#Bonefall Mudfur

[bonefall]

I’m all for hitting Mudfur with the women beam. Brightsky can swap the gender

I think Brightsky could work as a kittypet. If only the parallels with Tigerstar. Her being friends with Pinestar would be extra juicy.

Mudfur being a related to Volestar would be awesome. Maybe it would add into Leopardstar’s character in some way?

Dorito "Womanbeam" Paw101 rolling up into the askbox with a HOT TAKE about the use of the woman beam; what happens next will shock you!

WOMAN BEAAAMMM

Being related to Volestar definitely adds to her, it gives her a sense of legacy she's considering. Volestar was chosen by Darkstar to be her successor when Spiketail is killed by Oakstar, during a raid where he tried to steal Reedshine's kittens.

(Darkstar then drowned Oakstar twice in a river fight before saving his life, because, "A true warrior does not need to kill to win their battles... bitch")

Darkstar wanted a deputy who wouldn't get bullied by Oak if she died before he did. So she picked Volepelt, who supported her commandment from the very beginning. Loud and proud. Always standing her ground against the pressures of the other Clans.

So Mudfur and Leopardstar coming from that line says a lot about the sort of legacy they have. A strong leader who didn't back down, chosen exactly because she was so stubborn. Both compassionate and ruthless.

Anyway, Mudfur's a girl now so womanbeamification complete lmao. Girlbossline.

[bonefall]

Since it is Stormpaw's Demon time in the ask box, I was wondering about how you are going to handle Mudfur's story. I think it's really interesting how he's a former strong warrior who becomes a medicine cat out of disillusionment towards war and duels Adderfang to spare everyone else the battle, though his motivation regarding Brightsky's death seems a little weak in that Brightsky just dies in a way that has nothing to do with the warriors' battle culture which somehow makes him be disillusioned with constant war. I wonder if that will be changed in the rewrite so that Brightsky's death more directly connects with his arc or his motivations don't have to do with Brightsky at all and maybe she lives longer than in canon (especially because it feels odd to have two unrelated deaths in childbirth in one clan in one book when that's pretty rare for cats). I even thought that maybe you could play on how humans tried to capture Brightsky in canon and have her get captured after a particularly bloody battle, give birth to her kittens in a human house and decides she'd prefer not to come back. Hailstar basically decides he doesn't want a willing traitor but takes Leopardkit back, leading to Mudfur still raising her alone and being left with the haunting realization that Brightsky isn't wrong about the horrible parts of Clan life, and was it really right for Leopardkit to be taken away? So he wants to create a world that is peaceful enough that his daughter really would be better off in the Clans, only for said daughter to grow up to be one of their most violent members. This could also make Mudfur a sort of foil to Leopardfoot in their reactions to their kits' other parent becoming a kitty pet, with Leopardstar and Tigerstar maybe bonding over this as young warriors.

I would love to see how his principled opposition to his culture plays out during all of the events of TPB and pre-TNP with the TigerClan sympathizers still running around (I remember @feathermedics suggested Mudfur should have called for the disbandment of RiverClan after the TigerClan incident to show he really does stand for something, that could be interesting).

I would love if, even if you are gutting a lot of Leopardstar's Honor, you kept some kind of novella to cover Leopardstar's drypaw stage and her relationship with her father because I think that is interesting material.

Also regarding Mudfur, I think it would be interesting if there is differences in the Clan culture about whether Mudfur should really be allowed to be a medicine cat. Like RiverClan is fine with it and thinks it doesn't violate the celibacy vow thing if he doesn't have kits while he's a medicine cat, but WindClan, who was responsible for making the vow as harsh as it was back in Ripplestar's time and are known for being extra pious, think it's bad for someone who already had kits to be a medicine cat and generally give Mudfur dirty looks and disrespect at gatherings.

That's a good point about Brightsky I hadn't considered; that her death doesn't actually have anything to do with the horrors of Clan Culture during the late Chivalric Period.

That DOES work better, to have her leave instead. Added. She's either a kittypet or part of BloodClan now. (She could be a friend of Pinestar, even... hmm.)

