#why would she kill a dark forest cat to prove her loyalty!!

[disgruntleddemon]

society if Antpelt had been revealed to be betraying the dark forest in some way, so when the df cats made Ivypool kill him, it would have actually made sense, and acted as a warning towards her:

[bonefall]

Does mapleshade still follow Crookedstar in this? What if her purpose doing that is to make sure riverclan never rejects a half-clan kit again (that’s why he doesn’t question Misty and stone and another reason for wanting his grandkits in riverclan)

I'm passionate about the idea that people are heavily influenced by their circumstances. It's much easier to be a good person when you have loving guidance and the environment to be your best self. Likewise, pain and suffering can bring out the worst even in the kindest, most selfless people.

And in both of the AUs I have for Mapleshade, she is not a particularly nice person to begin with. But being StarClan's best prosecutor allows the positive aspects of her personality to shine. So to answer your question:

"Does Mapleshade still follow Crookedstar?"

#Bonefall Rewrite

In the current version of my rewrite, Mapleshade is condemned to the Dark Forest for 3 counts of murder. She takes the ruling with pride and confidence, playing to the sympathetic crowd by chasing the other damned souls into the Dark Forest.

In truth she's just as spiteful as she was in life, and now she's alone with no friends or family, bored, in Hell, and uses all that spare time to haunt Appledusk's lineage, and basically everyone associated with her death (Perchpaw/shine as well).

So, it's really not for a constructive reason that she follows Stormkit. She pushed him off the stone to kill him and only broke his jaw. She notices that Rainflower has a spiteful, awful view of her son, and decides that it would cause even more suffering to keep Stormkit alive. She kills some more kits so he'll have a foster to suckle him, just to watch them make each other miserable.

(rewrite recap: Rainflower is now the Appledusk descendant. Stormkit is not getting a cruel renaming, Crookedjaw is an honor title.)

Crookedstar follows Darkstar's commandment, the Queen's Rights, because he is a good, proud leader who abides by the traditions of his predecessors. That's all. Mapleshade doesn't need to bully him into 'clan loyalty' or anything, her haunting is much more actively malevolent than canon.

#Better Call Mapleshade AU

In StarClan, Mapleshade is with her kits. Her wonderful, sweet children-- they are an excellent influence. She's still ruthless and vengeful, of course, but she lives for the contrary position she can hold up to StarClan

A LOT of her motivation stems from that. From knowing that StarClan would otherwise let people in who shouldn't be there (hypocritical? Yes) and she takes this duty very seriously.

The BCM AU shares some aspects of the Bonefall Rewrite, but here, I think it's very similar to canon. Mapleshade watches Rainflower emotionally abuse an innocent kitten, and she KNOWS that Rainflower would just get into StarClan without any intervention (the way she did in canon). Mapleshade needs more evidence to condemn her-- and she will create scenarios to get what she needs.

On one paw this IS born out of righteous fury. She IS thinking of her own kits, you might agree that Rainflower deserved the Dark Forest, and Mapleshade won't FORCE Rainflower to do anything she wouldn't already do. She will test her, that's all.

But to test her? She is going to use Crookedkit. This WILL cause a lot more pain to him than if she just left it all alone and let Rainflower get into StarClan. She encourages him into positions of power to prove himself, she lets this young cat think that his value is tied to what his abusive mother thinks of him.

Because the more pain he displays, the further the lengths he goes to in service of appeasing Rainflower, the more Mapleshade can use as ammo to get her damned.

Mapleshade always serves her own interests first and foremost, not those of the greater good.

[warriorcatsamino]

Can you guess exactly what cats are being depicted in this piece? I’ll give you a few seconds to think about it…3…2…1. Okay time for the reveal! The cats depicted here are Tigerstar the 1st (on the left), Hawkfrost (on the right) and Bramblestar (the silhouette). This piece is a comment on Bramblestar’s life and how his evil family influenced him. To be honest, Bramblestar had a lot going for him in the beginning. When he was a kit and apprentice he struggled with being compared to Tigerstar just because he looked like him. Fireheart always had a panic attack every time he’d look at him. The pressure was too much and caused his littermate, his only friend other than his mother Tawnypelt, to leave Thunderclan and join Shadowclan. But Bramblepaw kept going and in the Darkest Hour, he denounced Tigerstar as his father and stated his loyalty was only to Thunderclan. But then in the New Prophecy he trains with his father in cat hell, despite knowing he’s evil? :/ It makes no sense with his character. Unless you argue that Hawkfrost influenced him to join, despite the fact Bramblestar knew his father to be a evil cat. It always annoyed me that Brambleclaw put such faith in Hawkfrost and got mad at Squirrelflight for having suspicions about him. I mean Hawkfrost proved himself to be ambitious, look how he acted when Mistyfoot was captured by twolegs. He was ready to take over her position. Why would Leopardstar ever put him in charge? I mean Leopardstar always has poor judgment (especially with the whole Tigerclan situation) but surely she learned her lesson? I believe it’s not right to judge a cat for their parentage and it’s very likely that not every Tigerstar descent will be evil but if a cat is showing concerning signs, they should be looked into. I don’t know, that’s just my opinion on the matter. I feel like it would have been so much more powerful if Bramblestar never trained with Tigerstar. I think the scene at the end of Sunset was really good with Brambleclaw being tempted to kill Firestar and take over the leadership but ultimately deciding to save him instead and killing his half-brother. He later kills Hawkfrost for good during the Great Battle with the Dark Forest. Can I just say that Brambleclaw SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN MADE DEPUTY? Like he got exactly what he wanted, a position of power. I feel like Firestar should have kept Greystripe as deputy or picked a younger cat who was trustworthy like Brackenfur or someone similar. I feel like it really hindered Brambleclaw’s character to get what he wanted, instead he should have had to work around not being in a position of power and finding content with that. But I want to know what you think. Do you think it made sense that Brambleclaw trained with his father after denouncing him? Do you think Firestar was right in choosing Brambleclaw as his deputy? Should Brambleclaw have become leader? Leave all your thoughts, opinions and feedback in the comments below. Do you like this artwork? Leave a like on the original post on amino. Directly supporting the artist benefits this account. It motivates more people to allow us to post their content and means that the same style will show up on your feed more. Want daily Warriors based content? Consider joining the Warriors Amino where we have posts all about battle cats.

Original Post linked here.

Original Artist linked here.

~ 🍵🥔

[sunset-embers-warriors-designs]

I am too tired to draw right now but I want to talk more about my Darkstripe and Longtail are brothers AU

- Darkkit and Longkit are the two oldest sons of Willowpelt and Whitestorm. Willowpelt and her littermates are very close so the kits grow up visiting with Spottedleaf and Redtail a lot, as well as Bluestar. They’re a very competitive pair of brothers and they’re always competing to impress their clanmates. Longtkit is a lot like Whitestorm; Kind, curious, and forgiving, and Darkkit reminds Willowpelt of Swiftbreeze; Sassy, brave, and stubborn

- When they’re apprenticed, Darkpaw gets Tigerclaw as his mentor and Longpaw gets Goldenflower. Tigerclaw recognizes that Darkpaw is Thistleclaw’s kin (grandson) so he’s inclined to focus more on battle training for the sake of his former mentor’s “legacy.” Goldenflower is a much less devious mentor and is focused on taking Longpaw’s tail into account - his tail is a huge advantage for balance but could also cause trouble while hunting if he lets it drag on the floor. Sometimes Darkpaw and Longpaw get to train together and thats how Goldenflower and Tigerclaw start talking and become friends.

- Darkpaw experiences much higher standards and more difficult training sessions than his brother, but he manages to just barely keep up with Tigerclaw’s demands. Darkpaw begins to get smug - He’s a lot better at most battle moves than Longpaw is. Longpaw’s noticed his brother’s battle skill too. Both apprentices attribute Darkpaw’s success to Tigerclaw’s teaching, and they both look up to him a lot (Though Goldenflower is still Longpaw’s favourite teacher; he likes that she’s patient and likes to joke around).

- Darkstripe and Longtail become warriors about half a year before Into the Wild begins. Goldenflower retreats to the nursery around this time and has Swiftkit and Lynxkit (Patchpelt’s kits, though he doesn’t have any part in raising them. Goldenflower’s like a single mom and Patchpelt is just a donor; She and Tigerclaw are still friends but they haven’t considered being mates yet). Longtail sometimes finds the time to visit her and her kits, but between his warrior duties and how many naps the kits take a day he doesn’t see his former mentor as much as he’d like. Longtail spends most of his days with Darkstripe, who spends most of his time following around Tigerclaw on patrols. Thus the Tigerclaw posse forms

- Graykit, Darkstripe and Longtail’s little brother, is born. Graykit is a blend of Willowpelt, Swiftbreeze, and Snowfur: Brave, goofy, and sweet. Since the difference in age is so great, Darkstripe and Longtail aren’t super close with him. Longtail is Graykit’s favourite brother though (He makes fun of Darkstripe for always scowling)

- Longtail begins to adopt a couple of Tigerclaw and Darkstripe’s opinions as his own - Thunderclan deserves only the strongest warriors, and outsiders suck. He’s certainly not as into it as Darkstripe is because Tigerclaw has been feeding him that nonsense for much longer, but Longtail believes it enough to challenge Rusty, who is like a baby, to a fight in front of everyone. When Longtail loses, Spottedleaf, his aunt, scolds him for his actions and it actually stings him a little bit.

- Redtail’s death smacks both brothers upside the head. Their uncle had been there for a good portion of their kithood, and their first role model. Tigerclaw claims to be the one to have avenged Redtail’s death at Sunningrocks, which earns him more points with Darkstripe and Longtail. 

- Darkstripe takes in Dustpaw as his apprentice and tries to mimic Tigerclaw’s training method, but he’s actually not a very good teacher. Longtail tries to offer advice but Darkstripe’s pride won’t let him take it.

- This AU works in collaboration with my other AU about Dustpelt, Ravenpaw, and Sandstorm all being littermates taken in to Thunderclan after they were found on the border. Darkstripe is particularly hard on Dustpaw because he was born an outsider, and has him turn on Ravenpaw for the sake of proving his loyalty. The three kits were found on the border with Shadowclan, which sparks rumors about them possibly being Shadowclan kits, and in turn gives reason to Tigerclaw’s lies about Ravenpaw being a Shadowclan spy.

- Goldenflower specifically requests Longtail as Swiftpaw’s mentor, which Longtail is very humbled by. He sees a lot of Goldenflower in Swiftpaw and the two work really well as a team. 

- When it’s revealed that Tigerclaw’s a traitor, Darkstripe and Longtail are absolutely stunned. When Tigerclaw is asking his allies to go into exile with him, Darkstripe initially refuses. According to what Tigerclaw taught him, Thunderclan was what mattered most, and it needed strong warriors. If Tigerclaw wasn’t going to be around anymore, Darkstripe figured he would need to be there. However, Darkstripe soon realizes that he’s not as strong as Tigerclaw is, and he can’t seem to build up that same reputation. He falls into thinking that perhaps Tigerclaw was what made Thunderclan great, not the other way around. Longtail however completely disowns Tigerclaw as a role model the second it’s revealed. He recognizes that everything Tigerclaw ever said about Thunderclan demanding loyalty and strength was never actually true, thats just what Tigerclaw was demanding. At first, the shock of losing their group leader brings Longtail and Darkstripe closer as brothers, but after the dust has settled and Darkstripe begins to express some of his pro-Tigerstar thoughts, the brothers begin to drift apart.

- Swiftpaw’s death is Longtail’s waking nightmare. Not only has he failed his student in the worst way, but he failed Goldenflower. He can’t bear to look her in the eye. The fact Tigerclaw lead the dogs there makes it even more horrifying.

- Willowpelt and Whitestorm have their third litter of Rainkit, Sootkit, and Sorrelkit. Again, Longtail and Darkstripe aren’t super involved with their siblings but they visit sometimes. Longtail visits more than Darkstripe does. Rainkit is like a carbon copy of Willowpelt, being mellow, sweet, and attentive, Sootkit is a lot like Adderfang, strong silent type with very sharp eyes, and Sorrelkit is somewhere between Whitestorm and Willowpelt; Adventurous, friendly, and curious. It’s Sorrelkit’s sense of adventure that leads her to follow her older brother, Darkstripe, out of camp. Darkstripe poisoning Sorrelkit gets him swiftly disowned by his whole family. Longtail feels hollow - he’s lost two cats he really thought he could trust, and it’s gonna take a while to reconnect with the cats he’s been putting second place to Darkstripe.

- Darkstripe becomes part of Shadowclan/Tigerclan under Tigerstar’s rule, but Darkstripe doesn’t feel any better. Despite being part of Tigerstar’s crew again, he doesn’t feel strong, and he clearly takes a backseat to some of the Shadowclan born cats such as Blackfoot. Darkstripe spends the remainder of his life chasing this illusion of strength that he gets from being Tigerstar’s ally

- The battle with Bloodclan is where this AU gets COOL okay. Longtail is the one to intercept Darkstripe’s attack on Firestar. This fight is the first time they’ve seen each other since Darkstripe’s exile. Longtail hopes Darkstripe will give in and surrender, but Darkstripe won’t let up, and he’s still a much fiercer fighter than his brother. Longtail doesn’t have a choice but to kill him. During Whitestorm’s death, Graystripe and Firestar are still the ones to be with him during his death, but instead of nominating Graystripe as the next deputy, Whitestorm gives the much more ambiguous “Make my son deputy.” Firestar just assumes it’s Graystripe since Graystripe is his closest friend, but Whitestorm might have been suggesting Longtail. 

