#but like shes a prophecy cat so even then having her as a medic would be interesting

[yuridovewing]

going into the alderheart tag to see the general opinion on him and whether its actually changed since 2016 fandom labeled him as an uwu so sweet cute cinnamon roll baby boy, and it kinda seems like most people dropped that and either think hes Just There or really annoying. happy with the growth here tbh

[everybody-loves-purdy]

Warrior cats fans who insist Firestar was groomed by Spottedleaf when he was an apprentice make no sense. If you read the first series she didn't even consider him that much until she realized he was the prophesied cat that would save Thunderclan. Her feelings are a retcon done by the Erins to create some drama between Firestar and Sandstorm and in the most recent graphic novel adaptation of Into the Wild their relationship has been retconed again to be fully platonic. Spottedleaf's Heart is already enough bad rapresentation for victims of p**ophilia, we don't need more of that. If you so badly want to make Spottedleaf a bad person, make it about how she manipuleted Leafpool into running away with Crowfeather so the Three would be born or how ableist she was with Jayfeather.

I think this way of thinking mainly exists because of Spottedleaf’s Honest answer, since in that Spottedleaf directly says she was attracted to Firepaw and she wishes Sandstorm was out the picture so she could mother Squirrel and Leaf herself (yikes).

But thankfully it seems that the Erins are trying to bury this short story and pretend it never existed, and I think that’s how it should be.

The Spottedleaf situation is so weird in the books, in into the wild she and Firepaw have like 2 or 3 conversations, I think all about medical and prophecy stuff, with no romantic undertones, and then she died and progressively became more and more important and more and more romantically tied to Fireheart/star. I’m very glad the graphic novel adaptation is trying to angle the whole thing as platonic.

[kudossi]

kept like jewelry, kept with devotion

Violetkit cries as Needlepaw picks her up. Her grip is gentle, but she’s being torn from Twigkit, and she reaches out toward her sister with desperate, clumsy paws. Twigkit runs after her, squeaking angrily, and ShadowClan almost surrounds them before Alderpaw’s voice comes, strong even in the chaos. “Stop!” he commands, and Needlepaw hesitates, her head turning toward him.

Alderpaw’s dark ginger pelt is fluffed up, his amber eyes narrow and angry. “Tearing apart two kits? Taking them from the only family they have? I never thought ShadowClan was heartless,” he hisses.

“ThunderClan has had enough prophecy cats!” Rowanstar growls from where he’s perched high in the oak, his claws digging furrows into the bark. “ShadowClan helped find these kits, and we have a rightful claim!”

There’s silence for a moment. Violetkit struggles, but Needlepaw’s grip gets stronger, and she isn’t able to escape.

“I am almost fully trained,” Alderpaw says at last, the words pulled from him slow but strong. “You have lost your medic. You have no one to heal your sick and injured.”

Rowanstar’s face scrunches angrily, eyes stormy. “What? Are you going to pull Flametail from the lake? Raise Littlecloud from his grave? Are you so special, royal-born?”

Royal-born? Violetkit thinks, but even her thoughts are drowned out by the ripple of offense from ThunderClan’s ranks.

“I am almost fully trained,” Alderpaw repeats calmly, stepping farther from the ranks of his agitated Clan, “and I will trade myself for Violetkit.”

“You can’t!” Squirrelflight’s voice comes. She’s standing on the roots, her eyes wide and desperate. “Alderpaw, no!”

Rowanstar turns a narrow gaze on ThunderClan’s medics. “Is it true? Is he ready for his full name?”

Leafpool’s mouth hangs open, but Jayfeather gathers himself. “He would have gotten his name at this half-moon or next,” he says, voice reedy.

Rowanstar sits back on his haunches, considering. Violetkit manages to wiggle from Needlepaw’s now-loose grip and runs back to her sister, who throws her paws around Violetkit’s black-spotted neck and pulls her nearly to the ground. They huddle under Alderpaw’s large paws, pressed against each other. Fear runs like ice through Violetkit’s veins. “Very well,” he says eventually, though he doesn’t sound happy about it. “ShadowClan accepts this trade.”

Squirrelflight wails. Alderpaw breathes a sigh of relief, dipping his head to touch first Twigkit’s and then Violetkit’s ears. “Be good. Be strong and clever and swift. May StarClan bless you both.”

And then he’s gone, striding across the clearing, not looking back. Needlepaw’s gaze meets Violetkit’s own, and then she too looks away.

(This is how Violetkit loses the only parents she’s ever known.)

[kindheart525]

He didn’t want to believe it, but the inevitable had finally happened. Swift Valor’s prophecy had come to pass, and it had done so dangerously.

It was a day that should have gone like any other. Get up, go to work, come home. But when Swift got home he was met with a mess of broken glass and bare shelves.

He had been robbed.

By the time he got back to his apartment, it was too late to catch the culprit himself. So he called the authorities as he had to, but that was as much of a fuss he wanted to make about it. 

Now he was trying to just pick up the pieces and move on the best he could.

“I’ve got some gulab jamun from Dadi.”

His father, Spearhead, patted his back firmly as they both sat on the floor, tending to Swift’s wounds from tripping on the broken glass.

“I think they’ll really speak to you in these trying times.”

Swift was pissed off and in pain, unable to keep himself from wincing and groaning as he wrapped a bandage around his stinging, medicated cuts. Normally he would want to be left alone to tough it out, but he just couldn’t resist one of his Dadi’s sweet treats.

“Maybe this is what Prophecy meant…”

He thought out loud to himself, almost not wanting to admit it to himself. But something about the familial comfort he was getting made him just brave enough to admit the truth and start opening up.

“What do you mean, dude?”

“The psychic I visited with some coworkers awhile back. She’s Erudite’s sister, actually, if you remember—but she gave us such horrible visions. I didn’t want to believe it at first, I assumed she was making things up to screw with our heads. She told me I’d end up dispossessed, but of course I didn’t believe it for a second. But now…”

“Guess she was right all along. You did get dispossessed.”

Spearhead then attempted to offer some extra comfort.

“At least they left all the cool decorations I gave you.”

“Yeah, I guess I didn’t lose all my valuables.”

Swift smiled a little. 

“And I’m sure somepony will get to the bottom of it, I’m sure I’ll at least get a good refund.”

“There you go! Looking on the bright side!”

His father clapped him on the back, but Swift was still not completely content.

“I was so horrible to her. I practically antagonized her every chance I could get. I just found this stuff so illogical, I thought there was no way any of it could be real. I do respect her, don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to hurt her. I just couldn’t, for the life of me, see any sense in it.”

“Well, there was nothing you could do to prevent it, right?”

Swift sucked in a sharp breath.

“Well…”

He had to buck up and admit the full truth.

“The first time, she said I would meet a terrible fate if I did not humble myself. And the second time, she told me I should be investing in extra security. I obviously did neither, and this is where it got me.”

He suddenly sat up straight.

“Shit. I owe her an apology. She offered her help and I was nothing but nasty to her. I need to make it up to her. Now.”

He started to get up, but Spearhead tried to stop him.

“Now? But Swift, you haven’t even finished your dessert. Not to mention your leg’s still banged up.”

Normally Swift would be taking it easy and making sure to treat his injuries properly, but he had a greater goal to tend to. So he persisted despite the sting.

“I’ll take some for the road. Thank you. But I need to do this.”

