#and that’s starclan for prey animals

[fatespalm]

my most important warriorcats hc is that starclan is the dark forest for prey animals

[petalstem]

The Mall Cats believe cars to be vessels of StarClan. They can't see the stars at night due to light pollution, but they CAN see headlights, and believe cars to be almost like angels of StarClan. Getting hit by a car is essentially the warrior cat equivalent of Icarus flying too close to the sun, the vessels of StarClan aren't cruel, they don't want to hurt you, but if you get too close, too careless, you'll get swept up, and taken into their ranks too early

[mourningsbane]

OwO Could we get a short description of each clan? Do the clans live in relative peace among each other or is there (probably one-sided) tension growing in LutumClan because of the weird prey and hauntings that only they experience?

Of course! <3

TonitrumClan lives in the forest near LutumClan, and prefers to take residence in towering trees connected via vines or tangling branches! They see trees as the closest thing to touching the sky and consider themselves most "in tune" with StarClan. They're an incredibly spiritual bunch and tend to be non-violent and peaceful.

TonitrumClan is typically on very good terms with LutumClan, and they trade goods back and forth; TonitrumClan, living in the trees, considers rabbits quite the delicacy and will trade some of the birds they catch to LutumClan in exchange. LutumClan, due to living in burrows, considers birds a delicacy, so it works out for both of them! LutumClan, however, hasn't traded prey with them at all recently, so they are a bit worried about their neighbor, especially since there's a strange, inky substance building along their border.

StagnumClan lives close to TonitrumClan, but in an area that's more swamp than forest. The other clans consider them "dirty" due to their residence in a swamp, and their former leader leaving a bad taste in everyone's mouth. Despite their stigma, they're actually very talented tool smiths. One of them even recently discovered how to make a rudimentary hammer with a rock, a stick, and a few vines. They don't trade with clans very often and prefer to keep to themselves, but the goods they offer are usually herbs and moss.

StagnumClan is not on very good terms with LutumClan, as they consider LutumClan to be very disrespectful! A few moons ago, one of their queens, a pale she-cat if they remember correctly, said that their current leader was the father of her kits, and they've been miffed ever since!

LanitumClan lives on the other side of LutumClan, close to a massive sheep ranch. They're essentially "wool farmers" and are typically peaceful unless the sheep are threatened. The other clans consider them oddballs for living so close to such strange animals, but the wool they trade is very popular for nest building, insulation in winter, makeshift pouches, etc... In exchange, they usually ask for prey or sharp tools for wire cutting (the farmers nearby keep setting down fox traps, and they tend to get caught in them by accident).

LanitumClan was distant with LutumClan, but they tolerated each other at least! LutumClan traded prey, and LanitumClan gave them wool in return. When LutumClan's trade stopped, they weren't worried so much about LutumClan and more so about how they were going to feed themselves.

[bonefall]

Is there a list of all the jobs the cats can have?

I gotta make a whole thingie on this but here's a short list of the new job expansions, as a quick summary before I get around to it;

All heads of the patrol expansions report to the deputy. Patrol expansions also have apprentice chores that need to be carried out-- like dishwashing for Kitchen Patrol.

Official Jobs: Tasks that a cat can volunteer for or be assigned to for the day.

Kitchen Patrol Tasked with preparing meals. This includes processing prey from carcass to meat, making all the cats feel as full as possible on the food they have on-paw, and general preservation. NEW Position: Head of Kitchen. Oversees these operations, ensures fair ration distribution, decides the communal meal for the day, works directly with the other two heads to provide building materials (leather, bones) and discuss hunting quarries.

Hunting Patrol Very similar to canon; tasked with catching prey or patrolling the border. NEW Position: Head of Hunting. Tasked with managing prey populations and overseeing the types of animals that are being brought home. Has the freedom to levy "limits" on species and organize big game hunts. Is also expected to keep tabs on the territories and populations of other predators, especially vixens and how many cubs they're having in a season.

Construction Patrol An expansion of canon's unofficial builder roles. Tasked not only with building itself, but weatherproofing based on the season, comfort of the dens, and collecting materials. NEW Position: Head of Construction. Oversees projects and manages safety. Works intimately with the Head of Kitchen especially, responsible for taking the skinned pelts and processing them into proper leather, and cleaning spare long bones (especially of rabbits) for use as beams and supports. In ThunderClan, they are also responsible for maintaining the spears.

Educator A cat in charge of giving all kittens all their basic skills and a simple introduction to history, before their mentor and the elders eventually take over. Teaches kits how to understand glyphs, the names of certain animals, the leaders of their Clan, etc.

Unofficial Jobs: Tasks that a cat chooses to do, sometimes also asking permission to do it professionally or permanently.

Chaperone The "perma-queen" position. Helps out in the nursery and attends the needs of the queens. Doesn't typically do a lot with the kittens themselves, between their Mi, the Educator, any Bas or family they have, and the elders. Raising kittens is communal, so the Chaperone focuses more on the parents themselves. (Chaperones are generally rare, as they are redundant if you write the clan as a proper social unit, imo...)

Trader A cat who brings things to the border or to gatherings in order to swap them for other goods. Becoming more popular as peace between the Clans grows. Not a "position" but more of a hobby, or a talent. The Clans are currently running on bartering, between borders.

Crafting Weaving, tanning, toymaking, instrument creation, etc. Not so much a singular position rather than a blanket of various hobbies Clan cats can do in their off-time, now. While Construction Patrol often has to do these as chores, they can be done just for fun or personal gain.

In addition, the Leaders, Deputies, and Clerics have significant expansions as well.

Leaders are now given 9 lives to USE, and are expected to function as "the ideal warrior." They are at the head of dangerous missions, patrols, and are brave responders to natural disasters. They are blessed by StarClan itself, carrying a piece of a star to display their holy rank.

The Deputy is now expected to be the one who handles the "busywork" in the Clan so the leader is free to lead by example. The final decision always goes to the leader, but the deputy has MASSIVE influence over the day-to-day functions of the Clan now.

And the Cleric is the healer and spiritual authority of the entire Clan, only outdone by the Leader itself. Only a Cleric is allowed to interpret signs and omens, with Clan Culture now having the concepts of blasphemy, dark magic, and demonic influence.

[nettleclanstale]

Moon 100

Cw For:

-Offscreen Animal death

Spiderstar blinked awake. He was in the medicine den, the sweet scent of herbs flooding his nose and his vision blurred as he groggily looked around. Every time he moved his broken leg, a jolt of pain would shoot through his body, making him let out soft groans.

While he would've preferred to not have his leg broken, he didn't regret what he did to end up in this situation, saving a clanmate from a rather large dog. 

Twigsplash was talking to Petalcloud, her son. The calico tom was distraught, his sobs echoing through the enclosed space.

"I know, I'm sorry." Twigsplash meowed gently, shushing the distressed warrior and guiding him into a resting position. "But please, please understand...If we didn't remove your leg, you would've died..."

Petalcloud began to speak, but it sounded far away. Spiderstar lowered his head, and went back to sleep.

...

"Let...Cats.....Old enough.....Their own prey....Meeting!"

Drifting in and out of consciousness, Spiderstar's ears twitched at the sound of Crowheart's voice. He heard her say something about Spiderstar's condition, before softly calling Baykit forward.

