#and that’s starclan for prey animals

[fatespalm]

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

[letyachan]

538.Jagged Peak

Son of Quiet Rain

"It's too late! You clearly think I'm a waste of space. Why else would you have thrown me out of the forest? And now that I'm beginning to prove myself, you need Gray Wing to tell you what I've done. Will I ever be good enough?"

[bonefall]

Clan Culture Illustrations

So I've been mentioning this in passing, and I think now is a good time to start collecting info from people who are interested!

I'm seeking artists who want to draw stuff for my Clan Culture series.

I often write very large guides for things like tools, ecology, medicine and treatments, etc, which then get held up by the fact that they're big blocks of text without any fun pictures. I usually collaborate with friends and family, but I could put out more quicker if I had some artists on standby.

If you're an artist who would be interested in illustrating, here's the details;

Everything I make on this blog is tailored towards WC fans, but free for anyone to use and reference for their xenofiction worldbuilding projects. You do not have to be intimately familiar with the Warrior Cats books. This offer's open to anyone above 18.

Fans of Better Bones are preferred, because Clan Culture and BB often intersect. I might ask for help with some BB stuff at some point, too. (for example i have a guide on types of StarClan spirits that needs illustration)

To re-iterate, please only inquire if you're 18+

Price range is 20 - 50 USD and turnaround time can be up to 6 months if you just keep me updated. (I am sorry that I can't offer a higher price for these, but this is coming from my own pocket. In return, this is meant to be low pressure)

Half payment upfront, the rest after completion.

I will never "assign" you a surprise mystery topic (unless you ask for that I guess?), I'll either present you with a list of posts that need illustration (yes this means you get to read stuff early), OR float some ideas that play to your strengths and interests. (for example: if I'm approached by Spider-Enjoyer-9000 who's willing to draw a ridiculous number of spiders, I will draft, write, and research a Clanmew Expansion in the style of Deer and Co or Moths and Butterflies.)

Either way, there's usually a lot of creative freedom here unless I need a specific technical drawing, which I will discuss with you and provide references for. (As an example, if we were talking about a post on declawing, I might ask for you to illustrate the muscles within the paw.)

The nature of Clan Culture means you will probably be asked to draw plants, food, objects, and/or scenery

Still interested?

I'm hoping to make a personal "list" of people I can call on, so send me your commissions info or details in a DM, an ask, a reply to this post, or anything else you'd like. Tell me about stuff you like drawing, topics you're interested in, if you can draw backgrounds, etc

Also, please tell include in that message if you're comfortable with illustrating these particular sensitive topics. These are opt-in only;

Medical Gore (Woundcare, stitching, blood, vomit, urine, parasites and bug bites, etc.)

Reproductive Care (Abortion, birth, pyometria, inducing lactation, possible revamp of the HRT guide including simple surgeries, etc)

Hunting and Butchery (Humane killing of prey, skinning, disembowelment, cutting meat, making sausage and blood pudding, etc)

Funerals and Animal Death (Sad kitties, dead battle cats, scavengers and grave desecration, tombs and burial rituals, concealing decay, etc.)

The end art will always stay tasteful, but I might need to give you references in the form of real images or tutorials that might be upsetting if you're sensitive to these topics-- so it's important to me that I consider those four things "opt-in."

I have plenty of other posts that need illustration, it's just a huge plus if you're able to do these too.

(You should also mention any other specific triggers or phobias you have, so I don't unwittingly come at you with something else upsetting)

"I still have questions!"

Putting a big list of answers beneath the cut;

"Would everything have to be colored?"

Nope, as long as there's pictures to break up the text, you can do sketches, black and white, flat colors, only put color in the header, etc. We'll discuss expectations with the post in front of us, and then agree on price.

I have ONE requirement; it's gotta look good on Tumblr darkmode. Because I use Dark Reader.

"Do you have a Discord?"

I do, I just try to be exclusive with who I give it to! When we're discussing details, we'll probably move over there if you'd like. This is a reason why I only want to work with 18+ artists, I'm not always SFW on main.

"Can we do an entry together about (specific topic)?"

Probably yes, so feel free to ask! The worst that will happen is that I say no, or maybe later. For example, I've got a post on Sweetness Tolerance reserved for my partner (they like to draw sweets), so I would say no if you asked.

