#graykit

[faithfulmonk]

Chinese textless cover for Thunder as well as a few comic pages from inside the book.

[splashtqil]

hes got pants

[keblestone]

Graywhisker

[t4twnyclaw]

AU Sandstorm/Firestar family tree!!!!!!!!!!

[jayfrost-designs]

Up next is Graysky! What a pretty name. :D

You can find the reverse side of his design here.

For his physical description, Graysky is described as a broad-shouldered tom. I made him a larger, sturdy, fluffy cat with a sort of regalness to his build. He has ear tufts from his mom (but pointing out instead of curling in). For his pattern, Graysky is described as a silver tabby tom. I'm not as happy with how his pattern turned out here as on his apprentice sheet but oh well. ^^ He has no canon eye color, and I always liked the look of a silver tabby with amber eyes, so I gave him his uncle Owlnose's amber eyes. Overall, I'm really happy with how he turned out.

[artaintfartwarriors]

[leafpool-loves-ashfur]

a third Graykit? ...sure, why not

[wokeleftistmob]

My predictions for the protagonists of Changing Skies, the ninth arc in the Warriors series

WindClan: Leafkit

Daughter of Featherpelt and Oatclaw, her littermates are Branchkit and Grasskit, and her older siblings are Whistlepaw, Flutterfoot, and Songleap. They focused a lot on Leafkit in Wind, so I think she will likely be a POV character, especially since Whistlepaw is her older sister. The story team also said that Whistlepaw will become more prominent in the series, so having her younger sister as a protagonist will definitely serve that purpose. Adding onto this, WindClan has never had a POV character in the main series, so this is long overdue.

ThunderClan: Stempaw or Graypaw

They are Spotfur and Stemleaf's kits and perfect protagonist material. Related to Firestar? Check. Parents were plot relevant? Check. ThunderClan? Check. They are also being given a lot of attention right now. I do not think Bristlepaw will be a protagonist, due to Bristlefrost having the name of Bristlepaw one arc earlier. (Leafkit will not have this same issue as The New Prophecy was six arcs earlier.)

These are the only candidates who have really received attention, but there are several others to consider.

RiverClan: Floatkit, Rapidkit, or Troutkit

They are the kits of Havenpelt and Sneezecloud, and younger siblings to Splashtail and Fognose. They will have to deal with their older brother's legacy once he is gone. They could also provide a window on how RiverClan is doing after this current arc.

SkyClan: Ridgekit or Duskkit

They are the kits of Blossomheart (sister of Hawkwing) and Harrybrook (son of Leafstar). Duskkit is most likely named after Duskpaw, Blossomheart's dead brother.

ShadowClan: Birchpaw

He is the son of Tigerstar and Dovewing, and younger brother to Shadowsight, Pouncestep, and Lightleap. He appeared in Sky when his brother Rowankit died. I think this is the least likely option out of all of them, as I do not see much of what Birchpaw could bring as a protagonist, besides being the son of Tigerstar and Dovewing. That is unless, some sort of huge change happens within ShadowClan; then Birchpaw could provide a view into ShadowClan.

Other possible apprentice/kit options just for the heck of it (not including anyone who will receive their warrior name/medicine cat name very soon):

SkyClan: Beepaw or Beetlepaw, kits of Nectarsong and Dewspring (who are first cousins, of course)

WindClan: Grasskit or Branchkit, littermates of Leafkit; younger siblings to Whistlepaw, Songleap, and Flutterfoot; and kits of Featherpelt and Oatclaw.

ThunderClan: Bristlepaw, daughter of Stemleaf and Spotfur, and sister to Graypaw and Stempaw; or Wafflepaw

Of course, they could always choose to focus on a young warrior, like how they did with Sunbeam this arc, but these are just my speculations.

Edit: I can't believe I nearly forgot about Stripekit and Brookkit in WindClan, whose mother is Larkwing; and Cinnamontail and Slatefur's kits in ShadowClan: Firkit, Bloomkit, Streamkit, and Whisperkit.

[fallenclan]

the discord voted, so now Ramstep is adopting Minnowkit & Graykit :) single father moment

[faithfulmonk]

Comic pages from Chinese edition of A Starless Clan: Thunder.

[bonebabbles]

Thunder Chapter 6: Trial by Kittens

As usual, the trials for acceptance into another Clan are absolutely stealing the show. These are absolutely the most enjoyable parts of ASC so far.

I really hope that the characterization being given to Spotfur's three kits remains, they're all fantastic and I adore them. I haven't seen anyone compile these new personalities, or really point out the dynamics at play in this little scene though! So I'll do just that!

Misc Info

Apparently, Spotfur cusses in front of her kids lmao. This is the singular most important thing about this book, actually. Stemkit says "SHIT" and Sunbeam is like "WATCH YOUR PROFAMITY" and he protests with "MOM curses all the time"

They had never been outside of camp before, Spot's anxious about this! It's nice seeing her being a protective mom.

UNRELATED SIDE NOTE: I miss how in TPB kits seemed to have "their first prey" as a major developmental milestone, but those times are loooong gone. This situation is scratching an itch for me, though!

Sunbeam's first prey was frog; frogs apparently taste canonically like blackbird. (another side note, i should make a taste guide as a clan culture expansion and check if there's any validity to that... i would have guessed it would taste more like duck.)

She takes a good amount of time just chatting with them, and the dialogue here is actually fantastic. It feels just like being in the middle of a conversation with my nespring, it's great. The writer really nailed the cadence of little kids.

Sunbeam also realizes that she needs to keep all three kids engaged, and so creates a particularly convoluted setup so they're all doing something. Clever!

Graykit Gray-and-white tom

IS REALLY interested in hunting.

He chased after a mouse the same size as him when he was half a month old, though obviously he couldn't catch it.

Dreams of one day catching one of every type of prey around the lake. That's such a fun goal actually?? Completionist Graykit wants to 100% the hunting speedrun challenge. That's fantastic.

Stemkit Solid orange tom

Seems to be the most thoughtful of the kits.

Asks the majority of the questions, responses tend to be very "philosophical" towards things. Will say outright that he does not know something if he doesn't know the answer.

A wise child.

Cusses because he missed a vole lmao. VERY cute. I hope this boy grows up to have a mouth like a sailor. I love vulgar philosophers.

Bristlekit White-and-orange molly

Most impatient, and seems to have a little bit of a mean streak.

Scoffs when Graykit brings up his mouse story, saying that "nearly doesn't count." A bit of a perfectionist!

Also interjects the most when her brothers are rambling.

But is able to back this all up! She is the most focused, and is the first one to scent the vole den.

She also catches two voles when her brothers only catch one each.

[rose-warriorcatsrefs]

[notwarriorswiki]

Nahh now I'm curious on how your Breezepelt reacted when he discovered Lionblaze is a grandpa already

[pastamurdercats]

WHEE book 1 apprentices!! Experimenting with my art style so I did these guys!!

[jayfrost-designs]

And now, for the last of the grown-up SpotStem kits, and the last of the art I have to upload today, it's Graywhisker. :D

You can find the reverse side of his design here.

Graywhisker has no physical description other than his pattern, so I gave him my own. As before, he's shorter than his littermates, with a stouter broader build, with long, thick, and scruffy fur.

For his pattern, Graywhisker is described as a white tom with gray spots. His design is the same as on his kit and apprentice ref sheets. I had a lot of fun balancing having his patches look realistic and not perfectly spherical and having them still very recognizably spot-like. His gray patches are a similar shade to his mom's gray fur, and since he has no canon eye color, I gave him his dad's green eyes.

Overall, I'm really happy with how he turned out.

[keblestone]

Graystripe