#and just gave him a warrior cats name i came up with on the spot

[fromwhenceucame]

Round 2 of my favorite characters as warrior cats lets go — Sylvain, Claude, and Dimitri edition

Once again I throw logic out the window for actual cat markings/colors/whatever because I design based on vibes and I was only able to work a crest onto Sylvain (the red around his eyes resemble the two parts of the gautier crest) but I did try very hard to get the other two to have theirs (Dimitri gave me a stupid amount of trouble to get vibed right).

I knew I needed to put a heart on Sylvain for Sylvain reasons, and I thought it would be delightful if he only had it on one side — his other being just dark… I also really wanted to include black on him since his class outfits usually use black and red annnnnd the cat breed named after Gautier is a black and white cat.

Meanwhile, Claude is highly inspired by wyverns in the game. The lighter brown is basically wherever it would be on a wyvern, and the fact of his stripes are mostly from the Reigan tabby but also resembling the layered(?) look wyverns have… the scales, basically, with white stripes being used for more prominent scales (sort of, mostly because his wyvern is white and I needed to include it but he looked wrong with white stripes). His ear tufts represent wyvern horns/antlers, or they represent deer antlers! His tail and spots are deer-like, too.

And Dimitri !! He needed to be big and fluffy; and, he needed to have a mane with rounded ears like a lion so that’s the bulk of my ideas. The black part on his back is like the fur cloak he has post timeskip and his toes being black were just because I thought it would be neat 👍

I have been thinking about fe3h warrior cats in the back of my mind for over 2 years apparently, and it’s so easy to say we have Eagleclan, Lionclan, and Deerclan… that’s why those are the three clans. Maybe this world works a little differently, too, and the church is a band of clan cats who are always in contact with Starclan (allegedly) and therefore partially govern all the clans… Wolfclan also exists, but it’s not a real clan — it’s a band of rouges or loners who are doing their thing led by Yuri

Starting with Lionclan life, sometimes I remember that Thunderclan had a succession way back in the day with Oakstar to Pinestar and that is how Lambert wanted it to go before ~tragedy~ and I don’t know if it was Rufus or someone else who takes over afterwards but I do know that when Sylvain was a kit, a part of him really wanted to be a medicine cat but he never went down that path… though he does know a lot more about herbs than your average warrior! Good for him. At somepoint when it’s time for the timeskip, Dimitri disappears for 5-12 moons (I think 60 moons would be the 5 years but that feels too long for cats), becoming a rouge wandering the clans’ territories and picking off mostly Eagleclan like your unfriendly neighborhood cryptid. Eventually he’s normal again and not doing that, reclaiming the leadership position.

And with Deerclan I have not as many thoughts for I am not sure what makes the most sense for Almyra to be. Maybe something closer to the tribe? I do not know. What I do know is Claude came from there and got to be in the clans for a good long while, quickly rising to the rank of leader by the time the timeskip passes. I feel like Deerclan would be extra not happy about him simply showing up if that’s what goes down, so I support it happening. Kind of like how Tallstar makes Onewhisker the deputy on his deathbed, but it’s Claude’s grandpa doing that to Claude.

And I have a lot of name ideas for fe3h life !!

When I initially thought of names for specifically Lionclan/Faerghus, it was as if they were from Riverclan so the names on my mind have a very Riverclan-based scheme… but I really like some of them. Like “Shellrain” for Sylvain, I think it’s so fun if the name actually sounds like their real name. I needed to put “Rain” in as the suffix for Sylvain for that reason.

I think Lambert, who could be “Lightbass” or “Landbass” depending on how far you want to go with the names sounding alike, would name Dimitri “Lionkit” when he’s born. Then he can become “Liontrout” or “Liontree” again, depending on how far you want to go. Though, maybe his name is “Lionshade” “Lionshadow” or something else suspicious because it would probably be Rufus (who is Runfur because that is the closest I can get to it being Rufus) or someone else who doesn’t support him naming him at the time… unless warrior names are given out by the church group… hmmmm…

Regardless, I’m again not sure what Almyra is in connection to the clans, but Claude definitely has two names, and in the clans he goes by “Deerclaw.” Claw is the best suffix ever if you want to make a word that sounds like Claude (just like rain) so it has to be it, and “deer” is a very obviously accepted prefix for the clans. I don’t know what his original name should be yet, however.

And that’s all I got, but I have one more pair to contemplate (Aventurine and Dr Ratio) in the coming days before I start digging deeper into the other cats so stay tuned \o/ yippie

[kestreljaylover]

My Top 10 Favorite Warrior Cats.

Cinderpelt was the main source of entertainment and enthusiasm in book 2, and 3 and I love that! She would have made it higher is the authors (don't remember the name, and too lazy to look it up) didn't kill her off so soon. Twilight was so annoying, the entire book was terrible, and I was so sad when she died. And her disability was very terribly written. She broke her leg by a car, and she can't be a warrior anymore. I would discuss about it all day long, but I need to move on to #9.

I love our little fruit loop! I mainly love Tallstar's character because of his Super Edition. Tallstar's Revenge is my favorite Euper Edition of all of warrior cats. The characters in the book got stuff done for once. (I don't remember all of the super editions, it has been a long time since I read them). And his little relationship with Jake is super cute! I met someone at a library and she doesn't like Tallstar x Jake. She was a homophobic, and I hate homophobes. She just make me angry, so I never talked to her again. Anyway, I just thought the bowtie idea was cute, and I decided to put that in.

I really love frostpaw because I can relate to her issues, but I think she was like a reboot of Shadowsight. Which Shadowsight was fine, no problem with him. I think frostpaw is just a cute name in general. I have never drawn her before, so i had to some up with grays on the spot. Anyway the next one!

Now we got some of the best kitties in my eyes! Ravenpaw was my favorite characters in the books before someone else came along that will be in #1. But he was basically the start of the series besides Firestar. Think about it, he tells him what happened with the Tigerstar situation. Firestar would have never known if Ravenpaw didn't spill the truth. And I think him moving to the farm was probably the best thing that has happened to him. Barley is not my favorite, it is just that I wanted to draw them. Next one!

Honestly Lightleap is probably the best character in arc 8 because she is so entertaining and snarky. The best type of character. And she caused a lot of drama which I love. It sucks that she has not been there much in book 3 and 4 of A Starless Clan.

She was supposed to be #4, but I forgot I didn't do 5, so instead of thinking more, I just put her there. Briarlight is the only good cat in her family. Mille is very mental, Blossomfall is very bad, and is very.... dramatic? I don't know how to describe it. Graystripe who i don't know what is going on in his head, and Bumblestripe who obsessed with a girl who doesn't want him. Briarlight is the sweetest cat and her death in the fourth or fifth book in AVOS was very sad. I love her friendship with her best friend, Jayfeather. (Yes, best friend! Jayfeather is gay in my head! I don't care if he loved Half Moon). Briarlight is just great! Love her!

Don't really have a reason to put her up here. Maybe I am just obsessed with the name i gave her. I was gonna switch her and Briarlight out, but oh well. I mainly like first arc Bluestar not her super edition (I mean, who does like her super edition)? I just like calling her Queen of the double wide.

Here's Dovewing! My baby! I am happy to put her here on this list! I really don't understand why some people hate Dovewing. She is a great protagonist, and a good mom as well. And also I feel bad for her because she was forced to be with him (Bumblestripe) for a while because of peer pressure. But I am glad she made to choice to get out of the pain.

AAAHHH! SQUIRRELSTAR!!! SHE'S HERE! I have been waiting for 4 years for this. She is basically just like me. (Except the shortness! I am not short). I do what is right, but I don't need approval from anyone. Honestly her husband is a dickhead, so I am glad he stepped down. I wished he would have died though.

JAYFEATHER! HE IS MY FAVORITE KITTY EVER! Does anyone need to explain why he is some people's favorite? Well I do. I can relate to him because everyone is an idiot! The books make them really dumb sometimes, and points out Jay's blindness. And guess who points this out? Jayfeather! He is my favorite for that reason. He is grumpy, but has a valid reason for it. And I can't get myself started on his boyfriend. He is not that interesting, but seeing fanart of Jayfeather and Kestrelflight just makes a smile on my face. (Dusklight for example, go follow them! One of the remaining kestreljay fans, and their work is flawless)! Honestly the sunglasses idea was random. I love a video that someone posted on Christmas day, https://youtu.be/ijd4YaXCjIQ?si=QY8NmE_tV46Yk_8x anyway, that is it. I am tired. :(

[insertgeniusblognamehere]

MOON 1

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. 

The pounding of Lionstar’s feet against the ground drummed along in sync to the fierce beating of her heart as she raced through the forest.

Being the leader of a Clan was a hard, and sometimes a suffocating task, but Lionstar wouldn’t give it up for anything. She was incredibly proud of her Clan and the mark they’ve made on the territories and the respect they’d earned from the other Clans. 

That being said, it was good to get away and breathe sometimes, even for only a few moments. 

Lionstar pushed her muscles harder, urging her legs to go faster and faster until she burst into a clearing near the edge of the territory. A lone tree stood across from her, its thick trunk and low branches begging to be climbed. How could she not indulge? 

She climbed higher and higher and higher and — snap. The thin branch buckled under her weight and disappeared. Lionstar yowled as she plummeted towards the forest floor, the only thing slowing her fall were more branches that broke as she barreled through them before she hit the ground with a heavy thud.

Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow. 

Lionstar groaned, not daring to move in case something was broken. After a few more dizzy panic induced moments and confirming that nothing was broken, she slowly pushed herself to her feet. Still winded, she shook out her pelt, eager to get her breathing back to normal.

Thank StarClan no one was around to see that.

Snap. 

She smelt it’s foul stench before she saw it. Heard the snarl and lash of its tail before she turned around, coming face to face with dark russet fur and orange eyes. A fox. A huge fox. Lionstar was bigger than most of her peers and the older warriors, moons of well earned muscle hiding beneath her thick tortoiseshell pelt contributed to that, and this thing was still easily twice her size. 

Fox-dung. Literally. 

Lionstar flattened her ears and responded with a low threatening growl of her own while unsheathing her sharp claws. She wasn’t named after a lion for nothing. She would not back down from a challenge.

The crazed fox did not seem to like that one bit. It lunged wildly at her, and though Lionstar was well trained, she did just fall out of a tree, and the fox’s sheer size helped it land a few solid hits against her. But not enough. Lionstar fought off the creature with only a few bloody scratches to show for before it went fleeing into the underbrush.

─ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ─

“Lionstar!” Quailpelt gasped, “I smell blood. Did you get into a border skirmish?”

“Something like that.” She answered, flicking her tail and letting the last remaining droplets of blood fall into the dirt. “Fell into a fox den.”

If Quailpelt could facepalm, she would. “Of course you did. Moondapple’s gonna have a field day with you. Don’t you remember the ‘don't get into stupid fights’ speech she gave to Fallingstream, Silverhaze, and Halffox the other day?”

Lionstar chuckled inwardly. Moondapple, SleekClan’s incredibly talented and composed Medicine Cat had almost torn the three cats ears off, reaming them out for their childish behaviour, especially since Silverhaze and Fallingstream were three times Halffox’s senior, and older than Moondapple herself. Yet the pair were always getting into mischief, and had been since we were all kits. Roping in other cats was just part of their daily fun.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Harestripe emerged with a yawn nap from the warriors den and a well-deserved nap. He stretched out his limbs, taking the clearing into view. The cats were few and far in between, most busy or out of camp, with the exception of a small group of warriors talking animatedly near the camp entrance. The group spotted him and one of the warriors slipped away from the group and came towards him.

“Harestripe!” The dusty brown she-cat called as she bounded over. “I’m leading a patrol with Daisychase and Halffox. Care to join us?”

“Thanks, Bluesight, but I’ll sit this one out. Three paws are better than four when hunting.” Harestripe said. “Too many cats scare off the prey.”

While the thought of racing alongside the younger warriors through the underbrush, hunting prey and chasing off other clans to no end, used to excite him, it now only reminded him of how sore his limbs would be that night in his nest. He sighed and made his way over to the fresh-kill pile. 

“Something the matter, Harestripe?” A voice said from behind him, jolting him out of his thoughts and the orange tom nearly leapt out of his fur. 

“Nothing really. Just a bit tired, is all.”

As if she could read his mind, Moondapple sighed. “Either you ask her, or your trips to my den will become more and more frequent, Harestripe, and she’ll do it without you asking. It's better if you save yourself the trouble.”

Lionstar had been grumpy all day — bed rest was not his leader's strong suit — and Harestripe was ready to take that as a sign from StarClan and not ask to retire. But Moondapple was right. It was getting harder to hide his trips to the she-cats den for various herbs to soothe his aching bones and help him sleep.

Harestripe sighed and pushed himself to his paws. “When did you go and get so wise?” He grumbled with a slight laugh. Moondapple simply smiled in return, and nodded in the direction of Lionstar’s den where the brown she-cat was emerging to presumably pace circles around the camp again.

“Lionstar? Could I get a word?”

“Harestripe, of course. What can I do for you?”

“I…I’d like to retire. Become an elder.”

Lionstar ground to a halt and nearly tripped over her own paws, face filled with surprise. “An elder? You’re not that old, Harestripe.”

“I feel the passing of moons in my bones and I’ve got grey in my muzzle, Lionstar. This past leaf-bare was harder than I’d like to admit. I thank you that you don’t see it, but I feel it.” Harestripe said, finishing with a small smile.

Lionstar gave a soft smile. “If it is your wish, how can I not honor it? When will you like me to announce it to the Clan?”

Harestripe snorted. “Before Quailpelt announces the Dawn Patrol warriors would be nice.” 

Lionstar laughed as they reached the base of the meeting rock in the centre of camp. “Very well. We’ll do it now, before the evening patrol as well.” She paused, mid hunch, and turned her head over her shoulder. “Last chance. Are you sure?”

Harestripe let out a long breath, and nodded. Lionstar nodded back and smiled, then jumped up to the top of the rock. “All cats swift under the stars, join me at the Grand Rock for a Clan Meeting!” 

Well, no going back now. Maybe Halffox would still let me in on that patrol later. Harestripe made his way over to sit at the base of the rock as he watched his clanmates gather in the small clearing. Moondapple was the last to join, and she gave a small nod of approval from in the crowd.

“This is not an announcement that I thought I’d be giving this evening, but I shall still honour it.” Lionstar began once the group had settled, then leapt gracefully down from the rock to stand facing the Clan. “Harestripe, step forwards. You have asked to retire, and I respect your decision. You have served SleekClan well as both a warrior and role model, and the Clan will miss your skills. Though you’ve left big paws to fill, we look forward to many more moons of wisdom from you in the Elders Den.”

Harestripe touched the young leader's nose. “Thank you, Lionstar.”

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

“You can’t keep me in here forever, Moondapple.”

“It’s my job to keep you in here forever, Lionstar.”

“Oh yeah? Says who?”

“StarClan.” She quipped back matter-of-factly without looking back. Lionstar rolled her eyes, tail flicking boredly against the cool floor. The soft new-leaf breeze rustled the stray steams and leaves on the ground of the medicine cat den. Moondapple seemed to take no notice as she continued to sort the herbs slotted into the grooves of the inside of the fallen log.

The dark she-cat flicked her tail, attention never leaving the work in front of her. “I can feel your annoyance all the way over here, Lionstar.”

“What can I say, herb cataloging never appealed to me.”

Moondapple gave a snort as she turned. “Well, it’s about to. You can come help me gather goldenrod and cobwebs.”

“Oh now I’m allowed out of camp, just to help you.”

“You’re more than welcome to stay here.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming.”

─ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ─

After being den-confined for a day, the cool breeze blowing off the river was a welcome change to Lionstars fur. Ever since she became leader, there hadn’t been a day she’d never left camp, so she was relishing in the afternoon warmth outside.

“How’s your tail feeling?”

“Perfectly peachy. It’s my only injury, you know.”

“Lucky you.”

“Strange that such an experienced medicine cat as you would confine me over something so small.” Lionstar stated, holding Moondapples golden gaze with a sly smirk. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you kept me in there just to hang out with me.”