Right. It was time for her apprentice ceremony.

At Baypaw received her official name and the cheers of the clan rang through camp, Spiderstar drifted off. 

...

When Spiderstar awoke again, it was night. He could hear voices outside, but they were muffled.

All he heard was "Newtbelly", "kittypet", and something about someone joining NettleClan as a warrior. 

Spiderstar felt confused. Was there a newcomer within the clan, someone he wasn't even able to meet just yet? He hoped he would be able to meet them soon...

Quicker than the last few times, Spiderstar's head flopped onto the soft bed of moss, and he fell asleep again.

...

When he awoke this time, Spiderstar found himself in the familiar, starry fields of StarClan. He groaned, hauling himself to his paws. It felt so nice to be able to move again, and be conscious. 

"Be careful, there."

A low, gruff voice made Spiderstar's head shoot up. An elderly tom, his tabby fur a light brown color, was beginning to stride towards him. Despite his graying muzzle and thin fur, a clear sign of his age, his amber eyes were bright and full of the life he had when he was young and living.

Spiderstar dipped his head in greeting. "Lightstar," he meowed, before looking around. "What's happening? Am I losing a life?"

Lightstar's expression shifted to one of pity, and he shook his head. "Fortunately, no. I wanted to show you something. I wanted you to see the truth." He replied, turning and starting to walk away. He flicked his tail, gesturing for Spiderstar to follow him. "Come with me."

The truth? About what? Spiderstar found himself thinking as he trotted after Lightstar. He looked around, watching as StarClan's hunting grounds began to shift and morph into NettleClan territory. Despite the familiarity, there was a strange feeling. A feeling that this wasn't the same place Spiderstar knew and grew to love.

Lightstar sighed, making his way through the strands of tall grass that lead to the river. "Now, this looks like NettleClan's current territory. But don't expect to see anyone you know. This was how NettleClan was many, many moons ago." He explained, turning his head and fixing his gaze on something Spiderstar couldn't yet see. "Come here and watch...Please, keep quiet if you can."

Nodding, Spiderstar took a spot beside Lightstar, following his eyes. A young, dark ginger she-cat was padding through the territory, her pawsteps brisk. Her eyes were wide as she looked around, before finally laying eyes on a large brown tom and bounding over to him. 

"That's Brokensnap, our medicine cat." Lightstar whispered, his tail swishing back and forth in mild annoyance. "And that tom is a loner."

"What's his name?" Spiderstar whispered back.

"We don't know. He never told us." Lightstar's attention went back to the two cats, his expression unreadable. "Keep watching."

Brokensnap purred, touching her nose to the loner's and smiling. The tom returned the affectionate gestures, the happiness on his face evident.

"It's so good to see you, Brokensnap." He purred. "How is your clan?"

Brokensnap's ears flattened, and she let out a soft sigh. "Our numbers are low. NettleClan is dying, and all I can do is watch..." 

The tom frowned. "Oh, I'm sorry."

There was silence, and Brokensnap spoke again.

"There's something I have to tell you."

"Go ahead."

"...I...It's two things, actually. Good and bad. Which would you rather hear first?" Brokensnap questioned, looking up at the tom.

"...The good first."

Brokensnap smiled, letting out a purr. "I'm expecting kits! Your kits! Isn't that great?"

The tom's face lit up, and he tackled Brokensnap with a purr, tail and ears perked with joy. "Really? That's...That's amazing news, Brokensnap! I'm so happy!" He nuzzled the ginger she-cat's face, before pulling away, his smile slowly fading. "But...What could possibly be bad about that?"

Brokensnap's face fell, and she looked away. "You won't get to meet them." She murmured, guilt and sorrow crossing her face. "We can't keep meeting anymore. Not like this. You've made it clear that you're not joining NettleClan, and I'm a medicine cat. Right now I'd rather make sure our kits have a home to stay in. Chasing you and begging you to stay would only hurt us both."

The tom got off of Brokensnap, taking a few steps back. Brokensnap rolled onto her side and lifted her head, looking at the speckled brown cat before her. 

"This...Is your last chance," She meowed, her voice firm yet gentle. "You can join NettleClan. We need new blood, anyway, and I'm sure you'll be accepted. We can stay together, and you can see your kits. Otherwise..." Brokensnap looked away, her tail twitching a couple of times. "You will have to leave. And never see me again."

The tension in the air was palpable as both cats went silent, staring at each other. Spiderstar looked up at Lightstar, who was staring forward with a hardened expression, as if he had seen this scene many times before.

The tom let out a sigh, before turning and slowly padding away. Brokensnap let out a confused, heartbroken mewl, as if she wasn't expecting the outcome.

"I'm sorry, Brokensnap, I really am." The tom stopped, turning to look back at her. "But you said it yourself, I made it clear. I will never allow myself to be tied down to a clan. I want freedom. This is the way things need to be." 

With that, he turned forward, dashing forward and vanishing into the shadows. Brokensnap sat there, stunned, before slowly lifting herself to her paws and padding away towards camp.

Spiderstar looked up at Lightstar. "That's awful!" He exclaimed.

"It is," Lightstar murmured, gesturing for Spiderstar to follow and walking away again. "Brokensnap was young. We were all shocked and mildly angered by her foolishness, but eventually we decided to let it go. To let her stay in the clan and raise her kits. Now..."

He pushed his way into the clearing of NettleClan's camp, and slipped into the nursery. Spiderstar followed. 

Brokensnap was now lying on the ground, a tired smile on her face as she looked down at a tiny brown bundle of fur. A white rosetted she-cat laid nearby, a black and white kit sleeping by her belly. 

"Oh, Brokensnap, that kit is beautiful!" The rosetted she-cat purred. She looked down at her own sleeping kit. "Badgerkit will be happy to have someone to play with...Though, he will be an apprentice soon..."

"Oh, Slatebird, that's fine!" Brokensnap chuckled, nudging her kit. "He's a tom...He's absolutely perfect, though...He was born without one of his legs."

The kit, a brown tom with darker speckles, shifted in his sleep and stretched his limbs, yawning. Spiderstar could see the stub of the missing limb on the kit's front leg. 

"Does he have a name?" Slatebird asked.

"Not yet!" Brokensnap shook her head. "I want to get a feel of his personality before I name him. I want it to be something truly special."

"I understand," Slatebird meowed, and the scenery faded. 

Spiderstar looked around, eyes widening as a new scene began to morph. The moon was high in the sky, a dim glow cast over NettleClan's camp. Rain poured from the ground, and the cats of NettleClan trudged through the rising waters, the flooding reaching their bellies as they stood before the HighStone and looked up at Lightstar, now living. He was still old, still frail, but his expression carried nothing but authority. Despite this, Spiderstar could see an oddly crazed look in his eyes. A look of desperation.

"Cats of NettleClan!" The tom called out, commanding attention. "As you all know, these rains have been persistent for moons, and now we are flooded! I have solid reason to believe that StarClan is angered with us, because we chose to ignore the medicine cat code's violation." His attention turned to Brokensnap, who was standing nearby, looking up at him with narrowed eyes. 

"Brokensnap." He sharply called, making the she-cat flinch.

"Yes...?" Brokensnap replied.

"Your actions, your kit...has caused this tragedy upon us! You must stop this horrid rain before we die!"