There's no need to have so many childbirth deaths anyway, especially not for the "Big Players" in Clan politics. I don't like how WC keeps implying that badness comes from Sad Childhoods lmao.

Leopardfur can have problems with Skyheart when they're little, and she can have a complicated relationship to the disappearance of her mother (she won't be told she's still alive though, that's Hailstar's and Mudfur's secret, they take Darkstar's Commandment very seriously), but 4 people don't have to die to accomplish Bonefall Leopardstar becoming the threat she is.

On that note, I could actually use a couple of her genetics. I just checked the wiki, and it looks like there's 3 free kittens for me to work with in RiverClan! Their names were Oatkit, Waterkit, and Carpkit.

So poll time! Pick the kitten you want to see.

(Note: The other two might get shuffled around to other warriors in RiverClan, or go live in Chelford with their mom.)

I'm not very interested in preserving Leopardstar's Hoopla because I don't think she actually gains anything by getting an entire SE. I think she exists perfectly as an intimidating, honor-bound force of nature whose late TPB shame was only a temporary lapse in her pride, her death considered a great loss even by her enemies.

But Mudfur... I wouldn't mind trying to preserve and elevate Mudfur. Especially since he was definitely a cat who worked with Deerfoot, Dawnflower, Reedpaw, and the other TigerClan Rebels. One of the cats saved by Deerfoot refusing to rat out his accomplices.

For now I'll definitely promise more time in the redux of A Shadow In RiverClan-- The Tiger in RiverClan and consider more.

Also... I need more girls. I might hit Mudfur with the Woman Beam. Brightsky can either trade genders, or I'll shuffle the runner-up kitten to be a sibling so they can honor-sire (though it would mean losing a valuable extra kitten).

[bonefall]

Bonefall TNP: Allegiances

For @stickysodaz who asked about it and I'm still working on the main notes, so, a gift!

This is the rough draft list for the cats alive at the exact moment that TNP opens up. If I missed anyone, you guys lemmie know all right?

(And a gentle wink that I can be convinced into saving dead characters or going in interesting new directions for them if you've got a cool suggestion, ESPECIALLY in the Clans that aren't ThunderClan.)

Also as a side note; dividing up the warriors into 3 further ranks is super super helpful for making a large Clan look smaller.

Also also also this may change in the future when I really jam my paws into reworking the family tree for other Clans at this point; ESPECIALLY for Shadow and River. So just super-duper keep it in mind this is a roughie.

BONEFALL TNP: MIDNIGHT

ThunderClan

Leadership

Leader: Firestar Deputy: Graystripe Cleric: Cinderpelt + Leafstripe

Elders (Rank above warriors.)

Speckletail Dappletail Frostfur Longtail (Ex-Deputy)

Senior Warriors (At least 4 years AND has had or is training an apprentice.)

Mousefur + Shrewpaw Goldenflower + Squirrelpaw Dustpelt Sandstorm + Sorrelpaw (Training delayed due to injury) Cricketclaw

Warriors (not considered senior yet, either through young age or lack of mentorship experience)

Willowpelt Brackenfur + Whitepaw Thornclaw + Spiderpaw Brightheart Cloudtail Ferncloud (Kits: Birchkit, Hollykit, Larchkit.) Elderberry Young Warriors (Around 2 years or less; ineligible for mentorship due to age or inexperience)

Brambleclaw Ashfur Rainwhisker Sootfur

(Closing note jumble: Dustpelt was the mentor of Rainwhisker. Cloudtail was the mentor of Ashfur. Sootfur's training was completed by Cricketclaw after Longtail's blinding. Whitepaw is deaf. Sorrelpaw has epilepsy. Squirrelpaw has failed two assessments.)

RiverClan (click for family tree)

As you may know from how I've spoken about the thesis of Bonefall TNP, and the redux, The Tiger in RiverClan, RiverClan being politically divided is a massive plot point. I've decided to mark a cat's political leaning with T for Thistle Law, X for Traditionalism, and F for Fire Alone.