“Right.” Moondapple paused so that they’d come nose to nose. “And last time I checked, you were the leader of SleekClan and really didn’t have to stay in there if you didn't want to, so if I didn't know any better, I’d say you stayed to hang out with me.”

“Touche.”

Moondapple smirked, something few and far in between, and continued down the trail to a ring of willow trees where most of the more common herbs grow. As the golden-eyed she-cat set about her work pruning and collecting herbs, Lionstar leapt up to the more low hanging branches above the goldenrod. A gap in the branches above her let the soft glow of the new-leaf sun warm her fur.

Lionstar rested her chin on her front paws, her tail swaying low in the wind, as she watched her friend go about her job. “Hey, Moondapple? There’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you, by the way. I’ve been trying to make sense of it for some time now, but I can’t.”

“Yeah? What is it?” Moondapple hummed.

“A dream I had a few nights ago. While you were at the Half Moon Gathering.” Lionstar started, and saw Moondapple prick her ears which urged her to continue .“I was standing in the camp, and all the trees were replaced by clouds. I tried to walk through them, but it was like something was pushing me back. And then they all got swept away by a golden river.”

“Isn’t that curious.” Moondapple murmured. “I don’t think I know what that means.” She paused. “ Not yet anyways.”

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Silverhaze yelped, a stinging pain erupting in her cheek and neck. She practically leapt out of her nest and just nearly missed making a new hole in the tightly packed fern-fronds that made up the ceiling of the Warriors Den.

What in StarClan’s name was that? 

Peering down at the mossy green nest, a small brown clump stood out to her. A few, small brown clumps , actually. Thorns. Some cat put thorns in her nest. Silverhaze stuck her head outside the den and glared out across  the clearing, bright chrome eyes landing on Fallingstream, who was currently sharing tongues with Scorchfeather and Harestripe. The perfect alibi. Ever since the pair had gotten scolded by Moondapple, they’d taken to doing their mischief in a more … secretive fashion. A quiet prank war, if you will.

Silverhaze watched as Fallingstream looked up and straight at her, golden eyes glinting in the strong afternoon sun. He shot her a playful grin before turning back to Scorchfeather, who was still talking with Harestripe and hadn’t noticed that Fallingstream had stopped listening.

Silverhaze glared at the dark speckled tom, a revenge plan already forming in her mind. She would definitely get back at him.

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for ignoring my leader's orders and outright going against him, after he exiled my kids, for him getting butthurt that i moved on from him?

(Warrior cats Ocs)

I am a 120 moons old she-cat, my older son said that this could help me to see if i'm too far or not, he is such a sweetie. I was a warrior for my clan for many moons, before becoming an elder. When i was young, i meet this tom, Todd(145 moons old, my son said to not use any real names in the post, so i will use my ex's fathers name), we hit off almost instantly, we had my older son after he became deputy, he was just a dreamboat, so charming and handsome.

After so many moons of the dream marriage, he started to be less in camp, i thought nothing of it, as we were at tensions with another clans at the time, it all came crashing down, after a kittypet(118 moons old F) came into camp, i will call her Sweet, Sweet said that was Todd's mate, and she was throw out of her home after her twolegs(Sweet said to write as "humans", but i didn't really know what that word means) discovered she expecting Todd's kids early, my husband was cheating on me when he left camp! I broke up with on the spot, as he disowned Sweet for exposing him, he said that thoses kids are not and will never be his.

I gave support to Sweet as she didn't had nowhere to go except stay on camp, she didn't really have any fault on this, while i helped her, i noticed that i was starting to really like her, after she gave birth to the kits, and Sweet asked why i was helping her even after i discovered she was the side chick(i don't know what it is, but sounds mean to say that to her), i confessed after i felt cornered, and we started dating at time.

Her kids refered to me as their mom, i was happy to be their step mom, and my older son loved his little siblings. My ex after we broke up was so sour, that he didn't really believe that i was really in love with Sweet, and i was just being confused about being mates with her, i just avoided him at all costs, he didn't really matter anymore to me. Todd got another wife, Rosemary, who knew she was his third option and had to deal with his obsessive behavior.

One of my daughters, i will call Star, was very active and protective of her younger brother, Patch, they became good clanmates when they grew up, i was so proud of them, but that was around the time that Todd assumed leadership, how the leader still let him be deputy after what he did is still weird to me.

Todd was especially annoying with Star, and when i confronted him about it, he would dismiss me as her mother and he was talking with her as her father. It all got worse as Patch was discovered to had a forbidden relationship with another clan's tom, which made Todd banish him, when Star argued back, Todd exiled her too for speaking against him.

I was furious and demanded him to bring my kids back, but he dismisses it, after that, i decided to organize a revolution to dethrone him, i already have Sweet, Rosemary, my older son and cats from other clans to see if we could overthrone him. But most of my clanmates are arguing against me, saying that i'm being too emotional, or that i should just accept that my kids are dead.

Aita for taking this "too far"?

[cascadeclan-gen]

Moon 3

Pebblepaw followed Hyssopbloom across the stepping stones. It was a bit awkward to cross while carrying the large kestrel he’d caught, but these days Pebblepaw was much bigger than he once was. Otterpaw had just had his final warrior assessment; Hyssopbloom and Snowstar had watched him hunt. Snowstar had gone off on his own afterwards, but Otterpaw seemed pleased with himself. He was chatting to nobody behind Pebblepaw, musing over what his warrior name could be.

Doveshade greets the patrol cheerfully when they return, although she looks tired. Hyssopbloom gives her a report while the apprentices place their catches on the pile. Pebblepaw noses through the pile to find a couple plump mice, and turns towards the nursery, where Skystripe is waiting for him. He only makes it a few steps before Doveshade stops him.

“Pebblepaw, you should know, Skystripe is-“ she’s cut off by a bout of coughing, but only looks annoyed by the interruption. He’s glad that the deputy isn’t in too much pain, even though she’s got whitecough. “Skystripe is very tired. While you were out, she-“

Pebblepaw pushed past her, mice forgotten, and ran to the nursery, tripping in his haste to get through the entrance. “Skystripe?” he whispered.

She raised her head and gave him a tired smile. “Come here, kit. There’s someone for you to meet.” Pebblepaw crept closer, careful to not make any noise. He settled on the edge of Skystripe’s nest, his head resting on the edge so he could look down at a single dark kit. “I’m thinking I’ll name him Currantkit,” she whispered. Pebblepaw studied the small spots on the kit’s back, his delicate ears, small paws, and short tail.

“That’s a really good name,” Pebblepaw told her. For a brief moment, he worried that Skystripe would forget about him now that she had her own kit, but she began grooming him, and he knew that she loved him. “He’s so small.”

“He was only born a while ago,” Skystripe laughed. Pebblepaw flicked an ear as he heard chatting in the clearing. He wasn’t surprised when Snowstar entered the nursery.

He was surprised, however, when Snowstar set a little kit down so he could speak. “Skystripe, I know you’ve got your paws full already, but-“

“Bring him here, Snowstar. Is he… yours?” Skystripe asked. She looked at the new kit intently, but Pebblepaw could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

“No. A kittypet from the cabins was carrying him through the territory. She said that her mother’s mother told stories of an ancestor who once lived in the woods with a group of cats, and wanted her firstborn to continue that tradition. We named him Lightkit,” Snowstar explained. Pebblepaw felt anger curl in his gut. The life of a warrior was hard and dangerous, and Lightkit was so small. How could his mother leave him like that? Abandon him to the wilds?

“Well, he will make good company for Currantkit,” Skystripe replied, eyes now gentle and free of worry.

“Currantkit? Oh Skystripe, I hadn’t even realized - how are you feeling? What do you need?” Snowstar asked.

Currantkit made a small noise, shifting so that he was nearly nose-to-nose with Pebblepaw. The apprentice gently touched their noses together, awed at how much bigger he was, and pleased he would no longer be the smallest cat in camp.

Snowstar left to get Skystripe the mice Pebblepaw had abandoned, and he studied Lightkit. The tom was only a bit bigger than Currantkit, which probably meant he was a bit older. Lightkit was white with brown tabby patches, and stood out again Skystripe’s gray fur. He looked like he didn’t belong. Pebblepaw moved his pale gray tail to cover the kit a bit.

Snowstar returned with the mice and laid next to Skystripe, gently grooming her as she ate. Pebblepaw could feel himself slipping into a nap as they quietly talked. He was warm, and couldn’t wait for the kits to grow up a bit more. He’d show them the camp, and tell them about the territory, and teach them to be part of the Clan. He’d protect them from any dog they came across.

He’d love them until the trees fell and the mountain crumbled and the brightest star fell down at their feet.

Doveshade has caught whitecough. She and Mistyfur are staying in the Healer’s Den.

Honored for his dedication to the Clan and their territory, Otterdive becomes a warrior!

[fangirlsovertoomanythings]

I wrote about EarthquakeClan's first ever political crisis! I've been meaning to write something with Lynxstar for so long, but I did not have the energy to make illustrations for it, sadly. Not for a lack of trying.

Lynxstar is just my special little princess I love this pixelated cat SO much, you gotta understand

-----------

"How long has it been? A moon and a half?"

Riverfur's voice broke Lynxfang out of his concrentration. The brown tabby's comment was so sudden that he had to clarify what he meant: "Since Pikestar's death."

"How is that more important than catching prey?" Asked the gray, spotted tom. "We've been keeping up just fine without him."

"I don't know, BrokenClan was acting strangely at the last Gathering. Brightnight had to represent us, and Sunstar looked so strangely at her. What if they are planning to attack us now that we're weak?"

"Tch, and break apart the alliance between our clans? Sunstar is young, but he's not mouse-brained, Riverfur, he knows he needs us."

"If only Wishwhistle was still around…"

"Wishwhistle was a medicine cat. What would she even do?"

"She would've understood it was her duty to lead EarthquakeClan!"

Lynxfang moved his long ears. The bat he had been trying to catch before the conversation started was long gone, and he moped its loss. A full belly would have helped him handle Riverfur's needless whines. "And I guess Asterkit isn't fit for leadership either, traditionally speaking."

"You're not taking this seriously!" 

"Riverfur, darling, I'm only following your logic here. I'm aware a cat can not be mature enough to lead a clan if all they've got is five moons, but by appointing the right regent, I don't see why we can't turn the little catworm into Asterstar."

Riverfur and Lynxfang had been close friends ever since teenagehood, but that habit of his of always giving out the worst solutions to his problems was growing older and older by the day. Going to the happy place was not enough sometimes.

"Why don't you go to the Moonstone then,  Lynxstar?" 

Riverfur stomped away, angrily.

"I mean, if it'd make you happy! I'm all over you, honey!"

And just like that, Lynxfang was left all alone. He refused to feel bad for the sarcasm he had employed, as much as he knew he had upset Riverfur for good. You can't just interrupt a guy when he's trying to get out of his comfort zone for the sake of the clan! He was already lamenting the lack of violent physical contact between cats, and he wasn't about to lament the lack of a leader too. He could feel bad about this after he found that bat again, and gorged its eyes out of its skull for thinking he could run away. 

He brought a couple of prey back to camp as compensation for breaking the Warrior Code with that bat — and its mate —, but his generous contribution did not stop the side eyes his clanmates gave him as he trotted towards the fresh-kill pile. With an open mouth, Riverfur's scent came in easily and he became content with the fact that his friend came back safe and sound despite the separation. He'd charm his way back into his heart, he was sure of it!

"Huh," whispered Leopardwillow, which he managed to overhear "You might not believe in me, but he trained under one of the most honorable warriors EarthquakeClan had since it's Renaissance."

"Did he?" Hootwhisker whispered back, sharing her attention between the gossip and Stemkit. Both were just as important to the queen.

Leopardwillow nodded as she complemented: "Darkstripe, his name was. Our first ever tragedy." 

Tch, since when was Darkstripe honorable? Since he tried isolating him from the other apprentices? Since he started going around saying he was too unstable to be taught advanced fighting skills? Since he had assured Ravenpaw, now Raventuft, that he was going to get killed by his paws someday? He didn't even do his job! Lynxfang owed his warrior name to the rogues he met around the forest, and the fierce kittypet Cece — a kittypet! Imagine being so incompetent a kittypet is more of a mentor to your apprentice.

When Lynxfang passed by the two she-cats, he did not do so much as to even greet them, and walked immediately towards Raventuft. He was welcomed with his lover's friendly tongue, but then his purring stopped and was replaced by a yelp of betrayal.

"You already ate?! This isn't fair," Raventuft commented.

"Not you too."

"Who am I going to eat with now, everybody else is so dull," he threw himself on the floor, dramatically. 

"It's critical, but you'll live. I just had to gather more patience to myself on patrol today."

"Let me guess: it involves Riverfur, Pikestar and Asterkit?" 

Great, he had been talking about it to the entire forest. "He doesn't chill, does he?"

"She," he corrected. 

"What?"

"She's been meaning to tell you, but you kinda blew it up with your sarcasm there, so she told me to give you a headsup. Said you did not deserve to know by her mouth until you stopped being a huge fox-dung; her words, not mine."

As much as he'd kill and die for Raventuft, Lynxfang knew better than to believe in everything he said. He was probably trying to create discord between he and Riverfur by adding that last part. Riverfur wanted him to know, but was too angry to face him; she'd never call him fox-dung, though.

"Was that why she mentioned Wishwhistle?"

"Riverfur? Being subtle? Come on. She only mentioned her because she wishes that incompetent goofball could be half as good a leader as her father was. I don't need to remind you how unsubtle Riverfur was when we were younger, do I?"

"Please, spare me." 

Raventuft purred. "The hedgehog spike on your bed was pretty funny."

"Glad my suffering brings you joy, love, because it only brings me regret."

He purred some more. "I have no idea why she still sticks around with us." 

"Maybe she finds you handsome."

Raventuft stopped purring. He looked at Lynxfang. He looked with murderous intent. "You did not need to say that."

"What, you'll just let this chance slide? You could go in there and trash talk about me, and then you lie your head on hers, and then—"

"She likes mollies, Lynxfang!" 

Raventuft looked so cute when he was upset, but Lynxfang knew better than to overdo it. As much as he looked funny, it was never a good idea to tease him for so long. He shrugged. "Worth the shot." 

"Besides, I already have you," he muttered, as he laid his head on his back. "That's more than enough for me." 

"I love you too, ducky." 

From that corner of the warrior's den, Lynxfang could see the cave tunnel in which Pikestar would go inside to rest. It looked spacious, it looked distant — it looked safe from the side eyeing and the prophecies of destruction Petaleye had made about him. He was always jealous of Pikestar, keeping a den all to his own. He remembered how his clanmates would look at Pikestar when he came around, even when he was growing senile and his decisions were not always reinforced. There was respect in those eyes. There was admiration. There was fear. 

As unreasonable as some of her fears were, Riverfur was right about two things: the first thing was that EarthquakeClan was seen as weak and unstable by the others and it could be exploited; the second was that Lynxstar did not sound so bad. It sounded right.

"Hey, ducky?"

"Hm?" Raventuft raised his head to look at him. "What is it, Lynxfang?"

"Do you want to make an announcement with me?" 

Raventuft tilted his head, but followed along. Everytime that Lynxfang became nonchalant, it meant trouble, and Raventuft loved watching trouble unfold. His legs became more and more paralyzed, however, the closest the two of them became of the leader's den, and his eyes were slowly opening more and more. No, not even he could go that far...

Lynxfang jumped gracefully from rock to rock until he reached the top, and then he yelled as loud as he could: "Let all cats old enough to cat their own prey gather in the middle of our camp, for a clan meeting!"

StarClan above, he was going that far.

There was only one word to describe the clan cat's reaction: bewilderment. In the middle of a breezy snowstorm, their furs all spiked up, the clan gathered around to listen to the announcement. 

"EarthquakeClan has been leaderless for longer than it should have been," Lynxfang continued, "and the rightful heir is not of age yet. I decided to appoint myself as temporary regent of EarthquakeClan, and Raventuft as my deputy. To honor my clan, I shall go to the Moonstone with Brightnight in the evening, and come back with the nine lives of a leader."

"How would that be temporary, if you get the nine lives?" Leopardwillow immediately protested. Keeping peace is going to be so much harder with him as a star..., she thought to herself.