Brokensnap lowered her head. "What if we were meant to die?" She asked, earning gasps from the small gathering of cats.

"Medicine cats have had kits before, and StarClan never punished them!" Brokensnap insisted, raising her head again and looking around. "We may be being punished for trying to increase our numbers...Not for my violation of the code."

Lightstar's eyes narrowed, and he lashed his tail. "What are you implying?"

"I am implying that we need to die." 

More shocked gasps rippled through the clan, and Lightstar's fur bristled.

"Brokensnap, are you sure?" He asked. "Did you receive a sign of this? NettleClan has been around for moons! Why would StarClan want us to die out now?? Especially when there's only one other clan..."

Brokensnap hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, I'm sure." She said. "I've been having dreams. StarClan favors QuailClan. If we allow ourselves to die out, they will stop the rains and let every cat be at peace." She then padded away, slipping into the medicine den. Spiderstar saw her exit the den with her son, and run out of camp before anyone could see or stop her. 

Slatebird, who was sitting beside Badgerkit, wrapped her tail around her son protectively. "Lightstar, please, at least make my son an apprentice! It's the least you can do!"

"But he's too young. Five moons old is far too small to be made an apprentice." Lightstar insisted.

"I don't care! Please, my son should pass on as a warrior." Slatebird pleaded. "He's almost six moons old anyway! Please, do this for me."

"Very well. Badgerkit, step forward." Lightstar meowed.

Badgerkit waded forward, looking up at the leader with bright eyes. The rain water had reached his chest, causing his fur to cling to his frame.

"Do you promise to protect your clan, even with your life?" Lightstar asked, his voice shaky.

Badgerkit nodded. "Yep!"

Lightstar grimaced, then dipped his head. "Then I hope StarClan hears my blessing. NettleClan welcomes you as Badgerpaw, until you receive your...Your warrior name." He said.

Cheers and chants erupted from the small crowd, and Badgerpaw puffed out his chest. 

Brokensnap entered camp again, once again coming into the medicine den. Her son was gone. She came back out with a bundle of leaves, stepping in front of the gathered cats and looking at all of them.

"NettleClan cats, hear my words." She meowed, her voice muffled. "I have poppy seeds with me. This is an odd request but I must ask that you take them and fall asleep. When you wake up, you will be in StarClan's hunting grounds, where hunting is endless and pain is gone." 

Frightened murmurs could be heard, but the cats of NettleClan made their way forward, gathering around Brokensnap and taking their share of poppy seeds.

Spiderstar watched as Badgerpaw padded over to his mother, looking up at Slatebird with a purr.

"Mama, mama, look! I'm an apprentice!" He exclaimed. 

"I see, love." Slatebird sighed, touching her nose to Badgerpaw's forehead. A pained smile crossed her face as she looked at her son's joyful expression. "Now listen, Badgerpaw. We're going to take some medicine! You'll feel a bit funny, but...Afterwards we'll be happy. Come on."

As the two approached Brokensnap, the scene faded once more. Spiderstar looked up at Lightstar, eyes narrowed.

"What just happened!?" He demanded, and Lightstar slowly turned his head to the brown tabby.

"I wasn't myself. I was old." Lightstar murmured, expression mournful. "Don't you think I feel awful? My delusions caused the deaths of everyone, and I blamed someone else for it."

A new scene appeared before Spiderstar. The sun was shining through the trees, and the flooding had lowered. NettleClan's camp was destroyed, dens battered and broken. 

Spiderstar looked around, his heart sinking into his stomach. "Is this the aftermath? Where are the bodies?"

Lightstar nodded, expression stoic. "Yes. We were drowned. Fortunately nobody felt any pain, our bodies were swept away by the water, and we all woke up in StarClan when it was all over...Well, all of us except one."

A soggy lump of black and white fur pushed through one of the destroyed dens, and Badgerpaw poked his head out. He staggered to the center of the clearing, steps wobbly, and just stood there, looking around and shivering. Spiderstar's ears flattened as the tiny apprentice staggered out of camp, confused and dazed as he called for his mother.

"How did he survive?" He asked, glancing at Lightstar. 

Lightstar's whiskers twitched. "StarClan decided that he wasn't meant to die. I suppose they saw potential in him." He sighed, turning away. The scene of NettleClan faded for the last time, replaced by StarClan's territory once again. "But you know the truth now."

Spiderstar frowned. He now felt more confused than he did before. "Why did you show me that?"

"Because NettleClan is rebuilt now." Lightstar meowed in reply. "Now that Badgerstar, you, and even Hazelstar have formed a functioning clan again, it's only fair that you learned your history. I would've shown it to Hazelstar, but..."

"No. I know." Spiderstar interrupted him, lifting a paw. "Hazelstar doesn't need that information."

Lightstar nodded. "Correct. But now it's time for you to wake up. You have things to do."

"But I have so many questions!"

"Silence. More will come when you're ready." Lightstar's tail lashed, but he touched his nose to Spiderstar's forehead. The world around the leader began fading to black, and Spiderstar felt a strong drowsiness wash over him.

"Rest now, Spiderstar..." Lightstar's voice, gentle yet firm, echoed in the tom's head as he awoke. "Remember what you've seen. Remember the truth."

As Spiderstar woke up, still in the medicine den, he could feel his mind reeling with thoughts and questions. Careful not to put too much pressure on his broken limb, he began to think.

Was that just a dream? It was possible. He had been pretty groggy earlier, his injuries causing various states of consciousness. It made sense for him to have such a vivid dream.

But what if it wasn't a dream? Spiderstar laid his head between his front paws, the tip of his tail twitching. He was tired, and could feel himself drifting off to sleep again.

If it wasn't a dream, there was only one major question that flowed through his mind. 

If that was actually a vision, a story of NettleClan from so long ago...

Was any of it true? 

Spiderstar didn't know, and he was determined to find out.

End.

[exocynraku]

ivypool’s heart spoilers

i have finished the book ! took me a bit longer than usual

overall, i liked it. i felt like while reading it was either Really good or a bit weird. the xenophobia towards kittypets and the sisters in the beginning of the book was really weird. but after the five of them set off further on their adventure i felt it was a lot better. the travelling portion didn’t even feel that long! i liked the wildcats in the weird animal capture place, but there were a couple lines about leaving the wildcats behind (before the star tree) that i felt were really weird and out of place.

i liked the introduction of the star tree, i have a weird feeling it’s going to come back into importance later on. i didn’t really like the cats and starclan’s reactions later on to galestar and stripestars story, it’s another one of warrior cats’ wack treatment of half-clan relationships. it’s so boring, and doesn’t make any sense! it definitely makes for good tension especially in this case, but it sort of ruins it when you REALLY think about it. half-clan relationships being “bad” DOES NOT work with how the clans are written and i’m so serious. i also didn’t like how stormclan’s story is all about them leaving the clans, struggling and then falling apart. to me it just reinforces the clans xenophobic views about the outside world. there was no prey, there were rogues everywhere, seriously? so, what? the clans, in their two different territories, just sooooo happened to find the PERFECT territories to support a clan? they’re acting like there’s no where else for other groups to live, but that isn’t true! there are TONS of other groups including one we literally learn of IN THIS BOOK living perfectly fine. i think they could’ve come up with a MUCH better reason for stormclan to have fallen.