- After the battle is over, Longtail finds Willowpelt. He tells her Darkstripe is dead, but leaves out the detail of how he died. She doesn’t need to know that. When they head home, Longtail makes the time to be more present for his youngest siblings since Whitestorm is gone now. During Firestar’s quest, he loses his sight and his mother all in a very short period of time. This is a bad era for Longtail.

- The end of new prophecy and the time before power of three is also a bad time for Longtail. Graystripe is missing, and Sootfur, Rainwhisker, and Goldenflower have all died. Longtail tries to be there for Sorreltail. He visits with his nieces like Redtail and Spottedleaf used to visit him. Graystripe’s return is joyous though, and Longtail, Graystripe, and Sorreltail end up with a nice reunion. They’ll never really understand each other completely because they’ve all lived such different lives, but they all enjoy each other’s company. Longtail is also a good uncle to Graystripe and Millie’s kits; That’s why Briarpaw wouldn’t leave the elders den without Longtail right before the tree fell.

- In the battle with the dark forest, Longtail finds Darkstripe once again. They fight, and like last time, Longtail really hopes Darkstripe will give up. He doesn’t want to have to kill his littermate twice. This time, Darkstripe does give up, scared of being completely erased from existence, and he slinks back into the dark forest. That’s the last time they’ll ever see each other. Darkstripe spends the rest of his dark forest existence in an even deeper personal hell - Tigerstar has completely vanished, and Darkstripe is completely alone with nobody but himself.

[lancermylove]

Regret (HC)

Fandom: BSTS

Pairing: Rindou x MC/Reader

Warning: Contains blood, animal death, MC’s death, violence, angst, suicide

Requested by: Anon

Prompt: Okay.. Um this is a fantasy request! I hope it’s not to hard!! For a bsts and for Rindou senpai 😊 So... Rindou is a prince gonna get married with the MC but a random girl with a mark on her head says she’s the true lover of Rindou The father of Rindou says to ignore the Mc so he does.. MC makes friends with a cat but next day rounds it’s dead.. The girl comes and laughs then the MC gets so mad she puts a knife into her stomach.. she gets beheaded the next day.. What would Rindou’s reaction be?  Oh and Yeah! I didn’t give you the option thingy I couldn’t write anymore because I had to many letters— I hope you saw that before this— Can I get a head cannon? You do not need to do it if it’s to hard!! If you do it.. Thank you!!!!

A/N: This turned out to be FAR longer than I expected haha. 

———————————————

"Prince Rindou, I cannot tell you how excited I am. Well, excited and nervous! I can't believe we're getting married soon." 

Rindou chuckled and stroked MC’s cheek with the back of his hand, "I am just as excited, my soon-to-be princess." 

She looked around the courtyard to confirm that the two of them were alone. Leaning closer, MC placed a soft kiss on his lips, "I love you, Rin." 

While the two of them shared kisses, a pair of purple eyes stared at MC in anger. 

The next afternoon, Rindou decided to take a walk through the nearby forest. He generally visited the forest daily, but since he got engaged, he didn't have enough time. 

"Someone, please help me." An alluring sweet voice called out nearby. 

"Hm?" The prince followed the voice to find a beautiful woman with long purple hair. "Are you alright, Miss?"

"Prince Rindou, my foot is caught under tree roots. Please help me." 

Rindou didn't hesitate to help her. Once freed, she bowed and batted her eyelashes at him, "Dear Prince, if you permit, there is something I wish to tell you." 

He nodded his head. 

She brushed her fingertips on a green triangle on her forehead, "Prince, I am your true lover. This mark proves my loyalty to you. The woman you are with, she is an imposter." 

"E-excuse me?" Rindou frowns upon hearing her words, "I would kindly ask you to not speak ill of my fiancée." 

"If you don't believe me, then kindly ask your father, the king." With those words, she bowed again and left, her hair swaying behind her. 

For the time being, Rindou decided to ignore her words, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get them out of his mind. 

"Father, may I speak to you?"

"What is it, my son?" 

"I met a woman with a green mark on her forehead. She said that she is my true lover; moreover, she said to speak to you." Rindou frowned sightly, recalling the conversation. 

"Ah, so you have finally realized the truth, prince." The king smiled, "She speaks the truth." 

"Surely, you jest, father." 

"I do not. She is your true lover. Your betrothed is an imposter. Listen to me, son, cut all ties with the imposter, and ignore her." 

"B-but..." Rindou sighed and averted his eyes. He couldn't believe his ears. 

His heart didn't agree with his father's words, but the king wouldn't lie to his son, right? 

With a heavy heart, Rindou went against his heart and chose to ignore MC. 

No matter how many times she came to visit, the guards refused to let MC inside. She waited for Rindou, but he came to see her. 

Not knowing what to do, the confused girl roam around aimlessly through the woods, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rindou. 

'Rin, why are you ignoring me?' 

Meow. 

She looked down to see a grey cat with white paws rubbing against her leg. 

"Where did you come from?" Smiling, MC kneel and stroke the cat's head. The tiny creature stares at her with big blue eyes while purring in content. 

The following day, she make her way back to the area where she met her new friend. "Kitty, where are you?" 

Drip. Frowning, she wipe away the liquid from her cheek. Drip. MC once again rub her cheek, but this time, she look at her hand to find it stained red.

"B-blood?" She lift her head and scream, falling onto the ground. "KITTY!?"  

The once sparkling blue eyes now stared at her lifelessly. Tears race down her face as she avert her eyes from the corpse. 

Suddenly, MC heard menacing laughter nearby.  

Looking around, she saw a voluptuous woman with purple hair and eyes, laughing. 

MC's sadness turned into anger. How could someone laugh at her pain?

"Sorry, dear, but you left me no choice." She made her way to MC, hips swaying from one side to the other. 

"You...you did this?" MC stood up, balling her hands into fists.

"But of course. I still don't understand...how could the prince fall for someone like you?" She scanned MC up and down. 

"The prince? Why would you bring his name into this?" 

"Do I have to spell everything out for you?" She rolled her eyes and smirked, "The prince is going to get married to me soon. I am his TRUE lover. As for that cat...think of it as a gift from me and the prince." 

"You are going to get married to Rin? Shut up...you liar." MC said, gritting her teeth, "And gift? Do you call taking the life of an innocent creature a gift? You monster." 

Not being able to take much more, MC pulled a hidden knife from inside her sleeve, and without warning, she stabbed the lady in the stomach. 

The enchantress staggered backward and collapsed, hitting her head against a tree.

For a few moments, MC stared with her mouth open. 'What have I done?' 

Covering her mouth, she stepped away from the lady's bleeding corpse. 'I k-killed her.'

MC turned on her heels and ran as far away as her feet would take her. 

Meanwhile, a guard from the palace found the woman's body and immediately informed the king. 

The next day, MC sat with her knees pressed to her chest. She still couldn't get the woman's image out of her mind. 

KNOCK. KNOCK. 

"Open up!"

Startled, MC stared at the door. "Who could that be?" Wiping her tears and fixing her hair, she opened the door. 

Two guards, clad in full-body armors, grabbed MC's arms and dragged her towards the palace. 

"H-hey, let me go!" She tried to pull her arms out of their grip in vain. 

Only when they reached a scaffold with a guillotine did the palace guards release her. 

"W-what is this?" MC asked, staring at the large metal blade with wide eyes. 

A third guard walked in front of the scaffold, unrolled a scroll, and began to read aloud. 

"Yesterday, a guard found the corpse of the prince's fiancee in the forest near your town. The townspeople recognized the knife and stated that it belongs to you. MC, you are being charged for murdering the prince's betrothed. Under the orders of the king, you are to be executed by beheading."

"N-no, this is a mistake! She was the one who killed-" 

"You, who murdered the kingdom's future princess, have no right to speak. Execute her at once." 

The executioner tied MC's hand and placed her head under the blade. Not listening to her protests, ignoring her tears and screams, he untied the rope holding the blade.

With one clean hit, MC's head fell into the basket in front of the guillotine.

"What is all the commotion?" Rindou stepped out of his office and saw a few maids gossiping. Seeing the prince, the maids quickly scurried away.

A sense of foreboding tugged at Rindou's heart. He quickly made his way to the king's office. The door was slightly ajar. 

"Has the execution taken place?" 

"Yes, your highness." 

Rindou recognized the voice of his father's righthand man. 'Execution? Who got executed?' 

"The audacity of that girl to murder the future princess. She ruined our place!" The king hit the table with his fist, "My son believed that the enchantress was his true love. Had all gone according to place, the prince would have been killed by now." 

Rindou's eyes widened as he covered his mouth. 'My father wants to kill me?' 

"Sire, please calm down." 

"How can I be calm? Regardless, have you brought her head as proof of her execution?" 

Against his better judgment, Rindou peeked into the room through the gap. 

The king's righthand reached into a black satin bag and pulled the head out by the hair.

The prince's face drained of all color. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to look away, but he couldn't pry his eyes away from the dangling lifeless head. 

Tears clouded his eyes as he stepped away from the door. Still covering his mouth, he sprinted back to his room. 

Rindou fell on his knees and threw up on the marble floor. The image of MC's head flashed in front of his eyes. 

'She was my t-true love...what have I done?' He shut his eyes tight and cried his heart out. 

As hours passed by, Rindou spiraled further and further into darkness. He rocked his trembling body and kept repeating in his mind, 'It's all my fault. She is dead because of me. I killed my true love.' 

Not being able to take much more, he rose to his feet and started walking towards the window. 

His eyes and face void of color. His mind constantly blaming him. His body no longer under his control. 

He walked towards the image of MC holding her arms out for him. 

A small smile formed on his lips as he held his hand out to her. 

He felt nothing. No pain, no sadness, no joy. 

The kingdom mourned over the prince's loss, but Rindou was finally with his true love. 

[furry-monster-trash]

Hawkstar AU

What if Hawkfrost had remained the deputy after Mistyfoot was stolen by twolegs and then returned to the Clans? Much like some of my other AUs I had to create characters for this as the allegiances for the other clans besides ThunderClan were slim up until Omen of the Stars and I refuse to believe that RiverClan only had five (5) warriors during The New Prophecy arc.

THE NEW PROPHECY (Starting with Starlight)

Hawkfrost is made the stand-in deputy after Mistyfoot is taken by twolegs.

Once Mistyfoot is returned, Leopardstar decides that Hawkfrost will remain deputy, much to Mistyfoot’s chagrin.

Hawkfrost pushes Leopardstar to enforce the new borders that have just been established in the new lake territories. This causes conflict with WindClan.

Newly appointed leader of WindClan Onestar is determined to prove that he was the right choice for leader and sends out constant patrols to the RiverClan border.

Hawkfrost tells Leopardstar that this is some kind of test to see how determined RiverClan is. Leopardstar concedes that Hawkfrost is right and tells him to alert the patrols, “Be ready for battle.”

Hawkfrost is out leading a patrol with Stormfur, Blackclaw, and Volepaw when they spot a WindClan patrol at the border as well. Hawkfrost threatens Webfoot, telling him that WindClan should back off or blood is going to be shed.

Webfoot tells them that WindClan is just ensuring that RiverClan knows its borders. Hawkfrost attacks him, easily pinning him to the ground, “We know our borders better than you rabbit! Now back off.”

At this point, Leopardstar has only lost two lives, but Hawkfrost intends to take the rest in order to lead RiverClan at the insistence of his father: “Leopardstar betrayed me! Now she must pay.”

Hawkfrost talks with Ashfur about helping him get rid of Leopardstar, “If you help me end her terrible reign, I will help you get rid of Brambleclaw that way you can have Squirrelflight all to yourself.”

         “Brambleclaw is your brother, wouldn’t you want to help him rise to power, just as you are doing yourself?”

           “Brambleclaw is weakened by loyalty to the warrior code, but not us, we’re stronger than him. Help me and I’ll help you.”

Ashfur agrees to help him.

The night before Ashfur and he are going to attack Leopardstar, Hawkfrost has a visit from Crookedstar, the former RiverClan leader, “Hawkfrost, your heart is surrounded by a darkness that you cannot escape on your own. Your father marks a path for you, but that does not mean you have to follow it. You can have your own destiny without your father in the picture. You have the power to be a great leader Hawkfrost, do not let your father’s blind ambition take that from you.”

Hawkfrost wakes up and tells Ashfur that their plan is off. He claims it’s to wait for a better time to attack.

Back in the dream world, Tigerstar visits him and asks why he didn’t go through with his plan. He tells his father that it’s because there will be a better time later when the clans have more chaos happening between them.

POWER OF THREE

Between the two arcs, Leopardstar lost several lives and is down to just three remaining.

During the Daytime Gathering, the collapsed badger den actually happens with Lionpaw and Pouncepaw. Floodheart (a dark silver RiverClan she-cat), Jaypaw, and Leopardstar are the ones to find the two apprentices. Leopardstar goes down into the den to pull them out, only for the den to collapse more.

Leopardstar ends up losing her last lives to suffocation.

Hawkfrost is taken to receive his nine lives

Leopardstar - knowing that the past does not set the future in stone

Crookedstar - following your heart to make the right choices

Oakheart - every cat should be treated the same, regardless of clan or origin

Badgerfang (SC) - never trusting the shadows

Brambleberry - trusting the judgment of those around you

Feathertail - knowing where your heart truly belongs

Mudclaw - power doesn’t always come from tooth and claw

Stonepelt - fight against what is wrong, even at the cost of your life

Bluestar - loyalties to cats should come from proof of trust, nothing else.

