justemison

[residences-of-the-darkforest]

Am I the only one who finds it strange that, other than a missing eye and perhaps some damaged hearing(?), Brightheart has no lasting affects from her injuries?

She still has the SCARS, yes, but they don’t affect her in any permanent way, even if they are rather big.

I think Brightheart should have had brain damage

Her face and head were already heavily scarred. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that it also harmed her brain.

As for how she manages to SURVIVE that type of damage, I imagine that Cloudtail would help take her to Twolegs, which would tie in his history with them and could have extra angst potential as Cinderpelt feels guilty for not being able to heal her herself.

Though I took 1 class of neuro, it didn’t include a whole lot of injury facts, so this all comes from google searches. But some ideas:

—personality changes

—memory problems

—weakened ability to reason, judge, and make decisions

—weakened ability to consider consequences

—involuntary muscle movements

—lowered social understanding

—trouble with expressions and emotion

she most likely wouldn’t have ALL, these are just choose your pick ideas.

What should also be shown is her struggles with this aspect as well as her injuries and trauma and would realistically show how she learns to deal with it.

….but I’d we’re honest, the Erins would botch that massively

[argentavis-paws]

I really like resurrection AU’s in warriors, and during math today my brain supplied me with.. Brightheart but she's reborn mosskit. Like how fucked up would it be if mosskit was reborn and got treated like shit by her mother, because her mother doesn't know its her.

[kudossi]

Tigerclaw and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Senior Warrior Position AU

In a world where deputies can only be named after their first apprentice has been granted their warrior name, Tigerclaw struggles to keep an apprentice alive long enough to earn their name.

or, a comedy-tragedy AU in which having an apprentice isn't enough — you have to see them to their warrior name, and Tigerclaw cannot fucking get any of his goddamn apprentices to live, damn it.

—

It starts out mostly normally, except for the fact that Tigerclaw hasn't gotten any apprentices to their warrior name, and he needs that so he can accomplish his (very noble, of course) kitty genocide goals. And also be the supreme leader of the world or something. Darkpaw died stupidly, he hasn't had a chance since, and now he's got some tiny thing that's afraid of his own shadow.

Well. It'll have to do.

So naturally this man is so protective over Ravenpaw that Ravenpaw barely even leaves his sight. Firepaw and Graypaw think that this is adorable. Look how much Tigerclaw cares about his apprentice!!

Ravenpaw, of course, is fucking terrified and also slowly losing his mind, just in a different way.

—

"Redtail assigned us to go on a patrol to Snakerocks." "OH NO HE DID NOT. WE'RE STAYING IN THE SANDY HOLLOW WHERE IT'S SAFE."

"Nothing matters more to me than making you a warrior, Ravenpaw. Nothing." And the terrible thing is that Ravenpaw is sure he's being sincere.

—

Ravenpaw disappears and Tigerclaw nearly fucking has a conniption because the timing was all RIGHT and he was going to finally get the position AND HE NEVER GOT HIS DAMN NAME FUCK.

"Do you think I could convince the elders that Fireheart was my apprentice?" "Fireheart was Bluestar's apprentice, as approved by StarClan. You're going to have to wait for the next litter to be apprenticed."

So he begs and begs and gets Cinderpaw and then she accidentally falls into the trap he'd set for a better deputy candidate at the Thunderpath. Fuck.

—

Well. Time to resort to drastic measures.

"I was thinking that Darkstripe would have been a good name. Because he had dark stripes." "Again, Tigerclaw, it's admirable that you loved your apprentice so much, but I cannot grant him a name." "Are you sure?" "Honestly, Tigerclaw, I'm not sure he ever would have gotten a name. Missing quite a few feathers from his nest, that one..." Fuck. The worst part was that she wasn't even wrong.

— Swiftpaw and Brightpaw get mauled by the dogs he set up to happen like right after he got the title and they sprang it before and he's like FUCK NOW WHAT DO I DO WITH THESE DAMN DOGS? His world domination plans literally never come to fruition because he cannot keep his apprentices alive/in the clan/his own.

