#THEN GOES AND KILLS firestar . and hes like packing up like alright no problem smile. forest is ours now

[bigender2]

ohhhh scourge from warrior cats. he was my favorite guy for ever ok. i remember renting out the comic book of his backstory sooo many times at the library

[m1smatched-starsigns]

🌞 Whitewing or Onestar!

I like Whitewing more than Onestar, but I actually have a Onewhisker AU in my doc. Let’s go with him.

ThunderClan!Onewhisker AU

It starts immediately after Fireheart’s patrol arrives in WindClan, when Tigerstar invaded and killed Gorsepaw.

Onewhisker admits to Firestar that he doesn’t think he can stay in WindClan any longer. He loves his Clan deeply, but he’s lost so many friends in the last moons; he has no kin left, either.

He says that the camp reeks like blood and fear now, even though they’ve done their best to clean it. Everytime he passes the spot where Tigerstar held Gorsepaw down, he can still hear his screams.

In this AU, Graystripe is still in RiverClan with his kits. Fireheart misses his best friend now more than ever, so after Onewhisker’s confession, Fireheart invites him to join ThunderClan.

It is not a decision that Onewhisker makes lightly. He’s always been a proud WindClan warrior. He’s never doubted his place in the Clan before. But if something doesn’t change soon then he’s going to go insane.

He takes Fireheart up on his offer. Onewhisker’s Clanmates are furious and call him a mouse-heart and a traitor, and he leaves with his head hanging. ThunderClan aren’t sure how they feel about their new Clanmate, and most of them would like to not trust him, but he looks so pitiful that they can’t bring themselves to hate him.

Bluestar isn’t happy about Onewhisker’s decision to join the Clan, but she treats his situation very similar to Graystripe’s in canon: what difference will one more traitor make?

The WindClan warriors were all starving, so the first thing Fireheart does is pick out the fattest mouse on the fresh-kill pile for Onewhisker. He obviously isn’t used to forest prey, but he’s so hungry that he devours it in only a few bites. Despite the fact that mice are smaller than rabbits, Onewhisker is surprised when the smaller animals fills him up.

By that point it’s getting late, so Fireheart shows Onewhisker where to get the best nesting materials.

As he weaves his nest together, there is a stone of dread in Onewhisker’s chest at the thought of sleeping in a den rather than underneath the stars. He places his nest at the front of the den where the newest warriors typically sleep, so that he can at least see a piece of Silverpelt.

Brackenfur and Cloudtail also sleep at the front of the den. Brackenfur is a very compassionate tom and Cloudtail knows that Onewhisker is a loyal friend of Fireheart’s, so they smile politely at the former WindClanner and do their best to make him feel welcomed.

The night is long and sleep evades him at every turn, but Onewhisker finds slight comfort in the fact that he will be able to make friends.

The next day Fireheart leads a border patrol and assigns Onewhisker to it. As they patrol, he points out landmarks and helps him navigate the bracken and brambles.

Privately, Fireheart is worried about Onewhisker’s future as a ThunderClan warrior. He has a difficult time navigating the territory, and thorns are inexplicably drawn to his paws. After just one patrol, Onewhisker returns exhausted and heads straight to Cinderpelt.

Sandstorm echos his concerns, but when Fireheart tries to defend his friend, she retorts, “If Onewhisker would leave his birth Clan because life there was hard, what’s to stop him from leaving ThunderClan?”

Onewhisker overhears everything. Rather than discourage him, it motivates him to try his hardest to learn ThunderClan’s ways. He doesn’t want to be known as a quitter who can’t be depended on when the going gets tough.

When Fireheart is busy with his deputy duties, Onewhisker explores the territory with Brackenfur, practices his battle moves with Cloudtail, and goes hunting with Sandstorm. Slowly but surely he improves.

“We’ll make a Thundercat out of you yet,” Sandstorm praises him when he catches a mouse. He walks back to camp with his tail high.

When Tigerstar lures the dog pack into ThunderClan territory, Onewhisker demands to be apart of the line that draws them away from the Clan.

“Are you sure?” Fireheart asks. “You know you’re way around the territory now, but the undergrowth still trips you up. If you want to hide with the Clan, no one will fault you.”

Yes, they will. But Onewhisker doesn’t say that.

Instead he says, “I’ve got WindClan blood, Fireheart — I’m the fastest cat you’ve got. Besides, this is personal.” His eyes harden. “I didn’t stand a chance against Tigerstar when I was in WindClan. But here, where I can use my speed, I can actually help.”

Denying Onewhisker this right would be like denying Ashpaw and Fernpaw’s right to avenge their mother. He owes them this.

So Onewhisker will be apart of the line, then.

When his turn comes, he runs like he’s never run before. He pumps his legs as he leaps over tree roots and ducks underneath the undergrowth. He doesn’t trip once, or step on a single thorn.