i thought it was really interesting how stripestar and the other stormclan cats came back to the afterlife after being remembered, especially by the other starclan cats. that proves that another starclan cat remembering another starclan cat can keep them alive!

i wish we got a bit more information about stormclan and their cats. if anything, i hope stormclan is reformed in some way in the future. i also hope the wildcats don’t just fade off into nothing. there’s rumors the next SE will be related to ivypool’s heart, so i hope it’s about them.

i LOVED the river of spirits. it’s definitely really interesting but also sllllliiiightly seemed like “we made up something on the spot so galestar could get to starclan” but whatever.

overall, good. not incredible, and stormclan’s plot definitely let me down, but overall good and readable. also very interesting in how this book will affect things in the future & tie into star. excited!

i’ll be drawing all the new characters soon 🙏

[rileys-battlecats]

If you haven’t already answered this yet, can I ask why MicaClan chose the territory they currently live in? It seems like an interesting decision to choose such a different area to try to survive in. Although the more lush area probably means less droughts and higher elevation could possibly mean less flood risks, avoiding the two major issues that caused them to move in the first place. They still have to relearn everything though in such a different area. Or was there less thought behind it and it was more just get to higher ground to avoid the water and then they got tired of traveling and decided to stop once they were sufficiently high up?

Also can I ask what kind of border threats they faced when establishing their new territory? Were there other groups of cats? Was it mostly predators and dangerous animals? Did dogs or twolegs pose a challenge to their borders?

Sorry I kinda have a lot of questions haha I just really like your story and characters and settings and everything and wanna know all I can about them and get a deeper knowledge of everything

I AM SO HAPPY TO RECEIVE THIS QUESTION

You're right that there were material aspects as to why they chose to settle where they did; the mountain seemed like a good place to avoid any more catastrophic floods with the high elevation, the spring-fed stream that runs through the territory also seemed like a guarantee against any future droughts, and the area had plenty of prey to feed the clan. But the real deciding factor was the soil!

The idea was basically that they found a place where the very ground seemed to be blessed by Starclan. I've written about this on the blog before, but it was wayyy way back and I haven't mentioned it again since then HAHA, but I based Micaclan's territory on a place I used to hike every now and again. The area used to be the location of a mica mine, and the ground there still sparkles with all the tiny shards of minerals in the ground (which is actually why they're called Micaclan; I gave them the name before I'd fully decided on the clan not being from the area originally lol). So they basically were like "if this isn't a sign from Starclan then I don't know what is" and set up camp! It ended up being the right choice in the end, because they found the Moonmirror in the abandoned mine on their territory, which gave them much needed access to Starclan (even if they can't use it outside of emergencies).

For border threats, I imagine them dealing with all sorts of things, especially in the beginning when they were just establishing their borders. I think of micaclan's territory being far enough from human civilization that they don't have to worry about construction or cars or anything, but close enough that they have a human hiking trail acting as one of their borders, or at least having a hiking trail close enough that they have to deal with the occasional stray dog or human. In addition to this, predators like black bears or coyotes would make trouble for the clan, and maybe a mountain lion drifted through the territory at one point (which would have been a harrowing time indeed).

As for rogues or other groups of cats, I think they might've brought that trouble with them! It's hard to conceal a big group of cats traveling in search of a new territory, and I think they drew some unwanted attention on their way up to the mountain. Maybe other groups noted them, and decided to let the strangers do the hard work of staking out a good territory before swooping in to take their place? I don't think there were any other cats living where Micaclan ends up, so they wouldn't be contesting land with any other resident cats. Those that threatened their new borders were usually looking to try to take their place. Basically they were like "so the weirdos you pegged as 'death within the month' 5 moons ago are actually now thriving and looking well-fed and healthy living on the mountain? I guess it can't be THAT dangerous, why don't we live up there instead? they can find somewhere else again, they're obviously good at finding nice territories."

the general gossip on micaclan as a group through the years basically goes like this: I heard there was a big group (a clan?) passing through looking to set up a new territory, hope they don't settle here -> apparently that big clan that passed through a few moons back is living further up the mountain? wonder how long it'll be before they're eaten by bears -> there's a big group of cats living further up the mountain, maybe the mountain makes for a good territory after all... -> there's a weird cat cult up the mountain and if you step on their turf they will Kick Your Ass

[wc-confessions]

midnight was REALLY cool and i wish there were more noncats that spoke cat. i've had ideas for some before, but i don't think the erins are gonna try going in that direction any time soon. but i would like to share some of the most logical ideas i have for cat-speaking nons.

farm animals. there are usually cats at or around farms, whether they're mousers looking for a meal or actually owned by the farm.

other domestic animals. you want to tell me millie speaks dog because she's lived near them before but NONE of the dogs in the series have ever lived with cats? domestic birds could also be cool too: how would the cats react to, say, a rainbow macaw that spoke their language? they don't exactly have those in the lush forests of england.

another spirit sent by starclan. like i said midnight was a sick idea, but she feels out of place considering that was the only time it happened. if a prophecy were to be delivered by, say, a ghost deer, or an omen were to be read by idk a ghost hedgehog or something that would be INCREDIBLE.

the warrior code in the first few arcs talks about respecting all life (specifically prey), but if that's the case why has starclan only ever sent cats until midnight?

.

[rippleclan]

[Image ID: a faded Dark Forest spirit (a red transparent cat with black holes for eyes) stands under the title, “Spirits of Shadow: Compendium.”]

I wanted to make sure I wrote down all the Spirits of Shadow I’ve created for the series so far so that if I use them, they don’t feel weirdly placed. Basic summaries await!

Skin N’ Bones: spirits of hunger and cannibalism. Well known tormentors of those in the Dark Forest, driving them into the depths of hunger before turning them so mad, they try to eat other cats. Visit the living world when they struggle to find victims in the Dark Forest.

Wraiths: echos of pain and suffering that haunt a location in the real world and the Dark Forest. They pull cats in to repeat their horrific tales. The shipwreck was once thought to house wraiths, but future generations will say the birth of Carnationspeckle in that shipwreck drove them off with the energy of her pure compassion.

Heralds: spirits pretending to be regular cats. They ask for aid and when the clans give them permission, they open portals to summon more Spirits of Shadow.

Honeybites: spirits who mimic strange dens and enticing caves, luring curious cats into their gaping mouths, which look like typical entrances.

Shardlings: the broken pieces of a destroyed Dark Forest cat, representing their inner thoughts and emotions. Without their other pieces, they are volatile and intense. While they can be “killed”, they always remain as some trace of the dead spirit.

Stormfoots: born of the Dark Forest warrior Stormfoot, who left his bastard kits to freeze to death. They create powerful storms that StarClan has trouble controlling.

Dark Forest Warriors: the general population of the Dark Forest. While some have arisen to become unique enemies in their own right, the entire population of the dark forest can be considered a type of spirit of shadow. While some spend their afterlife quietly, others try to engage with the living and join forces with some of the monsters that plague them.

Darkhounds: the Clan equivalent of hellhounds, the darkhounds are a common enemy in the Dark Forest, chasing down warriors and devouring them again and again. Some cats can manipulate them, just like they would manipulate a pack of dogs. Other times, when a darkhound doesn’t find a soul to snack on, it will slip to the mortal world for a hunt.