Just keep in mind that researching, outlining, and writing is unpaid labor I'm doing completely for free. I have posts mostly done that just need art, and topics I've done some research on. Please only ask for special collaborations from scratch if you're serious 🙏

"Does it have to be digital?"

You'd have to have a WILD idea for me to say yes to anything non-digital, but I am a queer of whimsy. If you can whimsify me with an idea, hell yeah.

"Will I be compensated if you need any changes?"

Yes. If I spring anything on you after the details we agree on, I will first ask you, then ask how much that change would cost, and then compensate you for it.

As fair warning though, I am trying to stay within a budget and writing the posts themselves is unpaid work I do (plus occasional helping hands during research stages, I consulted a friend who is an irl wetlands expert for ShadowClan's environment). I can't pay more than what we agree on.

"Can I link my info in the post?"

Yes. "Guest Artist" is going to be named in the opening paragraphs, along with any fundraiser, shop info, carrd, etc, you want there.

"Boosty?"

Yea I got Boosty. Paypal, too.

"I have some other question about pricing"

Feel free to ask, but my hard budget is 20$ - 50$ US. Please only inquire if you're willing to charge within that range.

"What if I'd do it free or I want to do this anonymously?"

I'll donate to a charity of your choice and link to it in the post. If you have no charity preference, I will link to RAINN, Anera, or The Trevor Project.

(Naturally this comes with an anti-ghoul caveat or two. If you try to get me to donate to something like Autism Speaks I will rotate every bone in your body by 45 degrees.)

"I like checklists, can you give me a checklist of info you want in a DM?"

Sure!

Your info; socials, carrd, shop, etc

General interests and strengths. Stuff you'd love to work on, or have insight to. If you like fishing or drawing bugs, I want to know that. If you particularly want to practice flowers, tell me. Be as detailed as you want so I can pair you with a relevant subject!

Your examples

General asking price (or charity)

Which, if any, of the four Opt-In Subjects you're opting in for.

Anything else I should know (triggers, phobias, things you dislike drawing, if schooling or disability means you need a particularly long turnaround time, etc)

[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.

[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.

[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?

.

[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.

[silverpeltsfury]

CRIMES, NAMES, AND MAPLESHADE

Mapleshade was a ThunderClan warrior, a mother, a daughter, an apprentice, an older sister, and a murderer.

No cat alive would know these facts, and no cat in StarClan would acknowledge these facts. 

When a warrior has committed a truly grievous crime, one piece of the Warrior Code goes into effect immediately; “Any cat killed or exiled for breaking these Codes will be stripped of their name and rank, and not spoken of again under the light of Silverpelt.”

A cat’s name is tied to their identity and their history inexorably, and to lose that is to lose oneself, a punishment cruel and frightening enough to dissuade any casual codebreaker. StarClan can’t call out to cats with no name.

This tradition leads to some natural trouble. It’s hard to pretend the cat who hurt you doesn’t exist anymore, and it’s hard to explain the origin of additions to the Code or other traditions, and it’s hard to warn cats of danger with no name to put to it

Using the criminal’s true name is obviously out, so there are work-arounds. 

Say you’re going over the Warrior Code with the apprentices (again, because Berrypaw never listens the first time), those Laws relating to kits and queens. Some cat pipes up and asks why queens are safe from having to share the sire of their litters.

Even mentioning her home, or her crimes as a cat, might be enough to summon slivers of Mapleshade’s spirit back to the forest. So, you tell those apprentices about Seedpelt, a WindClan queen who was banished for having kits with a loner, who’s kits stumbled into the gorge and drowned, and how the four of them never deserved such a fate. This queen never existed- and maybe playing with words and changing details is cheating, but it’s how you’ll keep your history alive in a manner that’s safe.

But, even then, cats are cats. They love the taste of blood, they love the thrill of a chase, they aren’t prey animals. They take pride in their gorey histories. They love their scary stories. 

So, if you’re looking to frighten, entertain, or exalt what warriors past have overcome, you’ll tell a story of the Waul. A cougar-adjacent spirit with the blood-curdling screech of an owl who lost her cubs to floodwaters, who blamed the warriors of RiverClan and hunted sunningrocks for moons wailing for her cubs and devouring any cat who crossed her path on her search. 

