail, Dustpelt, Frostfur, and the other cats who expressed positivity for Tigerclaw from ThunderClan to truly reckon with what they supported

Why would Tigerstar speak to BloodClan as a xenophobe?

Well... Tigerstar is more than a xenophobe, you see. Tigerstar is a fascist. Fascists are hypocrites, their beliefs are completely based on convenience.

(And this is why you will never pin down what one really wants. The goalpost will shift completely based on what they can and can't get away with)

They'll "work" with undesirables until the exact moment they stop being useful, at which point they will become the next target. And when THAT target is gone? They'll find a new one! And another! Create more arbitrary categories until they consume themselves. Fascism is an ulcer; its nature is to digest its own stomach.

Tigerstar never planned to make good on his promise! Of course not! He was going to stab them in the back right after they gave him what he wanted. From there, he planned to consolidate and assassinate all the way to becoming sole king of the forest.

And really, THERE is your difference between Tigerstar and his mentor Thistleclaw. Thistle was just your common spicy xenophobe. Preying on the weak, brutalizing the unprotected. Thistleclaw wouldn't "lower" himself to work with BloodClan.

Thistleclaw was a germ; Tigerstar is the infection.

ANYWAY, mood whiplash time!! BloodClan won't be getting a renaming; that's exclusively for duplicate names.

I do however need a name FOR Bluestar's friend group. I'm thinking Nettle Buddies or something similar, with a flower bud being a secret way they swap messages with each other! Something that grows in all four territories.

(I get confused when people rename stuff in AUs so I'm committed to not doing that for mine ^^",)