— "Brightheart counts. She HAS to count." "Actually, Cloudtail took over her training…" [demented noises]

—

Turns out that Ravenpaw is alive and no one — no one — in the Harper Collins Extended Universe is happier than Tigerclaw.

"You're alive! …You deserve your warrior name!" "Actually, I've come to peace with my name and my way of life. I have no need for a—" "GET YOUR FUCKING NAME RIGHT NOW RAVENPAW OR SO HELP ME STARCLAN—" "I know you really wanted Ravenpaw to become a warrior," Barley says gently, "but he's made his decision. It's very kind of you to acknowledge that he deserves it, though. You must have been so close as mentor and apprentice." Tigerclaw's eye twitches. "Yes. Close. Very... close." —

He finally, finally retires as an elder after his plans go absolutely nowhere for years on end. And maybe StarClan is still like "Brambleclaw would be chill actually, we can forget that pesky little law" and Tigerclaw is sitting there like "excuse me what the actual fuck?" —

But at this point Tigerclaw is about as dangerous as Ashfur without a freak forest fire. Which is to say about as dangerous as using a leaf as a weapon. Which is, incidentally, how Darkpaw managed to get himself killed in the first place.

—

"Is this the Dark Forest? This has to be the Dark Forest. It doesn't look like Thistleclaw described it, but it must be. This Clan is all an elaborate punishment meted down by StarClan for my sins." "Tigerclaw, sir, I'm just here to help you with your ticks. See? I have the mousebile right here." "…Yes, thank you, Alderpaw." — Graystripe joins him in the elder's den and he's like, "You know, Ravenpaw thought you were up to some… scheme, back in the day. Crazy, right? You've been a model Clanmate as long as I've been alive." [muffled screaming] "Huh, what do you think that is? It sounds almost like someone killed a rabbit, but they know not to come this close to camp…"

[cryptidclaw]

Cloudtail & Brightheart!

Ive had these guys in the drafts for a while so I am freeing them during ROC's hiatus!

[warrior-cats-rewritten]

I really love the "Tigerstar is Swiftpaw's dad" AU. It doesn't change that much storywise, but it just makes it really tragic with Tigerstar sending the dogs that kill him and him wanting to prove himself.

To be honest I really thought for the longest time he WAS Swiftpaw's dad.

God... Tiger spying on Gatherings and not seeing Swiftpaw there. Overhearing apprentices gossip.

"Did you hear what happened to Brightpaw? I hope she doesn't get an infection."

"Better than what happened to Swiftpaw."

But... What happened to Swiftpaw? Where was he? Was he hurt?

Tigerstar getting his 9 lives and seeing his son standing in the crowd, glaring at him with a look that chokes him. He sees the glittering scars and puts 2 and 2 together. That was his son, his baby, his precious boy so full of potential and life and so stubborn and proud. Why was he not given a name? Why did Bluestar treat his son like this? She gave a name to the bastard kittypet child, but denied his son? She's to blame of course, not him, he would have named him Swiftstrike or Swiftfang, something respectable and powerful. His son... Sitting there with his other lost child, lost so young, they both look so unhappy...

Seeing Swiftpaw amongst his own victims as he keeps dying over and over again. Begging them each time to help him. Help me Swiftpaw, please, please, you love me, I'm your father you need to do something you need to save me please Swiftpaw please don't let me die I'm your papa I love y

Watching his other sons, another child of his lost too young, Tadpole was so much like him too, fearless and strong.

Comparing Hawkfrost to Swiftpaw in the horrible way that parents do. Come on Hawkfrost that was sloppy, Swiftpaw had that technique down and never left apprenticeship, you'll avenge me and your brother, Firestar was deputy he could have said something, it would have saved your brother's life.

Seeing Swiftpaw during the Great Battle giving a blessing to Firestar. Realizing he gave Firestar a life and just... Losing it. Firestar stole his son from him, and let him die, and his perfect son still gave him a life?! Why?!

Oh it all just goes perfectly.

Although... It does give Tigerstar the widest family tree EVER.