And off he went with a slight limp but a whole lot of determination, to find the mare who he now knew was right all along.

~~~~~~~~~~

Previous: Blue Cat Crossing

Next: Spit

[aphidpaws]

au where the po3 are possessed by the ancients (and hollyleaf is the 4th and a reincarnate of scourge)

more on the au:

The three Ancients have the same powers as their reincarnates, and will often possess them when they use their powers

Jay, Dove, and Lion are all polar opposites of their reincarnates

Lion's Roar struggles with responsibility his whole life, and projects his complicated feelings onto Lionblaze. However, Lionblaze is much more stubborn and volatile, and rebels against him by training in the Dark Forest, the only place he has full autonomy.

Dove's Wing is silly and unserious, and tries to convince Dovewing to take it easy and enjoy her life. Dovewing is incredibly anxious, even more because of learning about the prophecy at a young age, and has trouble heeding Dove's advice. Overall, they have the best relationship out of all four, and Dove's Wing genuinely wants the best for Dovewing, but Dovewing simply can't cope with the possession and her powers.

Jaystripe is the first to learn of the prophecy and his powers (which are switched w Dovewing) and comes to terms with it the fastest, but he's the least comfortable being possessed. Him and Jay's Wing are very similar in personality; but while Jay's Wing is willing to sacrifice his comfort for the greater good, Jaystripe can't help but be selfish and long for his normal life.

While the 3 are all end up different from the Ancients, Scourge serves as a warning as to what Hollyfeather will become; one she doesn't heed

In this AU, Scourge is a lot more complex of a character. After accidentally becoming the BloodClan leader, he notices how much the cats are suffering in the City. He offers a deal- join his Clan to gain comfort and security, in exchange for following his rules. At first, he convinces himself that his severe punishments and rigid orders are for the benefit of his cats. It isn't until he dies that he realizes he'd only thrown BloodClan into greater disarray by pursuing vengeance against Tigerstar.

When he reincarnates into Hollyfeather, he's desperate not to have her repeat his mistakes. Hollyfeather is a medic, and has strictly devoted her life to StarClan and the warrior code. Learning her parentage goes against all of her most deeply held values sends her into a spiral. She kills Ashfur, exiles herself to the tunnels, and eventually comes home to fill her place in the prophecy (stopping the DF and killing Tigerstar in a direct parallel of Scourge)

(Firestar still dies by the tree like he dies before tiger so tiger is like muhaha we've won and she steps out like "wow,,,,, now uve done it,,,, uve made me angry,,,")

The three still have their powers post-war but are no longer possessed (the whole arc would be about the Ancients realizing possessing them is Not Good so they eventually stop trying to take control)

[dog-leg]

still working out the logistics of this but here’s some things i wanna include in a Po3 Mothpool AU:

Lionfern (my lionblaze) in riverclan:

i would a like a rc perspective in there so we’ll say that since he looked too much like Mothwing, and that could cause issues in thunderclan, her and Leafpool decided to have Moth take him with her. Also, Lion just seems like such a big, loveable guy in my version, that he would my idea of Riverclan. which leads us into,

Clan culture overhaul:

each clan is going to have a different culture, i’ll do an in-depth post on each clan later but things ARE changing. they’ve always had different outlooks on topics such as death, half clan relationships, code breaking, omens and prophecies, etc. But since they’ve moved to the lake they have had time to explore these ideals with things such as new resources and new dangers. i also plan on having Jaypatch (jayfeather) be in thunderclan still so that would give an outlet to compare different clans.

Larger time gap:

tnp and po3 don’t have a big gap in between them, if i’m remembering it correctly i would say it’s anywhere from 3-5 month, which i don’t like. Po3 and Oots are also so close so really you have three arcs that take place within like 3 years. i want the clans to be super settled in and while they all remember the great journey, there’s also like two generations who didn’t go on it. just for story interest i’d rather do that.

Lionfern trains as a Medic:

Jay is going to train as a warrior at first then choose to become a medic, Lion is going to do the opposite. however there will be a period where they overlap as both being medics, giving them a chance to interact and form biases on each other without the knowledge that they’re related (that’ll come later, obvi). Lion gets drawn into the Dark Forest (which is also getting a redux) and trains there until he comes to his senses and realises how much he’s been manipulated. He feels ashamed and steps down, citing the fact that starclan could never possibly forgive him for this (Mothwing rolls her eyes at that comment). He later sheds those feelings but stays a warrior out of pride, he feels as though he can better serve his clan if he is out there doing all the physical labour. Willowshine then takes his place swiftly, always having had unusually direct contact with starclan for being a warrior.

Hollydusk (Hollyleaf)‘s struggle with accepting things as they are:

Hollydusk is interesting, i’m not sure which clan i want her in put i know i want her to crave change, by any means necessary. She always wonders why things are in the clans if they clearly make people unhappy. She sees how strict the code is and wants to change it herself, she can tell how stressed cats are living under it after all, why shouldn’t she be the one to do something about it. This leads to her being a massive snoop and finding out her parentage, drama ensues, villain arc begins. She is also influenced by the dark forest, them feeding into her power hungry nature, telling her that what she’s doing is for the greater good, who cares how many people get hurt in the process? she’s only enforcing what will be best for them, they’ll understand one day.

Jaypatch’s Warrior training:

Jay is still blind, for obvious reasons, and still faces the same shit from thunderclan. He works himself to death just to prove he can be an apprentice like everyone else (this is where his resentment starts :DDD). he gets apprenticed to brightheart because god let that woman have an apprentice, but their personalities just clash way too much. His bitterness ALSO gets him drawn to the dark forest where he’s promised to be able to train like anyone else there. he takes a long time to leave, even being influenced by them in his medic days (he may even still be training during Oots). He chooses to be a medic after his warrior ceremony though, his hard work also payed off and he got to become a warrior early due to his skills. he faces his first battle however and it dawns on him how much he hates fighting, how he only trained so hard in it to prove himself and not because he actually enjoyed it. Df takes note of this and influences him to peruse the path, they don’t tell him, but having control over half the clan’s sole spiritual advisers would certainly make their plans easier.

all three receive the power of three prophecy:

Lion is the first to receive it, once he denounces the dark forest starclan visits him and tells him of it. he tries hard to find the three, not even realising it was him all along.

Holly receives it next, she however gets it told to her through the df. she automatically assumes it’s about her, and in her mind it only proves what she’s know all along, that she was destined for greatness.

Jay is next, he however forces it out, overhearing firestar thinking about it with his powers. at this point he’s realised his capabilities and knows it’s about him, he doesn’t know who else it could he though. if Holly is thunderclan he’ll think that it can’t be them as there isn’t a third, if she isn’t then he’ll think the same, only it’s about him being an only child.

finally, Sol:

he is a cult leader. one of the povs becomes a follower. and once he’s taken down he stays in riverclan as a sassy elder. i think it’d be funny

[sapphic-catz]

Thinking more about the fairy line in HAH (funny acronym I have now realized) and I love them a lot specifically the drama with ‘modern’ Riverclan’s fairies. But for now y’all get how the fairies first came about :)

Moth Flight was the first fairy and the first cat to make a proper anchor of sorts for the clans to contact their afterlife. In all afterlives they follow the specific religions ways but most cannot actually interact with their followers, but once Moth Flight found the Moonstone and awoken it she allowed them to now travel down to the clans. Before she touched the stone she looked like any cat but from the initial wave of magic she transformed grew features of a Luna moth with glowing antenna, wings sprouting from her body, and extra moth eyes.

Each of her kittens when they were born showed her same fairy traits as her. She loved them truly but the night Micah died she received the first prophecy, that of the blazing star. She was to spread her kin across the five clans and bring a stable connection for the clans generations, and even though it hurt she did it.

Moth Flight stayed in Windclan, Spider Paw went to Thunderclan, Bubbling Stream went to Riverclan, Honey Pelt went to Shadowclan, and Blue Whisker to Skyclan.

The Fairy’s Record was made that stated all cats with the markings of Moth Flight were to follow in her ancient paw steps becoming beacons for their clans to connect to Starclan and provide both guidance and care to their clanmates. If a bloodline was to die out in one clan then a cat with the fairy traits would traverse across and reestablish the fairy bloodline there. Unlike canon all Guides (aka med cats) are encouraged and in some cases forced to have kits of their own. But any vowed medics aren’t supposed to raise a litter unless they have some other cat that can take up their duties as their healing is so important to the clan.

[solsticewcrp]

art by @systemraboot

[ADOPTABLE] THAWHEART

90 Moons | DFAB Fem Aligned (Specifics UTA) She/UTA | BlizzardClan Keeper | Must like mollies Mate: Cloudburst Kits: Morningshiver, Rimeshine, Hoarfrostrain Other: A sleek, muscular blue torbie point with green eyes.

Thawheart is prim, proper and polite. A direct contrast to her mate she is levelheaded and thinks things through before going on ahead. Thawheart is a well respected member of the clan and while calmer she also would do anything for her family…

