#I should really blow the Petty Ashfur AU up into an AU that puts all the things I WANT into a rewrite

[bonefall]

Ashfur: "Wait, you're leaving me for Brambleclaw...who you've been fighting with since before we arrived at the lakes and is being haunted by his dead demon dad...and you think nothing is going to go wrong with that plan?"

Squirrelflight: "Brambleclaw is a good cat, you don't know what he's gone through."

Ashfur: *blinks.* "Two weeks ago he woke up the entire warriors den screaming about Tigerstar and Hawkfrost and the Dark Forest. Cinderpelt has literally said darkness is surrounding him at all sides. I get you don't want to be with me, but girl, he is literally a walking red flag right now...well, actually now that I think about it, He's always been a walking red flag. Whatever. You do you." *walks away, calling for Birchpaw.*

Squirrelflight: "Did you hear him, Leafpaw?!? He blames Brambleclaw for things he can't help. It's not Brambleclaw's fault that Tigerstar is his dad."

Leafpaw: "....." =/

Ack, I dunno if I'd want to portray Petty Ashfur as being so much smarter than everyone else, or make Brambleclaw being so obviously bad that Squirrelflight looks blind to reality. Both of those options don't seem... great

Petty Ashfur's not about turning Ash into someone who's a perfect guy with all my opinions as a writer, it's about exploring the idea of him just being a petty asshole capable of growth.

I see Petty Ashfur still handling the breakup EXTREMELY personally, taking it out on Squilf in a very hurt and passive aggressive way, ruining their friendship because of it... at a time when she's going to need him most. Abuse is extremely isolating and a good friend is the best thing a person can have, but in his catty pity party he leaves her utterly alone

He really turns around at the Fire Scene, when he doubles back towards the blaze to save them, only to get attacked by Thornclaw attempting to kill the Three out of fear of the prophecy. After that, with the secret being revealed at the Gathering... it's sad.

Maybe not for NOBLE reasons, mind you, but Leafpool's his gossip rival and now teasing her is like kicking her while she's down. He haaaates Squilf for breaking up with him, but he's got a secret polycule now and the way the clans turned on her is... it's not what he saw in his fantasies. There's no joy in this. It makes him feel bad.

But in this AU, Petty Ashfur DOES seem to be a smart cookie... maybe in this version, he could work with Hawkfrost because his ulterior motive is exposing Brambleclaw? I could even toss in one of my favorite AU concepts and have Hawkfrost survive this? Hawkstar could be fun!