Lynxkit, Swiftpaw, Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Tadpole, Mothwing and Hawkfrost. Oof, gift giving events have gotta be a nightmare.

[the-owl-tree]

au doodles! basic premise is that firestar and tigerstar actually do get to fight and firestar loses miserably to tigerstar, escaping with sandstorm and graystripe to the twolegplace where princess tells them about a certain alleycat leader who might be able to help them. During his time there, Firestar must heal physically and emotionally and realize he needs to figure out what he really wants (and Scourge provides some help with that).

back in tigerclan, longtail and cinderpelt work together as spies and convince their clanmates to stand up to themselves for when firestar returns. cloudtail is chased off for being a kittypet and brightheart goes with them, the two narrowly avoiding execution to try and find their former leader and his friends.

(some more info if you're interested: x, x, x)

[clarissasbakery]

warrior cat doodles

[bonefall]

I kind of feel evil for asking this, but how does the fact that Brightheart is considered the hottest molly in the forest while Cloudtail is considered rather ugly affect their relationship? (Also the love the Better Bones Au!)

I think in other couples, it might, but for them it doesn't. Y'know? Other cats might be shallow, or insecure that they're considered so unattractive while their mate is "out of their league," but that's simply not Cloudtail and Brightheart.

You see, a short king like Cloudtail only has a certain amount of floorspace with which to store their confidence. In a tall guy, it spreads all out and gets thin. In a boy who is short? It's concentrated. Absolutely distilled to its purest essence. You cannot divide him. This man is a carbon molecule, and babey, Brightheart is 6 electrons.

He's like Danny Devito. When does Danny Devito ever stop and lament his appearance? That man is a comedic orb. That's Cloudtail.

Brightheart ironically is the one who's more insecure. The death of her cousin and Bluestar's Dishonor Title, Swifthound, really wrecked her. She has a bad habit of feeling like she doesn't deserve the good things she has.

In BB's Clan Culture, scars are desirable. She feels like she doesn't deserve to have such markers of strength. What she did in following Swiftpaw towards the dogs that night wasn't noble, it was foolish. So walking away from it with trophies that she feels she didn't earn is painful.

In a way, she feels like that with Cloudtail, too. What did she do to deserve him? He supports her in everything she does. He does everything in his power to make her feel better. When she suggests surrogating for their friends in other Clans? He thinks that's great! If she wanted to go on a trip with Cinderheart to the town? He'd cheer! She knows, deep in her heart, if she ever DID want to become a Cleric, Cloudtail loves her enough to let her go.

And that hurts, sometimes. When she struggles with self-worth. She feels like it's not fair she's loved so much.

So... basically, maybe in another couple who was more shallow. But these two have something a lot deeper going on.

[sunbrightheart]

the band of exiles | rockstar modern au.

tracklist: circles, pierce the veil // new perspective, panic! at the disco // sugar, we’re goin’ down, fall out boy // beverly hills, weezer // my friends over you, new found glory // she looks so perfect, 5 seconds of summer

[sparrowsoupp]

so a ‘swiftpaw lives’ au is nothing new here BUT hear me out:

in this au, everything happens as it does in the first arc up to the night where swiftpaw and brightpaw sneak out of camp to fight the dogs. as they are leaving, cloudtail somehow sees/hears/notices and is obviously suspicious so trails them into the forest secretly.

as they get closer to the dogs’ den he realises their plan and confronts the pair, trying to get them to return to camp. swiftpaw is defiant and argues back, escalating into a fight as cloudtail tries to physically knock some sense into swiftpaw. brightpaw looks on in horror trying to break up this fight. this is obviously not a very quiet battle, considering the participants are two bullheaded teenage boys, and so the dogs are woken up anyway.

swiftpaw leaps into action as brightheart freezes in paralysing fear. as a dog lunges at her, cloudtail notices and leaps into the dog’s jaws, pushing brightpaw out of the way in the process. in a burst of fear and strength, brightpaw notices swiftpaw unconcious and unable to move with a missing leg and grabs him to run away, escaping from the dogs and leaving cloudtail to bleed out and die (hence the main catalyst for differences in this au: cloudtail dies in swiftpaw’s place). she doesn’t realise this at the time, hoping cloudtail will understand since he is still up and fighting, and not thinking about the consequences of leaving one cat alone to fight a pack of dogs.