Lynxfang bared his teeth at her, but kept the calm demeanor. "I shall pass them all down to Asterkit once he comes of age, and has taken at least one apprentice to himself."

"You never trained an apprentice before!"

"Oh, but I will. I'll start with Asterpaw."

There were no verbal protests, but there were no excited screams of Lynxstar! Lynxstar! Lynxstar! echoing through the rocky walls. The clan was speechless.

Riverfur took a deep breath and broke the silence: "I'm with Lynxfang. Right now, we need a strong leader to intimidate our rivals. EarthquakeClan vanished from existence once, it could vanish again!" 

Leopardwillow was shaking her head repeatedly. She whispered: "Riverfur, he'll ruin our diplomacy…!"

"He'll be Lynxstar temporarily. Once Asterstar takes leadership upon himself, we'll restore whatever allies we've lost."

Leopardwillow lowered her ears. There was nothing she could do.

Brightnight agreed to take Lynxfang to the Moonstone in the evening. Raventuft was starting to come around to the title of deputy. All that Lynxfang needed right now was one last visit to the nursery before departing. Just for fun.

Asterkit had listened to it all, and was hissing to the tom as he walked in. He could not so much as reach his head, but he still showed his claws at him, spitting: "Mom told me about you! She said she kept seeing horrible things about you, from StarClan!" 

He had to laugh. "Little one, your mom was never trained to be a medicine cat. Who's to say her visions were real?"

"I'll run away before I'll be your apprentice!"

"And where would you go, huh? There's a snowstorm, tiny, and your coat is not as thick as mine. But it's whatever, really… if you die, all my problems are gone with you." 

Asterkit began cowering down, as Lynxfang's shadow covered him. He was such a big cat. It would be such a hard fight. 

"Oopsie, I wasn't supposed to spoil my future plans. Owies, I did it again. Ah, I guess it can't be helped. Unless…"

"Unless…?"

"Unless you help me. In whatever I ask you to do."

"W-what do you want from me?"

"Oh, but it's too complicated to explain right now, since you see… I gotta skedaddle. Keep that eagerness for a chit-chat for when I come back, alright, kiddo? Can you do that for me? Good."

"Leave him alone!" Horsekit jumped in front of Asterkit, hissing. "Go away!"

He purred. "You're such a funny molly, I might make you my apprentice as well, so you can protect him all the time! Later!"

Lynxfang walked away, feeling free for the first time in his life. He came back Lynxstar, leader of EarthquakeClan.

[impulsivewcrewrite]

Chapter 14: Shattered Questions

< Chapter 13 | ToC | Chapter 15 >

By some miracle of StarColony, Rusty reached the edge of the ravine before he knew it. He was exhausted, and his paws stung, but he made it before anyone else. There was time to find the truth. Sliding down, he tumbled into the camp and rolled towards the herb den. Sitting in the middle of the clearing was Rose. She gave Rusty a questioning look, but there was no time to explain. He burst into the druid’s den, and spotted a large lump of gray fur.

“Mog! Wake up!” he hissed urgently. He paused to catch his breath. 

An orange eye opened and reflected the moonlight. “I’m awake,” she meowed. “I’m assuming Shatter kept his word?”

“Huh?” Rusty puffed.

“As I left, Star Shatter vowed to drive me from the Valley. Did he say anything else?”

“He… he said our kits were in danger from you. You’ve gotta leave before everyone else gets back!”

“Do your Colonymates really believe in Shatter? That fox-hearted scoundrel?” the Mog flattened her ears.

“Yes, I heard them saying you’re dangerous! You have to get out now!” 

Tromping through the forest came the Gathering patrol. Angry cats shouted. They were almost here. The Mog made no attempt to stand up, so Rusty nudged her shoulder with his head. “Please, you have to get out!”

“Rusty. Do you think I’d do anything to hurt kits?” her voice was light. 

“What?”

“Tell me, do you think I hurt ShadowColony’s kittens, yes or no?” He stopped pushing and looked at her. Her face was calm. “If you think I’m innocent, then others might. Besides, I can’t run forever.”

Now the sounds were closer. They were coming down the tunnel. Rusty bounced on his paws. What would Tiger do to her? “But-!”

“Listen kid, I can handle myself. I appreciate the kind words, but I’ve got this, really. Even Tiger will obey the words of Bloom.”

He nervously glanced back at the main camp.

“Rusty, you should run,” the Mog’s voice was soft. “Don’t let anyone know you spoke to me. I am in the paws of StarColony now.”

He knew she’d made up her mind, but he couldn’t bear to have someone innocent be punished. Not while Shatter was ruling over ShadowColony. He bunted her shoulder, then dashed back to stand beside the apprentice’s den.

Almost as soon as he got in place, cats came storming in. First was Bloom, followed by Honeycomb. Frost and Willow came next, and raced to the nursery to check on the kits. After them came Tiger and Nightshade, eyes wide with concern. Others followed behind, until finally Raven and Pebbles slunk in. As soon as they arrived, Rusty ran over to meet them.

“Well? Did she admit to hurting kits?” Pebbles asked curiously.

“No! You don’t believe Shatter, do you?” Rusty shot back. “That bag of bones refused to leave, even when I begged.”

Cats who had stayed behind slowly began to creep out of their nests and into the main clearing. They must have smelled the strong fear scent, since their fur was spiked.

“Bloom, what happened? Where’s WindColony?” Stag called.

“Shatter demanded we allow them to hunt on our territory!” Nightshade hissed.

Just then, Willow came out of the nursery. “He warned us of an exiled ShadowColony cat who would harm our kits.”

Shouts of concern and fear rose from the crowd. Willow gently shook her head. “The kits are fine.”

“And they will always be safe here,” Bloom called out, quickly stepping up to Highrock. All heads turned to her.

But suddenly a loud screech made every cat turn its head toward the herb den. Hissing furiously, the Mog was dragged by Tiger and Nightshade into the clearing. Both warriors strained with the effort, and Rusty suppressed a chuckle. The Mog sure wasn’t the lightest cat to carry across camp. 

“Release her,” ordered Bloom. Tiger stepped back. Nightshade remained standing over the Mog.

“We should kill her now!” Nightshade spat. The Mog growled at him.

“StarColony strike me now if I ever harm a kit!” she spat.

“Enough. Nightshade, stand down. Did Shatter report what she did? He didn’t even name the Mog as the dangerous rogue,” Bloom’s voice sounded bored. “Stars above, I don’t trust Shatter as far as I can throw him. Neither should any of you! The Mog at least was upfront and honest about WindColony being exiled.”

“But-”

“But what Nightshade?” she rolled her eyes. “We need to focus on the real threat here. And that’s Shatter. RiverColony has already given up, but we will not. We will never surrender. ThunderColony is strong!” Bloom yowled. “I want to travel to the Moonstone. In this uncertain time, we need the guidance of our ancestors.”

Murmurs of agreement filled the camp.

“Speckle? Sparrow? We need to talk,” she mewed, leaping down and walking into her den.

“What’s the Moonstone?” Rusty asked, trying to catch what the others were saying.

“You seriously don’t know?” Sandy’s voice came from the apprentice’s den. Her voice carried an uncharacteristic amount of genuine curiosity. “Long ago, the Colony founders pulled it out of the sky, and buried it deep underground for protection. It’s a huge rock that glows like the moon.”

Pebbles nodded. “That’s where leaders go to receive their nine lives.”

“Nine lives? What do you mean?” 

“They have nine lives! They can die nine times, for the service of their Colony,” now Sandy’s eyes reflected the stars. “After they get their lives they can consult the life givers at the Moonstone. Only druids can speak with all of StarColony.”

“Wow!” Rusty would have to ask Scarlet what it was like. He looked towards the herb den and saw the Mog limping back into the ferns. Seems like her wounds got reopened, all thanks to Tiger and Nightshade, he thought bitterly.

“I told you something, now you tell me something. What happened at the Gathering?” Sandy mewed eagerly. It seemed she only hated the other apprentices when it was convenient. Pebbles began to explain the events to her, but Rusty tuned him out. He was focused on Raven. 

Raven was sitting near the warrior’s den. His ears were flattened and his eyes were wide with fear. The huge shadow of Tiger covered Raven. He was looming over Raven, spitting angrily into Raven’s ears. Raven flinched and cowered, until finally Tiger stood up and padded away. Before Rusty could call out to him, Raven rushed past them and into the apprentice’s den.

Questions burned in Rusty’s mind, but he decided they could wait. He wanted to speak with the Mog. He knew she had some answers. Quietly, he slid into the ferns surrounding the herb den. 

Inside the clearing, the Mog sat near the cracked stone, gently licking her old wounds. Beside her sat a leaf bundle brimming with poppy seeds. She flicked an ear, acknowledging his presence. “What’s the matter kid, never seen blood before?” she rasped. “Are you gonna stand around all day or tell me what’s going on?”

“No, I mean yes. I mean, I’m worried about Shatter and ShadowColony,” Rusty stammered. 

She stopped her cleaning and looked up at Rusty. Letting out a small sigh, she shifted in her nest to sit facing Rusty. “You’re preaching to the druids here, kid. I know.”

“That’s the thing, you do know. You know Shatter! Have you told Bloom about him? Like… like his weaknesses or anything? Or what strategies he’s going to use?”

“If I knew anything, I would’ve told her by now,” she looked away mournfully. “He stopped considering me a druid moons ago. He stopped considering me a cat a long time ago too. Now all I know is that he is a danger to the safety of all Colonies and cats.”

Rusty sat down. He knew that already. “Can you tell me what happened with WindColony? The Gathering was interrupted by this wild looking WindColony tom named Rocky.”

At this she stiffened. “I wasn’t there when it happened.”

“Rose and Nightshade found graves that smelled like ShadowColony cats. Were ShadowColony cats buried there?”

Again, she paused. “No. That’s where the slain WindColony cats were buried.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I buried them. Me, Rocky, Night, Wren, and Pigeon,” she stared intensely at Rusty, before looking away. “I… it’s the druid’s duty to send each dead cat’s spirit up to StarColony with a burial ceremony. Shatter left their bodies to rot, and… and picked over by crows. After I heard, I couldn’t just sit idly by.”

“Who are Rocky, Night, and Pigeon?” Rusty pressed. Each answer gave him more and more questions.

“Night, son of Rat, one of ShadowColony’s elders. At least, he was, until Shatter exiled them. He’d heard about the planned attack on WindColony, and insisted he come with me,” a deep sadness entered her voice. “He’s a good cat. StarColony knows he’d be a better leader than Shatter.”

“Are Wren and Pigeon part of ShadowColony too?”

“No, they’re from WindColony. Pigeon, son of Ginger, was Rocky’s apprentice, and Wren… Wren is someone else’s apprentice. Gobble’s, I think. But I don’t know what he was doing without his mentor, but those three were out of camp during the attack doing StarColony knows what. It may have spared them their lives…” she trailed off. “Augh, you got me rambling kid.”

“No, tell me more,” he insisted. Any information was good information. “Do you know where the remaining WindColony cats are now?”

“They told me they would try to form a shelter of their own somewhere near the territory. Beyond that, I have no idea. I’m sorry Rusty, truly, I just don’t know.”

“Thanks, the Mog.” 

One remaining question burned in the back of his mind. He barely dared to breathe it. From the moment he heard her name, this question had teased him. Every interaction with her, he fought to keep the query under control. 

What is her real name?

But he dared not ask. Instead, he dipped his head to her and left.

Before he could get far, he bumped into Scarlet. She was always a welcome sight. She smiled down at him.

“Bloom wants you to accompany her to the Moonstone. Tiger and Raven will also be joining you,” she chirped. “I’ll give you your traveling herbs now.”

Quickly she slid past him and gathered up two bundles of herbs. The Mog watched passively. She placed them in front of Rusty. 

“Travel safely,” purred Scarlet.

. . .

Back in the apprentice’s den, Rusty paused before entering his nest. He had placed the two herb bundles beside his and Raven’s nests. He looked up through the canopy of leaves at the stars glittering in the black sky above. Moonhigh had passed. 

“Ruddy, if you can hear me, I hope I can meet you again someday,” he quietly mewed. Then he looked back at his nest. He couldn’t imagine being able to sleep, with his new and exciting journey on his mind. Attending the Gathering, a journey to the Moonstone—how far away his kittypet life seemed now!

[cyanidas]

Uhh in lighter news I'm distracting with playing Skyrim a lot and I have a lot of sketch ideas for my character so when I'm well enough to draw again I'd love to show y'all my hijinks

Small update on why I been so quiet

My activity and creativity are directly proportionate to my depression and energy/spoons so whenever I'm quiet or inactive for extended periods of time it's bc I'm Not Doing Good my guy

Basically been absolutely swamped mentally, with all the bs I gotta do to apply for disability, and my therapist says my case isn't looking good from his angle so. I'm channeling all my energy into not beating the absolute living hell out of myself, and trying to stay productive enough to keep myself and the house clean instead.

Im alright, this is just how I manage and conserve myself and my energy. The sooner this hell is over, the better, but rest assured I am not Dead

[jayfrost-designs]

It's the last of the second TinySparrow litter, Quailfeather!  Hmm, Tinysparrow wouldn't be a bad warrior name...

Quailfeather has no physical description given other than his pattern, so I came up with my own for him. Quails (especially wild ones) are very small birds, and his mom's name is literally Tinycloud, so I decided to make him quite small and lithe in build. I used this image as a reference. He gets nice long ear tufts as a nod to how lots of quail species have long sticky-uppy feathers that jut out from their heads. That's usually domestic quails rather than wild ones, but shh, let's pretend some got loose and the Clans saw them.

For his pattern, Quailfeather is described as a white tom with crow-black ears. Since both of his littermates are pointed cats (drawing from their pointed dad Sparrowpelt), I decided to just go for broke and make the whole litter pointed. Quailfeather is a white cat with black points, but he has white spotting that completely covers up the black on his legs, and covers most of the black on his face and tail, leaving his big, tufty ears as the only thing on his pelt that's strikingly black, which I think fits very well for the written description. ^^ He has no canon eye color, so I gave him his mom's blue eyes.

Overall, I'm really happy with how he turned out. ^^

[puppiesandnightlock]

SCU! Knuckles meets Rouge!!

My part of the trade im doing with @picapicamagpie!!

Of all the pigheaded, irresponsible things his brother had done in his life, this was the worst. Leaving him with the Master Emerald, taking a NINE YEAR OLD CHILD(their youngest brother, no less, although he did have a gun)to go fight a screwed-up-in-the-head experiment hedgehog made in space(he did wonder, however, if this red striped hedgehog was like the little blue alien dog thing from a Disney movie they had seen with their parents), and, most irresponsible, absolutely terrified their parents. He scowled as he trudged through the dark forest, remembering his mother’s torn expression. Finding a small bush, he set the glowing gem inside of it, creating a little nest. He sighed, leaning against it. 

“Hey there, big guy.” A female voice came from the trees. There was rustling as a shadowed figure leaped from branch to branch.

“Show yourself!” Knuckles barked, shielding the emerald.

“As you wish.” Wings were tucked in as the figure sashayed out of the shadows, revealing a teenage bat.

She was wearing a crop-top with heart designs, black high-rise skinny jeans, and knee high white high heeled boots, completing the look with a black jacket and a smug expression.

“Who…who are you?” 

“Name’s Rouge the Bat. That’s a real nice jem you’ve got there, sweetie.”

Knuckles narrowed his eyes. “Here to steal it, are you, Bat?”

“Oh, no no no! Just passin’ through”

She batted her eyelashes and slowly sauntered up to him. “What’s your name, tough guy?”

“Knuckles. Of the Wachowski tribe, the most feared warrior in the galaxy.”

“Oh! Last of the echidnas, correct?”

“That I know of, yes.”

Rouge ran through the list of facts in her head. Eyes widened as she came to a conclusion. “So, that lovely jewel is the Master Emerald?”

“Why?”

“No reason.” 

‘Task complete. It’s a shame it had to end this way.’ She thought to herself.

Grinning, she came up behind the scowling echidna and ran a finger on the top of the jem.

“Well, see ya ‘round, handsome.”