Dog-cat: a horrific fusion of dog and cat. Said to be born of Dogcall, who befriended dogs and used them against the other Clans.

Forsaken Prey: if you hunt prey and do not respect its sacrifice, its spirit can turn into a crazed and rabid ghost, seeking to treat you the same way.

Rat Leader: a mass of rats, their tails entangled. Carriers of disease and panic, it is unsafe to be around them for long.

Scarecrows: stories of the strange human figures that stand in the wheat fields have given birth to a new Spirit of Shadow, a human made of wheat and plants that hides and waits for a passing cat.

Leatherwaste: Leatherwaste is the dishonor title of a careless and callous artisan who desecrated the bodies of prey animals beyond use. Now scraps of fur/leather fall off this Dark Forest soul and turn into leather amalgamations who like to destroy Dark Forest spirits in the same way.

Manykits: the spiritual children of Goldtoe, who had mates across the Clans and sired many children. These ghostly kits make cats lost and lure them far from home.

[raina-clipse423]

Cat Doki! (Pt. 2)

Here's Natsuki (Monika and Yuri) for those who haven't seen her!

SAYORI!! She's going for a surprise attack, look at that fearsome hunting face!

She's a Devon Rex kitty, and her Warriors name is CherrySilk!

(Warriors!au info for those interested bellow the cut)

A cheerful cat of Windclan, seen running around the territory most of the time and is a little bit too clusmy to be a proper warrior. Despite that she still gets invited to hunting duty and occasionally patrol, however she's usually just moral support and cheer her clanmates on when catching prey, or the voice of reason if they come across an intruder.

Under her outgoing ways, CherrySilk is quite burdened by the gamble that is life in the forest. She avoids talking about it, but often she wonders what life is like for Kittypets. They always looks so full, healthy, and generally happy, they don't suffer the disappointment that is missing a kill, near starvation during Leafbare if there wasn't enough freshkill stocked, the fear of losing kittens and cats to bigger animals, and so on... Their twolegs do quite a good job keeping them happy in her opinion, she doesn't understand what's just so bad about kittypet life that other cats just despises it, both Kittypet and clan life are great in their own ways. The tension between clans is what hits CherrySilk hardest.

There was one... Inspirational stroll she took one day. Thinking of StarClan... How.. warm, and happy cats must feel up there, how they don't suffer from their scars anymore, kits reuniting with family.. she had aimlessly wandered to a Thunderpath, in rumbled under her paws and for a second she welcomed it, but she was startled by yowl then noticed just in time as a twolegs monster ran by and she leaped out of the way. It was her first time seeing one, and it was terrifying, loud and big. A kittypet thankfully saw her and called out to her, a "Car" she called it. She's not the first kittypet CherrySilk met, there's another tom she's met since kithood, and this kittypet is just as intriguing as he was.

Is this gonna be another great friendship?

[w1ldfeatherxx]

My Warrior Cats headcanons

I don't have anything else to do in the moment so I'll ramble about warriors.

• When a Starclan/Dark forest cat fades, they are reincarnated as a completely new cat who might remember something about their previous life.

• Ruby and Socks survived, Ruby changed her name to Smoke and had Darktail with Onestar later on. Socks learned how to survive on his own and (possibly) had kittens with someone.

• Ruby and Socks hated Tiny because they believed Tiny is more liked by Quince than them, not necessarily because Tiny is smaller than them.

• Mapleshade continues doing bad things in the Dark Forest in order to be remembered by the living cats so she and her kittens wouldn't fade away. She wants her kittens to stay in Starclan as long as possible because she cared deeply about their wellbeing.

• Mapleshade would have attempted to kill Oakstar if she didn't die after killing Appledusk.

• Bloodclan cats would sometimes break and sharpen bones of prey animals in order to make more spikes for their collars.

• Scourge had other reasons to punish Barley & Violet, not just because they lived together ignoring his rules. Barley & Violet were both related to an enemy of Scourge's, therefore he was paranoid and wanted to get rid of them. Snake & Ice got different treatment because they joined Scourge's guard and never disobeyed him.

[sittinthroughthisoreshit]

Imposter Bramblestar AU MAP Idea Script- 111 Winchester

So I only recently discovered the absolutely amazing song "111 Winchester" by I The Mighty, and it seems so under-appreciated. It's just begging to have an animatic/MAP/PMV made of it but it doesn't look like anyone has so I made a script for one myself starring one of my lifelong obsessions. You can use this if you wanna, I have no artistic capabilities so I'm not gonna make anything out of it (although I would like to be credited if you use it please).

Trigger warning for: Possession, horror, burning alive, canon-typical animal death, Ashfur being himself

Intro:

Ashfur jumps out from the Moonpool. He promptly smacks one of his hind paws against the water and it freezes over. Panicking StarClan spirits can be seen on the other side banging their paws against the ice frantically to no avail. He smirks and heads towards ThunderClan territory. Looking out over the camp, he spies Bramblestar, Squirrelflight, and their children (Jayfeather, Lionblaze, Alderheart, and Sparkpelt) and his eyes darken with anger and his claws unsheathe

I'm feeling up tonight for something dangerous / I know a place up north that no one ever goes / I'm picking you up in ten so raid the cabinets / We'll top the liquor off they'll never know

Bramblestar is gathering his mate and children to take a little family trip out into the territory to cut loose and bond. They gather up some herbs and prey to take with them on their excursion. Bramblestar leaves Rosepetal and Thornclaw in charge of the Clan while he's gone and they happily see the family off on their day trip.

So call your girl and bring her friends / Break the lock, the fun begins

The group make their way through the forest to an idyllic-looking clearing perfect for a picnic. The happy family settle down and begin eating and talking

Here the party never ends / Long as we breathe oxygen

The group continue to settle in for their picnic. Ashfur's eyes flash from the shadows for a split second but vanish just as quickly

Turn it up a little louder 'cause no one is around here / This creepy little place is ours for now

The group talks, eats, and plays, not noticing the eerie fog that's starting to roll in- or the ghost cats that show up and take shape from said fog

How'd my drink fall off the counter? / Oh, tell me does it feel a little colder?

Lionblaze says the first line out of confusion. He had set his prey down on a flat topped rock, but it's somehow fallen off onto the ground (the viewer sees one of the ghost cats knock it off of the rock- the living cats can't see the ghosts). Sparkpelt says the second line, shivering as one of the ghosts brushes past her to join the others in clawing at the trunk of a tree before fading away and vanishing back into the fog

What's that writing in the mirrors? / Couldn't read it any clearer / Someone wants us all out of this house

The group stare at the tree where the ghost cats just were. There are now words clawed into the bark: "Get Out". Now terrified, Alderheart breaks the silence by exclaiming the last line in a panic

I'm not sure that we're alone here / Baby can you stand a little closer?

Jayfeather sings the first line, fur on end, sensing a presence that the others don't. Squirrelflight sings the second line to Bramblestar, frightened. He obliges and nuzzles his head into her fur in an attempt at reassurance, although his expression betrays his own fear and unease.

Followed the staircase but it lead me nowhere / They disappeared into the center of a wall

The group attempt to leave the clearing, but to their horror the now thick fog has covered the way back, and although they can't be sure, the more they walk the more the scenery around them looks more and more different than before, warping into something alien

I found the doorway that leads to the cellar / But only after a thirty-foot fall

Lionblaze suddenly charges forward, thinking that he sees a clear path out. However, he plunges down almost immediately after, having run over the edge of a cliff. Luckily, he manages to dig his claws into the wall of the cliff and his family all help pull him back up to safety.