However despite being a Keeper Thawheart is also pretty tight-lipped of her feelings on Dovemoon, only speaking briefly of him to the other Keepers in a manner expected of her for her rank. She is secretive like her mate about something unknown.

An only child of two more emotionally distant cats, Thawkit would find solace in the faces around the nursery those being who would grow up to be Cloudburst, Thunderscar, Beastcall and Asterlight. There was no one else in the nursery, there were not two kits she avoided and there was absolutely not on who clung to Cloud's side.

As Thawheart grew and got closer to Cloudburst there was no cat she once chatted with that was pulled away from her as she grew closer to Cloud. Her fighting prowess and hunting skills impressed her peers, she showed herself to be a great clan member who did not always have her thoughts somewhere else. Because that somewhere else did not exist.

Soon her and Cloudburst became mates and had three kits. It was a lonely time in the nursery as there was no one else there. There was no reunion with promises to run away. There was no funeral when her kits were two moons old. There was nothing it was so normal.

To prove how normal and grand Thawheart was she was even offered to become a Keeper because of her skills, nothing else. She accepted of course. It was an honor. As a Keeper, she was informed of the threatening Prophecy and strange Omen the Medics have witnessed. She can not tell her family these secrets.

Another average warrior, but this one with the addition of becoming a Keeper! How grand. If she calls to you why not apply for her here?

[warriors-rewritten-chaos]

Major Arc 3 Changes/General Summary

Time for The Three to be Powered!

When Jaykit, Hollykit, and Lionkit are born, Squirrelflight passes them off as the kits of her and a loner because she has no mate. It works and the kits are spoiled rotten by their adoring grandparents Firestar and Sandstorm (who wish that Graystripe was there to meet their grandkits too- don’t worry, he and Millie are on their way) and Uncle Brambleflower, who loves them like they were his own kits and constantly brags about them to other cats. Ashfur is losing his mind over this and not in a good way

Yellowfang peacefully passes on from old age surrounded by her ThunderClan family. She becomes their biggest supporter in StarClan and constantly fights with the other StarClan cats to give them nice things

Graystripe shows up later with a pregnant molly named Millie (her kits aren't Gray’s because I don't want like half the Clan biologically related through him in the future). He is overjoyed at having grandkits and is just as mushy with the Three as Firestar and Sandstorm were when they were kits, only now the Three are much less tolerant of the spoiling because “We’re apprentices now grandpa we’re supposed to be cool- no don’t groom our fur in front of our friends! Grandpaaaaa you're embarrassing us!” Millie eventually joins the FireSandGray polycule because did you seriously think I’d leave her out?

When the three become apprentices, Hollypaw becomes a Healer apprentice mentored by Leafpool, Lionpaw is given to Ashfur, and Jaypaw is mentored by Longtail, who remained a Warrior even after his blinding by rabbit, even if he did need to slow down a little afterwards

Jaypaw secretly feels drawn to the Medicine Den but is concerned that if he becomes a Medicine Cat, cats will assume he was too weak to be a proper Warrior due to his disability. Longtail smacks his apprentice upside the head and tells him that it’s his decision to make and his alone and that if other cats think stuff like that then they are the stupid ones. Jaypaw learns to unlearn his internalized ableism and becomes an awesome Seer. Longtail still teaches him some battle moves so he can defend himself if need be. Jaypaw also learns he can feel the emotions of other cats and walk in their dreams. What’s up with that?

Hollypaw has issues with memorizing herbs and treatments but is afraid to ask for help because she thinks that cats will think less of her for it. Her arc has her learn to humble herself and ask for help when she needs it. She becomes a Battle Medic, the first ThunderClan has had in many, many moons. Hollypaw’s problems become even more exacerbated when she also starts feeling strangely unwell whenever she is around her mother, Leafpool, and Shrewsight but doesn't know why she is feeling that way. The only thing she knows is its the same feeling she gets when Berrypaw tells his tall tales...

Lionpaw is constantly run ragged by his mentor and put in dangerous and even potentially deadly situations by him. However, no one believes that Ashfur is being abusive to him because Lionpaw always comes out of the situations completely unscathed, even when he realistically shouldn't be. In fact, while all the other apprentices get injuries and small bumps or bruises from time to time, Lionpaw has never gotten a scratch or even caught an illness. Is he just lucky that way? Lionpaw’s only moments of safety from Ashfur are when he sneaks out into the tunnels with his secret WindClan friend Heatherpaw and training with his new friends Tiger and Hollow (who couldn't possibly by Tigerstar and Muddyhollow, that would just be silly). His character arc is about trusting others and the dangers of misplaced trust

The Three eventually learn that they are the Prophecy Cats TM and things suddenly make a lot more sense. Jay and Lion’s powers are obviously the same as they are in canon, and Holly’s power is to be able to tell when cats are lying (a living lie detector)

During this time, Sandstorm has Leafpool and Squirrelflight’s younger brother Smudgekit (yes he’s named after Firestar’s kittypet childhood friend). He isn't a super important character or anything, I just wanted Squirrel and Leaf to have an annoying baby brother. When Squirrelflight complains about how annoying Smudgekit is, Brambleflower just looks at her and says “now you know how it feels”. Squirrelflight is incredibly offended and takes it upon herself to annoy the crap out of Brambleflower as revenge

Jaypaw meets the hairless cat spirit haunting the Clans, who finally introduces himself after lurking ominously for like ages. He is Lord Rock the Everlasting, the fate god once worshipped by the Caelestia Feles (aka the Ancients). He left with the group that would one day become the Clan Cats because they were the ones who followed their fate, which was to leave the Mountains. He gives Jaypaw The Record of Ages (aka The Stick) and tells him that he is fated to go to the Mountains and connect with the cats there in order to regain the knowledge to save the Clans

Cinderpaw, now an apprentice along with her siblings, falls and hurts her leg, but the reincarnation drama never happens because she isn't Cinderspark’s reincarnation

The Tunnel Drama happens and WindClan actually decides to make use of them and brings back Tunnelers, with Breezepaw and Heatherpaw being some of the first of the new tunnelers

Jaypaw, Hollypaw, Lionpaw, Shrewsight, Brambleflower, and Crowfeather return to the Lunar Feles. As Brambleflower and Crowfeather catch up with Stormfur, Feathertail, and Small Brook, and Lionpaw and Hollypaw make friends, Jaypaw is guided away by a cat who turns out to be the goddess Lady Half Moon in disguise. She sends him back to the time of the Caelestia Feles in the paws of her first disciple, Jay Feather. He meets his siblings’ Ancient counterparts Blazing Lion and Holly Leaf. He also witnesses the birth of a kit named Dove Wing, who feels important as well, but obviously can’t be a Prophecy Cat because there’s already three, right? He also learns that there is a powerful herb on WindClan’s territory, but he has no idea why he would need this knowledge at any point in his life

As the Clan cats return home, Shrewsight is struck by a Monster on a Thunderpath and is killed by it this time. Rock watches on, to Jaypaw’s horror. When he confronts Rock, he is told that it was always Shrewsight’s fate to die that way, whether it was before the Great Journey or sometime later. Rock leaves him, telling him that the fates are corrected now and Jaypaw no longer needs his guidance. The cats otherwise return fine

The stuff with Sol happens, and Lionblaze, Cinderheart, Poppysoot, and Honeydrop (after Rainwhisker- from “raindrop”) become Warriors. Hollyleaf becomes an official Battle Medic. Jaypaw is now ThunderClan’s sole Seer and feels overwhelmed. A disease outbreak occurs, with Firestar losing a life and many cats suffering. Jaypaw remembers his time with the Caelestia Feles and the herb on WindClan territory. After the herb is given out the sick cats recover and Jayfeather becomes an official Medicine Cat

After Honeydrop is killed by the snake when saving Briarkit, she is discovered to have been pregnant with her mate Berrynose’s kits. I did it for the angst, not for any real plot reasons

The whole fire scene with Ashfur happens. Hollyleaf realizes what she was sensing all this time from Squirrelflight and Leafpool was the lie about who their parents really were and takes action. Unfortunately, those actions are the same ones that she takes in canon: murdering Ashfur, revealing the whole truth at a Gathering in front of literally everyone, and almost killing Leafpool before fleeing into a collapsing tunnel

Things then end like they do in canon, with one key change: Ashfur goes to the Dark Forest. Yellowfang threatens to rip him to shreds if she ever sees him again

[bonefall]

Because the wardens have such an easy access to their ancestors, do they become dependent on them? I'm not really sure how to phrase this correctly, but since talking to their ancestors and receiving godly answers is just a hop, a skip, and a jump away, do they go to Stoneteller for every little thing they are confused about? How do they function if they know everything that is going to happen? Or is it more like talking to a clan elder? You get their suggestions from their knowledge, but you don't have divine knowledge of the future, and then you make your own decisions from learning by their life lessons. I'm curious on how stoneteller would give the cats advice when you have tons of ancestors using you as a mouthpiece instead of vague omens.

I can totally imagine a clan cat having this exact conversation with a tribe cat that I can practically hear the response in my head. The tribe cat would be caught off-guard like,

"...does your grandpaw have divine knowledge of the future, cousin?"

"Umm... well, StarClan sends us signs--"