The same night Hawkstar is visited by Tigerstar, who tells him that now is the perfect time to take over the clans. “WindClan is weak, ThunderClan is full of fake warriors, and ShadowClan is unsure of itself, now is the time to take over!”

Hawkstar tells Tigerstar to be patient.

Hawkstar makes Mistyfoot his deputy, “I took it from you once, although not by my choice, I would be honored to have you by my side.”

When tensions get high with ShadowClan, Hawkstar asks to speak with Blackstar at the border, clan leaders and deputies only. Blackstar agrees.

Hawkstar wants to come to an agreement with ShadowClan, “Tensions have run high between our clans due to the conflicting placement of our border. I think it’s time we change the border.”

Blackstar and Hawkstar agree to move the border over several fox-lengths, where a series of oak trees reside inside the RiverClan territory. Blackstar is pleased with the increased territory that ShadowClan has gained.

Hawkstar assures Mistyfoot that they lost nothing important and now that tensions have smoothed over with ShadowClan, they can focus more on WindClan.

Onestar has repeatedly tried to move the border and WindClan warriors have been smelled more than once on the RiverClan side of the border. Hawkstar decides to send in a battle patrol.

Hawkstar takes Floodheart, Shadestream (a white she-cat with black stripes), Perchclaw (ginger and black tom), Mistyfoot, Beechfur, Voleclaw, Pouncetail, Reedwhisker, Mosspelt, Pebblepaw, and Minnowpaw with him to WindClan.

The attack catches WindClan off guard and the scrawnier warriors are unable to fight off their RiverClan assailants.

Hawkstar takes one of Onestar’s lives in front of his whole clan, “Never cross the border again.”

A few moons later, when WindClan comes crawling to Hawkstar for help in their battle against ThunderClan on ThunderClan territory, Hawkstar refuses. “We have no quarrel with ThunderClan and Firestar and I have no debts to settle, this is between the two of you.”

With RiverClan not coming to aid WindClan, ShadowClan isn’t needed to help fight them off and the battle is won by ThunderClan.

When the eclipse happens and chaos follows, Tigerstar tells Hawkstar repeatedly that this is the time to strike. But Hawkstar makes no move to do such a thing.

Tigerstar calls his son weak, “When Onestar came to ask for help, that would’ve been the perfect time to destroy Firestar!” but Hawkfrost claims that Firestar’s time will come.

When Sol is driven from ThunderClan territory, he stops by RiverClan first before making his way to ShadowClan. Sol tries to convince Hawkstar that he is all-knowing and that he is the one who blocked out the sun. Hawkstar kills him on the spot, “He knows nothing and was nothing and died as little more than prey. Bury him far from here.”

Ashfur comes to Hawkstar, asking him if he will help him get rid of Brambleclaw once and for all. Hawkstar refuses to help him.

Ashfur acts alone and gets Brambleclaw caught in the fox trap. 

Hawkstar sees his brother struggling to get free and races over to help him, telling him to lie still. Brambleclaw loses too much blood and ends up dying of his injuries.

Hawkstar kills Ashfur out of anger.

When Firestar arrives on the scene, he demands to know what happened and Hawkstar tells him nothing but the truth. Squirrelflight is astonished to hear that Ashfur killed her mate. “He did it because of your kits, Ashfur wanted what Brambleclaw had and plotted to get rid of him.”

Brackenfur is the new deputy of ThunderClan.

Hawkstar sees Brambleclaw in his dreams, his brother thanking him for trying to help. Brambleclaw then also warns Hawkstar that Tigerstar knows he is being betrayed.

OMEN OF THE STARS

Tigerstar attacks Hawkstar in the Dark Forest, yelling at his son and calling him a traitor. Hawkstar loses his first life that night.

Hawkstar is woken up to the news that Mistyfoot had passed in the night due to whitecough, “She was too old to fight it off.”

Rippletail is the new deputy of RiverClan.

During the gathering, when every cat is sharing tongues, Hawkstar meets Lionblaze. The younger ThunderClan warrior shows respect to Hawkstar, but Hawkstar makes a mental note not to get into a fight with the larger ThunderClan warrior.

Leopardstar warns him that great danger is coming and he should be prepared for anything.

When the river dries up, Hawkstar himself goes to help clear the dam. He loses a life fighting the beavers.

When Jayfeather comes to plead for catmint, Mothflight gives it to him. Hawkstar stops the medicine cat on his way out, “Tell Firestar to watch his back, I have a feeling something bad is coming.”

Hawkstar hopes his warning to Firestar will save him from his father’s wrath.

Ivypool’s mentor in the Dark Forest is Thistleclaw.

Hawkstar goes to visit Tigerstar in the Dark Forest but is surprised to see Icewing there as well, training. 

In the waking world, Hawkstar questions Icewing, asking what she was doing there. Icewing claims that she is just there to become a better warrior and knows nothing about the cats that train there. Hawkstar tells her the truth about the Dark Forest, but decides to use her as a spy.

Firestar comes to speak with Hawkstar about his warning. Hawkstar explains that he fears Tigerstar is still angry with the clans and with Firestar the most. Firestar tells him that ThunderClan will be prepared for anything and that not even Tigerstar scares him anymore.

Icewing tells Hawkstar that the Dark Forest is planning to raid the clans and kill off anyone who doesn’t submit to them. Hawkstar tells his warriors to double up on battle training and the defense around the camp.

When Firestar calls all four leaders and deputies to the island and tells them about the prophecy, Hawkstar says that he knew something was off about Lionblaze. Hawkstar says that RiverClan will fight to the death against the Dark Forest.

During the Great Battle, Hawkstar loses a life fighting off three Dark Forest warriors. He risks his own life to save Squirrelflight from Ashfur’s spirit. Brambleclaw then comes and kills off Ashfur for the final time. The two brothers share a moment, “We need to find Tigerstar. This won’t be over until he is dead.”

The pair arrive to find Firestar and Tigerstar fighting to the death, one last time. Firestar kills Tigerstar and since he never got caught in the fox trap, still has one life left after he died from his injuries.

ThunderClan deaths: Ferncloud, Mousefur, Sorreltail, Brackenfur

ShadowClan deaths: Applefur, Cedarheart, Shrewfoot, Redwillow, Toadfoot

WindClan deaths: Ashfoot, Owlwhisker, Swallowtail, Torneart, Sunstrike, Webfoot

RiverClan deaths: Dapplenose, Hollowflight, Floodheart, Robinwing, Troutstream

Harespring is the new deputy of WindClan, and Lionblaze is the new deputy of ThunderClan.

A VISION OF SHADOWS

When Molewhisker brings Alderpaw to meet the clan leaders, he notices that Alderpaw seems frightened of him and shy around the much more senior warriors. Hawkstar bends down and gives him some encouragement, “The first time I met Firestar, I was shocked. Tigerstar had told me that Firestar should be destroyed because he was a threat, but Firestar told me gently that I was shaping up to be a great warrior. That was the first time I lost trust in Tigerstar. Us leaders are just like you.”

Hawkstar notices Rowanstar’s (the new leader of ShadowClan) announcement of giving apprentices to their newest warriors. He makes a mental note that Rowanstar doesn’t seem to know how to lead his clan.

As ShadowClan loses its only medicine cat, Hawkstar asks Rowanstar in private if everything is okay in ShadowClan. Rowanstar snaps and says that they don’t need pity from RiverClan. Hawkstar tells the ShadowClan leader to remember those words.

As Darktail moves in with his rogues and attacks WindClan, Hawkstar tells his clan to be ready for anything. 

When news of Darktail’s coup in ShadowClan is broken, Hawkstar is shocked to learn that Rowanstar is now a member of ThunderClan. Firestar tells him that Darktail has forced most of ShadowClan to join their group, but some managed to escape. Hawkstar sneers, “Rowanstar was driven away too easily. A pathetic leader.”

When all four clans attack the rogues, Hawkstar kills two of them, scaring most away from him, but loses a life himself.

He leaps to the aid of Rowanstar, knocking away his attacker, “You’re a pathetic leader, but still the leader of ShadowClan, gather your ranks and strike hard!”

As Onestar calls WindClan to retreat, RiverClan is forced to fight twice as hard alongside ThunderClan, as ShadowClan is nearly too weak to fight. RiverClan suffers many injuries and Hawkstar swears revenge against Onestar and Darktail.

The Kin attacks RiverClan directly, trying to take over as they did to ShadowClan. Hawkstar says he will lay down every one of his lives to stay and protect his territory and Rippletail has to physically drag him away from the conflict. “This battle is lost Hawkstar! We must regroup elsewhere!”

Four RiverClan warriors died in the battle, but Hawkstar manages to take his injured and not injured with him to ThunderClan, where Firestar takes them in with open arms.

As Onestar reveals that Darktail is his son, it takes several warriors to stop Hawkstar from killing the WindClan leader himself.

The clans fight against The Kin again and Hawkstar sees Onestar and Darktail go into the river, and not reemerge. Hawkstar dives into the river and fishes out Onestar’s body, laying it on the shore for WindClan to mourn. He claims that Darktail deserves to rot.

RiverClan returns to its own territory, burying their dead from the previous conflict. Hawkstar announces then that RiverClan will stay away from ShadowClan for the time being, to allow the broken clan to rebuild itself.

A rockslide hits the ThunderClan camp and Firestar dies saving Thornclaw’s kits.

Lionblaze becomes Lionstar and Ivypool is the new deputy of ThunderClan.

Hawkstar is initially against letting SkyClan settle with them at the lake, saying that border conflicts were already tight, even though his clan would share no borders with them. 

Rowanstar asks to join Leafstar and SkyClan in exchange for the rest of their territory. Hawkstar openly calls Rowanstar weak, to which the ShadowClan leader does not respond.

As a fire spreads across RiverClan territory, Hawkstar urges his warriors into the river to wait it out. Their camp is destroyed, but no lives are lost.

Hawkstar orders most of his clan to rebuild the camp, while others are left to patrol the new SkyClan border. SkyClan cannot wrangle the former ShadowClan warriors and Hawkstar sees Rowanstar, now called Rowanclaw, sitting alone by the lakeshore.

Hawkstar is shocked to learn that after the fire, Tigerheart has become Tigerstar and is now the leader of ShadowClan. Hawkstar takes Tigerstar aside to inform him that he must keep his warriors in check, or there will be problems.

When the deathberry poisoning is revealed within the ShadowClan camp, Hawkstar kills Juniperclaw, “If your clan will not kill you for treachery, then I will.”

SkyClan finally settles between ThunderClan and ShadowClan.

Hawkstar announces that Rippletail is retired and the new deputy is Duskfur.

Since Brambleclaw died in this AU, ‘The Broken Code’ arc can’t happen, so, for now, I’ll stop this AU here.

[thunders-warcats-stuff]

New Prophecy AU headcanons

These are mostly used in my fic Midnight Storm and will be incorporated in other fics as well. They came about after Just a Dream so while I might incorporate some of it into that AU, it’s not likely to mesh well.

Main Cast Personalities

Tawnypelt is extremely sure of herself but constantly trying to prove that she belongs somewhere. She knows what she is vapable of and is very good at self-advocating and generally speaking up, but she doesn’t feel like the cats of her Clan like or believe in her at all because of where she came from and who she’s related to. 

That couldn’t be further from the truth but, much like the marshes they live in, ShadowClan are a bunch of soggy furballs who wouldn;t know how to express an emotion if it saved a life. It’s why Tigerclaw fit right in. Don’t get me wrong, they’re still cats with emotions and they talk and laugh and live like any other Clan, but multiple generations of tyrants (Brokentail and Tigerclaw) stunted them and cut them off from their culture so it’s really hard for them to get that back.

Brambleclaw is less ambitious and less sure of himself. He knows where he stands when it comes to his family tree and he was raised with the love of his Clan, but that's it. He doesn't want to believe that he was destined for anything great because he knows what happens to cats who are destined for greatness. They die horribly tragic deaths. He doesn't want that to happen to anyone he knows. 

Feathertail is ambitious in the sense that she can't stand RiverClan and will take any excuse she can get to get the hell out of there. They've never liked her and they never liked her brother and they barely tolerate her mentor and they would have just sat back and watched the four of them die, they did watch Stonefur die, because they were halfclan and RiverClan must be perfect. 

Crowpaw is this close to getting his warrior name but he knows a sign when he sees one. He follows it like any WindClan cat worth their salt but it's taking him away from the only family he has and he's so close to getting his warrior name, why couldn't he have a bit more time?! So he spends most of the time balancing his wants and needs with the call of StarClan and trying not to let either one overrun him. Crowpaw will ask to be named Crowflight instead of Crowfeather, because he wasn’t quite in love with Feathertail so much as admiring her carefree attitude. Squirrelpaw will ask for the same suffix for similar reasons.

ShadowClan customs 

Tawnypelt lives in a Clan that reveres her strength. Of course she would be picked by StarClan for a prophecy, she's just the right cat for it. The daughter of a strong leader who would have led ShadowClan to greatness if only he'd kept his sights within their borders.

Anyway, ShadowClan admires Tawnypelt because they see her as the leader that Tigerclaw could have been. Strong, smart, brave, able to adapt to their lifestyle easily, but also willing to stand up for what's right. She did  that a lot of because she was nursed alongside Feather and Storm and Goldenflower never forgot that even if she personally doesn't remember.