Not sure where this hallway ends / Or my sanity begins / Where the hell are all my friends? / There were six when we walked in

As the group keeps moving, the members keep vanishing one by one into the fog, something silently dragging them away. By the time Bramblestar realizes this, he's all alone

Something's crawling in the attic, I think I'm going manic / This shadow on the wall is not from me

As Bramblestar frantically calls and searches for his missing family, his shadow grows larger and larger in size. It no longer resembles him in any way, now looking like Ashfur's silhouette instead

One more shot before I panic / Oh, none of this is getting any clearer

Bramblestar continues to search for his mate and children, running headlong through the fog and tripping over tree roots that keep growing all around him. He grows more and more distressed the more he can't find them. He finally collapses to ground gasping for air, exhausted.

I hear you calling from the bedroom, I swear I'll come and get you / As soon as I remember how to breathe

As Bramblestar tries to get his bearings, he finally hears his family's terrified voices desperately calling for help. He sings the lines as he begins running again despite how visibly tired he is

There's no method to the madness / Where is my reflection in this mirror?

Bramblestar stumbles into a puddle and is horrified to notice that he now lacks a reflection. As he turns and runs away, Ashfur is seen reflected in the pond where Bramblestar's reflection should be, grinning maliciously at his retreating form

Frozen, I'm all alone when something calls me to a study / I hear in my head "third book on the left" / And I find matches and a locket just for me

Suddenly, Bramblestar hears a new voice in his ear that compels him to ignore his family's cries (shown by his eyes glazing over and his movements becoming robotic) and follows the sound to a hollowed out log. Inside the log are a large and thick dried branch, a piece of flint, and a small torn piece of spotted gray fur. Seeing the fur sends Bramblestar snapping out of the trance he was in as he recognizes exactly who the fur and scent belongs to

Frozen, I'm all alone when something calls me to a study / I hear in my head "third book on the left" / And I find matches and a locket just for me

A figure looms behind Bramblestar. He slowly turns to finally see Ashfur standing right behind him. He stares, frozen in a combination of horror, shock, and anger.

Something's crawling in the attic, I think I'm going manic / The shadow on the wall is closing in

The two toms square off, hissing and spitting at each other. Ashfur leaps at Bramblestar, presumably to make the first strike, but to Bramblestar's surprise the spirit disappears when the two make contact

Just when I begin to panic / Somehow I know the person in this locket

Bramblestar's body begins seizing and his eyes roll back in his head as foam dribbles from his mouth and blood comes out his nose. Bramblestar's eyes close, and when they open, they're Ashfur's eyes. He is now fully possessed by the wicked spirit

I hear you calling from the bedroom / But I don't care to find you / And I'm sure we'll never see outside again

Possessed!Bramblestar sings the above lines to his still trapped family members with a sadistic smirk on his face as they're all shown encased in thorny vines that are tightening painfully around them as they call desperately for help that isn't coming

There's a method to the madness / And I still got these matches in my pocket

Possessed!Bramblestar smiles as he walks back to the hollow log containing the branch and the flint. He grabs the branch with purpose, knowing what he has to do...

I don't recognize myself / 'Cause right now there is someone else / Telling me behind the shelf there is gasoline and / I don't feel like myself / I don't feel like myself / I don't feel a thing

Possessed!Bramblestar strikes the branch against the piece of flint and it ignites as his eyes sparkle with vicious glee. As he tosses the flaming branch onto the ground and the fire spreads, Ashfur's image flickers briefly over his (a repeat of the past fire he caused)

I don't recognize myself / 'Cause right now there is someone else / Telling me to pour it out over everything and / I don't feel like myself / I don't feel like myself / I don't feel a thing

The fire slowly engulfs Alderheart, Sparkpelt, Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Squirrelflight. Squirrelflight is the final member to die, and she recognizes that Ashfur has possessed her mate and curses him as she dies. Possessed!Bramblestar is the last to be consumed by the fire, laughing and grinning as he sings the final line as he vanishes into the smoke and flames, glowing blue eyes being the last thing seen by the viewer

THE END

Post-Credits Scene:

When the group doesn't return to camp, a border patrol is sent out to search for them (the only cats mandatory are Cinderheart and Larksong for angst reasons. All other cats can be whoever you want). As they travel, show that there is no evidence of a fire having taken place (no burnt earth, no fallen trees, nothing). Also, all the scenery is normal, no longer warped. The patrol freezes once they stumble upon the tree in the center of the clearing that still has the claw marks spelling "Get Out" on the trunk, but not just because of the eerie message it bears. Spread out in front of the tree's base are the six charred bodies of the missing cats. Lots of horrified reactions and tears shed. As the camera pans away, Ashfur's spirit stands nearby with the spirits of Sparkpelt, Lionblaze, Bramblestar, Alderheart, and Jayfeather still encased in thorns beside him. He leads them away, the vines puppeting the unwilling spirits like marionettes as he takes them away to the Dark Forest with him. He gives one final wink to the camera as everything fades out.

[riseoftheclansrpg]

AFTERLIFE - RISE OF THE CLANS

The General Spirit World

All animals when they die become a spirit in the afterlife. Their species, beliefs, and choices in life, will determine their outcome and afterlife residence. Next to the living in the waking world, spirits and ghosts also traverse the land, in a different realm of existence. The Spirit world is all-encompassing, thought to exist in the same reality. Some afterlives are located within the stars, others are in dark regions that only malevolent, malignant beings seeking to harm will find themselves...

StarClan

The Clans of the Lake believe that when a warrior dies after living their life as authentically as possible following the Warrior Code, their spirit will live on forever with StarClan. Their territory can be found watching the Clans from above, in the starry night that covers the lake, known as Silverpelt. All good Clan cats will find themselves as part of StarClan, regardless of their prior Clan in life. Here, the season is always Greenleaf, and it is a mixture of the lushest, most vibrant nature. Streams and ponds are filled with crystal clear water, crisp and clean in taste, stock full of fish and other prey. The grass underpaw is soft, plush, and always seems to shine golden when the light hits it just right...

The Place of No Stars

Warriors who repeatedly, intentionally, break the warrior code and bring harm to others, will find themselves in The Place of No Stars, also colloquially known as the Dark Forest, after dying. It is a large, dim, wretched place of existence, with only a ghostly pale gray light in the far, far distance serving as the only source of light. The Dark Forest is said to be once ruled and led by its first ever resident, ■■■■■■■...

Stjar'Keld

Fjell'Byr felines find themselves in Stjar'Keld after death. They reside in the skies above the mountains, so that they may watch over their living counterparts. Stjar'Keld's territory is a bit more of a mystery to Fjell'Byr, as living spirits do not visit the territory like a Clan warrior might visit StarClan's territory in their dreams. As a result, their realm is thought to be a bit more ethereal in interpretation, with emphasis on the bright midday sky. Only the residents of Stjar'Keld truly know what their territory looks like...