"Yeah my grandpaw sends me signs too, but does he actually tell you stuff about the future?"

"The signs-- well... the medicine cat interprets the signs, but yours can just talk to you! Don't they pass on the prophecies more directly?"

"Are you sure your ancestors are really seeing the future? Or are they just making you think they have a better idea than you do?"

".......Well I... never thought about that..."

"WAIT, wait, you don't even interpret your own signs?? Don't your wards only have ONE medic? What happens if they don't- doesn't your grandpaw send you a little sign now and then? Just so you know he's watching?"

And it would BLOW the Clan cat's mind. Anyway! Lemmie answer your questions more clearly;

Visiting Stoneteller

They could hypothetically go to Stoneteller for anything, but for the Stone Ward and Valley Ward, it's literally a hike. Not to mention that Stoneteller can only speak to one person at a time, and most Stonetellers will probably start losing patience with a "frequent flyer."

Besides, why would you need such a direct connection when your ancestors are all around you? For simple questions and life advice, Tribe cats probably just observe nature around them and try to find a sign when they need a little help deciding. There's also medics, elders, and family to help interpret signs or provide advice.

So... why go bother your ancestors so directly, unless it's very important? You have a whole Ward here to help you instead, living people who know and love you.

In fact, thinking about it, I could probably compare it to visiting a religious place. Church, temple, a shrine. Part of visiting Stoneteller may even just be an excuse to take that hike with someone in particular.

Is it more like talking to an elder or speaking to a divine being?

It's more like an Elder, Stoneteller is providing a really good seance. The Tribe of Endless Hunting HAS the capacity to provide prophecies just like StarClan, but unlike StarClan, they simply don't pass on vague and unhelpful ones

(or do the interpreting of the prophecy first instead of just hitting Fwd Email on a stinker like 'Remember That Water Can Quench Fire' and being like "OK it's the mortal plane's problem now LOL").

So you COULD make the hike to trivialize Stoneteller's marvelous ability to channel your ancestors... but IMAGINE the embarrassment of being chewed out by your dead grandpaw because he sent you like a million signs and you didn't catch a single one.

"You're no kitten, boy! You didn't see that I'm trying to tell you to pick Sunflower as your mate? Do you know how hard I worked to bring out SUNSHINE the SECOND SHE WALKED BY, boy?? I hope when your kits are born they inherit HER brains, you wet clod!!"

Then Stoneteller's like, "Oof. Anyway your grandmew is calling too, do you want-" "NO HAHA IM GOOD THANKS."

Or... on a worse, more somber note, your ancestors may even choose to not show up if you kept bothering them with useless questions, and then you can't speak to them when you truly do need them.

That would be a pretty hard blow to a Tribe cat, enough as a warning to discourage others from wasting Stoneteller's time. Sort of similar to the parable of the boy who cried wolf.

The Overwhelming Nature of it All

Having access to such an incredible resource makes it very normal to the Wards. It's just another option- and really, it doesn't take the punch out of the pain of life, either.

A kitten who just lost its dad could go to Stoneteller for comfort, to hear their father's voice again, but it's no replacement for the tom who teleported you to your nest when you got tired. You'll still miss him when it's cold, wish you could hear him sing you a song, wonder how many stories he was unable to tell you.

Later, you lost your best friend. You forgot that there was no one there to finish that hunting move that takes two, you're so used to her jumping out of the bush at the LAST minute for that dramatic flair and-- the mouse scuttled away. You can't bring Stoneteller on a hunting trip.

You feel a little better when you see your friend's favorite flower swaying in the breeze later, and you can visit Stoneteller to ask your dad what name he'd like for your coming kits, get the reassurance that they're still watching, but all the foresight in the world can't stop people from dying. Stoneteller can't truly bring them back.

You still, eventually, have to learn to live without them.

In Comparison to Clan Cats

StarClan is staying more distant and mysterious; and the Tribe of Endless Hunting can have some of the more casual aspects of the later books.

I wrote a post a while back on how clan cats also do invoke specific ancestors for strength in the rewrite. You can think of that a lot more like Catholicism, a direct prayer to a patron who is themselves an envoy of a higher power, with an ordained religious figure in medicine cats. A clearer hierarchy.

In contrast, the Tribe is much closer to a sort of soft Protestantism. Stoneteller can make your ancestors more clear, but you foster that relationship with religion within yourself, observing the world around you for signs.

Lastly, I would actually like for the dynamic between the Tribe and the Clans to remain that sometimes Clan cats visit the Tribe for religious help, and also, the Tribe occasionally requests the Clans for physical help.

But I want these two entities to be equal in that relationship; unlike the books where the Tribe has help forced onto them and clan cats stumble into personal growth as a result.

[myopinionhi]

A Will Solace Character Analysis: the Underappreciated Soft Side

I've noticed many fanfictions have Will Solace OOC. So I’ve been thinking about aspects of Will’s personality fans seem to either gloss over or exaggerate. Here, this post is me doing an in-depth analysis explaining Will Solace’s canon personality in the books, and how it can sometimes differ from fanfictions. Sprinkled in this analysis are tips to fanfiction writers on how they write Will as more in-character.

There is one major aspect of Will that people seem to ignore or underemphasize. Nico best explains it when describing Will in this quote

Jason was a fighter. You could tell from the intensity of his stare, his constant alertness, the coiled-up energy in his frame. Will Solace was more like a lanky cat stretched out in sunshine. His movements were relaxed and nonthreatening, his gaze soft and far away. In his faded SURF BARBADOS T-shirt, his cutoff shorts and flip-flops, he looked about as aggressive as a demigod could get, but Nico knew he was brave under fire. During the Battle of Manhattan, Nico had seen him in action - the camp's best combat medic, risking his life to save wounded campers.

To sum it up, Will Solace is a very chill and calm character. A lot of writers make Will more irrational, impulsive, overbearing, and emotional than he actually is. Will is not the type of character to create drama unless he's, as Nico puts it, "under fire." In other words, the intense side of his personality doesn't come out unless the situation is urgent or dire.

Fans remember during the Second Giant War how he gets angry and argues with Nico over Nico's health and shadow-traveling, so many assume Will is going to be this fiery over a lot of other things regarding their relationship. For example, fanfic writers may make Will controlling or overly sensitive with Nico. However, keep in mind, Will gets heated with Nico during the Second Giant War because Nico's shadow-traveling is killing him. This is how Will describes Nico's dire state.

"Coach Hedge told me all about your shadow-travel. You can’t try that again."

"I just did try it again, Solace. I’m fine."

"No, you’re not. I’m a healer. I could feel the darkness in your hand as soon as I touched it. Even if you made it to that tent, you’d be in no shape to fight. But you wouldn’t make it. One more slip, and you won’t come back. You are not shadow-travelling. Doctor’s orders."

Will is a healer. When he touches Nico's hand, he can sense how little sleep and food Nico has been getting and how Nico's being taken over by darkness. Nico is on the verge of death and hasn't cared about his health for a long time. Nico is also stubborn about it, so Will has to be aggressive in order to save Nico's life. This aggressive behavior is not the norm for Will, but it can sometimes come out when he has to assert control in a life-or-death situation.

Will is a calming prescence. He's a diplomat. He stops violence on multiple occassions.

He's one of the few people who's able to calm Clarisse's violent rage, and he does so in a gentle manner.

Clarisse pointed her dagger at Rachel. "What about their allies, huh? Did you see that tribe of two-headed men that arrived yesterday? Or the glowing red dog-headed guys with the big poleaxes? They look pretty barbaric to me. It would’ve been nice if you’d foreseen any of that, if your Oracle power didn’t break down when we needed it most!"

Rachel’s face turned as red as her hair. "That’s hardly my fault. Something is wrong with Apollo’s gifts of prophecy. If I knew how to fix it –"

"She’s right." Will Solace, head counsellor for the Apollo cabin, put his hand gently on Clarisse’s wrist. Not many campers could’ve done that without getting stabbed, but Will had a way of defusing people’s anger. He got her to lower her dagger. "Everyone in our cabin has been affected. It’s not just Rachel."

One of the most underrated Will Solace moments is when he stops a bloody battle from happening between Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter.  

But he knew it wouldn’t do any good. After weeks of waiting, agonizing and steaming, the Greeks and Romans wanted blood. Trying to stop the battle now would be like trying to push back a flood after the dam broke.

Will Solace saved the day.

He put his fingers in his mouth and did a taxicab whistle even more horrible than the last. Several Greeks dropped their swords. A ripple went through the Roman line like the entire First Cohort was shuddering.

"DON’T BE STUPID!" Will yelled. "LOOK!"

People are so used to seeing demigods, especially male demigods, being aggressive fighters that they can't wrap their heads around a brave and strong demigod who actively tries to avoid unnecessary conflict and destruction as much as he can.

And that's Will Solace's strength: he has the ability to prevent as much harm as possible.

Will is a difficult character to write. There's a lot of dueling factors with his personality. He's calm and pacifying while also being brave and assertive. He's fun and lighthearted while also being intelligent, logical, and grounded. He's laidback while also being responsible and hardworking. He's insecure but not melodramatic. He's very caring and protective but not pushy.