bluestar renames them in the same way lostface was named in the original arc, brightpaw being renamed lostface and swiftpaw being named dogleg, and fireheart is ANGRY with the pair (and himself) for the needless loss of his nephew’s life. no renaming ceremony is held, and they are made to keep their names in rememberance of their foolishness. (sidenote: i think this would also spark a major shift in fireheart’s good nature and personality, leading to MAJOR knockon effects for the rest of the series, but i haven’t thought about it too much yet and also i need to reread the books) and because cloudtail isn’t around to advocate for lostface’s warrior retraining, she is relegated to be a medicine cat and never really emotionally recovers in the same way she could in the books because cloudtail isn’t around to offer her that emotional support. she also very much blames herself for letting him fight a battle that he never signed up to fight and dying in the process, the overwhelming levels of guilt weighing on her constantly to the point where cats are a little creeped out by how empty even her remaining eye looks.

on the other hand (paw?), dogleg is left seething with anger and bitterness towards his clan. (i imagine him after the attack as a somewhat ashfur-like character, except much more extreme) a lot of his toxicity and anger would be taken out on lostface, one of the only cats he talks to anymore, and instead of brightheart and cloudtail entering a very healthy and positive relationship instead lostface ends up in a secret (VERY toxic) relationship with dogleg. she remains attached to him i think because of the trauma they experienced together. i have to think more about that, though. (maybe even kits?)

in the end something something dogleg forces lostface to start poisoning food as the clan’s medicine cat to take revenge on other cats like bluestar or fireheart. i think this culminates in dogleg turning very traitorous somehow.

that’s what i have so far! feel free to sends asks/tag with suggestions or ideas of knockon effects of this change. thanks for reading this big ol paragraph of me rambling about cats lol, appreciate y’all 🦭👍

[adr-n-sketchy]

Hi hello. Vet school is destroying my sleep schedule but not my ability to hyperfixate on Giingersnaps’ new warriors au map. It’s absolutely gorgeous and I am so obsessed. So here’s my silly little contribution as compensation for being so late to the game on the hype of these AUs.

More of my obsessive gushing thoughts below the cut

The little scream I screampt when I saw Swiftpaw’s first run cycle as two halves was absolutely unmatched. Even in the storyboards, the movement is so fluid and incredible with the implied stretching of his ghost spine was just so good!! All the little remedies he tried to get Brightpaw to heal were so sweet!! Like curling up in their nests like normal days. And then him always having to be mindful of Brightpaw’s head just going thunk when he forgets to paw attention. And the way he saw Brightpaw dying at the end and he immediately goes up to Bluestar and then just as quickly turns away to transfer his new life to her is just… AAASHDJSKDK so good!!

New paragraph for how absolutely godtier the animation on Brightpaw's resurrection at the Moonstone was!! Like all of elmira's little details in how Brightpaw's legs and bushy tail moved were absolutely insane!! And then @fadedkat's lighting and expressions as Brightpaw goes from realizing shes alright to seeing Swiftpaw to going "okay go time" and charging back out of the cave. AAHHHHHDJSKSJDK

Watermark placement is a little different here than on insta bc still figuring out how to properly size my procreate canvases (bc I’m a dingus)

[theanoninyourinbox]

I feel like Brightheart was so nervous when Whitepaw was not graduating after so long, so she'd spend time with her in the apprentice den when she could, hoping to dissuade her from doing stupid shit, or catch her before it was too late. She did support her when she chose to stay an apprentice for Birchpaw tho!

anxiety mom hours

[troutfur]

With how you characterize Cloudtail, what’s he like? His relationship to Firestar and his cousins Squirrelflight and Leafpool? His mate and children?