THE EMPTY

The Empty is a vast expanse of open, blank rolling fields and open sky in between the realms of the afterlife. The time of day is always dusk, just after sunset, with the stars in the vast distance that define the other realms of the afterlife, such as StarClan, twinkling overhead. There is no prey, water, nor shelter, but none of that is needed: hunger, thirst, and fatigue are not experienced by the spirits that wander the Empty. Wandering aimlessly somehow always leads to nowhere, no matter how far a spirit walks...

Ghosts

Ghosts are active spirits that haunt the living both in the waking world, and in a cat's dreams. They are selected by ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ to become a ghost, and it is completely indiscernable as to why, or when. It does not seem to be based on morality or prior choices in life: only Ether himself knows why he chooses the spirits he does to return to the living once more as a ghost. By rejoining the land of the living, ghosts will lose memories of their previous life. The memories, and the amount, vary, but there is no ghost that can recollect their entire past...

[loveisafire-warriors]

ROLES RIVERCLAN

RIVERCLAN

Leader - The Leader of Riverclan is often called a Kewmirra, roughly translating to Pod Mother, but they can be a tom, molly, or jack. The role is usually passed down through generations of families, but theoretically anyone could become Kewmirra with enough work and effort.

Vice - The Vice is also known as the Lord, and they're the direct managers of the other cats in the clan except the leader. They help mentors with the curriculum, fishers make sure they have enough patrols, and are the cat to tell the leader when a kit is ready to be apprenticed.

Fishers - The fishers are exactly that, they fish in the rivers and ponds on their territory. They're also the main swimmers of the clan and the main defence force, since fish are their primary food source.

Hunters - Hunters work on dry land, hunting whatever they can to add more food to the clans palette. They are very quiet and patient, being able to wait for a long time for prey to make itself known. They often find their ways into kittypet grounds to hunt there as well.

Artisans - Artisans are the crafters of the river, tasked with making tools, decorations and art with anything they can find. These include rocks, sticks, twine, animal skin and fur, and reeds. In addition they will seek out twoleg objects to study them.

Seers - Seeing signs from Starclan and Mirra, Seers are usually elder cats that have been pushed into the position after having strange dreams or losing their eyesight. If a kit is born without eyesight, they are immediately pushed into the seer role not because they are believed to be incapable, but because it is seen as a sign.

Bards - The cats responsible for preserving the clans history through performance, storytelling and song. They often work closely with artisans.

Mentors - Cats who are currently mentoring an Apprentice, passing on their knowledge and teachings of the world to the young one. Age does not matter when choosing a mentor for an Apprentice.

Elders - Elders are highly respected and treated the best the clan can offer in their old age, the whole clan trying to make sure their passing to Starclan is a comfortable one.

Cook - With how generally little they have to work with in terms of taste, Riverclan cooks are especially used to using herbs and spices to up their meals quality. They are creative and like to make their food not only taste good, but look pretty too.

Apprentices - Apprentices are cats who are still learning from a Mentor, and are highly protected. They are told to play games like they are still kits because Riverclan believes in just. Being you.

Kits - Kits are the most protected of the clan, and are taught to swim as soon as possible to keep them from not learning how.

[bonefall]

Pishkaf om Chakchak: The Parable of the Squirrels

A Clan Culture story, translated into Clanmew by @bonefall and @troutfur

[ID: A red squirrel and a gray squirrel in a pixelated style, circling each other.]

A ThunderClan parable, taught to kits as soon as they're able to understand, that stresses the cultural importance of managing prey populations. Gray squirrels are an invasive species, notoriously aggressive towards the native red squirrel and driving them extinct across the island.

ThunderClan's reputation of being bossy and obsessed with squirrels is not unfounded; this myth is quite important to understanding their cultural self-perception as "defenders of the forest"! They are easily offended by the unauthorized killing of their beloved red squirrels, and their leaders have historically restricted the trade of their beautiful pelts.

[NOTE: In BB, SkyClan was never forgotten. It continues to be remembered, largely as an antagonist, in myths such as these... and before his quest, Firestar begins to question the accuracy of what he had been taught.]

Translator's Notes;

This story is told in the original Clanmew, a direct translation, and then an English translation.

Though Troutfur hails from RiverClan, and Bonefall from ShadowClan, they have chosen to use ThunderClan-centric pronouns to preserve how a kitten typically first hears the myth.

Ssoen pishkaf-ul wirrehen ssarabenyr. Sabsab Yaawrl-ulnyams upanna om Krraka-ulnyams upanna nekboq wiskofskabo. “Urrpkaash om karrl wees’skofska,” huskarra pishkaf mwrrarrlur. Wilakringra pishkaf mwrrwora.

[StarClan-knowledge red-squirrel-only they(harmless)-existed they(powerful)-beheld. Between SkyClan territory and ThunderClan territory nuts they(harmless)-burried. “We(exclusive)-will-sleep and command you(harmless)-will-bury,” whisker-amount red-squirrel they(rogue)-decided. They(harmless)-refused red-squirrel they(rogue)-killed.]

"So StarClan Witnessed: there was once a time when only red squirrels existed. Between SkyClan and ThunderClan territory they buried their nuts. Then, some squirrels commanded the others to bury them while they slept, and killed those who resisted."

Krrakashai ssargryyr afhawawang wishabharbe. Kurr shaigorrlwang ssargryyr-yrr, loshasa  wowa yaog ssarpoorr ssarahnhech. Nymwang mwrrgryyr pishkaf rarrshaiworra.

[Thunderstar he(powerful)-contain kind-quality they(harmless)-invoked. Because leader-quality he(powerful) contain-ed, stewardship over forest he(powerful)-will-do he(powerful)-agreed. Evil they(rogue)-contain red-squirrel they(outsiders)-star-killed.]

"And so the weak squirrels appealed to Thunderstar's good nature. As a leader must, he agreed to exercise fair stewardship over the forest. Those squirrels who were of an evil nature were executed."

Niferr Yaawrlshai heffn pishkaf wishabharbe, yarnuff, fuh kelfawang ssarkignaka. “Heffnwang wigryyr arrga gabpwang mwrrrgryyr arrga mwrrkarrabeb. Shai ssararrlur,” ssarababab.

[When Skystar weak red-squirrel they(weak)-invoked,  to offense-quality he(powerful)-turned. “Weak-quality they(harmless)-contain strong-quality they(rogue)-contain animal they(rogue)-dominate. Stars they(powerful)-commanded,” he(powerful)-said.]

"Skystar, however, was offended by the pleas of the weak squirrels. “Might makes right,” said he, “such have The Stars commanded”. "

Hissawang shai ssargryyr-yrr, irr ssargryyr nyekmwa ssarna'hesene. Neek mwrrworrawang pishkaf mwrrna'hese pon Yaawrlshaiwang mwrrloorrpis ssarabfrinra. Grrim-om-loerrwang faf wipeb'bep'arr om oskwang boma wripeb'bep'arr om neek mwrr kyarag ssarnyarpoorr, wowa yaog mwrrskurssya. Chakchak hi.

[Anger-quality stars they(powerful)-contain-ed, so they(powerful)-contain displeasure they(powerful)-demonstrated. If murder-quality red-squirrel they(rogue)-will-demonstrate then Skystar-quality they(rogue)-will-resemble they(powerful)-decided. Dark-grey-and-dull-quality fur it(harmless)-metamorphosed  and white-quality belly it(harmless)-metamorphosed and if they(rogue) control they(powerful)-not-will-do, over forest they(rogue)-tyranny-will. Grey-squirrel there.]