Leadership

Leader: Leopardstar T Deputy: Mistyfoot X Cleric: Mudfur F + Mothwing

Elders (Rank above warriors.)

Ivytuft T Loudbelly F Voleclaw T Dawnbright X

Senior Warriors (At least 4 years AND has had or is training an apprentice.)

Carpwhisker X (Kit save! Sister of Leopardstar) Blackclaw T + Pinepaw Skyheart T (Is pregnant right now) Reedtail T + Volepaw Sedgecreek F Duckfur X Warriors (not considered senior yet, either through young age or lack of mentorship experience) Frogleap F Mosspelt F (Kits: Stonekit and Willowkit) Dawnflower F Greenflower T + Duskpaw Shadepelt X (Kits: Pouncekit and Graykit, soon to be apprenticed) Heavystep T + Splashpaw Grasswhisker X Vixenleap T + Icepaw

Young Warriors (Around 2 years or less; ineligible for mentorship due to age or inexperience)

Feathertail F Stormfur F Hawkfrost T Beechfur X Swallowtail X Reedwhisker X (Training endlessly delayed because of the horrors, older than Feather and Storm)

(Closing note jumble: Note how Leopardstar is not assigning apprentices to Fire Alone cats. Loudbelly is diabetic.)

ShadowClan

Leadership

Leader: Blackstar Deputy: Russetfur Cleric: Littlecloud

Elders (Rank above warriors.)

Runningnose Wildfur Boulder

Senior Warriors (At least 4 years AND has had or is training an apprentice.)

Ratscar Tangleburr + Kinkpaw Wolfstep Fernshade Oakfur + Smokepaw Whitewater

Warriors (not considered senior yet, either through young age or lack of mentorship experience)

Stumptail Dawncloud Wetfoot Nightwhisper Tallpoppy (Kits: Marshkit, Toadkit, Applekit) Rowanclaw + Talonpaw Volewhisper Nightwing + Snakepaw

Young Warriors (Around 2 years or less; ineligible for mentorship due to age or inexperience)

Cedarheart Tawnypelt Snowbird

(Closing note jumble: This Clan skews young because of Runningnose's plague stunt back in TPB. Snake, Smoke, and Talon are all unrelated.)

WindClan

Leadership

Leader: Tallstar Deputy: Mudclaw Cleric: Barkface

Elders (Rank above warriors.)

Oatwhisker Stagleap Rushtail

Senior Warriors (At least 4 years AND has had or is training an apprentice.)

Ashfoot Darkfoot Torear + Owlpaw Morningflower + Brushpaw (Ex-BloodClan) Onewhisker Robinflight + Thistlepaw Whiskernose Thrushwing (Kits: Leafkit, Dewkit)

Warriors (not considered senior yet, either through young age or lack of mentorship experience)

Whitetail Flytail (Dragged down from another litter) Webfoot + Snappaw (Ex-BloodClan) Runningbrook Nightcloud + Weaselpaw

Young Warriors (Around 2 years or less; ineligible for mentorship due to age or inexperience)

Crowfoot Gorsetail Willowclaw

(Closing note jumble: Like ShadowClan, this Clan skews young. They're just now really starting to recover from the WindClan Massacre of TPB.)

BloodClan

Leadership

Leader: Claw Subordinate: Fury Head Solver: Bailey

Traders (Interact with Clan cats on a regular basis)

Scourge (Ex-leader, spends a lot of time in ThunderClan) Brushpaw (Formerly Leo, joining WindClan) Snappaw (Formerly Snapper, joining WindClan) Snipe Jag (Formerly Jaggedtooth) Cody

Problems (Similar to Warriors)

Melody Willie Minty (Kits: Snowflake, Cloudy, Sniff, Icicle) Tess Ice

Solvers (Cats who do intellectual work)

Brick (Formerly head solver) Gremlin (Kits: Honeysuckle) Pounce Snake (Loose retirement; injuries from battle) Coal

(Closing note jumble: BloodClan sending aid completely replaces Cody's time in ThunderClan; she has been reduced to a cameo. Brushpaw and Snappaw are adult apprentices; Snapper has been woman-beamed.)