Will's personality confuses Nico sometimes too.

He’d always thought of Will as easygoing and laid back. Apparently he could also be stubborn and aggravating.

The trick to writing Will is to keep in mind his default personality is a soft and lighthearted character. Writers tend to overemphasize the hard side of his personality when his default personality is actually the soft side.

Think of the relaxing, lanky cat metaphor Nico uses for him. He and Nico bicker often, and it works for Will because he rolls with everything and doesn't take things too seriously. He's able to alleviate Nico's moodiness with humor, wittiness, groundedness, and patience. Nico affectionately calls Will a "dork" because Will usually keeps things light. Interestingly enough, he's able to be lighthearted without coming across as insensitive or an airheaded goofball, the latter of which is something Nico dislikes about Percy's personality. On a related sidenote, another way writers make Will OOC is they make him too dumb or too immature. I know I mentioned to focus on Will's soft side, but be careful to avoid that too. He's a SENSIBLE, lanky cat.

The way Will keeps his composure during a stressful situation by using laughter while still being mature is expressed well in this exchange with Apollo. (Yes, Will has a lot to manage.)

It was difficult to think of this young man as my son. He was so poised, so unassuming, so free of acne. He also didn’t appear to be awestruck in my presence. In fact, the corner of his mouth had started twitching.

“Are—are you amused?” I demanded.

Will shrugged. “Well, it’s either find this funny or freak out. My dad, the god Apollo, is a fifteen-year-old—”

“Sixteen,” I corrected. “Let’s go with sixteen.”

“A sixteen-year-old mortal, lying in a cot in my cabin, and with all my healing arts—which I got from you—I still can’t figure out how to fix you.”

“There is no fixing this,” I said miserably. “I am cast out of Olympus. My fate is tied to a girl named Meg. It could not be worse!”

Will laughed, which I thought took a great deal of gall. “Meg seems cool. She’s already poked Connor Stoll in the eyes and kicked Sherman Yang in the crotch.”

The fiercer side of Will's personality comes out only when the situation calls for it; this happens sometimes when he has to be a caring family member, a responsible healer, or a warrior in a dire situation. Even when he gets more forceful, he doesn't get more forceful than he has to.

Since Will has such a balanced and lighthearted personality, what are his flaws? What are the dark sides of his personality? There are four main things that stick out.

1. He's insecure about his self-perceived lack of abilities.

"I agree," Will said. "I wish I was a better archer … I wouldn’t mind shooting my Roman relative off his high horse. Actually, I wish I could use any of my father’s gifts to stop this war." He looked down at his own hands with distaste. "Unfortunately, I’m just a healer."

2. He sometimes struggles to endure the heavy responsibilities he has as a healer and as a protector to his family.

“I got it reattached,” Will told me, his voice shaky with exhaustion. His scrubs were speckled with blood. “I need somebody to keep him stable.”

I pointed to the woods. “But—”

“I know!” Will snapped. “Don’t you think I want to be out there searching too? We’re shorthanded for healers. There’s some salve and nectar in that pack. Go!”

I was stunned by his tone. I realized he was just as concerned about Kayla and Austin as I was. The only difference: Will knew his duty. He had to heal the injured first. And he needed my help.

3. He forces himself to bottle his emotions to keep his composure.

Will laughed under his breath. “I’m terrified. But one thing you learn as head counselor: you have to keep it together for everyone else. Let’s get you on your feet."

Here's a second example.

I rested my hand on Will’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back by dawn.”

His mouth trembled ever so slightly. “How can you be sure?”

4. He constantly worries about his loved ones.

Nico rested his hand on Will’s shoulder. “Apollo, we were worried. Will was especially.”

In conclusion, Will Solace's personality is difficult to get correct. But don't worry, if you write Will as a laidback, witty cat in your fanfics, I guarantee he'll be more in-character than many other fanfics with Will Solace.

(Note: I am only human. If you believe I'm misinterpreting some aspects of Will's personality, feel free to express it. What I say isn't 100 percent the right interpretation.)

[timelesslords]

Just a Twinge

Read on AO3

In which Annabeth finally gets that ankle injury checked out, Will and Nico are a kind-of couple, and Percy Jackson is a protective dork.

“I do not need a cast.”

“You definitely need a cast,” Will said, handing her the x-ray film he had been studying seconds earlier. He at least had the decency to sound apologetic.

“This looks fine,” Annabeth said, despite the fact that she had no idea how to read an x-ray film, or what she should even be looking for.

“Look,” Will pointed to a small shadow on the film that Annabeth hadn’t even noticed, “That’s a fracture. It looks like it healed most of the way and then re-broke.”

“And it’s still broken?”

“Looks like it.”

“But how can I be walking on it if it's still broken?” Annabeth asked, crossing her arms over her chest. It was a useless, stubborn gesture, but it made her feel better anyways.  

Will gave her a look, one that was far too long-suffering for a fifteen year old’s face.

“Does it hurt when you step on it?” he asked dryly.

“Your bedside manner is terrible,” Annabeth deflected. Will rolled his eyes, but unfortunately did not rise to the bait.

“Answer the question Annabeth.”

Annabeth glared at her ankle, her stupid, traitorous ankle, that had caused nothing but trouble since she broke it in Arachne’s lair. She knew Will was wrong; it hadn’t re-broken, not in the sense of the bone physically snapping again. No, Tartarus had re-injured her, unknit the fragile regrowth that had been keeping her ankle together, and had never let it heal properly again. She’d taken plenty of ambrosia and nectar in the meantime, but her ankle remained stubbornly messed up.

So yeah, it hurt. Most of the time it was fine, just a twinge, and she could deal with a twinge. She’d had a lot worse than a twinge.

And, okay, sometimes when she got stressed it was worse than a twinge. Sometimes it would turn into a limp, which was admittedly pretty bad. And maybe Percy had been bugging her to get it checked out for two weeks now, and she had been ignoring him because it was fine. Or it had been fine until last night during capture the flag, when it had switched to a limp right in the middle of the game and had neglected to ever switch back to a twinge.

Which is how she had ended up in the infirmary being stared down by a usually very chipper son of Apollo, who did not look very chipper now.

Will took Annabeth’s silence as an admission of guilt, which of course it was, but he didn’t need to sigh so loudly about it.

“You’re lucky you’ve been able to walk on it as long as you have, but you should’ve stopped putting pressure on it a month ago.”

Annabeth opened her mouth to protest, but Will continued before she could get a word out.

“I know it wasn’t possible at the time. But if you keep going how you’re going, you could permanently mess up your ankle.”

Annabeth didn’t have a good response for that. She had known in the back of her mind that this was probably what Will was going to tell her, and that was why she had waited so long to get it checked out in the first place.

“How long do I have to wear the cast?” she asked in defeat. Will gave her a pitying look that did not make her hopeful for his answer.

“Six weeks, probably.”

“Six weeks?”

Will winced.

“You might be able to switch to a boot the last two, but it depends how healed it is.”

“But—” Annabeth started, then faltered. She and Percy were supposed to start school in a month. How was she supposed to go into a new school with a cast? That was like the most embarrassing, cliche crap ever.

And it was embarrassing that she was even embarrassed about it. She’d faced monsters and titans and giants and literally the pits of hell. A little cast wasn’t going to kill her, but for some reason it still felt like the end of the world.

Will was still looking at her expectantly, waiting for the end of her sentence.

“This sucks,” she said. Will cracked a sympathetic smile, which might have felt mean if anyone else were doing it, but Will was borderline incapable of genuine meanness.  

“Yeah, it does,” he agreed.

“When do I have to get it on?” Annabeth basically already knew the answer, but she hoped somehow that she was wrong. Will gave her another sympathetic look.

“The sooner you put it on, the sooner you get to take it off,” Will said, which was as good an answer as if he’d simply said it outright.

“So right now?” Annabeth asked, stomach sinking. Will winced again.

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“This sucks,” Annabeth repeated, because it deserved to be repeated.

“Do you want someone to go get Percy?” Will asked. That should have been an embarrassing question, more embarrassing than the cast, but Annabeth didn’t even have to think about it.

“Yes please.” she sighed.

Will pulled back the curtain around the bed Annabeth was situated on.

“Hey Nico!” he called.

Annabeth hadn’t even noticed, or maybe he hadn’t been there when she came in, but Nico was in the room, curled up like a cat, sleeping. There were plenty of open beds he could have taken, but for some reason he’s chosen a stiff plastic chair to take his nap on.

“Nico!” Will called again, but Nico did not stir. Will took a roll of soft medical tape from the table beside him and threw it with impeccable aim, nailing Nico right in the shoulder.

“Ow,” Nico said, voice muffled, and sounding more confused than hurt. He sat up, rubbing his head groggily. “What was that for?”

“Go get Percy,” Will ordered.

“Why?” Nico asked. Then he spotted Annabeth, and recognition spilled over his features.

“Oh. Hey, Annabeth.”

“Hey.”

“Ankle?”

Annabeth grimaced. Maybe it was just that Nico’s proclivity for sensing death also extended to sensing injuries, or maybe she’d done a worse job hiding it than she thought.

“Yeah,” she admitted.

Nico yawned, wide and long, stretching his arms. Annabeth was once again reminded of a housecat.

“Okay, fine. Be right back,” Nico said.