Also because Tigerclaw killed her older brother, which Goldenflower definitely never forgot. Oh, when it came out after A Dangerous Path that Tigerclaw was behind the dogs... I can only imagine the grief and rage that Goldenflower went through all over again and since her kits are apprentices now they're kind of old enough to understand why she's so absolutely furious with their father.

So ShadowClan isn't eager to let her go out somewhere far away and never come back. Not when she's their star. But a call from StarClan must be heeded nonetheless. 

ThunderClan customs

Leaders and deputies visit the kits when they're first born and determine possible warrior names based on the parents' wishes. There's always a long list at first that gets whittled down as training goes on. Kits are watched every day of their lives by someone, be it the leader, the medicine cats, the nursery queens, to determine their lives. The right mentor, the best possible friends for them, potential mates, your whole life is mapped out in those childhood moons.

Firestar was seen as an outsider not only because he wasn't a fighter, but because much of their culture places emphasis on kits and the way they grew up. He missed out on all of that, so how could he be a true ThunderClan cat? It was the surprise of the moons when Sandstorm announced she was having his kits and would gladly teach him their ways. Firestar did a pretty good job of adapting to that emphasis despite no one speaking for him as a kit.

RiverClan customs

RiverClan had a huge problem with how laid-back they were. Cats didn't really partake in each other's lives. As long as cats  were ready to fight when they needed to be, why should they? 

They believe heavily that the River is their portal to StarClan, so everything good that comes from it or that happens around it must be blessed. Bad things happening to the entire Clan is a cause for introspection, which they aren’t very good at. Bad things happening to one cat means that cat should be avoided until their luck changes. 

This is much to the detriment of everything else, occasionally including their ancestors. When Crookedstar’s jaw was broken, he was shunned because it was seen as a sign that he had fallen out of favor with the River. StarClan had to send a number of signs proving Crookedstar’s destiny to counteract the Dark Forest spirits that hung around Crooked, seeing him as easy prey. Mapleshade is the one who stuck around the longest and is the one he blames for all his bad luck.

That changes when Crookedstar becomes leader. He starts commanding that cats spend time with each other. Starts quizzing cats on their likes and dislikes, how much they know about their families, what their sibling's kits are up to, any information he can get his paws on. It cuts back on the fights for Sunningrocks, surprisingly. 

He knows the second Silverstream has found someone else for herself. At first he thinks it's a rogue and is okay with it as long as she keeps her loyalties to RiverClan. Then he finds out the truth and eventually she dies and the kits come to RiverClan with the father and Crookeedstar realized then that this time of peace and family won't last long after he's gone. So he does his best to make Greystripe feel welcome but there are too many differences. 

Cats can't just switch Clans at will because there are different ways of hunting and fighting, the medicine cat sees different things in the same puddle of water, the elders know different versions of the same tale, there's entirely new territory to get used to. It's not a surprise that Greystripe has to leave his kits but Crookeedstar admires the grey tom anyway. The last cat he knew to put his kits before his Clan had also been a grey tom, his father, and despite everything that happened over his life, Crookestar turned out better for Shellheart's dedication to his family. 

WindClan customs

WindClan believes themselves closest to StarClan and that becomes a bit of a problem in this case. No omens are ever seen as benign. Everything means something all the time. Barkface is the most overworked medicine cat of the lot because every cat goes to him for something, a leaf glittering in the wind after a bad mouse could mean death, according to some cats who thought they knew better than him, so Barkface and Tallstar spend a lot of time telling cats that their little "Prophecies" mean nothing until StarClan says so, and StarClan says so through Barkface. 

It's why he's so unnerved when Crowpaw comes to him. Ashfoot is one of the quieter ones when it comes to interpretation, but even she knows when the clan has been whacked aside the head with an omen in the form of a dream. Crowpaw is hailed as a hero when the news comes out and he doesn't know how to handle it.

[mahouproject-one]

The Song I Heard Somewhere | Miyu | MM Trial (re: vote callouts)

[ CW: Emetophobia, heart trauma ]

Kris Tenshi, what the hell? Did you actually just throw a knife at a pensieve as an offering to your lovecat? You’re lucky Takako didn’t get any funny ideas about taking the knife for herself.

“…you melodramatic edgelord.”

In a better context she might have found it amusing. Worrying, but amusing. That doubt had taken root in Miyu’s heart, however, and she kept ruminating on past interactions with Mi-ke. Had they really kept their true heart hidden that well? Otohiko warned her that her little one hadn’t told even their closest companions about their true nature. Was Miyu missing something that could exonerate them? Think, think, keep thinking…

“Mnn. The day before the heat wave? They sort of, ah. Threw up. Stress. Was right after we found out Shizuka’s talent.”

She gave a languid nod to Hikaru, Outa, and Tsuku – the three of them could corroborate that Mi-ke wasn’t exactly quiet about their intentions when they suddenly ran away after that fateful Labyrinth.

“I don’t… know if Miwa-chan ate after that. I-I wasn’t with ‘em all day, of course. But we had a long talk in the pantry, and… I don’t recall them picking up anything to eat or drink afterwards. I’m telling you – I know how bad some of us had it. I’m on spiro, I lose water fast. Miwa-chan was worse off than me. They wouldn’t… If they had a choice, they wouldn’t have let themselves get that bad…”

Then again, if someone was that apathetic about their health to begin with, would they have cared enough to save themself from wasting away? Especially when they’d still have to watch people precious to them suffer?

Shiba, who had slipped into the room some time ago (how much did they hear? how much did they know about the circumstances of their death?), mounted a passionate defense for Mi-ke, but that was just it: Passion. They weren’t able to offer up something that could exonerate them, nothing but Mi-ke’s promise that they would not lie any more. Miyu didn’t want to comment on that. She didn’t want to say that someone had made a promise to her to move forward and live, knowing all the while that he was planning to break that vow.

(Shiba knew. They had only spoken to Miyu once since Mi-ke’s death, but they knew what Kris wanted to do to Mitsuo and never told her. For a brief few seconds, that anger she still had over what happened spiked back to the forefront. If she couldn’t trust any of them to inform her of an imminent murder plot, why should she trust that Mi-ke didn’t feign affection towards her just to win her loyalty and use it…?)

Holy and Clove unknowingly disarmed that anger by distracting her, calling to attention a stray vote from Genbu. And they pointed out that, compared to what was building up against Mi-ke, the case against Shino wasn’t nearly as strong.

“…This doesn’t… feel right.”

Why, because she was just upset that Mi-ke could have been the villain she wanted to kill all along? Or because she genuinely felt discomfort with this answer, as if she was standing on the precipice and could hear a voice goading her with “are you sure about that”?

“I don’t… Kanamori took the weapon, right? It was a knife. The spear is still weird, because… usually, when you get an item like that, it’s related to you or your answer somehow. People in the… sports… trivia, thing – they got spades and scalpels because everyone was thinking ‘bout the last trial. Once, after a Labyrinth… someone got a crossbow with words scrawled on. Mocking them for accidentally shooting us. An’ a while ago I used the potion room gacha. Got a bloodied spade. She can testify.”

Miyu dismissively waved a hand at Takako. It was purely accidental that she hit Takako with that shovel, but she did not regret it one bit. In fact, she regretted discarding it completely. She’d be happy to strike Takako with a shovel again, with more purpose. Spades for days.

“I’m just trying to understand: Why a bloody spear, specifically? If it’s really a historical weapon… why? Or if it isn’t, is it only because Shirashi didn’t use the other spear he ha—ah. Wait. Does he have one spear or two? Holy-san and I found a clean spear under his bed during the third investigation.”

This wasn’t a strong accusation, either. But if they were going to scrutinize Mi-ke this closely, Miyu wanted to be sure they gave the same attention to other suspects, too.

“…There’s a Book of Deceased in Mikage’s library. If it helps.”

Memory: Up. It was set in the Genbu founder’s library, with blank books strewn about all over the floor. Hikaru touched one of those books, sending the entire group – him, Miyu, Outa, Tsuku, and Mi-ke – into a dark void where only words were visible:

‘Chapter 1: Seiji Ohara’ ‘Chapter 2: Part 1: Shinobu Tenpō’ ‘Chapter 2: Part 2: Jinzaemon Hasekura’

Each part was further divided into two sections: ‘Life’ and ‘Death’. Miyu quickly took the memory down as the group began debating what to choose.

“We didn’t know how it worked at the time. We choose to investigate Tenpō-san’s section first… and we relived her death through her viewpoint. We didn’t even get to see Ueno.

After that, the Book of Deceased changed. Text descriptions only.”

Another memory, set a short time after the unpleasant surprise of helplessly freezing to death. Even with Tsuku and Mi-ke both in tears from utter frustration, they all re-examined the book, reading the section on Seiji’s death:

‘Seiji Ohara was talking about himself before he was stabbed. He goes down in shock and attempts to stop the flow of blood. However, he was struck in his aorta. He is then shoved into a closet and locked inside. He spends twenty minutes or so scratching at the door and calling for help. He tries to escape, but he bleeds out first.’

“Vague. Extremely vague. But it’s a fraction of a timeline. I didn’t investigate at all at the time, but… Does it help?”

In terms of explaining the spear, or why Miyu went after Shino? Not at all.

“…I still… have a weird feeling about those haikus… A light shining in the darkness and guiding their heart. A rabbit in a winter forest. But…”

But if they did prove something, then whoever wrote them wasn’t going to come forward now. At the moment the only person who had claimed them was Outa, and the way he worded it made Miyu suspect he just wanted to stop her from losing track of the evidence.

And Takako, as much as Miyu loathed admitting it, did have a point: They hadn’t found a hard piece of evidence and were trying to jump one whatever they could find, even if it was coincidental. It was just that Mi-ke had more against them right now, and… and where were they?

“Are we even allowed to convict someone who’s not here?”

Flashing the Cat-Signal in the sky desperately. Come home, cat friend.

[almighty-letu]

20 Warrior cats questions

I wasn’t tagged, but i really wanted to do this challenge.

1. How did you get into Warriors?

When i was, maybe around 12 or 13, i was browsing through youtube when i stumble upon the SSS warrior cat animated series. From there i watched other animated projects related to warriors, i had no idea what was going, then i did a little research and discovered the series. And just a year later, i finally got my hands on Into the wild.

2. Favorite Arc?

Well, i haven’t read Omen of the stars yet, neither Dawn of the Clans (But i want to read it soooo badly!) nor Vision of shadows. Which leaves the first three series to choose from. I’m going to go with The prophecies begin, just because how well it is written. Maybe it’s because it’s the first series, but even today the story still holds up. I was so excited to start reading Power of three, but was kind of disappointed by the amount of filler it was put in. And i was really interested in the New prophecy arc at first but after they reached the lake, it kind of dragged from there. So the first series it is.

3. Favorite Book? (excluding mangas, super editions, novellas)

Oh that’s a tough question!

I think it will be a tie between “The darkest hour” and “Long shadows”. The darkest hour was the epic conclusion to the first series, and everything before was building up to this big moment, and it was just so cool to see the four Clans uniting to stand against BloodClan. Though the only nitpick that i have is that it’s kind of lame that the big bad is killed off so easy just so we can get a new “surprise” villain. But Scourge is cool, and i like him. (Yeah, i know he’s overrated, but i still like him as a villain)

“Long shadows” in my opinion was the first true warriors book that i have read since the end of the first series. Don’t get me wrong, not to say everything else was bad before this book, it just didn’t keep my interest from beginning to end. Some conflict stuff happened here and there, but that’s it. So much stuff happens in “Long shadows” and none of it was filler. I remember every single detail that happened in that book. And of course, there is the great fire scene near the end and the cliffhanger ending.

4. Favorite Super Edition, Novella, or Manga?

Okay, i’m going to cheat a little here and pick one for each.

For favorite super edition, my personal favorite is Tallstar’s revenge. I love the way WindClan is portrayed in this book. Tallstar’s point of view is very interesting, especially when you notice the change when he comes back. His relationship with Jake, of course. I haven’t read all of them, i’m currently reading Firestar’s quest and it’s good so far. If i had to rate the super editions i read from my favorite to my least favorite, the order would be: Tallstar’s revenge, Crookedstar’s promise, Firestar’s quest (Again, i’m still reading it, but so far from what i have seen this is where i would rate it. May change the further i progress in the story) Yellowfang’s secret, and finally Bluestar’s prophecy.

My favorite novella is “Mapleshade’s vengeance”. I love how dark it is. How it shows the darker side of warriors, the way Mapleshade went from a loving queen to this tormented, sick and twisted cat with a thirst to kill everyone who wronged her. But the interesting thing for me, is that she isn’t doing this for herself. (For the most part) But for her kits.

And for the manga, well... the only manga i read was “The rise of Scourge”. So i guess this is my favorite! XD

5. Favorite Clan?

ShadowClan. As much as i love the development and culture of WindClan from Tallstar’s revenge, ShadowClan is the one that catches my interest the most. I don’t remember now from where i read it, but when i saw this: “It was often said when the Clans were in the forest, that the cold north wind of the mountains chilled the ShadowClan warriors' hearts.” I thought this was so cool. ShadowClan is often judged to be the “slytherin” of the series. The obvious bad guys/bullies, and i think they deserve more. I haven’t read VoS, but from what i have heard, they are once again in the tyranny of some rogue. Can’t they catch a break for once? I wish this Clan was represented better.