Others

Barn Cats

Barley Junior (Barley Senior peacefully passed away just a month ago.) Ravenpaw Violet Junior

Cats living elsewhere

Smoke Darkkit Millie

[bonefall]

Firestar seems like he'd like Aftergatherings when he was an apprentice and warrior, but since it's kind of defined by not having the leaders' watchful eyes, is it something he misses when he becomes leader? Or does he pull wacky shenanigans like rolling in the mud after a Gathering and saying Oh, Firestar? No, I'm ThunderClan warrior Firemud. I'm just here to have a chill time.

Something often forgotten about Darkest Hour is that when Firestar becomes leader, he's actually upset and overwhelmed by how lonely it is. I think the fact he can't go to as many Aftergatherings anymore once he's deputy and then leader is a big part of that for my own rewrite.

The one who REALLY misses it though is Onewhisker.

I interpret him as being a coward, but a really nice one. One of his traits is that he got along with everyone back in the day, which Tallstar mistook as charisma. It's not. He's just a good storyteller who likes to fit in.

And as a side note, that's why Smoke was in love with him. He told such amazing stories of Clan life, he made himself into this decorated, impressive warrior, something he never really was. He's an average warrior with a friendly demeanor that other Clan cats find non-threatening. He lied to Smoke.

But anyway... Onewhisker thought he was loved. He thought he had friends and was liked. Then Mudfur tries to murder him, and there's a bunch of WindClan cats he used to think were his buddies on that patrol. Even cats in other Clans he thought were his friends were on the assassination crew.

Bonefall Onewhisker, in my eyes, is a character of duality. On one hand you have the cat who sacrificed a lot on the altar of being a good warrior, turning his mate and kittens away and being too ashamed to admit he broke the code and own up to it. On the other hand, he's NEVER been able to be the ideal, honorable warrior like Mudclaw-- he's got too many friends elsewhere, not brutal enough to make people truly fear him.

So, he can't be either one. He can't be the strong and authoritative leader that Mistystar and Blackstar are, and he can't be the self-assured, diplomatic revolutionary that Firestar is.

Tallstar wanted what he thought Onestar would be; friendly, not aggressive, open to negotiating. What happened was that Onewhisker saw his friends try to murder him for being too soft, and so, ruled with insecure fury trying to be something he never was. Isolated from everything that really gave him joy, feeling the pressure of Clan culture weighing down on him, he started to change.

Because, in the end, power acts through those who have it just as much as they can act with power. It revealed a lot about him.

And he can't go to the Aftergathering anymore. He is the authority that gave him this curse.

[bonefall]

is mothpool a thing in ur rewrite? or any other sapphic babes? thanks!! <3

Hollyleaf unkilled herself and stole Lionblaze's wife. I actually planned for months to stick to canon and produce LionCinder but she said no and married Holly.

Alao Hollyleaf went back in time because she got possessed by a chaos god, ruined a society, waited in a tunnel for 100 years and became Fallen Leaves. She's Fallenleaf now. She also trapped that god in her chest. I have to stress that I planned for her to die in the Great Battle but she said no and I can't stop her.

There's also Heartstar (Tigerheart) and Dovewing. Tigerheart is a girl now.

And if you like rarepairs there's also Sunstrike and Furzepelt now.

I am a big fan of Mothwing and Leafpool! But Leafpool still has a fling with Crowfeather. I think it's out of loneliness, for missing Mothwing so much. Moth is training in ThunderClan in Bonefall TNP because I'm crushing Mudfur with a rock (mothermouth collapses on him), and she is one of the new POVs!

[bonefall]

if the tribe is asking for help with the rogues instead of the atrocity that happened in canon, how does that change stormfur and brooks visit? i imagine they sent stormfur because he’d probably have a better chance of convincing the clans to help than just some random tribe cat, and brook went with him because it would be dangerous for just one cat to go get help, especially with the rogues. maybe the rest of the tribe stayed behind to make sure the rogues didn’t attack them (again) (the rogues probably killed a few cats like in canon) stormfur goes to riverclan for help first since that’s where he was raised and he knows most of the cats, but then hawkfrost happens and he goes to thunderclan for help instead

The order of events here changes significantly!