"StarClan was angered by this, and thus they decided to show their displeasure. A murderous squirrel would be as Skystar. Their fur would be dull and grey, their belly white like his, and unmanaged they would take over a forest. These are grey squirrels."

Shahafwang Krrakashai-en-pishkaf wiloorrpis ssarabfrinra. Krrakashaiwang, yaywi-faf-om-kasmor-irawang, wipeb'bep'arr. Krraka-ulnyams shai ssarshepownan kurr afhawawang rarrgryyr1.

[Holy-quality Thunderstar-’s-red-squirrels they(harmless)-will-resemble they(powerful)-decided. Thunderstar-quality, bright-fur-and-long-ears-quality, they(harmless)-became. ThunderClan stars they(powerful)-rewarded because kind-quality they(outsiders)-contain.]

"Thunderstar's were blessed instead, becoming bright and long-eared like him. This was StarClan’s reward for ThunderClan’s kindness."

[wc-wild-rewrite]

The Lake Journey vs The Ocean Journey

i wanted to make a post detailing the differences between the two journeys, the first in Arc 2 and the second in Arc 4.5

The Lake Journey

the journey to the lake is a hard, but optimistic event. the adults, who have spent their entire lives in the forest, are obviously traumatised from having to leave their birth homes, and some having to leave their parents behind, while the apprentices and kits are excited for a journey. there's bonding, sharing of cultures, many apprentices are made warriors during this, and some of them begin life long friendships with the other clans.

When they get to the lake, their amazed and fascinated by the sheer difference in the wildlife, discovering dozens of prey- mostly birds- that they've never seen before. It was particularly exciting for the Queens, who got a whole ton of new prefixes to use for their kits. Adjusting to their new territories wasn't as hard as they expected, except for Shadowclan, who went from a starving marshland to a prey-filled pine forest. Prey was plentiful when they arrived, and aside from the Mudclaw Civil War Incident, there was more peace than the clans had seen in a long time.

Of course, tragedy did strike, with the death of Cinderspark and Sootfur during the Badger Attack, but for the most part, things were good.

The Ocean Journey

The journey to the Ocean, on the other hand, was a desperate, tiring experience. They had even less choice with where they were going this time, not having the time to send a group ahead to scout for a proper territory. They initially went back to the Forest- but that was completely destroyed, and only made the older warriors and elders more upset about losing yet another home. Sorrowful, quiet stories were shared about the forest, before they had to continue onwards, pick a direction, and keep walking.

Starclan had left them by that point, too injured by the battle with the Dark Forest to contact them. Jayfeather and Hollyleaf were the ones to lead the journey, the rest of them too tired or injured to lead. Brackenstar couldn't risk his health, as with no starclan, he never got the other 8 lives, and he hadn't picked a deputy in moons. It's not as if the stars could approve.

Grief was a heavy thing during this journey, dozens of cats had died during and in the moon after the fight. litters of kits were born stillborn, the first cases of such in Jayfeather's lifetime, and a barrage of predator attacks and water poisonings had killed off some of their best warriors. Most of the clans were injured, in one way or another, but they couldn't afford to stay at the Lake for any longer, so they walked, or were carried, or were dragged on sleds. There was bonding, in a way, but not the light hearted bonding that came with the Lake Journey, this was a bonding over trauma, over the horror they had witnessed. They had only been at the Lake for 4 generations, maybe less, it was a jarring experience to still have living cats who remembered being apprenticed in the Forest.

Except for Firestar, of course. He had been one of the casulaties of the initial fight, he hadn't lived to see the aftermath. Thunderclan missed him deeply, but none of them wanted him to bear witness to such a tragedy. But he wasn't gone, not entirely, as Sandstorm was carrying his kits. She only found out after he was gone.

Settling into the ocean territory was far more of an adjustment, Shadowclan was now back in a marshland, but those that remembered living in the Forest knew they'd starve far before anything else could kill them, so they went inwards, they claimed a cave system as most of their territory, the marshland only a mouth to it. a true Shadow now.

Riverclan went from grassland and rivers to a beach with rockpools, a jarring and completely new habitat that had animals the clans had never witnessed before. They had to completely change their hunting techniques, as ocean hunting was nothing like the rivers they were used to.

Thunderclan went from mostly oak to mostly birch, not a huge difference, but it was just similar enough to the Forest camp that the senior warriors were unable to settle for a long while. the remaining Frostthree kept swearing they could see their sister relearning how to walk in the clearing, Sandstorm couldn't shake the image of her father's body at the entrance, and Greystripe held back tears as he told stories of training alongside Firepaw and Ravenpaw. Dovewing left for Shadowclan, causing yet another reminder of the Forest.

Windclan was now in a human-planted flower field, compared to their dry heath and moorland. It was certainly a brighter enviroment, but they too adjusted to an underground camp, in the weaving tunnels under their territory. There were no cats left who remembered the days of Heatherstar and the original Tunnelers, though Onestar had tried valiantly to bring them back, as per Tallstar's last wish. Harestar had to work even harder to prove herself as a trustworthy cat, after her training in the Dark Forest.

Although the clans found a spot where the moon was well reflected in the puddles of a small cave, Starclan was unresponsive, and so nobody really went to it. Only Hollyleaf did.

But then, things got worse, as the Six lost their powers, at the same time, on the same day, with no warning. Dovewing was listening in on an apprentice ceremony in Windclan when everything went silent, and she realised she couldn't hear anything. Breezepelt was in the middle of a rant to Heathertail when his throat closed up. Lionblaze was helping with some heavy items when he suddenly collapsed to the ground, barely able to pick himself up. Raven and Bracken were finishing their nests in the abandoned twolegplace when they both fell severely ill, in opposite ways. Bracken ran burning hot, as Raven froze to the bone. It was only because Hollyleaf was on her way to check on them that they survived.

Hollyleaf herself didn't notice it, initially, as her powers are based on being around people, so travelling to the abandoned twolegplace on her own hid the loss of her powers until she found Raven and Bracken. And when she realised her powers were not responding, and neither were theirs, thats when she found out. Jayfeather also struggled to notice, until Lionblaze tried to tell him that he was okay after his collapse, and Jayfeather's lie detection didn't go off. It was only then did he realise he could only feel his own emotions, nobody else's were smothering him like normal. He hated that he didn't feel relieved.

Now, i havent decided if Ivypool gets powers too, or from the same place, but if she does, she is sleeping when it happens. When she is woken up in a panic by her clanmates- because of Jay and Lion's powers vanishing- she does not recognise them. she does not remember them. her power was a perfect memory, so without it, she develops some version of amnesia. Perhaps not permenant, but long-lasting enough that it seriously alters her life. She also exhausts far easier, her enhanced speed completely gone, replaced with bone-deep exhaustion most of the time.

The clans found this to be the worst part of it. Their star-given heroes, the prophecy cats that just saved the clans, were powerless. To say the clans panicked would be an understatement. They knew the stars were gone, but to revoke the powers of a prophecy already fufilled? the stars were not just gone, they had abandoned them. Night fell on that fateful day, and the sky was pitch black. the stars were gone.

And thats where Flamespring's story begins, born three dark, starless nights after.