6. Favorite Character?

Only one? Can i mention several? This is warriors after all. There are lots of characters! Fuck it, i’m doing it anyway.

Hollyleaf, love her character arc and i ship her with Fallen Leaves. Jayfeather, his grumpiness is really appealing (Unlike some other cats that i know *Cough cough* Bluestar *Cough cough*) his point of view is very interesting and i was always looking forward to read his parts in the books. Brambleclaw, and i do say “Claw” rather than “Star” because i don’t know how he is as a leader. I liked his struggle to set himself apart from his father, and his relationship with Squirrelflight. Cinderpelt, she deserved better. Yellowfang, grumpy grandmother with sharp tongue (Too bad her character is ruined and tainted further on into the series) Crookedstar, he suffers and goes through so much and yet he still becomes such a great leader. Brokenstar, no i don’t like him in the way that i understand what he went through and his motives are justified. I like him for how cool of a villain he was. (I like villains okay?) He killed kits by training them too hard, he killed his father, he banished his own mother, and ruled over ShadowClan with threats. He was so diabolically evil, how can you not love it? Whitestorm, he was very cool as this wise and respectable warrior. Um... i think that’s it.

7. Least Favorite Character?

Raggedstar, Crowfeather, Rainflower, Leopardstar, and Onestar.

I hate everything about Raggedstar. His character, his relationship with Yellowfang, his actions. He’s so whiny, and really despicable. I don’t care if you have daddy issues or not, you don’t manipulate the one you love just because she decided to become something else.

Crowfeather had so much potential, and i originally liked him in the new prophecies series. But then he became cold and uncaring, and i guess you could make the argument that’s what the Erins were going for after his failed relationship with Leafpool. But he should have been more honorable! Actually be loyal to WindClan because he is loyal, and not because he has to. Taking Nightcloud as a mate just to prove his loyalty is such a mean move, because he essentially used her. And then when the truth comes out about the three, he completely shifts the blame solely to Leafpool, and gets away scotch free! He better get a good redemption in Omen of the stars or else... i’m going to get angry.

Rainflower, Terrible, terrible mother. I hate her so much.

Leopardstar, not much to say in this one. I just don’t think she’s a very good leader, nor did she do much of anything to deserve her position. And she got on my nerves.

Onestar, what’s there to say about this douche cat that hasn’t already been said? He was great as Onewhisker, then he got his nine lives, and i guess one of his gifts was the gift of being an ass because after he became leader his character decided to change and become a complete jerk for no reason. So much for keeping the peace between ThunderClan and WindClan, am i right Tallstar?

8. Most Aesthetically Pleasing Cat?

This is going to be kind of a strange one: Ivypool, even though i don’t know much about her i really like her design. I like tabbies.

9. Favorite Leader?

I like Blackstar. He’s grumpy most of the time, and yeah, he makes some bad decisions. But hey, so does all of the other leaders. I personally would not mind to see a super edition about him. He used to be the deputy for both Brokenstar and Tigerstar, and when the position passed onto him, he stepped up and became a honorable leader. I would like to see this change more closely.

10. Favorite Villain?

As much as i like Brokenstar, i have to go with Mapleshade. She’s the queen of the Dark forest basically. I think she’s still around, if i’m not wrong? But the way she has solely devoted herself to revenge, to even manipulate a kit into basically selling his soul to her at the cost of his loved ones lives, is pretty messed up. Also, can i say that we should have more she-cat villains in the series? We need more she-cat villains in these series. I am so tired of big scarred tabbies going around being evil and stuff. 

11. Favorite Medicine Cat?

Jayfeather. He’s a good medicine cat who’s not afraid to call out on StarClan’s bullshit when he has to. And he always does what is needed of him to fulfill the prophecy.

12. Overrated Character?

Bluestar. At this point, you are probably thinking i hate her guts, aren’t you? I don’t hate Bluestar, i don’t think i even dislike her. But the fandom treats her as if she is the greatest thing ever. If anyone so much as utters that they dislike her they are immediately showered with a storm of hate. How dare anyone dislike Bluestar? She’s fine guys, but she isn’t all that. Calm down. You can love her, of course you can, but we can dislike her too you know.

13. Underrated Character?

Dustpelt. I like his background development. He hated Firestar at first, and i guess he had a thing for Sandstorm. But then he met Ferncloud and discovered a softer side to him, and became a really loyal and devoted warrior.

14. Favorite Minor Character?

Longtail. He started off as a generic bully character, but he got development and managed to redeem himself in the end. Too bad he was put in the elders den. By a rabbit, of all things! (Which btw, why did the Erins send him off to the elders den for? I never got that) Also for honorable mentions goes to both Brackenfur and Runningwind.

15. Favorite Pairing?

I have so many! Fire x Sand - Good development, Squirrel x Bramble - i love me so love/hate relationships, Holly x Fallen -  They helped each other out and have a cute relationship, Willow x Crooked - They are adorable, and of course Tall x Jake - So precious.

16. Least Favorite Pairing?

Crow x Night - He used her, end of story (In fact, might as well put all Crowfeather pairings in here, their all terrible) Spider x Daisy - This was completely out of nowhere, and he was never there for her or their kits. Spotted x Fire - Forced.

17. Favorite Friendship?

Brambleclaw and Stormfur, they were very good buddies during their journey to see Midnight, and i’m glad they kept the friendship even long after.

18. Favorite Moment?

Bluestar’s death. I swear i don’t hate her guys! I just really liked this moment, and thought it was a good conclusion to her character. Her reunion with her kits is very emotional.

19. Most Tragic Death?

It’s a tie between Stonefur and Cinderpelt’s death. Stonefur kept fighting til his last breath in what he believed was right. In front of an audience no less! Cinderpelt, despite everything she went through, was not afraid to lose her life to defend Sorreltail and her kits.

20. Favorite Battle / Fight Scene?

The climax to “Eclipse”. Kind of out of nowhere, especially with the great battle against BloodClan in “The darkest hour”. But this battle is so suspenseful. It’s not kept in the point of view of one single character throughout the whole thing, it keeps switching between Lion, Jay, and Holly as different events keep on happening. It’s Wind and River teaming up to drive out Thunder, leaving them no choice but to team up with Shadow. The four Clans fighting against each other, only to be stopped by the sun being blocked out. It’s a great scene, and i get the chills every time i re-read it.

[krazyokami]

Thistleclaw actually belongs in The Dark Forest

*Spoilers for Spottedleaf’s heart!!*

So...I used to defend Thistleclaw greatly, especially in arguments against Ashfur, how Thistle didn’t deserved the Dark Forest.

Well he still doesn’t deserve it, but he does belong there. Why he doesn’t deserve it, Thistleclaw has done nothing. He was simply said to be ambitious. And after all that happened with Tigerstar, it seems things would have been fine had he been like Thistleclaw and just waited. Tigerstar even said that his own mentor wouldn’t even dare go against his leader. So we know he does have some loyalty to the warrior code.

For Bluestar hating him so (She’s a damn hypocrite and I hate her), he never did anything. Sure as an apprentice, he simply got on her nerves and in returned she just hated him. She tried to push her sister away from him and then even tried to keep his own kit away from him. Simply because she didn’t like him.

Now I know some are thinking ‘Well he tried to kill Tiny-’

Tigerstar fought Tiny. And even then it’s still hinted that Tigerpaw was going to beat him up. Thistleclaw simply said for him to teach the kittypet a lesson. I highly doubt Thistleclaw was just going to let his apprentice murder a cat while a clanmate was right next to him.

Anyway, in the case of Spottedleaf’s Heart, I can say he does belong there. Simply because he was too loyal to them. He still trained there and didn’t want to leave. Thistleclaw is in the Dark Forest because that’s where he chose to be. He still never shown any true proof of being an evil cat. Only very ambitious.

For some reason the Erin’s say the book proved that he went to the Dark Forest because he approached a very young Spottedpaw.

So, that means Dustpelt went to the Dark Forest too, right? As soon as Fernpaw stepped out of the nursery, he was right there.

In Spottedleaf’s Heart, the first chapters do take a weird turn in with Thistleclaw showing an interest in Spottedpaw. But as far as I know, he took her for small walks and shared prey. That’s all. No cuddling, no sharing tongues. And then he keeps trying to show her The Dark Forest, which makes me believe he was trying to recruit her. Just for the record, I AM NOT saying this relationship is acceptable.

After Spottedleaf rejects him, they simply leave each other alone. And...that’s it...No fighting, no nothing. This also leads me to believe he was trying to recruit her. I know some people want to say he was still in grief since it had only been a few moons since Snowfur died. I’m not so sure. Like I said, Thistleclaw simply went back to himself and his duties after Spottedleaf didn’t want anything to do with him. He didn’t try to win her back or anything, he just accepted it and completely left her alone.

These are just my thoughts. I find it weird the Erin’s decided to go ‘this route’ when the characters are just simply talking cats.

[sorrelstream]

Details for the hollyleaf au

·         Holly + jay are a part of the prophecy, lion is not

·         Holly has the power to have like glimpses of the future and shit, occasionally the past (these are either small glimpses or in the forms of symbolism/metaphors)

·         Holly and jay become warrior apprentices – holly is bracken’s apprentice, jay is bright’s apprentice. Lion is apprenticed to leafpool and trains as a medicine cat

·         Time begins to pass. Holly starts having weird dreams and nightmares over events that haven’t happened yet (and then she starts noticing the events in her dreams happen) and she panics and talks to jay abt it. Jay reveals 2 her his own abilities (walking in dreams/mind communication) and they don’t know what to do abt it

·         They ask lion if hes had anything and hes rlly baffled bc theyre not med. Cat apprentices why r they getting these kind of dreams.

·         Eventually lion gets the message from yellow that theyre the three (by they she means holly/jay, but lion misinterprets it to also include him)

·         He brings it to holly+jay, theyre startled but eventually accept their fate

·         There’s stuff in the middle that I haven’t really had the time to plot out ah!! Mostly sibling bonding + friendship bonds (hazel,holly,honey,cinder are tight af, so is mouse,jay,kestrel, and cinder,lion,berry)

·         Holly ends up finding out cinder her bff is dating heater from windclan and is paranoid and jumpy bc she starts wondering if that means cinder will get in trouble and what would happen 2 cinder

·         Its resolved in the end idk how yet

·         Anyways as they grow older they all get their warrior names, blah blah, there’s the fire scene and the big reveal

·         Ash ends up going 2 the med cat den the next night due 2 a bad cough developing from smoke inhalation, winds up dead the next morning, everyone assumes it was just breathing problems/failure

·         Holly/jay start noticing lion is acting weird, uncomfy, jumpy, and how he starts refusing/making excuses to not go to the moonpool – they come to the conclusion he feels bad abt ashfurs death bc that’s one of the first patients he ever lost

·         The three go into digging abt their parentage – holly receives a vision of a crow landing in the forest during leaf-fall, before taking off again

·         After more sleuthing they all figure out crow and leaf are their parents. Holly is devastated, jay is bothered, and lion is also crushed,

·         Lion has a lot of stress on him rn and the clan is starting to notice fishy things or something abt ashfurs death so eventually lion confesses to holly/jay that he murdered ash by feeding him poisonous herbs. He’s guilty and devastated by his own actions going against the medicine code (NOT abt ashfur tho he doesn’t care at all abt ashfur he just feels like starclan is judging him and the clan will too if they find out) so he runs off before anyone else can find out

·         Holly/jay are devastated but are still handling how to deal with the issue of their parentage

·         Crow, in a petty attempt to ruin leafpools career as a medicine cat, tells everyone that she had an affair and produced kittens – he’s smug bc he knows that in the flawed system even if everyone finds out/is aware crow is the father, none will really do anything because all blame will fall to leafpool

·         Which it unfortunately does which is shitty and sucky but :( leaf can’t really step down though because her apprentice disappeared. Now she just faces constant shame and humiliation (holly notices that leaf is treated much worse than crow and starts getting REALLY pissed bc no one seems to care that crow just took advantage of leafs willing trust/love for him and abandoned her when she was pregnant so most of hollys hate-energy starts getting directed towards crowfeather/windclan)

·         Eventually dove and ivy r born. Dove is apprenticed to cinder while holly trains ivy

·         Lion eventually does return, after living life as a rogue

·         There’s a lot more stuff I need to flesh out here but ah !! on to the end

·         During the great battle things are a bit different?? The whole “dying twice” thing is scrapped – instead, when a starclan/dark forest cat is “killed” in battle, they’re just sent back to their respective residence, but now they can’t walk in dreams or walk among the living

·         Bramble is killed by hawk, lion is killed by ash, ash is then banished back 2 dark forest by squirrel (yes ashfur is in the dark forest finally where he BELONGS), mousefur n millie r killed by df warriors, bracken dies instead of sorreltail, and dustpelt dies instead of ferncloud , fire still dies

crowfeather also dies after trying 2 hurt/attack leafpool and/or breezepelt . nightcloud motherfucking DESTROYS that dickhead

·         After the battle is over its time to start leaving but everyone realizes that thunderclan now has no deputy or leader. Fire’s ghost gets up and walks to holly and touches his muzzle to her forehead, basically appointing her as the next leader

·         Holly goes and gets her nine lives, which are:

o   Brackenfur: Diligence

o   Dustpelt: Trust (bc how he trusted fire despite their obvious differences)

o   Cinderpelt: Appreciation (basically to love her life while she has it and value all her days)

o   Mousefur: Wit

o   Longtail: Sacrifice

o   Honeyfern: Friendship (her and holly were super close, honey and hazel also verged on a romantic relationship before her death. This is just kinda the life given 2 holly 2 like, befriend other clans and make allies and shit)

o   Brambleclaw: Dedication (like his dedication to prove himself 2 thunderclan

o   Firestar: Prosperity

o   Lionblaze: Loyalty (like his loyalty 2 his siblings, even if it faltered a few times)

·         Poppyfrost, berrynose, birchfall, and thornclaw die after the battle (a few days later), bright moves to the elders den w/ cloud after their kits are made apprentices or warriors idk

·         Time goes on. Mousewhisker/jayfeather become mates, hazeltail/hollystar become mates (mouse and hazel are both trans btw !! mouse is a trans boy and hazel is a trans girl bc these are honestly,,, my favorite lgbt wc headcanons ull never not see me make an au or headcanon where either of them aren’t trans like man,,)

·         Anyways mouse and jay have kits, and hazel+holly adopt a pair of rogue kittens (this au’s version of alderkit and sparkkit. Spark is also a trans girl and alder is also a trans boy !!! spark is a ginger tabby n alder is a torbie)

[furry-monster-trash]

What if Oakheart joined ThunderClan?