This is the line storytellers dance between adhering to the code and tracking their history. Whether the technique works as intended is anybody's guess.  Mapleshade, if any shreds of her cling on in the depths of some place with no moonlight to reach it, isn’t a cat with a name, or an appearance, or a past. She’s scarcely a cat at all. Seedpelt, Waul, tabby, ginger, tan, lean, hulking, beautiful, revolting, it’s of no concern to living cats. This is the terrible fate she wrought for herself. Probably.

[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.

[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...

[rippleclan]

RippleClan: Moon 10

Parsley and Scrubmask hang out.

[Image ID: Parsley and Scrubmask face each other. Under Parsley, it reads + PLATONIC LIKE: SCRUBMASK. Under Scrubmask, it says + PLATONIC LIKE: PARSLEY.]

“So this is…” Parsley asked as Scrubmask placed a red-brown square the size of Parsley’s paw in front of her.

“We call it pemmican,” Scrubmask explained. She sat politely next to Parsley’s nest, situated in a cozy corner of the medicine den. “Fennelspot is visiting StarClan’s Shrine tonight, and pemmican will give him enough energy for the journey and give the Clan a reliable source of food while prey returns to the territory.”

“I’m not one to insult culture,” Parsley chuckled awkwardly, poking the square, “but this looks like blood-stained tree bark.”

“Carnationpaw made it from a hare,” Scrubmask said. “You dry meat and berries, soak it in the animal’s fat, and it hardens into these blocks. I think. I don’t know, we don’t have an artisan.”

“I suppose I’ll try it,” Parsley groaned, sniffing the pemmican. She nibbled on the edge of the bar. “Huh. Ms. Scrubmask, what do you suppose that sharp flavor is?”

“Sweetness,” Scrubmask guessed. “I don’t know. I can’t taste sweet things.”

“Well, you are quite clever in making this!” Parsley said. 

“I didn’t have a paw in it,” Scrubmask sighed, staring out of the den. “Cooking seems like a waste of time to me.”

“Well I would have to politely disagree!” Parsley hummed. She took another bite of the pemmican and licked her lips. Scrubmask’s eyes drifted to Parsley’s cobweb-wrapped tail. The bleeding had stopped, thankfully, but most of the gray fur was hidden behind Fennelspot’s poultices and mixtures.

“How are you recovering?” Scrubmask asked. Parsley swallowed her pemmican and followed Scrubmask’s gaze. 

“It hurts to move it too much,” Parsley admitted. “I’m mighty grateful you and your friends brought me here. I couldn’t have treated it myself.”

“Hopefully you’ll recover soon and be on your way,” Scrubmask mumbled.

“Well, dear,” Parsley chuckled, placing her paw over Scrubmask’s, “I’ve been talking to Ms. Downstar. She’s a very nice molly, I must say. We got to talking about what I would do when I’m recovered and, well… I was wondering if I could join your little group. Officially, I mean.” Scrubmask’s droopy ears perked up.

“Do you mean that?” Scrubmask asked.

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t,” Parsley purred. “Your leader told me how she wants to welcome more cats outside your little Clans into RippleClan, be a bit more open, a bit more diverse, all good things. I’m getting up there in moons, and I don’t want to fight off dogs and rats in a barn the rest of my days. I think I would like joining you on those patrols of yours.” For the first time since Parsley met the gloomy warrior, Scrubmask purred.

“That’s a good idea,” Scrubmask hummed. Parsley purred and munched on her sweet meal.

(Parsley: 104, female, warrior, righteous, good speaker)

(Scrubmask: 27, female, warrior, gloomy, fast runner, good hunter)

Duskkit sneaks out of camp and brings back some juniper after she gets stuck in a bush.

[Image ID: Duskkit has juniper berries tucked behind her ear. Underneath her, it reads + ACCESSORY: JUNIPER BERRIES]

---

“How could she get around you?” Downstar yowled as she paced around Oilstripe in the dim light of the crescent moon. The young historian squirmed under her leader’s furious eyes.

“I’m sorry!” Oilstripe groaned. “I stepped away for a few seconds to get Carnationpaw, and Duskkit was running out of camp before we got back to the exit! I’ve been guarding camp all night, how was I supposed to know Duskkit planned a breakout?”

“You still let her disappear,” Downstar hissed. “If she gets hurt out there, it’s on your paws, Oilstripe!” Oilstripe shrunk, lowering her head. Carnationpaw rubbed against Downstar.