In TNP, the Tribe harbors the Clans for a few weeks. A few cats were injured on the way, a few queens are close to giving birth, they need supplies and food, so the Tribe cares for them.

A few medics actually go with them to the Lake, to help them learn the new herbs, and because WindClan has no Cleric. Barkface and Mudfur were squished when the Mothermouth collapses.

Brook is a medic now-- in the Tribe, anyone who wants to be a medic simply learns to. Stoneteller's successor comes from this pool.

Brook, Stormfur, and one more medic are tossed out of RiverClan because of the false sign like canon. This time, Mistyfoot helps them escape before Leopardstar can do Stonefur 2. This is a major character beat for Misty.

These Three help out ThunderClan with the Boar Attack, then go home

And the next time we see Storm and Brook is after Flick's group has attacked the Tribe, in Po3. They make a general plea to all four Clans,

Brook is actually the one answering most of the questions. I feel this is an important detail because she is acting as a spokesman for her own culture, not Stormfur pleading for his to care.

The Clans though, of course, have a hard time understanding why cats would ASK for help with a problem. This is well before the Law of the Lake which comes two arcs later.

"Can't you defend yourselves?"

"Of course we can, but we could use your help. We've waited out rogues before but we'd have to work twice as hard on half our land and kill them over the harsh winter... we don't want to be so cruel, when you can help us send them on their way."

"But why??"

"...because that's what family does? We help each other, don't we?"

And, of course, the Clans agree to spare a few warriors... well, most of them. Mistyfoot probably doesn't send RiverClan cats. Blackstar is a maybe; but the young warrior Marshwing WANTS to go.

This is also the last we'll see of the Bonefall Tribe for a long while. The OotS appearence is cut completely.

The next time they come up is probably going to be just after AVoS, for Tawnypelt's Clan Reduxed, probably for her to go visit her old friend Stormfur to talk about loss and moving on after it, and seek treatment for Shadowpaw's severe epilepsy.

[bonefall]

Your talk about how you would handle the TBC POVs made me wonder what your plan is for the POV distribution in TNP and OOTS, which I don't think you've discussed yet.

I think I mentioned Po3 in the reeds of other posts, but I haven't mentioned TNP! TNP is the one that's more up in the air.

Bonefall TNP POVs

I'm thinking of restructuring this arc based around the Tigerkin in general, but I need to be in ThunderClan for the destruction of the forest. So I'm thinking the POVs will be Tawnypelt, Brambleclaw, and Mothwing.

Tawnypelt

Tawnypelt is the new leader of the Sundrown Patrol. She is replacing Stormfur's POVs, objectively observing the personalities on the patrol to establish that Brambleclaw is not a reliable narrator.

She's also going to get some expanded scenes with Rowanclaw, who is now a son of Brokenstar, giving her a more conclusive end to her arc. As much as I feel like SHE should have gotten Brambleclaw's TNP story, I'm dealing with the cards that were dealt and only putting the final bow on rejecting Tigerstar and finding peace in her choice to join ShadowClan.

Brambleclaw

Being established as an unreliable narrator, setting up the person he will be for maaaany books to come, and keeping his conflict with Hawkfrost very similar.

Necessary ThunderClan POV for the post-Journey conflicts, like the WindClan rebellion and the badger attack. But he also won't become deputy after the stake incident, he gets demoted and replaced with Brackenfur until Brackenfur’s death in the Eclipse Battle

Mothwing

But. Mudfur and Barkface are going to die early (crushed by the Mothermouth collapsing on them), so Mothwing is going to come and get training from Cinderpelt so I can have her in ThunderClan during the destruction of the forest and keep major events the same.

This means extra Mothpool content. I also want to write about how free and happy Mothwing feels, being away from Hawkfrost, in spite of the world caving in around her. Establish more about Hawkfrost right from a primary source.

She is also the one who ends up killing him. He followed him to the fox trap and frees Firestar as Brambleclaw starts fighting Hawkfrost. In his anger, he tries to lunge at her, not realizing that she's holding the spike in her teeth.