This has spoilers/information from “Crookedstar’s Promise” these parts will be bolded.

Two moons into her pregnancy, Bluefur attends a gathering to tell Oakheart that she is expecting his kits.

Oakheart tells Crookedstar (his brother) that Bluefur is having his kits. Crookedstar is not surprised.

A few days pass and Oakheart has been neglecting his warrior duties. He ultimately decides that he will attempt to join ThunderClan to help father his kits.

Crookedstar accepts his decision and says that he will go with Oakheart to ThunderClan: “I need to speak with Sunstar.”

The two arrive at the ThunderClan camp, escorted by Thistleclaw and Whitestorm.

Sunstar brings the two RiverClan cats into his den after calming his clan down.

Oakheart asks to join ThunderClan, with Sunstar interrupting his plea “You’re the father to Bluefur’s kits.”

Oakheart confirms the ThunderClan leader’s suspicions, saying that he never meant for it to happen, but that he fell in love with Bluefur and now he wants to father the kits.

Sunstar doesn’t respond and instead asks why Crookedstar came as well.

Crookedstar informs Sunstar that Thistleclaw - the next best option for deputy - has been training in the Dark Forest and has a thirst for blood that must be stopped. “It would be best to choose a stand-in deputy until Bluefur can do those duties.” During this, he also explains his connection with the Dark Forest, although not in heavy detail.

Sunstar takes Crookedstar’s words to heart and then informs Oakheart that he may join ThunderClan with only one condition: “You are to do apprentice tasks until you prove yourself to be loyal to us. You will also be trained in the ways of ThunderClan. If you join us, you are no longer a RiverClan warrior, you will be a ThunderClan one. If you ever show loyalty towards RiverClan outside of what the warrior code allows, my warriors have every right to drive you from our land.”

Oakheart accepts this condition and says his goodbyes to Crookedstar, who is sad to see his brother leave his side. Ottersplash is the new deputy of RiverClan.

When only Crookedstar leaves the ThunderClan camp, Sunstar makes the announcement that Oakheart is joining ThunderClan. He leaves out the fact that he is the father of Bluefur’s kits. 

Lionheart is tasked to look after Oakheart’s new training.

Bluefur takes Oakheart out into the forest after the clan dies down from the news and yells at him, saying that she had it covered and he didn’t have to join ThunderClan, “At the very least you should’ve talked to me about it!”

Sunstar brings in his senior warriors to discuss Thistleclaw and the deputy position. Adderfang agrees to act as deputy until Bluefur can take over: “I have no ambition to be the next leader, but I don’t want our clan to become soaked with blood due to my former apprentice.”

Thistleclaw receives no real punishment for his participation in the Dark Forest.

Lionheart takes Oakheart out to teach him how to hunt land prey that isn’t commonly found on RiverClan territory and how to stalk in the forest. Oakheart picks this up quickly.

Oakheart brings fish regularly to the fresh-kill pile much to the elders’ disgust, but the younger warriors and apprentices don’t seem too bothered by the extra prey.

When Bluefur gives birth, Oakheart lets her name all three of the kits. At this point, everyone in ThunderClan knows that he is their true father, not Thrushpelt.

For the first moon of the kits’ lives, Oakheart frets over every move they make and brings both them and Bluefur fresh-kill twice a day.

Stonekit, Mistykit, and Mosskit are loved and adored by all members of ThunderClan, with the three regularly going to the elders’ den for stories or trying to learn things from the warriors.

Oakheart is chosen by Sunstar to come to the border re-marking on Sunningrocks. Oakheart has been in ThunderClan for two moons now.

Oakheart leaves his scent as a ThunderClan warrior but stays at the border for a few moments longer than the rest of the patrol. Thistleclaw accuses him of wanting to go back to RiverClan. Oakheart ignores his accusations.

At the next gathering, RiverClan warriors spit at Oakheart and call him a traitor. “You know Sunningrocks belongs to RiverClan and yet you claim it for ThunderClan!”

Oakheart and Bluefur spend more time together as the kits finally reach the age where they can be left alone. The two go on a hunting patrol together and prove to be good partners.

White-eye agrees to look after their kits so that the two can go talk things out alone, not surrounded by anybody.

Oakheart confesses his love for Bluefur once more, a sentiment she returns. Bluefur asks if he misses RiverClan: “I miss my brother and my friends, but I’m becoming accustomed to the trees and woodland prey. Very few members of ThunderClan treat me as an outsider now.”

They spend the night out in the forest, pressed up against one another.

The kits are now three moons old and Oakheart spends every moment he can with them, trying to be as good of a father to them as Shellheart was to him. He plays with the three of them and teaches them about the warrior code.

When the kits are apprenticed, Stonepaw is given to Whitestorm, Mistypaw is given to Leopardfoot, and Mosspaw is given to Brindleface.

Oakheart teaches his kits to swim and how to fish.

At this point in Oakheart being in ThunderClan, Sunstar asks him to teach all of ThunderClan how to swim, not just his own kits.

Oakheart agrees but only to teach them at night when his former clan cannot see him.

Bluefur almost drowns and is saved by Oakheart. She thanks him for saving her life and clings to him until they get out of the river. Bluefur is the only ThunderClan warrior that almost drowns.

When Bluefur joins the warriors’ den again, her and Oakheart share a nest.

Oakheart teaches his kits how to attack from the water once they are eight moons old. Several ThunderClan warriors are also taught these moves (Sunstar, Lionheart, Bluefur, Frostfur, Patchpelt, and Goldenflower).

Bluefur is named the deputy of ThunderClan.

Thistleclaw attempts to murder Bluefur so that he can be the deputy of ThunderClan. Oakheart saves her life and kills Thistleclaw in the process.

Sunstar says that Thistleclaw always had a thirst for blood and wished him peace now that he is dead.

RiverClan attacks the ThunderClan camp after a few moons of accused prey-stealing.

Oakheart fights alongside ThunderClan and gives his former clanmates more than a few scars to remember him by. Voleclaw and him battle fiercely but Oakheart beats the RiverClan tom. This bout is seen by everyone in ThunderClan.

Sunstar honors Oakheart alongside the rest of ThunderClan for defending their camp.

At this point, there are few who distrust Oakheart as a loyal warrior of ThunderClan.

After the fight, Sunstar orders that those who know how to swim (almost everyone in the clan at this point) teach new apprentices how to swim as well and those that know water-fighting techniques teach those moves to all new apprentices as well.

Sunstar loses his last life and Bluefur earns her nine lives.

Oakheart sleeps inside the leader’s den with Bluefur. Redtail is the new deputy of ThunderClan.

Every other clan now knows that ThunderClan can swim, fish, and fight in the water after each clan sees these new techniques in their own time.

ThunderClan rarely goes hungry now because every new cat is taught how to fish.

Seasons pass and now Stonepaw, Mistypaw, and Mosspaw have earned their warrior names: Stonefur, Mistyfoot, and Mossleap.

Oakheart is the mentor to Ravenpaw instead of Tigerclaw.

When Rusty joins ThunderClan, Oakheart takes a special interest in him because he was also treated as an outsider for many moons after he joined.

Redtail dies over a fight for Sunningrocks, he fell off the edge and snapped his neck. Lionheart is named the new deputy.

Oakheart helps to mentor Firepaw alongside Ravenpaw. He notes that Firepaw has keen skills for a kittypet and could even rival some clan-born apprentices.

Firepaw’s formal mentor is Mistyfoot.

Oakheart trusts Yellowfang from the moment she steps in the ThunderClan camp.

Spottedleaf dies from wounds from Clawface. Lionheart does not die from ShadowClan.

When ShadowClan is revealed to be training kits and falling apart under Brokenstar’s rule, Oakheart is part of the raid to take back the stolen kits and he personally drives away Brokenstar.

Ravenpaw, Graypaw, and Firepaw earn their warrior names: Ravenwing, Graystripe, and Fireheart.

Oakheart disapproves of Cloudkit being brought into the camp because it was the dead of leaf-bare, not because he is a kittypet.

Tigerclaw’s ambition brings the rogues from ShadowClan into the heart of ThunderClan. During this raid, Lionheart dies from his wounds. Tigerclaw attempts to murder Fireheart because of his kittypet roots and the fact that Bluestar always favored Fireheart over him.

Oakheart leaps in to save Fireheart and the two large toms fight. Tigerclaw kills Oakheart and Fireheart beats Tigerclaw afterward.

Bluestar demands that Tigerclaw is kept prisoner for the time being while she mourns the death of her mate.

Bluestar names Fireheart the new deputy of ThunderClan.

Tigerclaw’s schemes are revealed at the gathering and he is driven from the forest.

Bluestar never loses faith in StarClan. Swiftpaw and Brightpaw are named Swiftbreeze and Brightheart, but the two still try to drive out the dogs. Swiftbreeze dies and Brightheart is maimed.

Bluestar still gives her life to save Fireheart from the dogs and Oakheart is the first one to welcome her to StarClan.

Oakheart gives Firestar a life (in place of Redtail) for always trusting your instincts and doing what is right, even if it hurts.

ThunderClan continues to teach its warriors how to fish, swim, and fight in the water. A tradition held up by Firestar.

[furry-monster-trash]

What if Crowfeather had joined ThunderClan after Leafpool had his kits?

Crowfeather spots Squirrelflight and Leafpool leaving ThunderClan territory and can clearly see that Leafpool is expecting kits.

He follows them and sees Feathertail insisting that the kits are raised in ThunderClan.

Squirrelflight and him fight with the she-cat winning, but Leafpool tells her to leave him alone and that he can stay until they go back to ThunderClan.

He names Lionkit, Leafpool names Jaykit, and Squirrelflight names Hollykit.

When it’s time for Leafpool and Squirrelflight to go back to ThunderClan Crowfeather says that he’s coming with them.

The three argue for quite a bit until Hollykit walks off by herself and Crowfeather goes to find her and gets stopped by a ThunderClan patrol.

Leafpool, Squirrelflight, Crowfeather, and the kits are all escorted back to camp.

Firestar demands to know who the kits’ parents are, and Crowfeather remains silent while Leafpool reluctantly tells the truth.

The clan is outraged because Leafpool broke the warrior code but Crowfeather defends her by bringing up Purdy, Stormfur, Brook, and Yellowfang - “ThunderClan doesn’t have a clean slate, no Clan does!”

Ferncloud agrees to nurse the kits.

Firestar says they can not punish Leafpool because then ThunderClan would have no medicine cat - he sends Crowfeather back to WindClan.

It is decided that Firestar and Leafpool will travel to the Moonpool to let StarClan decide her fate and the two leave at once.

At the Moonpool, StarClans tells the two that those three kits are very important and must be raised by ThunderClan, they are both told the prophecy “There will be three, kin of your kin, who will have the power of stars in their paws”

Lionkit is unable to be defeated in battle, Jaykit can walk in others’ dreams, read their thoughts and feel their emotions, Hollykit has nobility to the warrior code and can always tell right from wrong (although her judgment can be skewed by her own emotions - see: her relationship with Crowfeather)

When they return from the Moonpool, Crowfeather is in the ThunderClan camp and is being attacked by Cloudtail, the WindClan warrior is not fighting back.

Firestar breaks up the fight and demands to know why Crowfeather is back, the warrior asks to join ThunderClan so that he can father his kits.

Firestar agrees but only under the condition that he must be watched by a ThunderClan warrior at all times and is banished from the WindClan border until he proves his loyalty to ThunderClan “if you cross over the border to WindClan, you will not be welcomed back”

When the kits are five moons old, WindClan attacks RiverClan and Pouncepaw comes to plea for help.

Firestar leads a battle patrol, with Crowfeather as well, to help RiverClan

During the battle Crowfeather takes a blow for Brightheart, and attacks Tornear to protect her.

Back at the ThunderClan camp Firestar welcomes Crowfeather as a full warrior of ThunderClan.

Lionpaw is given to Ashfur, Hollypaw to Brackenfur (she never tries to be a medicine cat because Leafpool is her mother) and Jaypaw to Brightheart (later given to Leafpool).

The three know who their true parents are and while Lionpaw and Jaypaw seem unaffected by it, Hollypaw is haunted by the fact that she was born of a broken warrior code.