He can’t help but feel very proud of himself once his turn is over. He’s never moved like that before in his life. For the first time ever — he finally feels like a ThunderClan warrior.

And when Fireheart shares the news that Bluestar is dead, he grieves like one. He grew up hearing stories of the elegant leader. She was never fond of him, but Onewhisker honors her legacy all the same.

Before Fireheart leaves to receive his nine lives, he admits to Onewhisker, “I have no clue who my deputy will be.”

Onewhisker blinks. “You’ll pick Sandstorm, won’t you? You’re very close.”

“That’s the problem,” Fireheart says quietly. “With positions of power comes great danger. If someone wanted to hurt me they would hurt Sandstorm, even though she’s just a warrior. But if she were my deputy, I feel like that would put an even bigger target on her back.”

Onewhisker considers that. “Are you sure?”

Fireheart shrugs, forlorn. “Not really. But am I willing to chance her life like that?”

“Sandstorm can defend herself,” Onewhisker meows quietly.

Sometimes, when he stands tall in the sunlight, Fireheart looks like a blaze of fire. In those moments, Onewhisker truly believes that Fireheart could do anything.

But right now he just looks tired. “I know,” he murmurs. Then he leaves for Highstones with Cinderpelt.

When Fireheart returns he is no longer Fireheart, but Firestar — leader of ThunderClan.

“I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of ThunderClan is Sandstorm.”

The she-cat looks surprised for a heartbeat before she puffs out her chest and proudly accepts the position.

Firestar made the right choice. Together, they will rule the forest in a blaze of glory.

But first, Tigerstar must be dealt with. Especially now that he’s recruited Leopardstar into joining TigerClan.

Even though he doesn’t say anything, it’s clear that Firestar is worried about Graystripe. For awhile no one sees him on patrols or the latest Gathering.

Then Ravenpaw bursts into camp with news of Bonehill. Firestar quickly calls for Sandstorm and Onewhisker, and they race for the RiverClan border.

The scenario plays out very similar to canon, except Graystripe has also been lumped in with the “traitors”.

Blackfoot kills Stonefur. The ThunderClan cats manage to help Graystripe, Mistyfoot, Featherpaw and Stormpaw escape.

“Onewhisker?” Graystripe asks, when he sees the former WindClan warrior.

“Long story,” Onewhisker meows. “We’ll talk later.”

The refugees take shelter in ThunderClan until the battle with BloodClan.

When that battle arrives, Onewhisker fights with all the might of a ThunderClan warrior. He lives to tell about it, too.

Sandstorm does not.

“Scourge went for her first,” Firestar whispers, voice thick with grief. “He thought it would enable me; he was wrong. I fought even harder, for her.” He chokes up and bows his head.

Tears pool in Onewhisker’s eyes. Scourge must have known Sandstorm was special to Firestar after he made her his deputy. He can’t help but think, if it weren’t for him, Firestar would have chose another as his deputy...

But a victory is a victory. That night the Clans celebrate their freedom from Tigerstar and from BloodClan.

“What will you do?” Onewhisker asks Graystripe after the battle.

The warrior gestures to Mistyfoot and his kits across the camp. “Return to RiverClan,” Graystripe says. “I wish I could be here for Firestar, but he has you to keep him out of trouble. Leopardstar isn’t popular right now, and my kits need me now more than ever.” His voice softens ever so slightly. “Mistyfoot, too.”

Graystripe looks back at Onewhisker. “You’ll make sure he’s okay, though, won’t you?”

Onewhisker knows what he means. “He’ll be alright. I’ll let you know if he ever needs you.”

Graystripe nods his thanks, then goes to join his kits.

As the sun sets behind the treeline, Firestar calls a meeting. Everyone knows what it is about.

Considering he just lost his mate and deputy in battle, Onewhisker thinks that Firestar looks impressive. He stands tall in the glow of the sunset, muscles rippling, green eyes like solid emeralds.

“The new deputy is Onewhisker.”

No cat is more surprised than he is to hear his name called. The Clan cheers his name while Onewhisker can only sit there, stunned.

“You accept, don’t you?” Firestar asks, as he descends from the Highrock.

Onewhisker doesn’t know what to say, other than, “... did you just give me a death sentence?”

“I gave you an honor,” Firestar corrects him. He musters a smile. “I don’t regret making Sandstorm my deputy. She was the perfect cat for the job. Besides, the last time I didn’t give her what she deserved, she gave me the silent treatment for days.” His smile softens. “I know she would approve of her successor.”

Onewhisker was never an ambitious tom; he never dreamed of growing up and becoming deputy, much less the deputy of ThunderClan. But when Firestar words it like that...

“I’ll make her proud,” Onewhisker promises. As he speaks, a thrill shoots down his spine; one he hasn’t felt since he led the dog pack away from camp.

Firestar gazes at him like he knows the feeling. “Of course you will.”