She opened her wings and took off into the night sky, leaving Knuckles confused and slightly flustered.

Little did he know there was a small red device beeping on the back of his beloved emerald, so small that it was easily overlooked. The tracker read G.U.N.

*added this for fun lol*

“Hey, Rouge? Coming?” Jo-Jo called from the backseat of the car.

“Of course, sweetheart. I promised I’d paint your nails, didn’t I?” She gave a smile and walked up to the others. 

“Keep outta trouble, Shadow. I’ll come visit, promise.” Shadow scowled and looked away, but held out a fist. She grinned and bumped it.

“No more jewel thievery, got that?” Tom looked at her sternly and she laughed.

“Yea yea, don’t worry, Big Blue and the little foxy here will stop me.” She ruffled tails’ bangs and then sashayed up to Knuckles.

He looked away, muttering something about “better not steal the emerald again, Bat.” 

“You’re too serious, lighten up!” She giggled.

(“I tell him that all the time!”

“SHUT UP SONIC”)

“That’s my mission for you, until I see you again.” She tapped him on the nose and blew a kiss. 

“See ya ‘round, Knuckie!” She flew into the car and it sped off, leaving a very flustered Knuckles behind.

At this point, his muzzle was nearly the color of his quills, and he rubbed the spot where the kiss “landed”.

“Knuckie”, huh?” Sonic snickered as Knuckles covered his red face with his hand and walked past him.

A very quiet but angry “Shut it, Sonic.” was heard as he walked past. Tails was more subtle as he giggled at the exchange, watching his oldest brother storm into the house.

*the rest of the scene is up to your imagination lol*

**BONUS SCENE**

*after ending credits*

Leaves swirled on the tip of the hill as a blue flash appeared. Black boots with cyan markings hit the ground, followed by a pair of pink and white shoes. 

“He’s here. I’m sure of it.” A light gray hedgehog spoke to the lavender cat next to him, the light blue tattoos on his hands flaring.

“We’re coming, Iblis Trigger.”

[vibraniumwing]

the truth in your eyes.

a bucky barnes x fem!reader blurb wherein the reader shows bucky that someone does trust him.

WARNING: TFATWS SPOILERS, bucky having flashbacks, aside from that nothing else. (maybe a dash of angst if you squint just enough)

A/N: so as you all know, episode four was a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone and well that one scene where bucky was finally set free tore me into a million pieces, making me sob so hard (the hardest since the last episode of wandavision) and gave me so much muse. listened to hate to see your heartbreak by paramore while writing this. totally didn’t cry while re-watching those scenes for this fic. (sobbed even more when i listened to safe and sound bye)

beta read by these two lovelies: @anchoeritic and @harrysweasleys but mistakes are all mine!

---

“...Hail HYDRA” was all that left Bucky’s lips as he easily snapped the neck of the man that he pursued in another mission as the Winter Soldier. His face was blank and cold as he stood there, eyes gazing over the lifeless body of the man in front him before looking at the other man standing by the end of the hallway, practically frozen with fear.

The sound of his boots were resonating in the hallway, overpowering the clatter of the keys of the man as he tried his best to unlock his hotel room. Panic consumed him as he felt The Winter Soldier’s presence draw nearer to him, “P-Please, I didn’t see anything,” He begged, avoiding the super assassin’s intimidating gaze.

Fear creeping into his system as he knew he was facing his untimely death as the stare of the man made him cower even more in fear, his breath staggered as he spoke, “I- I didn’t see anything.” He repeated profusely, unable to control his sobs as the gun was easily pointed to him, eyes closing as his demise came with a loud

BANG

Bucky jolted awake, sweat accumulating on his forehead, his body flushed despite the cold air that drifted through the room. His head turned to the cause of the sudden sound only to see your water bottle on the floor and your siamese cat, Steve, replacing its spot. He shifted his attention to you, wanting to make sure that you weren’t disturbed in your sleep.

The corner of his lips turned into a smile to see you deep in your slumber, your plush tiers slightly ajar as soft snores escaped. You looked so snug and harmless in his shirt, its size making you seem smaller as you were drowning in the clothing piece.

He slowly made his way out of your bed, slipping away to the kitchen to grab some milk to calm down his nerves. His steps were quiet, creeping around the apartment, scared he might accidentally wake you up and the last thing he wants is to disrupt you from your good night’s rest.

Bucky knew the layout of your apartment’s layout like the back of his hand, easily making his way towards the fridge where he grabbed his carton of chocolate milk that you bought especially for him, knowing about the secret love for sweets the man has. Grabbing a mug, he poured the cold drink and placed it inside the microwave, heating it up.

He then leaned back into the kitchen island, arms crossed together as he was still deep in thought, the terror of the innocent man that The Winter Soldier killed haunting him as he knew he had to make amends with his father once he gained the courage to do so. His right arm covering his mouth as he let a frustrated groan, wanting nothing more than to have these dreams stop haunting him.

“It is time” Ayo said from across the fire, spear in her hand as she looked at Bucky with a determined look.

He was less than half of the man he was at present, broken and lost as the Wakandans took him in and helped him regain control over his mind, hoping to give him some sort of stability in his life. Hiis eyes cast down and was focused on the fire in front of him, its warmth giving him a sense of comfort, “You sure about this?” he questioned, voice laced with a mixture of despair and hope.

“I won’t let you hurt anyone” The warrior reassured, staying silent for a moment to give way for Bucky to ready himself. She walked towards him slowly as she started off, “желание” her voice the only thing heard aside from the gust of wind and the crackle of the campfire. “Ржавый”

“...семнадцать” and that’s when he felt it. Flashbacks of him and Steve’s fight along the highway of New York coming back to him, the first time he encountered him after years of no contact; he didn’t even know himself when Steve called him Bucky. His struggle as Zemo got a hold of the infamous red notebook that holds his trigger words, activating the Winter Soldier that caused disruption amongst the avengers.

“добросердечный, добрый. девять” Ayo continued, watching him intently, seeing the struggle that was clear as day on his face. Bucky continued to have his memories thrown at him, seeing the destruction he caused as something he wasn’t, causing him to erupt in tears.

“Один” His torment under the hands of HYDRA causing him great pain as he fought everything under his willpower to keep everything contained. Bucky’s tears were uncontrollable as realization hit him.

“грузовой вагон” Ayo finished, looking at him with a warm and proud smile, relief evident in her demeanor as she spoke, “You’re free.” causing him to erupt into a sob.

Those two words echoing in his mind as he finally felt free, a heavy weight lifted off from his shoulders, feeling himself gain control over the monster that lived inside him; overjoyed and relieved that he can start the journey of being free from there. He was finally James Buchanan Barnes again.

“Bucky!” a voice disconnected him from his train of thought, head whipping to the side where he saw you, clad in just his shirt as you hugged the pillow with one arm, the other raised as you rubbed the sleep off from your eyes. “Your milk is cold again.” you stated, dropping the pillow as you walked in front of him, wrapping your arms around his bare torso.

He was quick to reciprocate the hug, holding you close to him. “You shouldn’t be up yet, doll.” His voice was gruff, trying his best to hold back the tears that welled up in his eyes, pressing a quick kiss to the crown of your head before burying his face against your neck, inhaling your scent that he found comfort in.

“The cold is bed without you.” You mumbled softly, feeling drowsier than ever as the heat from his body was enough to lull you back into slumber. Your jumbled sentence made him chuckle, further proving his point that you should be sleeping.

But you knew Buck like the back of your hand, he would only drink his chocolate milk hot if there was something he wanted to clear his mind so you pulled away just enough for you to look at him, your e/c orbs meeting his icy blue ones that showcase so much emotion that his face couldn’t convey. “What’s wrong, James?”

His brows furrowed for a second upon your use of his real name, knowing that you were serious about your question, “Nothing, baby. I’m fine.” He reassured, squeezing you lightly in his arms, hoping that you would buy his alibi but you weren’t fooled despite your sleepy state.

“You only drink your chocolate milk warm if you have something on your mind, so please, James. Tell me.” You pleaded, your innocent state tugging Bucky at the heartstrings as he flipped your position, easily lifting you to sit on the kitchen island as he positioned himself in the middle of your legs, his arms not leaving your frame.

“I… I had another nightmare.” Buck started off, his voice was still as low as before, but it was laced with a hint of brokenness as he recalled the horror of his dream. “You know the recurring one I’ve been dealing with? That one.” he didn’t want to go into detail about anything, finding it hard to find the right words to use. “I… I still feel like a monster.”

You shushed him, pulling away to let your hands rest on his shoulders, your eyes meeting his once again. “You’re not a monster, Buck. You never were.” Which was true, you were the few who believed that he was innocent and not a cold-hearted killer like everyone believes him to be. “You didn’t have a choice一 so please don’t blame yourself for any of this,”

Your smaller hands found its spot on the sides of his face, wiping the tears that glistened on his skin as the moonlight hit him, highlighting the beauty of his eyes even more. “It would take a person with real empathy to see the truth in your eyes. Those beautiful eyes that have shown me nothing but love and adoration, you have my trust Buck. You have me, Sam, and… Steve. You have us.”

Bucky was silent, taking in your words before nodding, his larger hands engulfing yours as he held them, giving them a reassuring squeeze. “Thank you, Y/N. For always believing in me, for trusting me.”

“Always, James. Always.”

---

TAGLIST: @https-bvcky @luana @harrysweasleys @weasleytwins-41 @anchoeritic @lunalovecroft

those whose usernames are in bold, i cannot tag you for some weird reason. join my taglist! it's located in my main masterlist!

[redux-iterum]

A Kindling: Chapter Twenty-Three

(AO3 counterpart here.)

Firepaw had expected that his rest, uneven as it was, would lift his mood. Instead, he instead woke up feeling worse.

Regretting every step, he hauled himself out of his nest and slunk past a still-sleeping Ravenpaw and Greypaw, emerging into the camp clearing. A few cats were up, but it was still quite early, and even Goldenflower looked to be asleep. The hag lifted her head just as Firepaw looked her way; she blinked her squinted eyes and caught sight of her caretaker. Firepaw dipped his head and fetched her a small bird, presenting it to her silently.

She didn’t take the bird right away. She first cocked her head and appraised him, jaw stuck to the side in thought.

“Something wrong?” Firepaw asked, trying to sound cheerful and coming out with poorly-veiled moroseness.

There was a slight pause before the hag answered. “Chin up.”

Firepaw blinked. “Sorry?”

“Keep your chin up.” She shifted from her side to her stomach, a little taller. “You’re depressing me.”

“Oh.” Firepaw cleared his throat and raised his head, adding, “Sorry.”

“Ach, none of that.” The hag waved a paw dismissively. “Heard the events yesterday. Quite fun, the reaction.” She winked at him. “Your matriarch’s earned her spot.”

Firepaw tilted his head. “Redtail said something when I came back. About a ‘whole thing’. Did something happen?”

“Ha!” The hag’s teeth jutted forward. “Ought to have seen it. Lovely row.”

Firepaw glanced back at Goldenflower, who was still asleep. “Did… did she get mad, or something?”

“Oh, hey!”

Mousefur walked into view, blocking Goldenflower. She was looking at Firepaw with surprise.

“You’re up early,” she said. “I thought you’d sleep more.”

“Good evening,” Firepaw said, again failing to sound cheerful. “I just woke up, I guess.”

Mousefur’s amber eyes softened and she inclined her head, regarding him sympathetically. The two brown tabbies, Teaselfoot and Lizardtail, emerged from the warriors’ den and approached her.

“Evening, ant,” Teaselfoot said, “and old Yellow Fangs.”

Lizardtail gave him a dry look. “That’s not her name.”

“Really? I thought I heard the kits calling her that.” Teaselfoot turned to Firepaw like he was expecting an amused reaction, but he immediately straightened up and his face went neutral.

The hag snorted. “Better than my old name. Right tired of hearing you all call me ‘our guest’.”

“Would you prefer ‘prisoner?” Lizardtail asked, voice snippy.

The hag stuck her tongue out at him and he bristled. Firepaw tried to find amusement in that, but his heart was still too heavy.

“Well, whoever you are,” Mousefur said to the hag, “would you mind if we snagged the kid for a bit? How would you like to come on border patrol with us, Firepaw?”

Lizardtail whipped his head around to look down at her. “We don’t need—”

“Oh, that sounds fun!” Teaselfoot said over him. “Yeah, come with us. You look like you could use a good jog.”

Firepaw didn’t know how to respond to the offer—they really wanted his company of their own volition? He looked back at the hag for permission, for guidance, for anything.

She gave him a nod. “Go on with them. The fat boy can bring me what’s needed.”

“‘Fat boy’?” Mousefur squinted at her.

“Yes, the fat one,” the hag said with a flick of her tail. “Whatever his name is. The big grey one.”

“…You mean Greypaw?”

“Sure.” The hag rolled her shoulder. “Off with you to your patrol, now. I’m eating.”

She pulled her bird to her chest, and her disgusting snorts and grunts started up again as she tore into the back. Firepaw looked away quickly and nodded to Mousefur. She jerked her head towards the entrance in a “come on” gesture and led the toms off and through the short tunnel.

“Thank you for inviting me,” Firepaw said once they were out in the forest. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

Lizardtail’s eyes slid back to give him a disdainful look, but Teaselfoot gave him a friendly tap on the side with his tail. “We wouldn’t have brought you along if you were intruding!”

“Yeah, and you don’t need to be stuck in camp taking care of her all night,” Mousefur said. “Especially after yesterday.”

“Hoooo.” Teaselfoot shook his pelt. “That was something.”

“What happened?” Firepaw asked. “No one’s told me yet. It sounds like there was an argument.”

“Oh, was there ever,” Teaselfoot chuffed. “Goldenflower was furious with Bluestar when she came back without you. Ravenpaw and Greypaw explained it where we could all hear and I swear Goldenflower was about to swat Bluestar.”

“She’s quite fond of you, our matriarch,” Mousefur said. “You’re lucky to have her on your side. Even Tigerclaw said something!”

Firepaw stared at her. “Really?”

Lizardtail sniffed. “All he said was that he’d suggested you get to rest after your trip. It wasn’t anything like Goldenflower yelling.”

“And did she yell!” Teaselfoot stomped a foot, scattering loose soil. “That’s the maddest I’ve seen her since Darkstripe scared Ravenpaw when he was a kit.”

“It was quite a scene,” Mousefur said. “I’m just glad she went out to find you herself, Firepaw. If she’d made Bluestar do it, I don’t know how that would’ve gone.”

Firepaw blinked at her. “She can’t order Bluestar to do anything, can she? Bluestar’s the leader.”

“And Goldenflower is the matriarch,” Lizardtail said. “What’s your point?”

“I… don’t know.” Firepaw looked ahead, trotting to keep up with Mousefur. “I just figured that Bluestar was in charge, and she can’t be told what to do.”

“Anyone can do anything, chrii,” Teaselfoot said with a twitch of his whiskers. “That old seer could bark orders to her, and she doesn’t even have a name. Leaders aren’t untouchable. No one is.”

Mousefur hummed. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to question Goldenflower.”

“By law, I mean,” Teaselfoot corrected. “Legally, no one’s untouchable.”

“Kits,” Lizardtail said.

Teaselfoot huffed. “Okay, you two are ruining my point—”

“Apprentices, too, technically,” Mousefur added, with a wink to Firepaw.

“Can you please—” Teaselfoot thwapped her with his tail. “You’re confusing the kid.”

“Are you confused, Firepaw?” Mousefur asked innocently.

Firepaw tried not to chuff. “I’m following okay.”

Teaselfoot groaned with great exaggeration, eliciting a snort out of Lizardtail. “Gee, thanks.”

Mousefur’s tail waved over her back as she made a right, the toms following her. “On a serious note, keep an eye out, guys. Frostfur said she saw an adder up this way.”

“They’re already awake?” Teaselfoot complained.

“It’s the middle of spring,” Lizardtail said. “Of course they’re awake.”

“I thought we’d get lucky, is all.”

“On what, snakes oversleeping this far out?”

“Well, you never know! Maybe StarClan was kind to us.”

“What’s an adder?” Firepaw asked. “And a snake?”