A lot of what I think of Cloudtail's characterization in Haneossia stems from a frustration with his uncle. Fireheart assimilated... not easily, he definitely gets much pushback and bigotry. But perhaps it'd be more accurate to say fully. This is helped by the fact he was well-trained and turned out to be a strong and skilled fighter. Very much a true believer in the power of hard work and keeping your head down until you prove yourself.

As Cloudkit and later Cloudpaw grew into the Clan with that same aura of distrust around him and later came to understand where it all came from, he was outraged. But Fireheart definitely tried to steer him into proving himself the way that it'd worked for him. This led him to really try to connect with Princess and his kittypet heritage, leading directly into the incident where he was adopted out and had to escape later.

It's not that Fireheart denied him a connection to Princess. But he certainly expected him to meet her and move on fast. Not for him to deepen it and keep in close contact. It's something that he carved out for himself, always careful to not arouse suspicion and get caught. I think on some level Firestar may have later figured it out but rather than cutting it out he reluctantly let it continue. He thinks it was the right decision for him to cut contact but he lives his what if vicariously through Cloudtail.

It's this early experience with the flaws of the Clans and the contact he kept with his mother that set the stage for his atheism. Atheism is not exactly the right word but rather than get into the nitty gritty of the comparative religion hair-splitting the important thing is he doesn't believe in an afterlife nor that natural phenomena have agency and personhood. He just never got enough satisfactory answers to counteract his skeptic attitude.

He is not an intentionally obtuse idiot. He clearly knows that magic exists in his world but he doesn't think it is directed by a being any more than your average 21st century person believes that gravity or electromagnetism is directed by a being.

I feel this rebel streak and willingness to question things served him well with regards to Brightheart. He is able to ground her when Clan ideas of worthiness, honor, and legacy are being maladaptive to how she thinks. He brings her a reality check and although she doesn't agree with all of his rebel behavior she can tolerate it for that. Plus he is just genuinely smitten by her and he's a great hugger too.

Finally, with regards to Leaf and Squirrel, I think Firestar wouldn't want him to be too big an influence in their early lives. Not that he would have banned them from interacting completely but certainly didn't encourage either side to seek the other. Of the two I see Squirrel more likely to seek him out and most influenced by him. He amplified the Firestar's little nightmare factor for her and got a kick out of it.

All in all, in some ways I think Cloudtail is a more fitting vessel for the rebel archetype that Firestar is often given in fanworks. But at the same time I don't think he'd be a far-reaching reformer or a figure of legend whose influence reverberates. More of a guy that got a happy ending by forging a space for himself to keep what he likes of Clan life and disregarding the things that did not serve him. Truly someone who found a way to live with a paw in each world.

[rookflower]

rip to all the people who almost exclusively care about the male characters, couldn't be me. go and draw leafpool or something

[skyclan-funny-name-squad]

for the fae kittypet au, does firestar tell the truth to squilf and leaf or does he just keep it going? and does cloud tell his kits?

Firestar has a lot of talks with Sandstorm about it, where he confesses to her that he's just a cat, he has no powers just information he learned as a kit about twolegs. Sandstorm isn't surprised, she'd been around the big lug, been to skyclan and met more kittypets, rogues, and loners then she ever had before. She never saw any of the evil magic she was told as a kit, she just saw cats doing their best.

When the kits are born, Firestar passes down the lessons he was taught as a kittypet about how to live and thrive in a twolegplace and how to talk to kittypets like a kittypet, and tells them the clan will be wary of them because of that knowledge, and so they'll have to be careful and tricky with it. He has faith in them though to navigate it like he did though. Never forget they're just cats, cats with a bit of secret knowledge, but just cats all the same.

Leafkit finds the stories to be utterly entrancing, and will use the knowledge to aid her as a medicine cat. Meanwhile Squirrelkit thinks its kinda weird and confusing but Leafkit likes it so she doesn't mind the stories.

Meanwhile Cloudtail was like "hey Whitekit wanna do something really funny?" as Brightheart sighed in fond amusement.

[oddfaun]

Cringetober Day 18: Fandom Au (Warrior Cats Zombie AU)