#i once got into an argument w/ a long-time mutual abt if the orange lesbian flag was okay bc the creator was 'harmful to lesbians'

[emdotcom]

I 100% don't get people that think sexualities or identities that are "too confusing" can't or shouldn't exist. Like, bub, my gender is a mystery wrapped in an enigma behind a puzzle to everyone, myself included, & you DON'T think that's cool AF??

[cottonspotten]

dark forest trainee headcanons

only the oots ones

also i’ll only put “reason for training” if there was no canon reason

also long post 

THUNDERCLAN

ivypool reason for training: n/a - very tall and lean. she has a couple scars and dulled blue eyes, which were brighter when she was younger - she would’ve liked to be friends with sunstrike and icewing esp sun - when dovewing left, part of ivypool’s anger came from the fact she’s mad at herself for not having a better relationship w her sister - the dark forest training has probably affected her the most out of all the df trainees - she avoided birchfall in the df bc seeing her own dad there rlly hurt - when stressed in battle, she instinctively uses dark forest moves but stops the moment she realises it - she loves fernsong so much they have a very healthy n loving relationship

blossomfall reason for training: there is a canon reason but i also hc that she used the dark forest as a way to let out emotion - so she was actually very emotional and keeping it all pent up wasn’t good for her - she trusted bumblestripe but talking it out didn’t always work so she started going to the df - but then bumblestripe started getting distant bc of that so she started using the df training as her main way to let out stress & emotion - this means she actually has more scars than ivypool bc she pushed herself so much and just kept going - she has a big claw-mark across her face - def started crushing on ivypool real hard as training progressed - took thornclaw as a mate to try n get over ivy but that didn’t rlly work. she still cares for thornclaw & her kits tho

thornclaw reason for training: literally just wanted to be a better, stronger warrior - always has tired eyes - always cared for ashfur and tried to help him through his issues with squirrelflight. however, he always knew that ash was capable of something (not necessarily attempted murder, but something) so after ashfur’s death there was always this thought at the back of his mind that it was more than just a cold-blooded killer - he’s not an idiot he knew there was something off about the df to begin with just not that - tried to avoid the other trainees in the df - constantly feels guilty that he didnt catch on earlier (for both ash’s death n the df thing)

birchfall reason for training: to become a better warrior & make his family proud - he is. small. like dovewing. just so small,,, - always kept some of his kithood naivety which is a trait whitewing both loves and hates in him & also why he was so oblivious to the df’s true intentions - wanted to spend time w ivypool in the df so when she started avoiding him it rlly hurt :( - he loves whitewing a lot he gets all soft and mushy around her and he just,,,, loves her,,,,, so much,,,,

mousewhisker reason for training: particularly bc he wanted to be as cool as berrynose but also bc he wanted to see minnowtail more - he was soft,,, sweet,,, just so pure before the training - after it he was more hot-headed and frustrating - loved minnowtail so much - love love loved his twin sister hazeltail as well - looked up to berrynose a lot

RIVERCLAN

minnowtail reason for training: blamed herself for tumblekit’s death & wanted to prove that she could still be a good warrior (also mousewhisker) - so fluffy - very firm, strict and cold, she doesn’t show her emotions much - but mousewhisker was so sweet how could she not fall for him - her dad is webfoot of windclan but she doesnt rlly know about him since it was a short-lived relationship between dawnflower and him - she misses her mum & brother so much - willowshine always help n supports her tho,, 

icewing reason for training: to protect her family - beetlewhisker’s death hit her REALLY hard and the only reason she didn’t stop training is because she wanted to avenge him - she became overly sensitive and “loyal” to the dark forest to keep up an act, but never felt any loyalty to them at all - even after she was honest with mintfur, he still loved & understood her  - she still misses beetlewhisker and almost wanted to call one of the kits in her second litter beetlekit

beetlewhisker reason for training: his mom was doing it, why couldnt he? - had a v good relationship with his family - doesnt regret speaking up. he believes it had to be said - often bonds with hollyleaf in stc over their loyalty to the warrior code (nerds) - he uh,,, he dies in the last hope. following the norwegian version of river of fire, sneezecloud is harepaw’s mentor instead & that one brief appearance in that one avos book is just,,,,,, gone ok

hollowflight reason for training: he just wanted to impress his mentor and stand up to some bullies man :( - he had a close relationship w his mentor, reedwhisker. he was almost like a father-figure - was interested in becoming leader one day - he was always quite innocent and nervous but once he started training in the df he became a lot more reckless and argumentative 

SHADOWCLAN

applefur reason for training: wanted to be stronger (like her brother) & also had a tiny crush on birchfall - after marshkit’s death, she got a lot closer to toadfoot - had some serious self-doubt issues esp in the dark forest & realising she had betrayed her clan didnt help - misses birchfall a lot - she kinda just wishes the clans could be at peace

redwillow reason for training: he thought the clans were weak + some personal issues with blackstar - he felt genuine loyalty to the other cats in the dark forest, even the trainees. they were like family to him since he didn’t really have any - he and blackstar never really got along. redwillow looked down on him and saw him as weak. he challenged his orders a lot and felt as though blackstar was restricting him, esp when blackstar gave him a half-blind mentor - blackstar originally disliked how much redwillow argued with him & also before of how rude he was to whitewater constantly, and then also came to dislike him more because he looks a little like sol

ratscar reason for training: he wanted to face his fears of getting hurt - he prefers dodging attacks. this is partially bc getting such a big scar on his side at a young age made him not want to get any more injuries - after/during his training in the df he did get braver - he’s always been fierce, stubborn and bold but he got more arrogant with training - he loves his SISTER & they would prob die for each other

tigerheart reason for training: he was cocky and ambitious. training in the df intrigued him as well - there was a brief moment he thought of fighting for the df - he held a grudge against ivypool for a long time but loved dovewing enough not to act on it - even after he got over his grudge he wasnt ivypool’s biggest fan. the feeling was mutual. 

WINDCLAN

sunstrike reason for training: she wanted to be a better warrior sure but it was mostly to see cute girls - im not a huge fan of her canon design so she’s probably a calico with more yellowy patches rather than orange. still got that forehead spot tho - a Big Lesbian - was definitely crushing hard on furzepelt  - always impressed by ivypool and likely had a small crush on her as well but she was too caught up on furzepelt to rlly think abt it - ok let’s be honest here she probably crushed on every girl who was training in the df just furzepelt was the one that really made her floaty

furzepelt reason for training: just some grudges - def had some feelings for sunstrike - was p good friends with antpelt - was never a huge thunderclan fan and antpelt’s death only set that dislike more in place - thought onestar was dumb for multiple reasons

breezepelt reason for training: n/a - had the tiniest crush on antpelt but pushed it away bc “love is weak”  - cared about his nightcloud so much but only ever showed affection away from his clan for the same reason - softened up once his relationship with crowfeather was fixed - always loved heathertail, even when they were apprentices

antpelt reason for training: dislike for windclan & clanlife. he wanted to be stronger - he and breezepelt got along for several reasons - never enjoyed clanlife. he didn’t think it was right for him and being in the df really showed him that - his friendship with furzepelt was one of the only reasons he stayed

apparently larkwing was also a trainee but there were literally no mentions of her in the df so ??