Lizardtail already had his mouth open for a presumed snarky response, but Mousefur cut him off. “Have you seen a worm before?”

Firepaw thought for a moment. “Those slimy little pale things? Like, the ones that look like a mouse tail?”

“Those are the ones.” Mousefur nodded. “Snakes are that, but way bigger and tougher and usually brown, and an adder is a type of snake. They have fangs like us, too, but the fangs have venom in them.”

Firepaw squinted a little. “Venom?”

“Horrible stuff,” Teaselfoot put in. “A single bite will kill a cat, especially one your size.”

“So we need to be careful going this way.” Mousefur glanced around as if she was expecting a snake to come out at them immediately. “They usually stay by Snakerocks, but still, if Frostfur saw one out here…”

Firepaw had the vague image of something long, like Lizardtail’s tail, with a mouth bearing horrible fangs. He shivered. “Do they attack a lot?”

“Oh, no, not a lot,” Teaselfoot said quickly. “Only when they’re disturbed. We’re too big for them to eat, so usually they just hiss at us and slither off. Still, if they’re antagonized—”

“You’d have to be an idiot to antagonize them,” Lizardtail said dryly. “We’ll be fine.”

“If you say so.” Teaselfoot tilted his head in a half-nod. “But if we see an adder, I’m pushing you in front.”

Lizardtail looked grumpier than he sounded. “I could overpower you, easily.”

“You’d have to catch me first!” Teaselfoot trilled, like a songbird. “Get Mousefur instead.”

“She can overpower both of us.”

Teaselfoot made a face at his sister. “If we were apprentices, maybe. But then we couldn’t touch her, could we?”

Mousefur rolled her eyes. “I’ll fight you in the hollow anytime.”

“No thanks,” Teaselfoot said. “I’m not looking forward to being humiliated.”

A chuff bubbled out of Firepaw’s chest and he ducked his head to hide it, almost tripping as he did.

“There we go!” Teaselfoot beamed, looking quite pleased with himself. “Feel better, Firepaw?”

Firepaw nodded, a little sheepish at the sudden attention.

“Then our real work is done.” Teaselfoot gave a self-satisfied nod to Mousefur. “Now we just have to mark the border.”

“Let’s do it,” Mousefur said. “Everyone up for a run?”

At the sounds of agreement, she picked up her pace into a half-lope that somehow still managed to be fast enough that Firepaw almost had to sprint to keep up. Teaselfoot easily outpaced everyone, but he was polite enough to stay close, and Lizardtail kept to the back of the patrol, with Firepaw by Mousefur.

They reached the northern border—that by the road—and the male warriors went to work marking as Mousefur climbed up the gravel to peer over the road and into ShadowClan territory. Firepaw took the moment to catch his breath, but the run energized him more than exhausted him. Mousefur called a report that the border was safe before climbing back down (much more smoothly than Firepaw ever could) and returning to the lead of the patrol.

The rest of the patrol was pleasant—Lizardtail kept his snark to a minimum, thankfully, and Teaselfoot and Mousefur chatted with each other and Firepaw. Firepaw only really spoke when spoken to, but it was often enough that he wasn’t left out of the conversation. The longer the patrol went on, the more cheer filled up his chest, and by the time they had finished their route and were on the way home, he had completely forgotten about his depression from earlier.

To his surprise, the patrol only marked half of the border; they made it within sight of Fourtrees before turning and heading back into the forest. By the sounds of it, there was another patrol to mark the rest of the border, but Firepaw was a bit disappointed (and anxious) that he had to go back home, even though it was the middle of the night and his belly growled for food.

They entered camp in single-file, and few cats were around—the rest must have been on the other patrol. Teaselfoot was the one to lead the way to the prey-pile, licking his lips.

“I saw a particularly fat squirrel this evening,” he said, “and if it’s not here, I swear—”

“Darkstripe took it,” Lizardtail said, pawing out a rat. “Saw him before we left.”

“Aw, the utter—” Teaselfoot sighed. “I’ll bet anything he didn’t even finish it.”

 “Will you move?” Mousefur nudged her brother, surprisingly pushing him harder than Firepaw had expected. “We’re all hungry. Firepaw, what do you want?”

“Um…” Firepaw floundered for a second at the sudden question. “If there’s a mole or a mouse, I’d like that.”

“Boy, you don’t eat much.” Mousefur pulled at a wormy tail and pried the mouse out of the stack, tossing it his way. “You need more food if you’re going to get big and strong like us.”

“Let him stay tiny,” Teaselfoot said. “It’s funny.”

Mousefur bopped him. Firepaw chuffed, picked up the mouse with a “thank you” and turned to find somewhere to eat.

He almost dropped his prey in surprise. Bluestar was two steps away from standing over him again.

Firepaw stood straight and cleared his throat, putting the mouse down. The conversation faltered behind him; the others were watching. Bluestar stopped when she was close enough to touch Firepaw with her nose and lowered her head to his eye level.

She opened her mouth, hesitated, and then spoke evenly. “Did you enjoy your patrol?”

Firepaw focused on keeping eye contact and nodded.

“Good.” Again, a heartbeat of hesitation, like she wasn’t sure what to say. “I thought you might like a private patrol tomorrow as well. With me.”

Firepaw blinked. “…What are we doing?”

“We’ll be hunting,” Bluestar said. “And perhaps checking the Sunningrocks border.”

Firepaw initially started to decline, or at least question if that was a waste of her time—but he caught a flicker of emotion in her eyes. Not embarrassment this time. Something close to apologetic. Perhaps shame?

She wasn’t apologizing out loud, but she was offering something to make up for the argument and punishment.

Immediately,the lingering dark cloud of negativity in his stomach settled. Firepaw, relieved, nodded. “I’d like to do that.”

Bluestar relaxed a little herself. She gave him a single nod and straightened up. “Go on with your meal. You only need to check on our guest tonight once in a while.”

Firepaw dipped his head to her and retrieved his mouse in one motion. He passed Bluestar with a tail-flick and picked out his usual place by the apprentices’ den.

Ravenpaw and Greypaw were out, and there wasn’t really much activity in the camp, but Firepaw appreciated the quiet and solitude this time. He munched on his mouse, observing Bluestar as she walked past the hag. She paused for a moment to look down at the bundle of dark fur, who gave her a smirk before grooming herself (Firepaw would have to remember to check her for knots again). Bluestar’s face showed nothing, and she continued on to the entrance.

[bumblesimagines]

Green Thumb

Part 9

Request: Yes or No

Almost at double digits y'all. Can someone be an angel and send me the ages of every one between civil war and endgame? Ik Wanda was 18-19 in Age of Ultron and Civil war and Sam was probs in his mid to late twenties in Civil War.

~

You frowned, touching the collar around your neck. It made you feel like an animal. It was to prevent you from using your powers. Rhodes had mentioned it would shock you if you attempted to use your powers. You weren't sure if it was instantaneous or if someone controlled it but you didn't feel like finding out.

"You like cats?" Sam asked T'Challa, prince of Wakanda.

"Sam." Steve called, glancing over his shoulder like a disapproving parent. You snorted softly, biting your bottom lip.

"What? Dude shows up dressed like a cat and you don't want to know more?" Sam asked, looking at Steve.

"I like cats." You mumbled, looking at Sam with a small smile. Sam turned towards you with a small grin.

"Of course you do, Animal Planet." You rolled your eyes at the new nickname, shifting slightly. You really didn't want to trigger the collar.

"I'm a dog person."

"You look like a dog person."

"And what do dog people look like?"

"Morons." You answered, giving a slight shrug as Steve cracked a smile, trying to bite back a chuckle. Sam huffed lightly, looking away from you. A moment of silence passed before Steve spoke.

"Your suit.. Vibranium?" Steve asked T'Challa. The prince turned his head slightly.

"The Black Panther has been the protector of Wakanda for generations. It's meant to pass from warrior to warrior. Now, because your friend murdered my father, I also wear the mantle of king. So I ask you.. How long do you think you can keep your friend safe from me?" T'Challa asked, finally looking at Steve. Steve stayed silent, looking forward. You sighed through your nose, feeling the tension return. You wondered if Clint had been notified of your arrest yet. The van pulled into a parking garage, officers opening the door once it came to a stop. You got out, following Steve to the man and blonde.

"What's gonna happen to him?" Steve asked. You turned your head, looking over at him. You made eye contact with him again, holding it for a minute before looking away.

"What was that?" Sam asked quietly. You frowned, brows furrowing.

"That- That little staring contest."

"Oh, shut up." You huffed, looking away from him.

"Same thing that's gonna happen to you. Psychological evaluation." The man replied.

"This is Everett Ross, CIA operative and Task Force Commander." The woman, Sharon Carter, introduced him. Her gaze flickered to you.

"The shock collar will be taken off after the evaluation." She said, voice stotic but gaze pitiful.

"What about a lawyer?"

"Lawyer, that's funny. See their weapons are placed in lock up." Ross instructed the officers. Sam scoffed, following the officers. Steve spared one last glance to Bucky before following Ross and the officers. You walked besides Sam, being escorted through the building.

"You'll be placed in offices instead of cells. Do me a favor and stay in them." Ross stared straight forward as he spoke. T'Challa moved to walk beside him.

"I don't intend on going anywhere." T'Challa said. You spotted Natasha, feeling some sense of relief.

"Clint was informed and I assured him I'd keep an eye on you." Natasha told you, giving a small reassuring smile. She looked at Steve, addressing him. The relief went away upon hearing Tonys' voice. He finished his phone call, approaching you and the guys.

"Consequences?" Steve questioned, staring at him. You looked around the large room, noticing the screens and everything going on.

"Secretary Ross wants you three prosecuted." Tony said, motioning to them and you. Your brows furrowed slightly. There were two guys with the last name Ross who looked vaguely alike. That definitely wouldn't be hard to remember.

"I'm not getting that shield back, am I?" Steve asked as Tony and Natasha walked away.

"Technically, it belongs to the government. Wings too." Natasha said, shrugging.

"That's cold." Sam muttered.

"Warmer than jail." Tony called back. You looked at the security cameras, noticing the room Bucky had been moved to.

"You got the hots for him or something?" Sam asked. Steve turned to look at you, blinking a few times. You shot Sam a look, raising your brows.

"No, Samuel. I do not and if I did, why would you ask infront of his longtime bestie?" You asked, almost gritting your teeth. Sam raised his hands in surrender as Tony pulled Steve into a meeting room to talk.

"Why have a meeting in a glass box?" You asked quietly. Sam shrugged, looking it over.

"To prevent fighting." Sam answered. You watched at Steve and Tony seemed to argue. You looked at Sam with an amused smile.

"Physical fights." Sam clarified as Tony stepped out and Sharon had you and Sam enter. You took a seat across from Sam, looking at the security camera footage. Sharon entered, placing a paper infront of Sam.

"I'm sorry about the collar." Sharon apologized softly. You leaned back in the seat, shrugging lightly. She pressed a button, allowing Steve to listen to the footage. Sharon slid over some photos over to Steve.

"Why would the Task Force release this?" Steve asked. Sharon gave a shrug.

"To alert the public, I guess."

"Right.. A good way to force a guy into hiding. Got seven billion people looking for The Winter Solider."

"You're saying someone framed the guy to find him." Sharon mused quietly. Sam seemed confused, looking at Steve. You looked back at the footage on screen.

"Steve, you looked for the guy for two years and found nothing." Sam reminded him.

"We didn't bomb the UN."

"That doesn't guarantee that the person who framed him knew that we'd get him." Sharon looked at Steve. She suddenly frowned, brows furrowing as Steve turned towards the footage. You looked up as the power went out, seeing the staff begin to freak out and try to locate the source. You looked at Sam, slowly standing up. Sharon took out a key, sliding it over to you.

"Level 5 east wing." She said as you unlocked the collar, tossing it to the side as running out of the room with Sam and Steve. Whoever had framed Bucky had found him. You followed the two down the hall and down some stairs. You reached the area, finding guards on the ground. The interviewer lied on the ground, calling for help. Steve approached him with you hesitantly following. You noticed movement out of the corner of your eye, dodging Sam when he was thrown towards you.

"Hey, dude." You breathed out, swallowing. Bucky had a deep frown on his face, blue eyes holding nothing but bloodlust. He looked downright terrifying. You thrusted both hands forward, shooting a fireball that sent him flying back against the wall. Steve quickly stepped between you and him as you turned and rushed to Sam.

"Sam? Sam!" You shook his shoulders, shakey fingers pressing against his neck. You felt his pulse, relieved to feel his heartbeat. You slapped his cheek, waking him up.

"I've always wanted to do that." You muttered, watching him wince. He groaned, turning his head. You followed his gaze, seeing the guy from before looking down where Steve had been thrown. You stood, helping Sam up and following him up a set of stairs. With Steve out of commission temporarily and Bucky in a frenzy, the guy was the only hope of stopping everything.

"Can you try to stop him or trip him up?" Sam asked, rushing up the stairs.

"I can't see him and I'd rather not make this whole building collapse on accident." You replied, almost tripping over your own feet. Sam found an exit, following the crowd of people running.

"He looked like any other guy." You said, taking in deep breaths. Sam shot you a weird look.

"We just ran up like five flights of stairs." You breathed out, hands resting on your knees. At least the chilly weather provided some help. Sam noticed a jacket, jogging over and picking it up. You stumbled after him, looking it over.

"I really need some water." You whispered, lightly fanning yourself. Sam rolled his eyes, following the crowd of people. You sluggishly followed, giving him a small smile when he stopped by a shop to get you a bottle. He took out his phone as you drank half of it.

"Come on." Sam pulled you along, following direction and entering warehouse. Steve had Bucky laying against some machinery, unconscious and metal arm trapped in a wedge.

"You two okay?" Steve asked, looking you and Sam over with a concerned frown.

"Yeah.. Someone over here needs some more training." Sam glanced at you with a teasing smile. You rolled your eyes, licking your lips as you heard the sound of a helicopter.

"Could you ice over his arm?" Steve asked.

"He broke a stone wall. Ice won't hold him but sure, I'll do it." You shrugged, approaching the unconscious man. You licked your lips, splashing the rest of the water on the machinery and touching it after. The ice creeped down, covering over the metal arm. You looked at him, finally getting a proper look. He was handsome. Brown hair that barely reached his shoulders, facial hair just growing in, those icy blue eyes that either swirled with sadness or anger.

"You're giving him bedroom eyes again." Sam called, his voice echoing slightly. You clenched your jaw, looking at him.

"What? I can't admire something that looks nice?" You asked, watching his demeanor change. He looked alert yet amused. You frowned, looking back at Bucky and finding him staring right at you. You rolled your lips into your mouth, clearing your throat.

"God, that's so embarrassing." You whispered, speedwalking towards Sam as he cracked up. You ignored your burning face, arms crossing. Sam calmed down, wiping away a tear. Steve walked over, watching Bucky grunt and sit up. He looked at Steve, calling out his name in a hoarse voice.

"Which Bucky am I talking to?" Steve asked, staring at him intently. Bucky stayed silent for a moment before speaking.

"Your moms' name was Sarah... And you used to wear newspapers in your shoes." Bucky said, smiling softly. Steve relaxed, gaze softening.

"You don't read that in a magazine."

"Just like that we're supposed to be cool?" Sam asked, giving Steve a slightly wide eyed look.

"What did I do?" Bucky asked, looking between you, Steve, and Sam.

"Enough." Steve answered. Bucky shut his eyes tightly, shaking his head as he hung his head.

"I knew this would happen.." He whispered. "Everything HYDRA put inside of me is still there. All he had to do was say the god damn words."

"Who was he?"

"I don't know." Bucky answered, though you weren't sure if it was truthful or not. He didn't seem like the type to lie, at least not to Steve.

"People are dead. The guy did all that just to get ten minutes with you." Steve pointed out, watching his old best friend. Bucky looked defeated and confused. "I need you to do better than 'I don't know'."

"He wanted to know about Siberia. Where I was captain." Bucky said quietly, gaze flickering around as he tried to remember.

"He wanted to know exactly where."

"Why would he need to know that?" Bucky stayed silent, licking his lips as he stared at the ground. He looked at Steve.