She replaces Leafpool as a POV, meaning we won't get Leafcrow chapters, but im gonna be honest... i dont think that's a massive sacrifice. That would be better left to a Leafpool's Wish redux.

Bonefall Po3 POVs

This one's easy! Hollyleaf and Jayfeather are slurping up most of Lionblaze's POV time.

Lionblaze's arc is simple for Po3 and we're going to get a lot more of him in OotS, so I felt comfortable only giving him the camera now and then. Mostly he learns from the Tribe that strength is for protecting others, and his powers grow and he starts having trouble controlling his strength.

Hollyleaf is going to be GONE in OotS so it's important to give her lots of time here. She's the primary character of Po3 really, learning about the world and problem solving with her mentor Brackenfur.

Po3 is a "breather" arc that focuses on slice-of-life stuff now, tied together by Hollypaw learning about maintaining friendships in other clans and growing up as a rising prodigy. She is the main POV

And then there's Jayfeather, who trains under his grand-uncle Longtail to become a full warrior, before choosing the medcat den after getting his warrior name, Jayfang. Jayfeather is an honor title he gets for saving Hazeltail and completing his training

He also is trying to wrench the prophecy from StarClan itself and is very antagonistic with them. They don't share the prophecy early. Or willingly. As the series advances, Jay figures that they're hiding something and begs them to help, eventually losing his patience for their open disdain of him and his siblings.

This culminates in him fighting a StarClan warrior to save Hazel and getting that honor title. The clan does not know he committed sacrilege.

[bonefall]

I got mentioned by THE Bonefall themselves!!! :D This is so cool!!!

The Allegiance list looks great so far!!! Random question but do you have any plans for Carpwhisker sense you saved them?

DSFsdgffds Am I REALLY a "The" already? I'm just a silly guy who can't stop thinking about battle cats

Carpwhisker is mostly important as genetics, I REALLY needed something from Mudfur's line so it didn't unceremoniously die out, since he is now a descendant of Volestar herself. Carp is going to be a background character and eventually an elder-buddy of Mosspelt's.

For now she's very involved in the nursery, and I'm shooting to give her 3 kittens. Duskfur is one of them; and thinking about it now, making Dusk and Gray siblings is going to wreck some stuff down the line. So I'm going to do a little shuffle--

Duskfur and Splashpaw are going to be the siblings, Graymist is going to come later in the same litter as Beaver-food Rippletail; Stonestream is now the single-kit apprentice of TNP RiverClan.

[bonefall]

Concerning your recent post on Jayfeather, I wonder if he would hate being called purr "I know I'm a medicine cat now, but I didn't get full warrior training just to be treated like it never happened!"

@halogenwarrior​

It’s a possibility he would dislike it, especially at first.

“Pyrr” isn’t a bad thing, but it does denote that engaging the cat in fair combat is dishonorable. Bonefall Jayfeather, though he trained as a warrior, is still a dishonorable person to engage in combat now that he’s chosen the path of a medicine cat. It’s possible that going from Urr to Pyrr could feel correct to him, instead of unfitting.

At the same time though, you’re absolutely right. He trained as a warrior, he’s STILL ready to fight if you push him, and he wants people to know that. Especially since he still faces a lot of abelism and worked hard to earn his original warrior name, Jayfang.

Other warriors-turned-medics probably have similar relationships to their pronouns. Hawkheart would use Urr/urrs. Mudfur would use Pyrr/pyrrs. Mothwing also uses pyrr/pyrrs. Redscar, waaaay back in CoTC, would also use pyrr/pyrrs.

Pronoun Correction

Because there’s no self-referential pronoun, to correct someone’s use of pronoun, you correct them on the pronoun as a trait. It doesn’t happen a lot. When it does, it’s usually a cat who has been called by Ssas correcting back down to Rarr.

So let’s use Tiger(claw)star as our example.