Crowfeather helps to train Lionpaw and keeps him light on his feet, a dangerous combo with the added training of Ashfur’s fierce battling style.

Lionpaw becomes influenced by Tigerstar and Hawkfrost and is able to defeat Ashfur during a mock battle. Crowfeather notices that Ashfur was fighting his apprentice - his son - with claws unsheathed and threatens the warrior.

Jaypaw becomes the new medicine cat apprentice and when Crowfeather and Leafpool share a moment in the medicine cat den, he says that the warrior code about medicine cats and mates should be changed.

Nightcloud - a WindClan she-cat - was also in love with Crowfeather and plots with Ashfur to get back at him for refusing her love.

Ashfur, angry that Squirrelflight rejected him for Brambleclaw, plans to kill Leafpool because taking her sister would destroy her.

Nightcloud lies in wait and when Leafpool is out gathering herbs with Jaypaw, she attacks them both and easily overpowers them.

Brambleclaw sees Leafpool fighting with Nightcloud and leaps in to help the medicine cat.

Ashfur sneaks around from the back and attacks Brambleclaw as well, the two warriors quickly pin the tom and get ready to kill him when Crowfeather leaps out of the woods and kills Nightcloud himself and keeps Ashfur subdued until a ThunderClan patrol can come to deal with him.

Ashfur is questioned heavily by the clan but he blames Squirrelflight for making him act out.

The tom is exiled from ThunderClan but Crowfeather says that his punishment should be more. “He plotted with a WindClan cat to attack and kill Leafpool! They probably would’ve killed Jaypaw as well and maybe even Brambleclaw! He cannot get away with harming our clan like that!” - this marks the first time Crowfeather openly calls himself a ThunderClan warrior.

The rest of the clan agrees and Firestar says that cannot kill him as they are not actively in combat. He agrees to hold Ashfur prisoner until the gathering and reveal his crimes to all four clans.

Crowfeather takes Nightcloud’s body back to WindClan. Onestar says “I am not surprised by her actions, she has been furious ever since you abandoned us. You fought for your new clan and proved your loyalty, I cannot understand your choice Crowfeather but I can respect you as a ThunderClan warrior.”

Lionpaw and Hollypaw earn their warrior name - at this point Lionpaw has left behind Tigerstar and Hollypaw still cannot be around Crowfeather or Leafpool.

Hollyleaf never runs away.

When Ashfur is taken to the gathering, Firestar and Crowfeather both reveal his schemes to all four clans. The clans want him dead or driven from the forest.

Ashfur attacks Lionblaze at the gathering, saying that he should’ve never been born. The unbeatable cat kills Ashfur.

StarClan does not block out the moon or stars and Ashfur goes to the Dark Forest.

Firestar publicly calls Crowfeather a ThunderClan warrior to end the gathering. No clan reacts beyond a small wave of shock throughout the clans.

When Jaypaw earns his full medicine cat name “Jayfeather”, Crowfeather is over the moon at the name and swells with pride.

Breezepelt is never born.

Everything that happens with Dovewing and Ivypool (including Dovewing being part of the prophecy - the fourth cat) happens in this AU.

During the Great Battle Crowfeather fights side by side with Graystripe, Firestar, Cloudtail, Dustpelt, and Brackenfur - the senior ThunderClan warriors say they are honored to fight beside their fellow ThunderClan warrior.

When a dark forest trainee attacks Crowfeather, Hollyleaf gives her life to save him “you were always my father, it has taken seeing The Light clash with Darkness for me to see that you are more than a WindClan warrior and I am more than my blood determines.”

[furry-monster-trash]

Thistleclaw Reimagined

Thistleclaw deserved more than the Erin’s gave him. Here’s what I think should’ve happened.

- His life up until his apprenticeship is the same

- Adderfang still becomes his mentor

- During his apprenticeship, he is approached by the Dark Forest residents, but he rejects them, saying that his loyalty to his clan and the warrior code cannot be bought by cats that are already dead

- When fighting the dog, Bluefur tries to help him escape, but she distracts him and he ends up getting bitten by the dog (I’m making the dog a boxer mix) and he blames Bluefur for his injuries

- His injuries put him off of his apprentice duties for a full moon, making him angry and spiteful against Bluefur

- During his time in the medicine cat den and during recovery, he spends a lot of time with Snowfur and falls in love

- Once recovered, Thistlepaw joins Adderfang, Bluefur, Sparrowfeather, and Speckletail on a patrol of the ShadowClan border

- The ThunderClan warriors end up in a battle against a few ShadowClan warriors and Thistlepaw almost takes Crowtail’s life until he is stopped by Sparrowfeather

- His bravery at the battle earns him his warrior name: Thistleclaw

- Thistleclaw and Snowfur have three kits: Whitekit, Dogkit, and Moonkit

- Thistleclaw still has not forgiven Bluefur for the dog attack and refuses to let her near his kits 

- Whitekit is adventurous and kind, Dogkit takes after his father and bullies his siblings, Moonkit is shy and doesn’t speak until she is one moon old

- A hawk circles above the ThunderClan camp and Bluefur sees that Moonkit is still out of the nursery, Thistleclaw has also noticed this. Both warriors rush to save the kit but end up colliding with one another and are unable to untangle themselves in time. Moonkit ends up as a hawk’s lunch. Thistleclaw blames Bluefur

- Dogkit runs out of the camp by himself and Snowfur runs after him. Bluefur sees Dogkit when she is returning from a hunting patrol and asks the kit why he is out of the camp. Thistleclaw notices that Bluefur is talking with Dogkit and rushes over, insisting that Bluefur had taken Dogkit

- Snowfur comes to find Bluefur and Thistleclaw circling each other, ready to attack

- Bluefur lashes out at her sister, asking how she could ever love a mangy tom like Thistleclaw. Bluefur then says that she wished the dog had killed Thistleclaw when he had been an apprentice because that would make her life easier. Snowfur runs away crying and ends up in WindClan territory, where a patrol kills her where she stands, Owlpelt’s (not a real cat in the books) scent is on her fur

- Thistleclaw finds her body and swears revenge against Bluefur and WindClan

- Thistleclaw refuses to eat for several days, and only eats a small mouse every now and then when prompted

- Thistleclaw becomes consumed by guilt and rage and begins to lash out against his clanmates and leaves angry claw marks in every tree he can find

- Dogkit dies of greencough a few moons later

- Thistleclaw is once again visited by the Dark Forest warriors, and this time he accepts their training

- Silverhawk, his Dark Forest Mentor, teaches him the killing blow. Thistleclaw kills a Dark Forest warrior to prove his loyalty

- On a border patrol, Thistleclaw finds a WindClan apprentice on ThunderClan territory. He promptly kills the she-cat as a warning to the clan. This marks his first real kill.

- When Bluefur bears kits he ignores them, spending all of his time with Whitepaw (his son) and refusing to let his son go near the kits

- Mosskit leaves the nursery when her mother is sleeping and finds Thistleclaw just outside the camp. Thistleclaw (still blaming Bluefur for the loss of Moonkit) snarls and kills Mosskit. He tears out the back of the nursery to make it look like someone else killed her. He buries the body and no one ever finds her.

- Bluefur is distraught when the clan announces that Mosskit is dead and she gives her remaining kits to Oakheart

- Bluefur becomes the deputy of ThunderClan, making Thistleclaw furious

- Thistleclaw takes Whitepaw out for some “battle training” and the two encounter a small ShadowClan hunting party. Thistleclaw makes up a story about how ShadowClan was hunting on ThunderClan territory and guts Archeye, leaving him for dead on the border. Whitepaw is shocked that his father would even think to kill

- Several moons pass and Sunstar orders ThunderClan to invade WindClan on account of border moving and prey stealing.

- Thistleclaw kills two WindClan warriors, Owlpelt and Willowfeather (not a real cat in the books) 

- Whitepaw earns his warrior name, Whitestorm, after the battle

- Thistleclaw tries to kill Bluefur, knowing that he is next in line for being the deputy (at least under Sunstar)

- When his attempts fail, Thistleclaw sees Oakheart leading a gray apprentice (Stonepaw) and realizes that Stonepaw is Bluefur’s son

- Thistleclaw is the mentor to Tigerpaw

- Thistleclaw orders Tigerpaw to attack a small kittypet (Tiny, later Scourge) and the kittypet leaves with a near-fatal injury. Bluefur was not present

- Thistleclaw teaches Tigerpaw how to fight with strength and little moral code, much like how Silverhawk taught him

- On a Sunningrocks battle, Thistleclaw nearly kills Stonepaw but is stopped by Sunstar. Thistleclaw calls Sunstar weak and pushes him off of the rocks. Sunstar snaps his neck and loses the last two of his lives

- Bluestar becomes leader (much earlier than she did in the actual books) and names Tigerpaw, Tigerclaw. Her deputy is Nightfang (not a real cat in the books)

- Thistleclaw dies in a battle against Nightfang, taking the deputy down with him as they both fall to their deaths. Nightfang is found in the river by Oakheart, and Thistleclaw is also found in the river with blood staining both of their bodies. Redtail becomes the new deputy of ThunderClan.

- Thistleclaw ends up in the Dark Forest and meets Snowfur, Dogkit, and Moonkit by the border of the Dark Forest and StarClan.

- Snowfur is afraid of her mate and only then does Thistleclaw realize that he has become a monster. Thistleclaw stays in the Dark Forest, hiding in the shadows, afraid of his own self.

- Thistleclaw never forgot his rage against Bluestar, and never felt guilty for those he had killed and that’s why he stayed in the Dark Forest

- He still trains new recruits in Omen of the Stars (though much less enthusiastically than he did in the books)

- In the final battle in Omen of the Stars, Thistleclaw’s spirit dies defending Whitestorm’s spirit from another Dark Forest warrior. 

[thunders-warcats-stuff]

Enter Darkness Chapter 21

The  cold  air  chilled Firepaw’s  bones  as  darkness  wrapped itself  around him. He  could hear nothing, and his nostrils were  filled with the musty scent  of damp  earth. 

Out  of  nowhere,  a  brilliant  ball of  light  flared  in  front  of  him.  Firepaw  ducked  his  head,  screwing  up  his eyes  against  the  glare.  The  light  shone, dazzling coldly before it blinked out, disappearing as quickly as it had come. 

The darkness fell away, and Firepaw  found himself in the  forest. He  felt  comforted by the familiar  smells of  the  woods. He breathed in the moist green scents and found himself significantly calmer.  

Without  warning,  a  dreadful  noise  burst  from  the  trees. Firepaw’s  fur bristled. It  was  the  screeching  of terrified cats  racing  out  from  the  bushes  up ahead. Firepaw  recognized ThunderClan pelts  as  they  fled past  him.  He  stood rooted  to  his  spot, unable  to  move. 

Then  came  great  cats, huge  dark warriors,  their eyes glittering  cruelly. They thundered toward him,  pounding  the  earth with  massive  paws, and claws unsheathed. Out of  the shadows,  Firepaw heard  a  high, desperate cry filled  with grief  and rage. Greypaw!

Firepaw  woke, horrified. His  dream  vanished, leaving  his  ears  ringing  and his  fur standing  on end. As  he opened his  eyes, he recognized Tigerclaw peering  into  the  den. Firepaw  leaped  to  his  feet, instantly alert.

“Something  wrong, Firepaw?”  The warrior rumbled questioningly.

“Just  a  dream,”  Firepaw  mumbled. Tigerclaw  shot  him  a  curious  look, then  growled,

“Wake  the  others. We  leave  shortly.”

Outside  the  den, the  sky glowed  with  a  new  dawn, and dew  sparkled  on the  ferns.  It  would be  a  warm day once  the  sun was  up, but  the  early-morning  dampness  reminded Firepaw  that leaf-fall wasn’t that far off. 

Firepaw, Greypaw, and Ravenpaw  quickly  gulped  down the  herbs  that  they'd been given the night before. Tigerclaw  and  Bluestar  sat  watching  them,  ready  to  leave.  It was early enough for the dawn patrol, Firepaw knew, but the rest of the  camp was still asleep.

“Ugh!”  complained  Greypaw.  “I  knew  they’d be  bitter. Why couldn’t  we  eat  a  fat,  juicy mouse instead?”

“These  herbs  will keep  your hunger  at  bay longer,”  answered  Bluestar. “And keep  you strong. We have a long  journey ahead of us.”

“I…” That dream was important. There was no reason for him to be so alarmed at the mere thought of leaving camp if StarClan wasn't trying to warn him.

“Bluestar, I think it would be best if we prolonged the trip to the Moonstone!” He blurted out. Firepaw blinked, shocked by what he'd just said. That certainly hadn't been his intention!

“Oh?” Bluestar purred, interested. “Is there any reason why, Firepaw?”

So he told her about his dream, about the ThunderClan cats fleeing and the fear he'd felt when he woke up.

“Why wouldn't StarClan send that dream to Spottedleaf?” Bluestar wondered. Firepaw shook his head, at a loss for words.

“They might have.” The tortoiseshell she-cat called softly across the camp. The group previously headed for the Moonstone padded over to greet the healer.

“How so?” Tigerclaw demanded.

“I've been receiving dreams of chaos lately, cats fighting everywhere, kits being stolen from their mothers in a nursery, but I could never make out who was under such strain or why StarClan would send us such a message. 