"Cause I'm not the only Winter Solider." He revealed. You looked at Sam in confusion and surprise. Bucky was strong and deadly on his own but a whole army could overthrow governments all over the world.

"That's terrifying." You whispered, leaning against the wall and sliding down so you were sitting down. Steve chose to lean against the wall after letting Bucky's arm free.

"Who are they?" Steve asked as Bucky brushed some hair out of his face.

"Their most elite death squad. More kills than anyone in HYDRA history and that was before the serum." Bucky responded.

"They all turn out like you?" Sam asked. Bucky looked at him, swallowing.

"Worse."

"The doctor... Did he control them?" Steve tilted his head. Bucky looked down at his lap.

"Enough."

"Said he wanted to see an empire fall." Steve told you and Sam. Bucky looked up at his words.

"These guys could do it. They speak thirty languages, can hide in plain sight, infiltrate, assassinate. They could take a whole country down over night and you'd never see them coming."

"Color me impressed." You whispered, playing with the strings of the jacket you were given after getting to Berlin. Sam slowly walked towards Steve.

"This would've been a lot easier a week ago." Sam said quietly, arms crossing. You stood up, dusting off your pants and approaching them.

"If we told Tony-"

"He'd have him locked up." You cut off Steve, glancing back at him.

"Plus, he'd never believe us." Sam added.

"But if he did-"

"It wouldn't matter and who knows if the Accords would let us help him." Sam stared at him. Steve let out a defeated sigh, looking away from you and Sam.

"We're on our own."

"Not completely. Dad would help." You pointed out. Sam nodded, glancing at you.

"And, I know a guy." Sam said with a light shrug. You looked at him with a raised brow.

"You have friends?"

"I said I know him, not that we're friends but to answer your question, yes. I have friends that aren't you. Jealous?"