The phrase most often used is, “Nyar, Gaorshai grryrr-u rarrawng ul,” (No, Tigerstar contains less threat,) and since this is Tigerstar, if he was being soft to speak to one of his children, he would add “pos nyams wraah“ (for my son)

So let’s translate that literally,

“Nyar, Goarshai grryrr-u rarrawng ul“ = Lit: “No, Tigerstar contains outsider-ness only...“ “pos nyams wrrah“ = Lit: “for 'you:family' mine”

You may notice the -u at the end of grryrr. That’s just to make the next part easier to speak. It’s like ‘a/an’.

Vocabulary additions:

Grryrrg/gryr/gry = Contained/contains/will contain

Suffix -awng = suffix -ness

Modifier ‘Ul‘ = Only/alone/nothing else/just one

Pos = For

Gaor = Tiger

Raeor = Lion

Saor = Leopard

Shai (or Ssai, both are correct) = Star

can you talk more about a warrior cats conlang? I know you said you weren't gonna do one for the rewrite but I love conlangs so I'd love to see your ideas for one since I'm planning to make a warrior cats conlang soon as well

Sure! Just get me started on some specific concept or aspect. I have a lot of little ideas but no 'central' way that I unite them all

I'm gonna share my little self-indulgent headcanon about this, though. I made a bit of an OC out of the blog title (since I picked it at random), his name is actually Bonefall and he helps translate Clan stories into human language. His human partner, Dr. Hunter, is an anthropologist investigating clan society.

What should I call the conlang? Clannish? Clanmew? clanyru like cymru

Oh! I'll start with pronouns!

Pronouns, Inclusion, and Patrols

Pronouns in clan language are NOT gendered; others are referred to in varying levels of closeness or threat. Clan language has special modifiers for different types of 'we' that rest on a singular pronoun.

(Clanmate) He patrolled = "Urr pabpab" (Other Clan) He patrolled = "Rarr pabpab" (Clanmate) We patrolled = "Urri pabpab" (Clanmate) They patrolled (without me) = "Urrk pabpab" (Clanmate) You patrolled (without me) = "Urrsk pabpab"

There is no self-referential pronoun. There is no 'I/me/myself' in Clannish-- only "Mine," added as a possessive modifier at the end of a person, place, or thing. Cats in general have a very self-centered language; when you aren't using a pronoun, by default, you are stating something about yourself.

I patrolled = "pabpab" I patrolled my territory = "pabpab upanna wraah" Clanmate patrolled my territory = "urr pabpab upanna wraah"

They're my Clanmate = "Urr wraah" My clanmate patrolled = "Urr wraah pabpab"

Lionblaze: "Well who's going to go on patrol?" Hollyleaf: "YOU will, mousebrain!"

Translation:

Lionblaze: "Pff, yarr ya pabpa?" (lit: Well, who will patrolling?) Hollyleaf: "Weeswoo!" (You-mousebrain)

Threat Level/Pronoun List

This doesn't necessarily mean 'danger,' so much as the level of caution you would approach the given thing with. It's a sign of submission, even cowardice, to use dangerous pronouns for non-threatening things.

Format: (Their/You)

Wi/Wees The softest, weakest possible way to refer to a person... used exclusively for babies, and prey. "Mousebrain" is either Wiwoo (them-mousemind) or Weeswoo (you-mousemind).

Nya/Nyams This is family and closeness, moreso than a Clanmate or a trusted ally. If Hollyleaf hadn't been playful earlier, she would have simply responded "nyams."

Pyrr/Pyrrs For apprentices, medicine cats, elders, exhausted warriors, and other non-combatants, but also for friends. It's a neutral-weak pronoun-- it can be sympathetic or patronizing in the wrong situation, but at most it would be over-familiar if used incorrectly. This is also used on useful objects, like nests, herbs, Jayfeather's stick, etc.

Urr/Urrs A capable clanmate, carries an implication that they are able to hunt or fight at the described moment. The term carries endearment-- the old RiverClan river was referred to with Urrs, for respect. Strong, worthy prey is in this category (RiverClan refers to a lot of big fish with urrs)

Rarr/Rarrs Now we're in the 'outsider' category. These are not used on clanmates without insult. Used for things that require extra caution, or aren't trusted. A lot of twoleg things like fences and bridges are 'rarr'. The cats who live in the barn and other loners are 'rarr'. Warriors in other clans are 'rarr.'