“Downstar, even Puddlespeckle is out looking for Duskkit,” Carnationpaw cooed. “She wouldn’t go far. She’ll be okay.” Downstar groaned and marched over to Parsley by the nursery. The new addition to the group had volunteered to watch over the remaining kits while the rest of RippleClan scoured the territory. Rustshade’s litter were old enough to behave themselves and stay in their nests, but as for Downstar’s little troublemakers…

“We could help look for Duskkit!” Graykit suggested, playing leap-frog over Parsley’s wounded tail. Her adult eye color had taken over her baby-blues faster than anyone else in her litter, showing off a brilliant amber color. Those amber eyes screamed of mischief as Graykit eyed the exit.

“Duskkit is in enough trouble as is,” Downstar huffed.

“But we know Duskkit!” Halibutkit huffed from his cozy spot at Parsley’s paws. From the way his eyes gleamed, he seemed destined to have the same eye color as Graykit, adding another factor of confusion as to who was who. “We know where she would go!”

“You don’t know the territory,” Downstar reminded her son. A dark shape slunk in the corner of Downstar’s eye. “Shadowkit, you get back here right now!”

“You never let us have any fun,” Shadowkit whined. The stocky tom marched back to his littermates, dragging his paws in the sand.

“No one else is leaving camp!” Downstar groaned. “StarClan, you’re going to take one of my lives at this rate.”

“Mom, look what I got!” a tiny, proud voice called from the entrance to camp. Downstar spun around. Duskkit trotted back into camp with something tucked behind her ear. She acted like she had done nothing wrong. Oilstripe and Carnationpaw gawked at the black molly as she strolled toward the nursery.

“Duskkit, where have you been?” Downstar yowled. She raced to her daughter’s side and scooped her close. Graykit stepped on Parsley’s tail as she scurried up to the family reunion. Parsley yelped as the rest of the litter swarmed Duskkit.

“I went exploring!” Duskkit chirped. “It was great!”

“You are in so much trouble,” Downstar growled, pressing her nose into Duskkit’s fur. “You aren’t allowed to leave camp!”

“I know,” Duskkit chuckled. “That’s why I waited until Oilstripe looked away!”

“This is not my fault,” Oilstripe huffed.

“What did you see?” Halibutkit asked.

“Did you run into any cougars?” Graykit gasped.

“What’s that?” Shadowkit asked, staring at Duskkit’s ear. A small lump of juniper berries nestled into Duskkit’s fur.

“I was exploring the forest, and I ran into a bush!” Duskkit said, showing off the burrs and leaf-buds stuck in her fur. “I was really stuck in there, but then the black kittypet showed up and got me out!”

“A kittypet?” Downstar and Graykit said at the same time, albeit with drastically different tones.

“He had dark fur, like me!” Duskkit explained. “I got out and he told me to go home. I didn’t want to, but I heard Scrubmask yelling for me. I didn’t want her to carry me back like a kit! So I came home early.”

“And with a prize!” Shadowkit cheered, sniffing the berries stuck in Duskkit’s fur.

“I’m gonna keep them,” Duskkit declared. She showed off the berries in the faint moonlight.

“Duskkit, they’ll rot on your head,” Downstar sighed. She reached down to pull the berries out, but Duskkit nipped her paws and slipped out.

“No!” Duskkit whined. She ran toward the nursery, screaming all the way back. Her littermates yowled incoherently as they ran after Duskkit. Downstar groaned and slumped into the sand.

“Carnationpaw, go find our Clanmates,” she groaned. Downstar closed her eyes as her children rampaged through the nursery. She would deal with that in a minute. She could practically feel the stress eating at her first life. 

Why was he roaming the territory?

(Downstar: 69, female, leader, adventurous, trusted advisor, very clever)

(Oilstripe: 14, female, historian, charismatic, ghost sight)

(Carnationpaw: 12, female, caretaker apprentice, compassionate, splashes in puddles)

(Graykit: 2, female, kit, impulsive, careful listener)

(Parsley: 104, female, warrior, righteous, good speaker)

(Shadowkit: 2, male, kit, troublesome, careful listener)

(Halibutkit: 2, male, kit, impulsive, quick witted)

(Duskkit: 2, female, kit, troublesome, quick witted)

[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.