"Imaginary friends don't count."

~~~~~~~~~~

The drive was silent, Steve and Bucky occasionally reminiscing about the old days.

"On a scale of one to ten, how impressed is Clint gonna be when he sees you?" Sam asked. You smiled, letting out a chuckle as you watched the snowflake float inches above your hand.

"Probably an eleven, but he'll give me the typical dad speech infront of mom." You answered, lightly blowing on the snowflake and watching it disappear. Bucky turned his head to look at you. His muscular figure was semi cramped in the backseat. Steve picked the worst possible car to hijack.

"Hawkeye's your father?"

"Adoptive. He has a tendency of taking care of strays who once tried to take down the team." You told him, giving a small smile. Bucky hummed, nodding.

"Speaking of strays, how are you and Wanda?" Sam asked, glancing in the rearview mirror.

"Uhm, good? We're still good friends, even after the kiss." You shrugged lightly.

"Woah, kiss?" Steve repeated, brows raising.

"Yeah, we kissed but it felt.. Weird. There was no spark or overwhelming emotions. The love I have for her is the same love I have for Lila and the boys. She'll always be like a sister to me." You told them, glancing at Bucky. Bucky was still a bit on edge but you could tell he was trying to get adjusted.

"What are your powers?" Bucky asked, attempting to get comfortable in the car.

"I'm like the avatar, I guess."

"Who?" Bucky furrowed his brows. You blinked, lips parting as you stared at him. He was from the 1900s and worked for a criminal organization, obviously he wouldn't know a kids show from the 2000s.

"It's- It's from a show. An avatar is someone who controls all four elements and they basically save the world, I guess." You explained, growing a bit embarrassed at how silly it sounded. Bucky didn't seem to judge, giving a small smile.

"We could watch it together, if you want. It's a nice show." You offered, smiling. Sam raised his brows.

"Wonder what Clint will think about that." He muttered as Steve glanced at you and Bucky through the rearview mirror. You shot Sam a small glare, reaching out and touching the back of his neck with cold fingers. He hissed and leaned forward, pouting as he rubbed his neck.

"Yeah, I'd like that." Bucky said softly, nodding. You looked back at him, a smile appearing on your face. Bucky was incredibly attractive and you couldn't deny having a small growing crush on him but you didn't want to cross a boundary. He was from the 1900s afterall.

"How'd you end up fighting the Avengers?" Bucky asked, focusing all his attention onto you.

"The orphanage I grew up in threatened to kick me out since I had turned 18. I freaked and caused an accidental forest in the orphanage so the team was called." You told him, chuckling softly. Buckys' gaze softened, a hum leaving him.

"You've got some pretty cool powers, doll."

"Doll?" Steve and Sam repeated. A flustered smile appeared on your face, giggling softly. Bucky glanced at the two, wondering if he had crossed a line or said something wrong.

"Thanks." You looked forward, biting back an even bigger smile. You weren't completely sure if he was flirting or not but it was nice to get a compliment from an attractive guy, even if he had almost broken your friends' back an hour before. Steve slowly parked the car, getting out to greet Sharon.

"Could you move the seat up?" Bucky asked Sam, arm moving so it resting ontop of the carseats. His metal fingers lightly brushed against your hair but you weren't bothered by it.

"No." Sam replied. Bucky let out a deep sigh. You bit your bottom lip, looking at him.

"We can switch." You shrugged lightly.

"It's fine-"

"No, you shouldn't be squished back here." You faced him, feeling him gently grab your waist. He was incredibly gentle and cautious, moving you onto his lap briefly before he scooted to the side. You sat behind Sam, lightly kicking the seat. Sam moved it forward ever so slightly. You looked over at Steve and Sharon, blinking when they kissed.

"Oh? When did that happen?" You asked, brows furrowed. You knew there was some attraction between them but you didn't expect them to already be at the kissing stage.

"A while back, I think."

"Huh.." You whispered. Steve returned to the car with Sam's wings and his shield, putting them in the trunk. He drove to an airport parking lot, pulling up beside a van. You smiled widely, quickly getting out when Sam pulled the seat forward.

"Thanks for keeping my kid safe, Cap." Clint said, opening his arms as soon as he spotted you. You happily hugged him, feeling a sense of relief and safety wash over you.

"About time you started causing me trouble." Clint grinned as he pulled back. You noticed Wanda, pulling her into a hug as well.

"Saw it on the news. You okay?" She asked softly. You nodded, pulling back and brushing some of her red hair out of her face.

"Vision let you go easy?" You asked. Wanda shook her head, chuckling softly. Sam approached you, glancing back at Bucky.

"Might want to keep an eye on these two." Sam said, motioning to you and Bucky. Clint stared at him before looking turning to look at you. Wanda tilted her head, looking at you as well.

"You're such a dick." You muttered. You knew Sam was just being protective. He had always seen and treated you like a brother.

"Bad boy and older, huh? God, I hoping you had skipped those phases." Clint sighed heavily. You were partially suprised he hadn't mentioned or pointed out that Bucky was a guy. You hadn't really spoken about sexuality and attraction with him but knowing Clint, he'd be supportive about it.

"Not bad." Wanda said quietly, giggling softly as she smiled. You gave her a playful smile.

"I've got good taste."

[usuallyapirate]

A short Introduction to the most common Player-Races in Dungeons and Dragons as given by the DnD 5e Players Handbook:

Dwarf

“Yer late,elf!” came the rough edge of a familiar voice. Bruenor Battlehammer walked up the back of his dead foe, disregarding the fact that the heavy monster lay on top of his elven friend. In spite of the added discomfort, the dwarf’s long, pointed, often-broken nose and gray-streaked though still-fiery red beard came as a welcome sight to Drizzt. “Knew I’d find ye in trouble if I came out an' looked for ye!" 

– R.A. Salvatore, The Crysta lShard

Kingdoms rich in ancient grandeur, halls carved into the roots of mountains, the echoing of picks and hammers in deep mines and blazing forges, a commitment to clan and tradition, and a burning hatred of goblins and orcs—these common threads unite all dwarves.

Elf

“I HAVE NEVER IMAGINED SUCH BEAUTY EXISTED,” Goldmoon said softly. The day’s march had been difficult, but the reward at the end was beyond their dreams. The companions stood on a high cliff over the fabled city of Qualinost. Four slender spires rose from the city’s corners like glistening spindles, their brilliant white stone marbled with shining silver. Graceful arches, swooping from spire to spire, soared through the air. Crafted by ancient dwarven metalsmiths, they were strong enough to hold the weight of an army, yet they appeared so delicate that a bird lighting on them might overthrow the balance. These glistening arches were the city’s only boundaries; there was no wall around Qualinost. The elven city opened its arms lovingly to the wilderness.

 – Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Elves are a magical people of otherworldly grace, living in the world but not entirely part of it. They live in places of ethereal beauty, in the midst of ancient forests or in silvery spires glittering with faerie light, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. Elves love nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the good things of the world.

Halfling

Regis the halfling, the only one of his kind for hundreds of miles in any direction, locked his fingers behind his head and leaned back against the mossy blanket of the tree trunk. Regis was short, even by the standards of his diminutive race, with the fluff of his curly brown locks barely cresting the three-foot mark, but his belly was amply thickened by his love of a good meal, or several, as the opportunities presented themselves. The crooked stick that served as his fishing pole rose up above him, clenched between two of his toes, and hung out over the quiet lake, mirrored perfectly in the glassy surface of Maer Dualdon. 

– R.A. Salvatore, The Crystal Shard

The comforts of home are the goal of most halflings‘ lives: a place to settle in peace and quiet, far from marauding monsters and clashing armies; a blazing fire and a generous meal; fine drink and fine conversation. Though some halflings live out their days in remote agricultural communities, others form nomadic bands that travel constantly, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to discover the wonders of new lands and peoples. But even these wanderers love peace, food, hearth, and home, though home might be a wagon jostling along a dirt road or a raft floating downriver.

Human

These were the stories of a restless people who long ago took to the seas and rivers in longboats, first to pillage and terrorize, then to settle. Yet there was an energy, a love of adventure, that sang from every page. Long into the night Uriel read, lighting candle after precious candle. She'd never given much thought to humans, but these stories fascinated her. In these yellowed pages were tales of bold heroes, strange and fierce animals, mighty primitive gods, and a magic that was part and fabric of that distant land. 

– Elaine Cunningham, Daughter of the Drow

In the reckonings of most worlds, humans are the youngest of the common races, late to arrive on the world scene and short-lived in comparison to dwarves, elves, and dragons. Perhaps it is because of their shorter lives that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they are given. Or maybe they feel they have something to prove to the elder races, and that’s why they build their mighty empires on the foundation of conquest and trade. Whatever drives them, humans are the innovators, the achievers, and the pioneers of the worlds.

Dragonborn

Her father stood on the first of the three stairs that led down from the portal, unmoving. The scales of his face had grown paler around the edges, but Clanless Mehen still looked as if he could wrestle down a dire bear himself. His familiar well-worn armor was gone, replaced by violet-tinted scale armor with bright silvery tracings. There was a blazon on his arm as well, the mark of some foreign house. The sword at his back was the same, though, the one he had carried since even before he had found the twins left in swaddling at the gates of Arush Vayem. Father’s face was as kill she'd been fortunate to learn. A human who couldn’t spot the shift of her eyes or Havilar’s would certainly see only the indifference of a dragon in Clanless Mehen’s face. But the shift of scales, the arch of a ridge, the set of his eyes, the gape of his teeth – her father's face spoke volumes. But every scale of it, this time, seemed completely still— the indifference of a dragon, even to Farideh.

– Erin M. Evans, The Adversary

Born of dragons, as their name proclaims, the dragonborn walk proudly through a world that greets them with fearful incomprehension. Shaped by draconic gods or the dragons themselves, dragonborn originally hatched from dragon eggs as a unique race, combining the best attributes of dragons and humanoids. Some dragonborn are faithful servants to true dragons, others form the ranks of soldiers in great wars, and still others find themselves adrift, with no clear calling in life.

Gnome

Skinny and flaxen-haired, his skin walnut brown and his eyes a startling turquoise, Burgell stood half as tall as Aeron climb up on a stool to look out the peephole. Like most habitations in Oeble, that particula tenement had been built for humans, and smaller residents coped with the resulting awkwardness as best they could. But at least the relative largeness of the apartment gave Burgell room to pack in all his gnome-sized gear. The front room was his workshop, and it contained a bewildering miscellany of tools: hammers, chisels, saws, lockpicks, tinted lenses, jeweler's loupes, and jars of powdered and shredded ingredients for casting spells. A fat gray cat, the mage’s familiar, lay curled atop a grimoire. It opened its eyes, gave Aeron a disdainful yellow stare, then appeared to go back to sleep. 

– Richard Lee Byers, The Black Bouquet

A constant hum of busy activity pervades the warrens and neighborhoods where gnomes form their close-knit communities. Louder sounds punctuate the hum: a crunch of grinding gears here, a minor explosion there, a yelp of surprise or triumph, and especially bursts of laughter. Gnomes take delight in life, enjoying every moment of invention, exploration, investigation, creation, and play.

Half-Elf

Flint squinted into the setting sun. He thought he saw the figure of a man striding up the path. Standing, Flint drew back into the shadow of a tall pine to see better. The man's walk was marked by an easy grace – an elvish grace, Flint would have said; yet the man’s body had the thickness and tight muscles of a human, while the facial hair was definitely humankind’s. All the dwarf could see of the man’s face beneath a green hood was tan skin and a brownish-red beard. A longbow was slung over one shoulder and a sword hung at his left side. He was dressed in soft leather, carefully tooled in the intricate designs the elves loved. But no elf in the world of Krynn could grow a beard ... no elf, but...

“Tanis?” said Flint hesitantly as the man neared.

“The same.” The newcomer’s bearded face split in a wide grin. He held open his arms and, before the dwarf could stop him, engulfed Flint in a hug that lifted him off the ground. The dwarf clasped his old friend close for a brief instant, then, remembering his dignity, squirmed and freed himself from the half-elf’s embrace. 

– Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Walking in two worlds but truly belonging to neither, half-elves combine what some say are the best qualities of their elf and human parents: human curiosity, inventiveness, and ambition tempered by the refined senses, love of nature, and artistic tastes of the elves. Some half-elves live among humans, set apart by their emotional and physical differences, watching friends and loved ones age while time barely touches them. Others live with the elves, growing restless as they reach adulthood in the timeless elven realms, while their peers continue to live as children. Many half-elves, unable to fit into either society, choose lives of solitary wandering or join with other misfits and outcasts in the adventuring life.

Half-Orc

The warchief Mhurren roused himself from his sleeping-furs and his women and pulled a short hauberk of heavy steel rings over his thick, well-muscled torso. He usually rose before most of his warriors, since he had a strong streak of human blood in him, and he found the daylight less bothersome than most of his tribe did. Among the Bloody Skulls, a warrior was judged by his strength, his fierceness, and his wits. Human ancestry was no blemish against a warrior – provided he was every bit as strong, enduring, and blood thirsty as his full-blooded kin. Half-orcs who were weaker than their orc comrades didn't last long among the Bloody Skulls or any other orc tribe for that matter. But it was often true that a bit of human blood gave a warrior just the right mix of cunning, ambition, and self-discipline to go far indeed, as Mhurren had. He was master of a tribe that could muster two thousand spears, and the strongest chief in Thar. 

– Richard Baker, Swordmage

Whether united under the leadership of a mighty warlock or having fought to a standstill after years of conflict, orc and human tribes sometimes form alliances, joining forces into a larger horde to the terror of civilized lands nearby. When these alliances are sealed by marriages, half-orcs are born. Some half-orcs rise to become proud chiefs of orc tribes, their human blood giving them an edge over their full-blooded orc rivals. Some venture into the world to prove their worth among humans and other more civilized races. Many of these become adventurers, achieving greatness for their mighty deeds and notoriety for their barbaric customs and savage fury.

Tiefling

“But you do see the way people look at you, devil’s child." Those black eyes, cold as a winter storm, were staring right into her heart and the sudden seriousness in his voice jolted her.

“What is it they say?" he asked. “One’s a curiosity, two’s a conspiracy—”

“Three's a curse,” she finished. “You think I haven’t heard that rubbish before?”

“I know you have.” When she glared at him, he added, “It’s not as if I’m plumbing the depths of your mind, dear girl. That is the burden of every tiefling. Some break under it, some make it the millstone around their neck, some revel in it.” He tilted his head again, scrutinizing her, with that wicked glint in hiseyes. “You fight it, don’t you? Like a little wildcat, I wager. Every little jab and comment just sharpens your claws.” 

– Erin M. Evans, Brimstone Angels

To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this is the lot of the tiefling. And to twist the knife, tieflings know that this is because a pact struck generations ago infused the essence of Asmodeus – overlord of the Nine Hells – into their bloodline. Their appearance and their nature are not their fault but the result of an ancient sin, for which they and their children and their children’s children will always be held accountable.

[hotfrost]

i hated brambleclaw’s nine lives ceremony so i fixed it at 4am please don’t kill me if this is badly written

also major spoilers for the first four arcs, and there’s some violence in here. (this is also what would have happened if brambleclaw wasn’t an asshole)

Brambleclaw shivered. 

The night was clear and bright- Silverpelt shone high above the two of them. A single star twinkled brighter than the rest, its glow more warm than any other in the sky. Firestar, is that you?, Brambleclaw wondered, feeling the familiar pang of grief for his mentor. It had been only one moonrise since the former leader’s death, yet Brambleclaw missed him like he hadn’t seen him in seasons.

“Drink the water.” Jayfeather prodded him and Brambleclaw snapped back to reality. He glanced at his son for a moment. It was hard to think that once the ThunderClan medicine cat had been just a tiny kit in the nursery, mewling for his mother. Brambleclaw felt a rush of affection for the blind tom. I was wrong to abandon you, he thought, regret surging through him.

Then he obeyed and bent down to the Moonpool. The water was crystal clear and the closer Brambleclaw’s nose got to the water, the colder he felt, a harsh freezing sensation that carried from his face to his tail-tip. Still, he drank from the pool and the water rushed through him, filling his body with memories. He felt his eyes began to droop.

“You’re sleepy. Let it take over.” Jayfeather sounded different, unlike himself. Drowsily, Brambleclaw realized he hadn’t ever taken the time to speak to either of his children after Hollyleaf had died. His heart ached for the black she-cat; he missed her the most. The briefest thought of her made Brambleclaw want to wail like a newborn kit calling out for his mother. 

Then he closed his eyes, and sleep crashed over him like a wave on the lake. 

When Brambleclaw opened them, the first thing he noticed was that he wasn’t standing on the ground anymore. He looked down to see he was floating in midair, his feet dangling helplessly below him. Everywhere he looked, he saw stars.

“You can put your feet down, Brambleclaw.”

Brambleclaw turned, eyes widening in shock. Bluestar stood in front of him; he had not seen the ThunderClan leader in many moons before the Great Battle. She looked young and strong and happy, the opposite of how she had been when Brambleclaw had been just a kit in the nursery. She walked towards him, tail swishing happily. Starlight dotted her blue-gray pelt and her eyes shone. 

“Welcome to StarClan, Brambleclaw,” she said softly, but her voice carried through the void that they stood in. As Bluestar spoke, eight other cats appeared on her sides. Brambleclaw was sure his heart must have stopped. 

He recognized most of them, but before he had a chance to call out to them, Bluestar dipped her head to him. “It is an honor to be giving you your first life,” Bluestar mewed solemnly. “With this life, I give you clear sight in hopes that you may use it to lead your Clan fairly.” 

She placed her nose on Brambleclaw’s head and he was thrown off balance by the force of his first life. It roared through him like a blazing fire, and he could have sworn he felt like he was drowning. This must have been what Bluestar had felt as she died, he thought.

Bluestar pulled away. Then she added, “I am sorry I was not able to do this during time with you.” 

“That’s not true,” Brambleclaw said quickly. It was true, but he had too much respect for the old leader to say so. 

Bluestar said nothing. She stepped back and another she-cat took her place. Her pelt was as black as night and she purred as she approached Brambleclaw. “Hollyleaf!” he breathed, his mew just barely audible. 

“Brambleclaw,” she said serenely. She seemed calmer, more collected, in StarClan. More like the kit Brambleclaw remembered, before the tunnels. “It’s good to see you again.”

“I miss you,” Brambleclaw said. He wanted to speak to her, but he knew Hollyleaf only had one job tonight. 

“With this life I give you justice.” Hollyleaf raised her head, and Brambleclaw thought she looked more like a leader than he would ever look. “Use it to punish those who deserve it, and look after those who look after others. Be fair in all your judgements and never be cruel,” she finished, and touched her nose to his head. 

Another burning life flowed through him, although this one felt good. Brambleclaw felt himself punishing the wrongdoers and looking out for his Clan. It burned like white-hot rocks did, or as if he were looking straight into the sun. He staggered backwards, caught off guard by the force of the life.

When Hollyleaf looked at him again, he could have sworn he saw a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. Is she thinking of Ashfur?

His daughter left. “Hollyleaf, wait!” he cried, trying to go after her. But something was keeping him in that spot, rooting him in place. 

“She’ll be waiting for you.” The next voice was one Brambleclaw knew well; it was the same voice that had soothed him in the nursery and defended him against the Clan. Goldenflower padded up to him, her long body shimmering with the stars. 

“With this life I give you compassion,” Goldenflower whispered. “Use it not only for your own children, but for your Clan. They are all your kin now. Love them as a parent, as a brother, as a mentor. They are your family.”

Her head came to rest on Brambleclaw’s. This life was much less painful than the last two. It felt like a fire as well, but instead of a blazing hot one, this one smoldered and burned quietly inside him. Brambleclaw knew he was feeling Goldenflower’s love- for him, for Tawnypelt, for his father, and for her Clanmates. As the fire inside him died, he stumbled and stared at Goldenflower, a cat that had risked so much for him, a cat that had held so much love inside of her. 

His mother walked back to her place among the starry warriors. Brambleclaw wanted to call out to her too, but he held his tongue, and gasped as the next cat walked up. 

“Sorreltail?” 

The tortoiseshell molly gave him a wistful stare. “I know what you’re going to say-”

“You shouldn’t be here!” Brambleclaw blurted out, fur bristling in shock. “What- why are you here?”

“It’s nice to see you too, Brambleclaw.” Sorreltail purred, and her gaze turned sad. “It was my time. I’m okay with that.” 

“I’m not!” Brambleclaw said indignantly. “What in the name of StarClan happened?” 

“It’s not important.” Sorreltail seemed very focused on giving Brambleclaw his life. “With this life, Brambleclaw, I give you patience. As a leader, it is your job to understand your Clanmates, and to never become frustrated with them. They are your family and your responsibility.”

With that, Sorreltail put her head on top of Brambleclaw’s; he had to duck for her to do so. The life that went through him this time was calm, and soothing. This must be what patience is, Brambleclaw thought. He would do his best to watch after his Clanmates. For Sorreltail, and all the others they had lost. 

 The next cat to step up was one Brambleclaw admitted he had been expecting. Mousefur dipped her head to him, looking younger and livelier than he had ever remembered her in life. She was like a kit again, looking as if she were about to burst with excitement. “Mousefur,” he said warmly, coming up to the molly.

“Brambleclaw.” Even her voice was different. “Welcome.”

“It’s good to see you,” he said. “Purdy misses you, you know.”

Mousefur sighed. “I know,” she said, her mew distant. “But we will meet again, in this life or the next.” 

“I’m sure he would be happy to hear that.” 

Mousefur shook her head. “Never mind that, I’m here to give you your life!” Her yellow eyes glowed, and Brambleclaw recognized the cat he had known since he was a little kit. “Brambleclaw, a give you a life for listening to your elders. We may be retired, but that doesn’t erase our importance. Elders carry the stories of the Clans, and without them we would never know our own history.”

Brambleclaw took a shuddering breath as Mousefur touched noses with him, and the life that passed through him left his knees shaking. His mind flashed, and he knew he was seeing the elders. There was a fire, a raging fire, and a little brown kit. That’s me. This is Patchpelt, he thought. The elder who had died in the fire that had killed Yellowfang so long ago. 

Then he saw a rabbit, and his stomach growled. In the distance, he heard the muffled sounds of his Clanmates. But he was so hungry... if he just... ate it. This is Dappletail’s memory. 

Then it was Longtail, the cat who had become an elder far to soon, and here he saw nothing. The world was black and voices beat down on him from every side; they were so overwhelming that Brambleclaw wanted to curl up and mewl like a kit. 

Last he saw Purdy, and Brambleclaw realized he was fighting. He was battling against a big dark tom, and with a sudden jerk he was picked up and thrown across the camp, and then-

The memory faded. Brambleclaw stared at Mousefur, dazed. The brown molly just gazed back calmly, nodded, and went back to join the ranks of her starry Clanmates. Goodbye, Mousefur, Brambleclaw thought sadly. He didn’t know when he would see her again.

If hearts could break, he was sure his did as he saw the next cat walk up. “Ferncloud.” He wanted to run to her, the cat he had known since he was a kit, one he had grown up with. 

The gray molly padded up to him, her eyes bright. “Brambleclaw,” she purred. “It’s nice to see you.”

“It’s nice to see you to,” Brambleclaw breathed, wishing that he didn’t have to watch her leave. “Dustpelt misses you.”