Mwrr/Mwrrs Something dishonorable, that lives without code. Rogues are tossed into this category before proven otherwise, same with snakes, foxes, badgers, and dogs.

Ssar/Ssas Something powerful and dangerous. Storms, floods, cars. Overwhelming and unpredictable-- can be a high compliment to the respected warrior of other clans, implies the same sort of respect you would give to a natural disaster, but if used too much it could show cowardice.

[bonefall]

For the dead warrior thing, how's about the non-ThunderClan dead meddies from arc 1? Mudfur, Barkface, and Runningnose.

(And on the note of fleshing out StarClan-as-deities, I'm curious, do you think Clan cats would pray to specific cats for divine intervention or to StarClan as a whole? If the former, who would the cats get in contact with for, say, good luck in romance or help conceiving a litter?)

a) Mudfur

Mudfur joined StarClan at the worst possible time, and spent his first few years agonizing over the fact he couldn't get in touch with Mothwing. Once he could rest assured that Willowpaw could receive the visions for her, he was so done with stress and responsibility that he turned down several prestigious positions around StarClan.

He would have made excellent signs, he could have been excellent at crafting newborn spirits, and he would have been able to blow the clouds away with a mighty breath. Instead, he likes to nap in the dappled starshine, and spend time with his beloved mate and kits.

He's ready to fade now, actually, he's made his peace with his life and would like to move on; but he wants to be the last to go. Since Leopardstar is so venerated, he won't fade for a very long time.

b) Barkface

Barkface is a natural at dreamweaving. Like a spider, he can lace together memories, wishes, and desires, and gently unravel them into the minds of sleeping cats. Of course he's called on for very important prophetic dreams, but more than anything, he loves to grace the minds of elders with images of their glory days.

He lived a long life, and he's been reunited with many lost friends in StarClan. He also loves what he does, so it will be generations before Barkface decides that he'd like to pass on.

c) Runningnose

(in my rewrite, runningnose is actually a very different person and also a dark forest cat, so this one's for the canon Runningnose fans out there!)

Runningnose is still trying to find his peace. He went through a lot in life and had to make a lot of hard choices, he was even a cat who went through a trial (though it was unanimous in the end that he was worthy of StarClan). He joined StarClan as a weary spirit.

He was pretty quiet at first, not having the willpower to do very much, but with the help of his friends he's found a place in growing herbs. They don't make him sneeze anymore, and he defies a StarClan stereotype that Medicine Cats are usually bad at floramancy.

This is because he's patient and humble, he won't resort to pointlessly chasing away clouds and making perfect weather. He will gladly lay, wait, and coax the smallest stem through the thickest snowbank, as long as he knows it will help at least one clanmate through leafbare.

When Littlecloud joined him, it was like he suddenly had a burst of great energy. He's still not the vibrant soul he was in youth, but he has all the time in the world to regain his spark.

d) Do the clan cats worship individual spirits, or StarClan as a whole?

Answered below the cut

I hadn't considered it before, but, sometimes yes. Overall, StarClan is a shifting clan, full of cats who are relevant to the living. Cats fade away when they're ready to rest, so bothering a random spirit would be fruitless or perhaps even rude. Generally, if the cats are praying, it's to StarClan as a whole.

There are exceptions of course. Leopardstar will pride herself as an avatar of battle and gladly bestow favor if she's contacted. Firestar will show up if you so much as think about him too hard. But sometimes, a cat will pray to a direct ancestor, or a friend will "lend" one of theirs.

"My grandmew had NINE kittens, if you ask her she'll totally help you have a litter!"

"My grandpaw's brother died at sunningrocks, dragged down TWO RiverClan warriors with him! He'll help me claw their ears off tomorrow!"

"Remember the wisdom of Tallstar the wanderer, who visited many lands and guided his clan across them. Pray to him tonight, and he will protect you on your journey to the mountain."