He was gone in a flash. When Annabeth glanced over at Will, he was staring out the door Nico had disappeared out of with a sort of dopey grin on his face.

“Are you two dating yet?” Annabeth asked, snapping Will back to reality. He blinked, face completely blank.

“What?”

“You and Nico. Are you official?”

Everyone had sort of suspected, what with Nico trailing behind Will like a shadow the past few weeks. But better to ask than say something potentially embarrassing in front of Nico. The last thing Annabeth wanted to do was scare him off again.

“Uhh,” Will rubbed the back of his head nervously, his face going slightly red, “I think so?”

“You think so? What the hell does that mean?” Annabeth said, though she was grinning.

“You and Percy got to pine over each other for four years before you did something about it, can’t I get two weeks of peace?” Will groaned, plopping down on the rolling chair beside Annabeth’s bed.

“Yeah, but that was different,” Annabeth protested, “There was the prophecy and the war and all that.”

“A convenient excuse,” Will said. He had rolled over to the cabinet, and was starting to pull supplies out.

“It’s a great excuse, actually, but that’s beside the point,” Annabeth said, waving her hand dismissively.

“Sure. Great.”

“Whatever. We’re not talking about me, we’re talking about you.”

Will took a deep breath, then let it out noisily.

“I’m pretty sure we’re dating. Is that good enough for you?”

Annabeth did have the opportunity to answer whether or not this was good enough for her, because in the next moment the door opened again, and Percy burst through, Nico nowhere in sight.

“Are you okay?” he asked breathlessly, his eyes already trained on her from across the room.

“Just my ankle,” Annabeth said. It was really, truly inconvenient how even a look from Percy could make her heart do jumping-jacks, even now. And the look he was giving her now was very concerned in a way that was very unfairly hot. “I was being a baby so Will sent Nico for you.”

“Oh.” He sighed, relief washing over his worried expression.

Nico lurched through the door a second later, breathing heavily.

“You dumbass,” Nico panted, “If you had waited two seconds I could have told you it was nothing.”

“Did you run all the way here?” Will asked Percy, clearly amused and hiding it badly.

Percy shrugged, unembarrassed, which was also very hot, especially since he was still looking at Annabeth.

“Yeah,” he admitted easily.  

“Dumbass,” Nico repeated, collapsing into his nap chair from earlier.  

“Probably,” Percy agreed, pulling a chair up beside Annabeth’s bed.

“I swear, he heard ‘Annabeth’ and ‘infirmary’ and his eyes glazed over,” Nico said, glaring at Percy, though he seemed more bemused than angry.

“It might’ve been serious!” Percy protested.

“I would’ve led with that,” Nico said, exasperated, “You get I would have led with that, right?”

“You could have led with the ankle,” Percy pointed out, and Nico rolled his eyes so hard his irises disappeared for a second.

“Whatever. I’m getting food,” Nico said, standing up, stretching again.

“Bring me a snack?” Will asked hopefully.

“Ugh. Fine. Parasite,” Nico said. He was clearly doing his best to sound annoyed, and failing at it miserably.

“Thank you!” Will called in a singsong-y voice as Nico left. Nico flipped him off in response, disappearing through the door.

“Are you guys dating yet?” Percy asked, as soon as Nico was gone.

Will groaned, covering his face with his hands.

“I am not doing this again.”

“He thinks so, but isn’t totally sure,” Annabeth supplied.

“Mm. Tricky,” Percy grinned at Annabeth as he slipped his hand into hers.

“You guys suck,” Will complained.

“He’s bringing you a snack, though. That’s cute,” Annabeth said, grinning back at Percy. After all the years the other campers had teased them about not being together when they should’ve been, she figured a little payback couldn’t hurt.

“Definitely dating behavior,” Percy agreed.

“You two are the last people on Earth I am taking relationship advice from,” Will said, “I shouldn’t have let Percy in here.”

“But you did, so,” Percy said cheerfully.

“I can still kick you out,” Will threatened.

“You won’t though,” Annabeth said, squeezing Percy’s hand a little tighter, just in case. Will sighed dramatically.

“No, I won’t,” he said.

“So, what exactly is wrong with your ankle?” Percy asked. His conspiratorial grin had been replaced with a slight frown.

“It’s broken,” Will said, quick and blunt, presumably in an attempt to prevent Annabeth from sugar-coating it.

“You said fractured,” Annabeth protested. She was fully aware she was acting like a child right now, but she didn’t care.

“Yeah, that’s what fractured means. Broken,” Will said, clearly unwilling to indulge her.

Percy’s frown deepened.

“Do you need a cast?”

“Yes,” Will said, before Annabeth could answer.

“Go ahead,” Annabeth said, turning to Percy, “You can say it.”

“I’m not gonna say it,” Percy said innocently, though his lips were twitching.

“Just get it over with now, while I’m already humiliated,” Annabeth sighed.

“I don’t need to.”

“I know you want to say it, Percy. Just say it.”

“Say what?” Will asked.

“Told you so,” Annabeth and Percy said, in unison.

Will stared at them for a second. Then he said,

“You guys are weird.”

“I’ve been telling her to get it checked out for weeks,” Percy explained. Will raised his eyebrows.

“Should’ve listened to your boyfriend Chase, you might’ve shaved a week or two off the cast.”

“Told you so,” Percy said, unable to help himself.

“Shut up,” Annabeth grumbled.

Getting the actual cast on wasn’t as bad as Annabeth expected. It hurt like a bitch when Will straightened her ankle out so it wouldn’t heal crooked, but she had Percy’s fingers to squeeze through it all, which helped. The cast itself was itchy and miserable, but she had expected that.

“All done,” Will said, securing the last bit of fiberglass binding around her ankle. It was dark blue, because they hadn’t had black, and Annabeth figured it would look the least dirty over time. Also, she had a feeling Percy was going to want to doodle on it, and the darker the color the less likely it was anyone was going to notice whatever sharpie drawings he put on there.

“That wasn’t so bad,” Percy said, letting go of her hand for a second to massage the fingers she’d crushed. Annabeth sat up, swinging her legs around so they hung over the side of the bed.

“Yeah, but now I have to live with it,” Annabeth said glumly.

“You’ll get used to it,” Will promised.

Annabeth sighed. She had really put Will though it, for no other reason than she felt like being whiny. He was too nice for his own good.

“Thank you. For the cast, and for putting up with me today,” Annabeth said. Will shrugged, though he was smiling.

“Believe it or not, you weren’t the most hostile patient I’ve had this week. Also—” he turned around, digging around in the closet behind him. When he came back, he was holding crutches.

“Here’s your crutches,” Will said. Annabeth groaned.

“This sucks,” she said, for the third time that day.

“Sorry babe,” Percy said sympathetically.

Then his eyes narrowed, and he ducked down, pushing Annabeth’s shoulders down with him. Before she could even ask why, something whizzed over her head and smacked Will right in the chest.

“Ow!” Will exclaimed. He reflexively caught the projectile before it fell to the floor. It was a pack of crackers.

“Your snack,” Nico said, looking quite smug at having gotten Will back for nailing him with the medical tape earlier.

“Ooh, peanut butter,” Will ripped open the packaging, popping one of the crackers in his mouth.

“Wanna try out those crutches?” Percy asked, offering his hand to help Annabeth up. Annabeth did not want to try out her crutches, but she knew Percy had only said it as an excuse to get them out of the room, so Nico and Will could be alone. She sighed, relenting, and took his hand.

The crutches were harder to maneuver than she expected them to be. They also tired her arms out faster than she expected, so much that they barely made it to the porch of the big house before she had to take a break.

They sat down on the steps, which took a bit more effort than it should have, but Annabeth was still getting used to the bulkiness around her foot. Percy put his arm around her, and she leaned into his shoulder, sighing. She wished she could just stay there forever, and not have to deal with stupid crutches or stupid school or stupid anything else.

“You’re very grumpy today,” Percy noted. Annabeth just tucked herself deeper into his embrace.

“I have a right to be,” she said, voice slightly muffled by his shoulder. She felt his laughter in his chest, a nice steady vibration.

“I don’t mind. You’re cute when you’re grumpy,” Percy said, kissing her forehead for good measure.

“That’s mean,” Annabeth had to fight to keep a smile off her face.

“It’s true. I mean, you’re cute all the time, so I guess it’s nothing new,”

“All the time?” Annabeth challenged.

“All the time,” Percy confirmed.

“Even when I haven’t brushed my hair in three days because I forgot?”

“Even then,”

“Even when I’m snippy?”

“Yup,”

“Even when I’m pissed at you?”

“Ugh, you got me,” Percy said, with an exaggerated look of defeat, “You being pissed at me is more hot than cute.”

Annabeth couldn’t help but laugh at the goofy expression on his face.

“Sorry I’m in such a bad mood,” Annabeth sighed, when their laughter had diminished. Percy just shrugged.

“It’s alright. You earned it,” he said, nodding to her cast. Annabeth looked down at it glumly.

“It’s still going to be on when we start school,” Annabeth sighed.

“That’s okay. I’ll carry your books for you,” Percy promised.

“What if a monster attacks us? I’ll be useless.”

“They’ve probably learned by now to steer clear of us,” Percy said, “And even if they somehow haven’t, a stupid cast isn’t going to make you useless. You could get a really good whack in with those crutches.”

That made Annabeth laugh again, and somehow, miraculously, when she stopped her face didn’t automatically slide back into a frown. It was hard for her to stay gloomy around Percy when he was intentionally trying to cheer her up.

She pulled herself back a little, so she could see his face properly. He looked back at her, a little smile still playing at the corner of his lips.

“I love you,” Annabeth said. His little smile grew into a full-blown grin.

“I love you too.”

[violentshine]

Haven't talked about this AU in forever. Basically it's an au where the dark forest successful tricked Ivypaw into joining their side. Though I did have to move things around for the AU to work. This focuses on the events after Ivypaw dies with Dovepaw being the pov (under cut)