I think Firepaw might have a better idea as to what our ancestors are trying to say, and I think that now would not be the best time to be so far from camp. Send out patrols, because surely we must eat and be on alert, but keep our strongest here. Keep everyone here.”

Spottedleaf sounded scared, so that Firepaw had never witnessed before. She wasn't always happy, no doubt about that, but true fear was not something he'd ever witnessed in any cat older than him as an apprentice in either life.

Bluestar dipped her head, perturbed.

“It would seem that StarClan has spoken through the two of you, and who are we not to listen?” She insisted. “You may all sleep well into sun-high, and rest well, young ones. Your Clanmates may have saved us from a grave danger.”

Sure enough, ShadowClan cats burst into the camp. It was nearing sunset the next day when Firepaw was torn from his nest by the sounds of battle. 

He, alongside Ravenpaw and Dustpaw, raced out of the den to be met by a  frenzy  of fighting; ThunderClan cats  battling  furiously  with  ShadowClan  warriors. The  kits  were  out  of sight,  and Firepaw  hoped they  were  safely  hidden in  the  nursery. He  guessed the  weakest elders  would be  sheltering  inside  the  hollow  trunk of their fallen tree. 

Every corner  of the  camp  seemed  alive  with  warriors. Firepaw  could see  Frostfur and Goldenflower clawing  and biting  at  a  huge  gray  tom.  Even  the  young  tabby queen Brindleface  was  fighting, though she  was very close  to  kitting.  Darkstripe  was  locked  in  a  fierce  tussle  with  a  black  warrior. Three  of the  elders, Smallear, Patchpelt, and One-eye,  were  nipping  bravely at  a  tortoiseshell  that  fought  with  twice  their speed and ferocity.

The  apprentices  hurled themselves  into  the  battle.  Firepaw  caught  hold of a  tabby warrior queen, much  larger  than  him,  and sank his  teeth deep  into  her leg.  She  yowled with  pain  and turned  on him,  lashing out  with  sharp claws  and lunging  at  his  neck  with  her teeth bared. He  twisted and ducked to  avoid her bite. She  couldn’t  match his  speed, and he  managed to  grasp her from  behind and pull  her down into  the  dirt. 

With  strong  hind  legs  he  clawed  at  her  back  till she  squealed  and  struggled  away  from  him,  running  headlong into  the  thick undergrowth that  surrounded the  camp. Firepaw  glanced  around to  see  that  Bluestar  had scrambled out if her den and launched herself from Highrock onto a tabby. Firepaw  had yet to see her truly fight in this life, but knew that she  was  a  powerful  opponent. Her victim struggled to  escape  but  she  held  him  tightly and clawed  him  so  fiercely that  Firepaw  knew  he  would bear  the scars  of this  fight  for many moons. 

Then  he  saw  a  white  ShadowClan  cat  with  jet-black  paws  dragging  a  ThunderClan elder away  from  the nursery. 

Blackstar! 

He’d forgotten what the white tom had done in his former life as a ShadowClan rogue, having known the cat solely as a headstrong and cunning leader. 

The  ShadowClan deputy  made  quick  work  of  killing  the  elder someone he didn't recognize but  who  had  been  guarding  the  kits,  and  began  to  reach  into  the bramble  nest  with  one  massive  paw.  The  kits  were  squealing  and mewling,  undefended now  as  their mothers wrestled  with  other ShadowClan  warriors  in  the  clearing. 

Firepaw  prepared  to  spring  toward the  nursery, but  a  claw  sliced  painfully  down his  side  and he  whipped around to  see  a  scrawny tortoiseshell  leap  on top of him.  As  he  slammed into  the  ground, he  tried to  call  out to  the  other ThunderClan cats  that  the  kits  were  in  danger. Fighting  with  all  his  strength  to  escape  the tortoiseshell’s  grip, he  wrenched  his  head  around so  he  could see  the  bramble  nest. 

Blackfoot  had scooped two kits  from  their bedding  already and was  reaching  in  for a  third. Firepaw  saw  no more  as  the  tortoiseshell  raked his  belly  with  her hind claws.  Firepaw  scrabbled  onto his feet  and crouched low,  as  if  in  defeat. The  trick had worked  before  and it  worked  now. As  the  tortoiseshell gripped him  triumphantly  and began to  sink her teeth into  Firepaw’s  neck, Firepaw  sprang  upward as  hard as he  could and flung  the  warrior away. He  spun around and was  on the  winded warrior in  an  instant. 

 This  time he  showed  no mercy, plunging  his  teeth deep  into  the  cat’s  shoulder. The  bite  sent  the  she-cat  howling  into the  undergrowth. Firepaw  jumped  up, dashed  over to  the  nursery, and thrust  his  head  through the  nursery entrance. Blackfoot  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. Inside  the  nest, crouching  over the  terrified  kits, was  Yellowfang.

“Thank you, StarClan!” He panted.

Her gray  fur was  spattered with  blood, and one  of her eyes  was  painfully  swollen. She  looked up at  Firepaw  with  a ferocious  hiss,  then, realizing  it  was  him,  she  yowled,

“They’re  okay. I’ll  protect  them.”

Firepaw  looked at  her as  she  calmed the  helpless  kits, nodded quickly  and ducked back  out  of the  brambles. There  were  now  only a  few  ShadowClan  cats  left  in  the  camp. Ravenpaw  and Dustpaw  were  fighting side  by side, lashing  out  at  a  black tom  until  he  fled  howling  into  the  bushes. 

 Whitestorm  and Darkstripe chased  the  last  two intruders  out  of the  camp, sending  them  off with  a  few  extra  scratches  and bites. Firepaw  sat  down, exhausted, and stared  around the  camp. It  was  devastated. Blood spattered the clearing, and tufts  of fur drifted in  the  dust.  

The  surrounding  wall  of undergrowth was  ripped open where  the invaders  had crashed through. One  by one, the  ThunderClan cats  gathered  beneath the  Highrock. Greypaw  came  to  sit  by him,  his sides  heaving  and blood trickling  from  a  torn ear. Ravenpaw  flopped down and began to  lick a  wound on his tail.  

The  queens  ran to  the  nursery to  check  on their kits. Firepaw  found himself waiting  tensely for their return, his  view  blocked by the  other cats. This was Yellowfang's chance to prove her loyalty to ThunderClan, and he hoped she wasn't too gravely injured for it. Frostfur wove  her way back  through the  crowd, followed by Yellowfang.  The  white  queen  stepped forward  and  addressed  them.  

“Our  kits  are  all safe,  thanks  to  Yellowfang.  A  ShadowClan  warrior  killed  brave Rosetail  and was  trying  to  steal  them  from  their nest, but  Yellowfang  fought  him  off.”

“It  was  no ordinary ShadowClan  warrior either,”  Firepaw  put  in. He  was  determined  to  let  the  Clan know  how  much  they  owed  Yellowfang.  “I  saw  him.  It  was  Blackfoot.”

“The  ShadowClan  deputy!”  meowed  Brindleface, who had fought  so  bitterly  to  protect  the  unborn kits in  her swollen belly. There  was  a  stir  at  the  edge  of the  group, as  Bluestar  limped  forward  and  made  her  way  over  to  the apprentices. The  grave  expression on her face  was  enough to  tell  Firepaw  that  something  was  wrong.

“Spottedleaf  is  with  Lionheart,”  she  murmured.

No… in trying to get to the kits he'd forgotten all about his original mission of keeping Lionheart alive past this battle.  

Bluestar went on.

“He  was badly injured in the  battle.”  She  reported, turning her head  toward the shadow  on the  far side  of the  Highrock  where  the  warrior lay, a  motionless  bundle  of dusty  golden  fur. 

A high-pitched  wail  rose  from  Greypaw’s  throat  and he  raced  over to  Lionheart.  Spottedleaf, who had been  leaning  over the  ThunderClan deputy, stepped back  to  let  the  young  apprentice  share  tongues  for the last  time  with  his  mentor. 

As  Greypaw’s  howl  of grief echoed around the  clearing,  Firepaw’s  fur tingled and his  blood ran cold. That  was  the  cry he  had heard in  his  dream!  For a  moment  his  head  swam;  then  he  gave himself a  shake.  He  had failed once again, and now Tigerclaw was closer to his goal of becoming leader.  Spottedleaf  looked exhausted and dull-eyed  with  grief.

“I  can’t  help  Lionheart  now,”  she  mewed quietly  to  him. “He  is  on his  way to  join  StarClan.”

She  pressed her body against  Firepaw’s  side, and he barely felt  comforted by her warmth.

“Do not despair too much, young one. Some things are set in stone. There are things that even our ancestors cannot change.” She murmured.

“And you think this was one of them?” Firepaw growled, wrenching away from her. “Then what use are we as warriors if we can't defend our Clanmates?”

“Death is apart of life!” Spottedleaf insisted. “And the sooner you understand that you can't control anything, the better off you'll be.”

“No!” Firepaw snapped. “That can't be true, I wouldn't be here if that were true!” He snarled. “I'm not dog-headed enough to believe that I can save everyone, but StarClan warned me that this would happen, warned us both, so why did things still end like this?!”

“Growling at the medicine cat will do you no good.” Goldenflower informed him cuttingly from where she laid beside Lionheart. Firepaw glanced up to see Frostfur pressed against the golden warrior’s other side, Greypaw curled into the white she-cat's flank.

“StarClan has more power than any living cat because they know the future, but not every stone can be taken from the river.” Goldenflower insisted.

“If you had any idea of what I've been through, you wouldn't say that so easily. What's the point of telling us that something was going to happen if we can't do our best to stop it?”

“You did your best, Firepaw. That battle would have been a lot harder had the five of you gone on your Moonstone journey. More cats would have died and had you not noticed Blackfoot, the kits would be gone for sure. 

The only reason Yellowfang was able to reach them was because she noticed your struggle from where she fought, and was closer than you. Had no one gotten there, our kits would be with ShadowClan or worse.”

That was the most he'd ever heard Frostfur say, and knowing what happened to Cinderpelt not too long after this made his stomach turn. He didn't deserve her praise when he seemed to be the main cause of her sadness.

It seemed like seasons passed before Goldenflower lifted her head.

“Rest well, my dear brother. May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep.” Frostfur buried her head into Lionheart’s ruff and Greypaw curled tighter into himself.

Spottedleaf  padded lightly  around the  camp, tending  to  wounds  and battered  nerves. Firepaw  watched her approach  Bluestar  twice,  but  each time  the  leader  sent  her away  to  see  to  the  others. Only  when Spottedleaf  had attended to  the  wounds  of all  the  other cats  did Bluestar  allow  her to  treat  her bites  and scratches. 

When  she  had finished, Spottedleaf  turned  and walked  back  to  her den. Bluestar  stood and slowly hauled  herself up onto the  Highrock. The  Clan  seemed  to  have  been  waiting  for her. As  soon as  she  had settled  herself in  her usual  spot, they  began to  gather  in  the  clearing  below,  unusually silent  and somber-faced. 

Firepaw  and Ravenpaw  got  stiffly to  their paws  and joined  them, leaving  Greypaw, Goldenflower and Frostfur behind with Lionheart’s  body. The  gray  apprentice  was  still lying  with  his  nose  resting  against  Lionheart’s  cooling  golden pelt. Firepaw  guessed Bluestar  would excuse those closest to Lionheart  from  the  Clan  meeting  this  time.

“It  is  nearly  moonhigh,”  meowed  Bluestar  as  Firepaw  slipped into  place  next  to  Ravenpaw.  “And it  is once  more  my  duty, much, much  too soon, to name  ThunderClan’s  new  deputy.”  Her voice  was  tired and cracked  with  sadness. 

Firepaw  looked from  warrior to  warrior. They  were  all  looking  expectantly at  Tigerclaw.  Even Whitestorm  had turned  to  watch the  dark tabby. From  the  bold expression on his  face,  and the  way his whiskers  twitched  in  anticipation, Tigerclaw  seemed  to  agree  with  them. Bluestar  took a  deep  breath  and continued. 

“I  say these  words  before  the  body of Lionheart,  so  that  his spirit  may hear  and approve  my  choice.”  She  hesitated. “I  have  not  forgotten how  one  cat  avenged the  death of Redtail  and brought  his  body back  to  us. ThunderClan needs  this  fearless  loyalty even  more  now.”  Bluestar paused  again and then  meowed  the  name  loud and clear. 

“Tigerclaw  will be  the  new  deputy  of  ThunderClan.” There  was  a  yowl  of approval,  with  the  loudest  voices  belonging  to  Darkstripe  and Longtail.  Whitestorm sat  calmly, his  eyes  closed and tail  wrapped neatly  around him. Tigerclaw  lifted his  chin  proudly, his  eyes  half-closed as  he  listened to  the  Clan. Then  he  stalked through the  crowd, accepting  tributes  with  the  smallest  of nods, and leaped  up onto the  Highrock  beside  Bluestar.

“ThunderClan,”  he  yowled, “I  am  honored  to  accept  the  position of Clan  deputy. I never expected  to  gain such  high  rank, but  by the  spirit  of Lionheart,  I vow  to  serve  you as  best  I can.”  He  gravely dipped his head, fixing  the  crowd with  his  wide  yellow  eyes, and jumped  down from  the  Highrock.

nonononononononononononoNoNoNoNO!

He stared, wide-mouthed at Ravenpaw, who gaped back at him. Tigerclaw was officially the most powerful cat in the Clan. How in the word would they be able to convince anyone of his extreme ambitions now?!