#dove canonically wanted to stay with the guardians but tiger convinced her to go back to the clans btw

[violetparakeetdraweroffurries]

tbh the major plot points of the SE work very, very well w/ Dovewing's character, especially since my desired outcome is Dovewing leaving the Clans all the way back in OOTS, Dollhouse-style

Dove learns that she's pregnant, and since the Clans in general are both very conservative and embroiled in a crisis, she runs away to avoid ostracisation

She meets the Guardian cats, who are depicted as more peaceful, flexible, and tolerant than the Clans, as well as having an easier life, and don't know about her past as a prophecy cat. This is ideal for her, and she considers raising her kits here.

She meets Spire, who has strange dreams about the Clans telling him that Dove belongs in the Clans because they need her, much to her concern, and Blaze, an orphan who decides he wants to join the Clans based on Dove's description, also to her concern

Ivypool follows Dovewing, fulfilling Tigerheart's role, and she has a harder time fitting in with the Guardians, resulting in more conflict between the sisters. There's some deeper psychology stuff behind Dove and Ivy's motivations, but that's for another post.

Dove struggles as a mother, even with the Guardians & Ivy's help, mostly bc they're very young adults and have a lot of trauma-related baggage that they haven't resolved. Dove starts questioning if she really wants to be a mother, or that's just what Clan culture expected of her. She concludes the latter, and confides this to Ivy.

She reexamines her love triangle and slowly comes to the realization that she latched on to both Tiger and Bumble as much as she did because of her prophecy-induced isolation making her desperate for someone to be close to. She also discusses this w/ Ivy, which has its own revelations for Ivy but that's another story.

Ivy also gets some character development as she has to confront the reality staring her in the face: Dove is not happy with Clan life and will never be, and if Ivy cares about her, she should let her go.

Shadowkit has epilepsy and special visions, which is extra hard on Dovewing on account of the whole Clan-life-induced trauma.

Fog and her rogue gang are still there, but mostly so that Ivy can show off her Epic Dark Forest Skillz(tm). Between the rogues and the other dangers of city life, Dove starts to wonder if the city really is safe enough for her kits, especially since the Clans live further from Twolegs, are larger, and have better fighters to protect the kits.

She has some internal conflict regarding whether or not she should go back and fulfill the prophecy, let Blaze join the Clans, Shadowkit's visions, the validity of Spire's visions, etc. and settles on a compromise: she'll only return to the Clans to help them one last time, drop off Blaze and her kits, and then leave, only returning once a season. Ant and Cinnamon go with them for extra protection.

On the way back, they meet Berryheart (who's still pregnant) & Sparrowtail, who fled the Clans bc they found out about the Dark Forest. They question whether the Clans are worth fighting for, which prompts Dove & Ivy to give two different answers.

Spire still dies saving Pouncekit, but this time a DF spirit kills him, and Dove is fatally wounded by an gang of DF spirits while protecting the kits; Ivypool has the really fucking stupid idea of throwing Dove into the Moonpool thinking that since StarClan can grant extra lives and it needs Dove for her powers, they have to save her or else they'll lose the war against the DF

This somehow works, which causes a crisis in faith for both sisters

In the end, Dove and Ivy part ways. Ant & Cinnamon both stay in the Clans, partially out of pity since so many cats died, partially for Blaze's sake. Dove says goodbye to her family and her kits, has a heartfelt discussion w/ cats like Ivy, Briar, etc., and promises to visit them next season. Briar offers to raise Dove's kits for her.

Dove has a huge argument w/ Jay and Lion, who want her to stay, which ends with her calling them out for causing so much of her suffering, cutting ties with them, and leaving the Clans

Dovewing's Shadow >>>>> Tigerheart's Shadow