"Ivypaw! Ivypaw!" Dovepaw shook the limp body of her sister trying to wake her up, but it was no luck. She couldn't wake her up. She couldn't let her sister die. She couldn't help her.....

"Dovepaw!" Jayfeather's irritated growl snapped Dovepaw out of her thoughts. "You aren't paying attention, are you?"

"...Sorry." She looked at her paws.

"'Sorry' doesn't help us. We've got the safety of all the clans at stake! Honestly what do we need to do to get the point across that this is important?"

Dovepaw dug her claws into the rocky floor of the medic's den. She did know this was important!...Still she couldn't focus on anything with the image of her dead sister flashing in her head. She bit back another apology knowing it was only going to make Jayfeather more annoyed at her.

Jayfeather took in a deep slow breath and then sat down, facing Dovepaw he meowed in a tone she could tell was forced to sound calm. "Clearly what you have on your mind is much more important so why don't we focus on that first! Shall we?"

"N..no it's-"

"Talk. I'm telling you to talk. So, talk."

She didn't like being put on the spot like this with both Jayfeather and Lionblaze watching her. She took one more glance at Jayfeather's expression that was slowly slipping away from the calm, relaxed one he tried to wear.

"I don't think I can do this." She confessed.

"Do what? Sit here and listen to me go over important details about how we can deal with this life threatening event? We don't need to waste time going over what's known."

"I don't think I can do what's needed to deal with the...that event."

Jayfeather rolled his eyes. "Of course you don't. You aren't paying attention."

She was getting annoyed now, he was purposefully being difficult! Couldn't he tell this was already hard enough for her? "I can't do this! I can't save the clans!" Dovepaw's could feel her throat tighten with emotion. "I couldn't save Longtail, I couldn't save Briarlight and now...with Ivypaw...I know I can't save anyone because in the moments I could have, I didn't." She waited for the two to say something, anything, maybe to even agree that she wasn't fit to be in a prophecy. Instead, the words Jayfeather spoke struck her core.

"You don't have a choice. The three of us are destined to save the clans. You can't opt out just because you're busy blaming yourself. Longtail put himself in harm's way, Brairlight tried to save them and got hurt herself. As for Ivypaw...Well she knew what she was getting in to."

"What?" The words Jayfeather spoke caught her off guard.

"Ivypaw trained in the Dark Forest. She put herself in a position that cost her life."

"You can't say that." She murmured.

"Can't say what? The truth? That's what it is." His voice was cold. "And now that you know it, you can stop blaming yourself." No way this was how Jayfeather acted normally. This emotional distance had to be a façade for something else, surely no cat could be this harsh? Why else was he being so negative? Didn't he care? Dovepaw didn't know where this all was coming from. He can't mean that...

"Ivypaw knew what she was getting into. If she didn't act like a kit she would still be here. We need to come up with a plan so it doesn't happen to another cat."

"I'm sorry." She choked out. "I can't save the clans if I can't save my clanmates."

"Do you not have ears, Lionblaze? Were you born without ears?" Jayfeather directed a sarcastic question to his brother, seemingly ignoring what Dovepaw just said.

"Er- well. No. I just..." Lionblaze fumbled for words.

"Tell Dovepaw she's worrying about the wrong thing, because she's apparently set on not listening to me." Jayfeather growled, turning away.

That's not what this is about! Dovepaw thought to herself angrily. Why couldn't he see that she was trying?

"Well for starters. Dovepaw does have a point. Losing a sister is a tough blow..." Lionblaze meowed Finally! Who would have thought Lionblaze of all cats could be so understanding?

"But." Oh no. "This is a big thing. We need to think of a way to deal with this prophecy properly."

She didn't wait for Jayfeather to respond. That was her snapping point, she couldn't handle this any longer.

"I don't want to be a part of this prophecy! I just want my sister back." She fled out of the den and continued until she was out of camp itself but didn't stop running.

She kept running and running until a familiar figure walked out in front of her. She quickly tried to bring herself to a stop, luckily the cat took a few paces back before the two rammed into each other.

Total dread overtook Dovepaw as she recognized the cat in front of her was Firestar carrying a squirrel. He was looking at her with a worried expression.

She wanted nothing more than to sink into the ground right then and there when Sandstorm came down from tree carrying recently caught prey. Of course she'd be the one to interrupt the leader and his mate hunting together. One thing after another.

"Dovepaw? What's going on?"

"Did something happen in camp?"

She knew they were only trying to help but Dovepaw really wished the ground would open up so she could cover her ears and eyes with earth, being hidden forever.

"I-" Where would she even start? So much has happened these last few days. She forced her breathing to slow down so she wouldn't be gasping for air. "No, everyone is fine at camp."

The two cats shared a worried look with each other. "Are you okay?" Firestar asked.

"No! No I'm not! I- I can't do this I can't do what Jayfeather and Lionblaze want me to do! Ivypaw is dead and it's all my fault I couldn't do anything to help o-or stop her from getting hurt. And they expect me to save the clans! How?! I can't save my own sister! And she was sleeping right next to me!" The words just poured out of her, she didn't know if what she blurted out even made sense. She could feel herself shaking.

"Oh Dovepaw..." Firestar walked over and gave her a few comforting licks. Sandstorm joined a moment after and Dovepaw could feel herself relaxing.

"S-sorry..." She quietly muttered.

Firestar and Sandstorm stopped. "What are you apologizing for? You didn't do anything wrong."

"I don't know...I just told you I can't save the clans, so I guess that?" She hadn't really known why she was apologizing or why she did it so much. Cats seemed to be annoyed at her either way....

"There's nothing to be sorry for Dovepaw." Firestar meowed softly.

"And what's this talk about a prophecy? And why are you, an apprentice, talking as if you're responsible for the safety of the clans?" Sandstorm asked.

Because I am...right? "Um." She shuffled her paws. "I'm the third cat. Jayfeather and Lionblaze have been talking to me about how to work my powers and how we're...going to save the clans." She grew more and more unsure.

Sandstorm raised a brow and looked at Firestar. "I'll stay out here and talk with Dovepaw more. You go and talk to those two."

"I will." Firestar went to pick up the dropped prey and headed for camp, giving an affirming nod to Dovepaw as he passed.

She watched as she fern leaves he passed through finally stopped shivering. Talking with Firestar and Sandstorm, even for a quick moment, calmed her down. Though...she was worried that she got the two brothers in trouble. If only I could have handled it better.

"C'mon," Sandstorm invited Dovepaw to walk besides her. "Lets go for a walk."

[warriorsbutnotreally]

Alright. It's time! This has taken so long to put together. I can't believe I thought I was going to be able to get it done last week. I'm a fool. Anyway! Here's the Rune Court lore! Enjoy and sorry if it's like way too long- I've tried not to make them too much like novels but I believe I've failed on that front.

The Court lives in an abandoned castle in a field, lost to time. Vines and roses slither up the walls and the grass is high and over grown. The windows are filled with colorful stained glass that shows great battles and prophecies of the old humans. They have their own clan symbol that is on the flags of the castle as well as the leaders throne.

Knights will hunt in the field and are told to kill any butterflies and destroy any mushrooms while hunting or checking borders. The two items are heavily tied to the Kingdom of Star-filled Wings and thus, the Court wishes to not see any of them. Cats of the Court are also told not to step foot in the forest for it's the territory of the kingdom.

The Court will meet in the throne room with the Court in the great hall while the leader sits on their throne overlooking their court. Their mate, if they aren't in the position of deputy, and children will sit on the leaders left side while their deputy will sit on the right side of their leader.

In the medics room, there is a secret passage only the leader, heirs and medics know about. This passage leads to the library. There's a pedestal in the center of grand library that holds a certain book. This book is full of spells that are mostly forbidden by the Court but Medics are taught a spell when first learning the practices. This book also contains a large egg shaped gem stone that shines. This is where the leaders and medics can talk to the Watchers. The only spell that the Court medics may learn is the spell to activate the Watchers power. Cats of the Court aren't taught, or even allowed, to read. Only medics are but sometimes the leader will learn. Valleystar does know how to read and she has chosen to teach Light as well but only certain books.

Onto where the cats sleep and their nests. Valleystar has the royals room, with her nest being the large bed. Light's room is a room that could be labeled as a princess room if human still lived on the island where this takes place. Light sleeps in the large bed that is in the room. Celestialwish, the medic, has her work space in the doctors towers of the castle. She sleeps in another room close to her work place. There is also a storage room for herbs. The medics use the garden for planting herbs they need, especially before winter time. The medic nest are made of a couch. If the medics have one or more squires, they sleep on foot stools that are around the room. Patients who need to stay overnight will sleep in a separate room. Blankets serve as their nests. The deputy and knights sleep in the armory with moss beds laid out on floor. The Squires sleep in the training room of the castle. Moss beds are used as nests here too. The queens, midwives, and kits stay in the castles nursery. Extra warm pillows are used as nests. Toys such as moss balls, feathers, sticks and other human items litter the floor for the kits. Though, midwives will normally let kits out in the garden to play while their parents are resting or eating. The elders room is located in the safest room of the castle. Pillows are used as nests but they also use blankets to help keep them warm.

