#Dogs aren't usually unleashed in Chelford and when they are BloodClan deals with them violently

[bonefall]

Are you going to Let Millie keep her ability to talk to dogs and her vax status in the rewrite?

The vax status

ABSOLUTELY. I know they wanted to show Graystripe in turmoil over Millie being sick but if that HAD to happen, it didn't need to be greencough. There are other illnesses, and I can flex my proficiency with medical stuff to conjure up some more types of plagues.

But honestly I don't care much for Millie having to get sick. I think there's other ways to show that Graystripe cares about his wife, y'know? This is not a character beat that required an epidemic.

Plus, showing her vax status off could be a good moment for Hollyleaf's arc, as another strength that outsiders can have.

Dog language

This one is probably going to get cut. I really don't like this idea that every animal can speak if you have their specific species' language, so the concept of "Speaking Dog" is on the chopping block completely.

(even lapine, the conlang they speak in Watership Down, isn't just the language of rabbits in general. it has modern and archaic forms and regional variation)

BUT, she will have a better knowledge of dogs which looks like 'speaking dog'. She knows that sometimes it's a bad idea to run, because the chase will whip them into a frenzy.

I think a better replacement for "Speaking Dog" can be that she actually recognizes that the vicious dogs are a prey-driven breed like bloodhounds or fox terriers, and ergo they won't stop if you stay still. Or vice versa, "No, that's just a retriever. It's a silly thing, it won't bother anything that isn't a dead duck."