“I miss him too.” Ferncloud dipped her head. “I miss him, and my kits. But I have a life to give you!” she purred. “The life I give you is for understanding that it is not just warriors who have a part to play in the Clan. Even though we may not add food to the fresh-kill pile, we raise each apprentice, each little kit, as our own. Honor the queens, Brambleclaw, for we are the ones who give you life.”

Brambleclaw let out a shuddering breath as Ferncloud’s life hit him. He had expected this one to be gentle as well, but he was surprised with the ferocity that it hit him with. He saw Ferncloud, battling for her life against Brokenstar, and Sorreltail, defeating Darkstripe. Then he saw his own mother, defending a young Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt from the Clan. You’ve all done so much for us, he thought. 

But Ferncloud’s memories didn’t stop. He saw every kit that his friend had ever raised. Brambleclaw had thought it would only show her own kits, but no- he saw Spiderleg and Shrewpaw, and Squirrelflight and Leafpool, Whitewing, and then Hollykit and Larchkit who had died so young, and then Birchfall, the only surviving kit from her second litter. He saw his own kits, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf along with Foxleap and Icecloud and Cinderheart and Honeyfern and Poppyfrost and Molepaw. He saw Blossomfall and Bumblestripe and Briarlight, and Cherrypaw and Molepaw and Amberkit, Snowkit, and Dewkit and Lilykit and Seedkit, and Brambleclaw thought he might collapse if he had to see any more.

But there was more. He felt Ferncloud’s fierce loyalty to the nursery, he felt how bravely she had defended the nursery. Brambleclaw felt her pain as she saw Hollyleaf’s unmoving body lying in the camp, her pain as the Clan had found Ashfur, her pain as they had buried Brindleface. She’s been through so much.

The memory cut to black and Brambleclaw jumped back in shock. That’s where she died, he thought. 

Ferncloud said nothing, but her eyes glimmered like stars. Brambleclaw didn’t even know what to say. What could he say? 

As Ferncloud padded back to her new Clanmates, another cat came up. “Feathertail.” His long-departed friend approached, starlight dappling her beautiful gray pelt. “It’s been a long time.”

“Indeed it has, my friend,” Feathertail agreed. “With this life I give you courage. Use it to guard not only your own Clan, but also all the cats who need it.” As she touched noses with him, Brambleclaw knew Feathertail was thinking about how she had given her own life for the Tribe of Rushing Water. You were the bravest of us all, he thought.

This life was a roaring, raging storm that ripped through him like claws and Brambleclaw stumbled. He knew what courage was- yes, he saw it in his Clanmates and in his leader, and in Squirrelflight and Hollyleaf. He knew it well.

As Feathertail began to walk away, he cleared his throat. “Where will you go now?” Brambleclaw’s voice faltered. He didn’t want her to leave yet. 

“I walk two skies now, my friend,” Feathertail replied, turning her head. “We will see each other again.” 

Brambleclaw found that a vague and rather frustrating answer, but he nodded silently and stepped back, waiting for his next life. There were only two more to go, if he was counting right. He couldn’t help but wonder who would give his last lives to him.

He couldn’t have been more surprised by who came up. The small black and white cat looked up at him, and Brambleclaw was surprised. He had never been this small in life. He always remembered looking up at the apprentice. “Swiftpaw,” he whispered, taking in the sight of his brother who had died so long ago. 

“Brambleclaw,” he purred. “Clan leader. Who would have thought?” His voice was young and high, but Swiftpaw sounded so much wiser. 

“I certainly wouldn’t have.” He kneaded at the starry ground, still feeling awkward. It was as if there was no floor; it was unnatural. “I wish you’d been here.”

Swiftpaw said nothing, but moved forward to touch noses with him. “With this life I give you mentoring,” he said. “Raise each apprentice to be the best warriors they can be.” Then he paused. “I gave this life to another leader, a long time ago.” 

Brambleclaw gasped. Firestar? he thought, and looked around for the leader.

But he had forgotten about the life Swiftpaw was about to give him in his shock, and he was pushed back by the force of it.

His vision blurred and suddenly Brambleclaw was standing in his brother’s paws, snarling at a huge, vicious dog. Through the corner of his eye he saw Brightheart, a much younger Brightheart, standing next to him.

There was a growl and a clamp of jaws and it was over. 

Brambleclaw stumbled, reeling from the force of the life. “Brother...” he panted, at a loss for words. Swiftpaw’s death had been so terrible, so brutal. But the apprentice didn’t respond.

“One more life to go,” was all he said before joining StarClan once more. Brambleclaw didn’t even get a reply. 

Only one to go! And Brambleclaw was sure he knew it would be.

He had expected it, of course, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t surprised when a familiar flame-colored tom weaved his way through the warriors of StarClan. He was much bigger and stronger than he had been in the moons leading up to his death. The ginger tom looked like Brambleclaw remembered him as an apprentice.

“My apprentice,” said Firestar warmly. “My deputy.”

“Firestar.” Brambleclaw’s voice was thick with emotion. He had missed his mentor more than he could say. He saw Jayfeather raise his head at the edge of the starry clearing, staring straight at them. “Are you here to give me my last life.”

“Yes, I am,” Firestar said, his forest-green eyes glistening. “My life is a life for nobility.”

Nobility. Brambleclaw exhaled softly, watching Firestar continue. 

“Long ago, I had an apprentice,” Brambleclaw’s former leader began. He had no idea who Firestar was talking about. “She was a bright, energetic cat, and I trusted her with my life, even after she was no longer my apprentice.”

He’s talking about Cinderpelt. Brambleclaw leaned forward, intrigued. A storm of emotions raged inside him, making him shake at the feet. 

“Afterwards, I mentored my own kin. And despite his shortcomings as an apprentice, he is one of the finest warriors I’ve ever had the honor of knowing.” Firestar was talking about his nephew, Cloudtail. Brambleclaw frowned. What was the point of his speech?

“As I mentored Cloudtail, I met a young cat who looked far too much like someone I knew.” Brambleclaw held his breath. He’s talking about me. 

Firestar’s eyes rose to meet his, expression stony. “And I held that against him. Yes... I did. I held that against him for a long time, until he was faced with a choice. A choice to join his father, who looked so much like him, or to stay and fight for his Clan. And he chose the second one.”

“I should have seen it then.” Firestar’s mew was hollow. “But I didn’t, not fully. It wasn’t until I had gone on my quest, named him after his father. I didn’t realize until he brought us to our new home. And I realized that what a good leader he was.” Firestar paused. “And I couldn’t blame him for hesitating to kill me on the lake that sunset. I would have killed a cat who had never trusted me.”

Brambleclaw was shaking. How could he tell Firestar that he blamed himself for that day, for that life Hawkfrost’s fox trap had taken from him? How his hesitation was the reason Firestar wasn’t with them anymore.

“What are you saying?” Brambleclaw asked thickly. 

“I’m sorry, Brambleclaw. I’m so, so sorry.” 

Brambleclaw couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You’re sorry? For what?”

“For never trusting you. For being so foolish. You’re one of the noblest cats I’ve ever known.” Firestar’s voice was shaking. 

“No.” It was so sudden that Brambleclaw hadn’t even known he had said it. “I’m not. I’m really not.”

“What?” Firestar didn’t seem angry, just confused. 

“I’m not noble,” Brambleclaw hung his head. “I spent most of the past few seasons avoiding my responsibilities, as a father, as a deputy, as a mate. And I’m sorry.”

Firestar didn’t say anything, just listened.

“You’re the noblest warrior I’ve ever known, Firestar,” Brambleclaw murmured. “And I’m sorry I couldn’t be half the cat you were.”

Firestar still said nothing, just touched his nose to his former apprentice’s. 

The life that rushed through him was Firestar’s. It was all his. 

First Brambleclaw was a little kit, sitting on the fence of a Twoleg nest. He was looking out at the forest, his paws itching to jump into the trees. Then he was fighting a younger Longtail, one that could see and he beat him. And there was Bluestar, and with a shudder Brambleclaw recognized his own father. As he followed Firestar’s life, he saw Silverstream, Feathertail’s mother, dying. And Cinderpelt in the medicine den with Yellowfang, who he had only known for a few moons. And then Cloudtail, and Sandstorm and Firestar rushing to rescue him. 

And with a startle, Brambleclaw saw himself, a tiny, mewling kit hanging from a tree, with flames rising up around them. He jumped out to grab Bramblekit and carried him out of the camp. The scene changed, and Brambleclaw was watching his own apprentice ceremony, and Sandstorm’s anger. Then there was Stonefur’s terrible death, and now Tawnypaw had gone to ShadowClan with Tigerstar. 

Brambleclaw watched as Scourge ripped every single life from Tigerstar, and felt Firestar’s shock. He watched in horror as Bone crushed Whitestorm, the most loyal of Firestar’s warriors, and saw Graystripe’s appointment to deputy. Then there was a long pause, and Firestar was leader of the Clan, finding out that Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw had disappeared. He watched as ThunderClan had fallen apart- Brambleclaw saw Dappletail die, and then Hollykit and Larchkit and Shrewpaw. He felt Firestar’s agony as Graystripe was captured, his sadness as the Clans left the forest and Ravenpaw, Firestar’s other closest friend. 

But there was also happiness. Brambleclaw was still in Firestar’s body, giving Squirrelpaw her warrior name and making Birchpaw an apprentice.

But the sadness came again, as Cinderpelt died and Graystripe was declared dead and he was bleeding out on the beach... bleeding, bleeding... and Brambleclaw saw a dark brown shape standing over him. Two of them. Panic rose up in him as the throbbing in his throat worsened. I’m going to die here, he thought. 

But he didn’t die.

Brambleclaw, still in Firestar’s paws, watched three little kits stumble into camp, golden, gray, and black. He felt Firestar’s pride as he watched his kin, but also his hesitation. There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws. Then his body broke out into a coughing fit. This is the greencough. And then Sol appeared, his menacing eyes staring right into Brambleclaw.

And there was a long time of peace and happiness after that, until a shadow fell over the lake and Brambleclaw turned fearfully to see Tigerstar standing behind him.

There was a flash of lightning and Brambleclaw was released from the memory. 

And it had pretty much confirmed it for him, that Firestar was the noblest cat he had ever known. 

But Firestar seemed to make no comment about what Brambleclaw had said before. The flame-pelted tom stood up tall. “I hail you by your new name, Bramblestar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of ThunderClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity.”

Bramblestar! The rest of the cats broke into cheers of his new name. Bramblestar turned to his leader.

“Go well, Bramblestar,” Firestar murmured. “I will be with you, always.”

[remnantoforario]

Remnant’s Top Ten Anime of 2020

2020 Was certainly a ride wasn’t it? To those that managed to make to make it through in one piece, or any piece, good job. Hopefully 2021 is better to us all. 

Despite the world mostly being on fire, I’d hazard to say that a lot of good shows came out in 2020 (despite a number of them being delayed to either later in the year or this year altogether). I meant to release this list much earlier, but I kept changing it around. 

Anyway, here are the ones I thought were the best. 

Honorable Mentions:

Dorohedoro

Synopsis: The plot centers on a man named Caiman and his search for his real identity after a transformation by a sorcerer left him with a reptile's head and no memory of his former life. 

Along with his friend Nikaido, he violently assaults sorcerers in the Hole, with the aim of taking their heads into his mouth, where a strange face will appear and confirm whether the sorcerer he has bitten onto was the one responsible for his transformation or not.

As the residents of the Hole, the En family and the Cross-Eyes gang, along with many others, collide with one another, the mystery of Caiman's identity begins to unravel, reigniting ancient grudges and threatening to forever change both the Hole and the sorcerers' world.

Thoughts: This is the only Netflix anime I watched this year (I missed out on Great Pretender before the year ended), and I can honestly say I had fun with this one. It’s animation was good, the story was engaging enough, and the characters were all unique (Noi best girl). The one problem I would say with the show is that it can come off as unfocused at times, meandering from one plaot point to another with no real connective tissue. 

Still a fun series though. 

ID: Invaded

Synopsis: The anime follows the investigations of Narihisago, a renowned detective now in prison, who is tasked with diving into the id wells of various serial killers. 

Two years prior to the current events, Narihisago's daughter Muku was brutally murdered by a serial killer, leading Narihisago's wife to commit suicide. These deaths prompted him to hunt down and murder the killer, earning him his prison sentence. He is still depressed and haunted by his wife and daughter's deaths, but also uses this as motivation to take his work seriously and help stop serial killers. 

Thoughts: One of a handful of original series that came out this year. This show gave me heavy Inception/Minority Report vibes from both its premise and presentation. It wobbles under the weight of its own concepts towards the end, but it still a fun ride nonetheless. 

Gleipnir 

Synopsis: The story centers on Shuichi Kagaya, a high school student with an unusual secret. He has the ability to transform into a monster resembling a giant dog mascot costume with a zipper down his back and a large cartoonish smile. After rescuing a strange girl, Claire Aoki, from a warehouse fire, they join each other to search for Claire's older sister, who is assumed to be responsible for the death of their parents.

Thoughts: When the initial rollout for this show began I admit I wasn’t really a fan. I thought it was just going to be a hyper violent, fanservice show. Now in some ways it is that, but if you really look Gleipnir tells a very interesting tale of identity and what it truly means to have a wish granted. The music was pretty good as well, and that’s really something from me as a person who doesn’t pay attention to soundtracks. 

Hope this show gets a season 2, but if not I’ll more than likely start the manga. 

Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina

Synopsis:  Fascinated by the stories of Niké, a witch who traveled around the world, Elaina aspires to take the same course. Her determination of studying books and magic leads to her becoming the youngest apprentice witch to pass the sorcery exam. 

However, when Elaina attempts to receive training in order to become a full-fledged witch, she is rejected due to her extraordinary talents until she finds Fran, the "Stardust Witch," whom accepts her. After earning her title, the "Ashen Witch," Elaina begins her exploration around the world, visiting and facing all kinds of people and places.

Thoughts: As a fan of the Light Novels, I was pretty excited when it was announced it was getting an anime. For the most part it didn’t disappoint. Though it skipped most of the stories in the novels, the show still told a few good stories that made for some amazingly animated tv. 

Talentless Nana

Synposis: In the near future, mysterious monsters known as the "Enemies of Humanity" begin to appear, and with it so do children with supernatural powers called the "Talented". To prepare them for the upcoming battle against these Enemies, all the Talented are sent to a school located on a deserted island, where they have all their daily needs provided for until they graduate and communication with the outside world is forbidden. 

One day, a new student named Nana Hiiragi arrives at the school. Her friendly and cheerful personality lets her quickly make friends with the class. However, with Nana comes a whole litany of mysterious occurrences on the island. 

Thoughts: I can’t say too much about Nana without spoiling it’s first episode twist, but I will say that its a pretty interesting show with a fairly compelling game of cat and mouse being played. 

Now on the the actual list:

10. The Misfit of Demon King Academy 

Synopsis: After 2,000 years of countless wars and strife, the demon king Anos Voldigoad made a deal with the human hero, Kanon, to sacrifice his own life to ensure peace could flourish. Reincarnating 2,000 years later, Anos finds that royal demons now harshly rule over lower class hybrid demons in a society that values Anos's pureblood descendants over the demons who interbred with other species, such as humans and spirits. 

Finding that magic as a whole has begun to decline and his descendants weaker as a result of the peace he created, Anos, now technically a hybrid himself, decides to reclaim his former title of Demon King, but first, he must graduate from the Demon King Academy where he is labeled a total misfit.

Thoughts: Originally I was going to put Nana in this spot, but its lack of a real ending pushed it out of the list. If only slightly. Misft at Demon Academy is just a fun ride from start to finish. There’s always something about shows with ridiculous OP protagonists (Overlord, One Punch Man, etc.) that gets the blood pumping. 

It’s like junk food. Great for the right moment, but not needed all the time. 

9. Ikebukuro West Gate Park

Synopsis:  A charismatic troubleshooter tries to keep the peace between warring factions while protecting his loved ones in Ikebukuro West Gate Park.

Thoughts: I honestly had no idea what to make of this show when I first saw the synopsis, but I gave it a try on a whim. I’m glad I did because this was easily the dark horse of the Fall season. I really liked the mostly self contained story format the series had, and there were a few very good episodes here. Check it out. 

8.  My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

Synopsis: Catarina Claes, the young daughter of a noble family, one day bumps her head and regains memories of her past life as an otaku. It is then that she realizes she has been reborn into the world of the otome game Fortune Lover, reincarnated as the game's villainess who, regardless of what route the player took in the original game, is doomed to be either killed or exiled. 

In order to avoid these routes that lead to doom, Catarina begins taking countermeasures to try and avoid things going the same way as the game. This, however, ends up having unexpected consequences on her relations with the other characters of the game's world.

Thoughts: Normally I’m not a fan of Reverse/Otome harem series, but somehow Bakarina managed to pull me in, to a good result. This show was easily one of the best comedies I watched this year with a good cast and a likable protagonist. 

7.�� Deca-Dence 

Synopsis: In the fortress city of Deca-dence, the lowly Tanker girl, Natsume, dreams of becoming a Gear warrior following her father's death during a Gadoll attack. She is assigned to a maintenance team led by Kaburagi whom she discovers is more than he appears. Kaburagi has a secret role in eliminating "bugs", humans who threaten Solid Quake's operations. 

When Kaburagi discovers that Natsume is listed as dead in the company database, he decides to keep her under observation and offers to train her to fight.

Thoughts: Giant monsters and giant robots. What more do you need? Watch it. 

6. A Certain Scientific Railgun T

Synposis: The Daihasei Festival has begun, and that of course means that Tokiwadai Middle School—a prestigious all-girls' middle school—is competing too. Despite the participation of the "Ace of Tokiwadai," Mikoto Misaka, the other students who are participating are still putting their utmost effort into winning, no matter how impossible the feat may seem against her might. However, not all is fun and games. Due to the the festival, Academy City opens to the outside world, and various factions have begun plotting ways to infiltrate the city. Misaka appears to be on their radar, and as the festival proceeds, people lurking from the shadows begin to emerge...

Thoughts: Not really much to say here. It’s the third season of Railgun, but good thing here is that each season of Railgun is better than the last. Truly the best of the To Aru universe. 

5. BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense.

Synposis: Urged on by her friend, Kaede Honjō begins playing the VRMMORPG NewWorld Online under the name Maple. Not wanting to get hurt, Maple opts to be a shield user with maxed out defense stats, and continues putting every status point she earns in the game into increasing only her defense level. 

As a result, she is left with slow foot speed and no magic, but her high defense allows her to endure most hits without taking any damage. This, along with her basic-level creative thinking, allows for her to make unexpected accomplishments in the game, its quests and events. By doing this, she ends up earning all kinds of equally unexpected skills and becomes one of the strongest players in the game. Thoughts: Bofuri is another OP power fantasy like Demon King Academy, but with the twist of being fused with CGDCT. The cast is extremely likable (especially Maple) and when Silver Link wants to they can make the battles REALLY dynamic. A nice comfortable watch, which was sorely needed in 2020. 

4. Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle

Synposis: The story follows Princess Syalis, a young princess who was kidnapped by the demon king, and her quest to sleep well while imprisoned.

Thoughts: A simple premise for a not so simple story. Sleepy Princess for me was easily the best comedy of the year, with plenty of heart and action thrown in as well. I was wary of the series at first, thinking that the premise wouldnt be entertaining for more than a few episodes, but boy was I wrong. Each episode was funnier than the last and Doga Kobo pulled out all the stops to make it look as gorgeous as possible.  

3. Jujutsu Kaisen

Synopsis: Idly indulging in baseless paranormal activities with the Occult Club, high schooler Yuuji Itadori spends his days at either the clubroom or the hospital, where he visits his bedridden grandfather. However, this leisurely lifestyle soon takes a turn for the strange when he unknowingly encounters a cursed item. Triggering a chain of supernatural occurrences, Yuuji finds himself suddenly thrust into the world of Curses—dreadful beings formed from human malice and negativity—after swallowing the said item, revealed to be a finger belonging to the demon Sukuna Ryoumen, the "King of Curses." Yuuji experiences first-hand the threat these Curses pose to society as he discovers his own newfound powers. Introduced to the Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School, he begins to walk down a path from which he cannot return—the path of a Jujutsu sorcerer.

Thoughts: Originally I wasn’t going to put this on the list, because the season doesnt conclude this year, but I decided to make an exception since the show started so strong. Many people were hyping this up as the next big shonen, and they were right. Mappa really went balls to the wall with this show and I’m pretty hype for what happens this cour. 

2. Akudama Drive

Synopsis: The bustling metropolis of Kansai, where cybernetic screens litter the neon landscape, may seem like a technological utopia at first glance. But in the dark alleys around the brightly-lit buildings, an unforgiving criminal underbelly still exists in the form of fugitives known as "Akudama." No stranger to these individuals, Kansai police begin the countdown to the public execution of an infamous Akudama "Cutthroat," guilty of killing 999 people. However, a mysterious message is sent to several elite Akudama, enlisting them to free Cutthroat for a substantial amount of money. An invisible hand seeks to gather these dangerous personas in one place, ensuring that the execution is well underway to becoming a full-blown bloodbath.  

Thoughts: Want to know what it would be like if Quentin Tarantino made an anime? Well here you go. An adrenaline filled rollercoaster ride from start to finish with a crazy cast of characters and even crazier visuals. There’s even a bit of social commentary in there if you squint. 

1. Oregairu Climax

Synopsis: Resolved to become a more independent person, Yukino Yukinoshita decides to smoothen things out with her parents, and the first step toward achieving that goal is to prove herself. As graduation draws closer for the third-year students, Iroha Isshiki—the president of the student council—requests a graduation prom in collaboration with the Volunteer Service Club. Yukino accepts this request of her own volition, hoping to use it as a chance to demonstrate her self-reliance, but what lies ahead of her may prove to be a hard hurdle to cross.

At the same time, a chance for the Volunteer Service Club members to better understand each other presents itself. And thus, Hachiman Hikigaya's hectic and bittersweet high school life begins to draw to a close.

Thoughts: The gif says it all really. I could just leave that there and end this list on a somewhat high note, but I’ll explain it. 

Now objectively, there were better shows than this one (off the top of my head JJK comes to mind) but when you combine all three seasons there is no contest in my mind that Oregairu had one of the most perfect endings to a series I have ever seen. 

It was an ending 7 years in the making. The first season in 2013 was good, the second season two years later was even better, but Climax was Oregairu at is absolute best and that goes beyond the story and characters. A lot of praise also has to go to Studio feel., who took over animation duties from Brain’s Base in season 2. While BB’s animation was much more accurate to the LN, feel’s more realistic designs fit the more mature direction the story was starting to go, giving the anime some of its best moments. 

Watching Hachiman, Yukino, and Yui grow and change from naive teenagers to somewhat understood young adults was amazing and sometimes heartbreaking to watch. Hachiman’s search to find something “genuine”, Yukino’s desire to be independent, and Yui struggling with her feelings of love and friendship all clash and compliment in very interesting ways that makes these three characters even more relatable than they were before. 

Lots of long running series don’t stick to landing, but in my eyes Oregairu stuck it perfectly. That’s why its my favorite anime of 2020.

Here’s to 2021.