That's all from me so far, I hope you liked this! If there's more I would like to add, I will in a post on my blog. Like wise, if you have any ideas or thoughts about the lore, let me know! Have a great day.

this sounds really nice!

I honestly don't have anything to add to this tbh

it sounds like you've already got a really good plan in mind and I'm liking the plans you've got going

[castelleve]

@zhuangshii​ x

she is perched on the window’s edge , eyes shut as she basks in the air of night , and the moon’s soft glow. it wasn’t even half yet , but it was tolerable. her head tilts lazily as beau wanders into the room ; the questions that came from his lips and stayed in his head weren’t unknown to her , but she chose to ignore most of them.

a scoff leaves her as the offer for company is presented. ❝ i haven’t been here for long. the night sky just got good enough to look at , so now i’m here. ❞ a pause , before she lets loose a question of her own. ❝ i’m hardly scared of him. but where did he go ? ah , has his obsession with me waned long enough for him to leave me alone~? and shouldn’t you talk to him about that , anyway ? it’s unbecoming. ❞ her nose turns up at the thought , as if she is truly offended by such a thing. there is a distant thought to the nightmares and prophecies she avoids by not getting some shuteye , but instead she smiles ; it is warm and deceitful , with underlying hints of something sinister.

❝ i don’t need you to stay up with me. but if you want me to keep coming over to have nice little chit-chats with you , friend , then you’ll have to do something about … the big , muscular , 6′8 , wet , and moldy dog in the room ! so to speak. ❞

Beau glances up, his cat-like eye’s pupil growing wide when faced with the darkness of the sky. It wasn’t too bad - he could still see fine with his glasses, and he could still see the lovely moon up there, before looking at her for a brief moment when he spoke. “It is lovely, isn’t it? Back home, the moon was worshipped as a goddess of life in some areas... Though I suppose that’s a common thing in many cultures.” 

There was a longing in his chest as he spoke - this seemed to be one of the only things that kept him tied to his home in Halbirn. That city, the country surrounding it and the world surrounding that were long gone now... 

He had seen the ashes of that civilization for himself. 

“Ah, he’s out with... I do believe their names were Krisha and Mika? Two of his coworkers, working on the Nakayama case. You know, the one that made the news? Apparently the guy’s gone missing now, and half of his family were found crushed to death. It’s... bizarre.” Of course, while Beau was suspicious before, now - in his mind, at least, Damian had been cleared. 

None of those were his M.O. 

Eyes flickered to the side, back up at the moon, and he looked away from her once more. “I do apologize about his behavior. I’m doing my best to keep him reigned in... If it’s any consolation, he’s been speaking with his therapist about a change of medication. Apparently the ones he’s on now have done well for hallucinations, but... not quite so much for his delusions.” 

A pause, and a feeling embarrassment comes over him. “-Ah, please don’t tell him I said anything. I’m not supposed to know... The walls are just thin, is all. This isn’t normally something I would speak about, but since he’s seemed to move on from Lycus to you... I figured you should be privy to the information, is all. This obsession he has should stop, soon, though.”

[mallowstep]

Mistyfoot has long since been my favorite character in Warriors, (originally I liked her as a child bc she reminded me of my aunt who is named Misty but besides the point) and I love her characterization in your fics. How does Mothwing's atheism and Mistystar's reaction to it play out in your fic, if it plays out at all?

it's...complicated.

i'm always tweaking my own understanding of mothwing's atheism, because like. i don't know i was talking with a friend about her as well as atheism and the nature of religion and.

okay on topic: atheism is not like. at least in the us, we tend to think of atheism as like...a monolith? there is a way to be atheist. it means one thing. but that's not true? heck, i'm an atheist and i'm also like. have a religion. life and people are complicated.

so. you know like. what does it mean for mothwing to be atheist? that's not really relevant to this conversation, i just like to bring it up.

what is relevant is: the whole mistystar's omen thing just Doesn't happen. like. yeah Mistystar Would Definitely Forcibly Retire Mothwing /s

mothwing doesn't have the same relationship to religion as she does in canon. i have a pretty good sense of what she believes in (my) canon atm, but that's what she learns from sasha. it's not applicable here. the only religion she'd be exposed to is the clans' religion.

which. is so much more than just starclan. the clans are...similar to medieval england in how much religion is a part of their life. i actually think that's a good comparison. like, religion is the framework of their everything. the king/leader gets their authority from god/starclan, and even if they're Kind of above the church/medicine cats, they're also not in a lot of ways.

but at the same time, your average peasant/warrior isn't thinking of religion the way we do now in the us. i'm not going to do a great job of explaining this, because i've tried and i don't, but you know. if you're a peasant, you go to church because it's what you do. the service is in latin, you don't understand it. there is a holy day. you might sleep in the church if you lose your home/are travelling, or go there for medical care.

it's a very good analogy for the clans tbh. (i think honestly, the clans are deeply reminiscent of feudal england. for good and bad. that's a different subject tho.)

so with that in mind, mothwing is a religious leader and authority, regardless of what she believes. like her role in her community is far beyond "i get omens and prophecies," it's also her job to perform various ceremonies and rain stuff and announce the changing of the seasons and all sorts of things.

(to be clear for anyone who's new here, this is my own worldbuilding bc otherwise the role of medicine cat doesn't make sense, but again, that's a different topic.)

so. i don't actually generally disagree with mistystar's omen in Theory. i didn't enjoy it, but i think the concept of it would have been fine, the erins just don't seem to have a very good understanding of how atheism works in a society without science and with a religion that's deeply tied to every aspect of culture.

which is. bad. it's Understandable but like. god. i was raised in...i don't know what the best words to describe it are? but i was raised in a church that's very different to american evangelicalism, and at one point i was having a conversation with someone about how i went to a meeting of the church elders with a few other kids my age to discuss a pride banner

and he just. couldn't comprehend that. because i was like 12 at the time. and i don't think he had a confirmation? i don't think he had the concept of like. writing an essay about your faith to read in front of the deacons. i don't know. anyway i'm getting off-topic but i swear this is relevant.

so okay but. the thing is. when i understood that fundamental difference, his reaction to MY behaviours started to make a lot more sense. like, he didn't understand my relationship to authority, because we had a very different upbringing in that sense.

and most people i went to high school with were with him. like, the concept of. i don't know. it's not that i have a disrespect for authority, it's that every way i was raised says that authority isn't innately respectful. like, i was Encouraged to challenge my parents if i thought they were wrong.

there was a time when i got really angry with a teacher because of a reason that's a whole different story, but everyone was like, "well, matthew, he's the teacher so..." but the thing is that was just not how i was raised. i was raised in, we are all on the same footing. and yes, this is deeply tied to religion,

because these values come from religion.

so the point of this is even after i...became? idk? even after i started calling myself an atheist, that value and background didn't disappear. and a lot of it is deeply religious.

so: you know, mothwing meets with her father in the dark forest. it's not like she doesn't believe that she's meeting with him. it's just that she doesn't ascribe it to the clan's belief system.

and in that way, you know, as a medicine cat, she's still going to. do the religious tasks associated with her. (the concept of religion as a tool to explain things that are good for survival is yet another topic.)

ANYWAY TO THE ACTUAL POINT: how does mistystar tie into all of this?

well, pretty well, actually. mistyfoot struggles a lot with her relationship to starclan. she feels like starclan has failed her. and when feathertail goes on the prophecy quest, and mistyfoot realizes that like, feathertail was chosen because the tribe had a prophecy that feathertail was supposed to fulfill, that knowing that feathertail was going to die, starclan still chose her

mistyfoot is Quite Reasonably Pissed

but you know. it's not like the cats understand evolution. so rejecting starclan ("atheism") is not the same thing as rejecting all of the clans' religious beliefs.

mistystar and mothwing have very similar relationships to religion. they both struggle with starclan's failure to protect cats, as well as feeling rejected by starclan for various reasons.

so.

uh.

hope that answers your question? sorry i rambled so long and barely talked about mistyfoot?

here's an excerpt from pre-po3 times as an apology:

“Running won’t help, Mothwing.”

“I’m not running.” But Mothwing looks at her feet, and Mistyfoot thinks, You can’t hide this one from me.

“You’re thinking about it, at least. It won’t help.”

“I don’t have options.”

“Feathertail’s mother ran,” Mistyfoot says. “And died.” It has been a long time since Mistyfoot has thought of Silverstream. Their fathers were brothers, they were sisters, and now Silverstream’s daughter is hers.

“It’s not like that runs in me,” Mothwing says, with a sharp, biting laugh that’s all Feathertail.

“Go back to sleep,” Mistyfoot says. “Things will seem better in the morning.”