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anderstrevelyan · 6 months

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Have you ever wondered exactly what's going on with all the dead bodies in the Wyrm's Rock audience hall, if you leave and come back after Gortash's coronation?

I did some in-game research while working on a fic recently, and in the name of sparing anyone else from having to lay all this out, too—here's a list of the victims, and some notes-based educated guessing on Gortash's motivation here.

(Beyond Iron Counsul Nuff's summary in the screenshot above: "My lord requires a clear path to his magnificent future. We cut away the troublesome bramble.")

Lord Petric Amber

Lord Amber's Bodyguard

Lady Ailis Belt

Lady Haeril Birch

Baron Callem Bormul

Lady Alia Durinbold

Lady Durinbold's Bodyguard

Lady Durinbold's Attendant

Lord Sarken Eomane

Admiral Peil Hullhollyn

Lady Winstra Hullhollyn

Lord Raylen Jannath

Lord Jannath's Bodyguard

Duke Dillard Portyr

Lord Portyr's Attendant

Lord Portyr's Bodyguard

Lady Beatrice Provoss

Lord Myer Ravenshade

Lady Silifrey Sashenstar

Lord Rugger Shattershield

Lord Shattershield's Bodyguard

Lord Shattershield's Attendant

Lord Milton Tillerturn

Lord Randolf Vammas

Lady Madeline Whitburn

9 Unnamed Patriars

First I'll note that not everyone you see lingering after the coronation ends up dead: I could talk to Lady Eshvelt Guthmere, Lady Ruth Linnacker, and Lady Freida Oberon, and their bodies aren't present in the hall later.

It also doesn't seem to be connected to vocalizing support for Gortash or not—you can overhear Portyr and Shattershield challenging him in the ambient dialogue after the coronation, but when you walk around and talk to everyone else the only one who has anything negative to say is Silifrey Sashenstar. Everyone else on the list above sings Gortash's praises.

So, here's what I think it is!

In the corner of the audience hall, you can find this note:

The Parliament of Peers is the body that's responsible for electing new dukes, and they held a formal vote to raise Gortash as Archduke and dissolve their own political body. Note the numbers: there's 23 members.

So who are these members? Up in Gortash's study, you can find this note discussing bribing, blackmailing, and threatening members of the Peers, which gives us the names of eight:

Five of these eight end up dead in the audience hall (Portyr, Jannath, Whitburn, Sashenstar, and Eomane).

As for the three Peers listed who don't end up in dead in the hall—Lady Ruth Linnacker, Lord Hir Rillyn, and Lady Haeril Vanthampur—let's look to this note:

Gortash has leverage against Ruth Linnacker through the abduction of her granddaughter, and I don't think it's unfair to assume Hir Rillyn and Haeril Vanthampur are similarly under Gortash's control, whether tadpoled or blackmailed (this is the one big assumption I had to make—bear with me!).

The other two with non-murderous leverage against them in the note above do end up dead, but I think there's some added context: I imagine Raylen Jannath is the husband of Wisteria Jannath, who Gortash canonically had an affair with (maybe it's personal? Maybe Raylen didn't care enough about the leverage of his own affair, if he knew she'd had one too?). For Portyr, there's the following in Gortash's study, noting he considers him a threat that shouldn't be underestimated, so he may not have wanted to stop at threats:

The inclusion of Portyr on the list of eight Peers could imply that the other three dukes are members of the Parliament of Peers, too. There's a book in Franc Peartree's house about the current state of who the dukes are, which I don't have my own screenshot of, but here's the relevant text from the wiki:

We know Belynne Stelmane is dead as part of the Bhaalist plot. Ulder Ravengard is tadpoled. The fourth duke was Thalamra Vanthampur, who's dead. They were waiting to replace her until Ravengard was found or confirmed gone—and Gortash was given this seat.

So, back to the original list of people murdered after the coronation. I bolded the names of those who aren't seemingly collateral damage (the bodyguards and attendants, and the unnamed patriars): there's 17.

17 killed after the coronation

Plus three Peers controlled through blackmail or other means

Plus Duke Stelmane and Duke Ravengard, dead and tadpoled respectively

That adds up to 22.

Add in Gortash's own vote, which he would have from taking (Thalamra) Vanthampur's seat, and you get 23.

The same number as the members of the Parliament of Peers.

Gortash didn't just orchestrate the Peers naming him the city's first Archduke, and he didn't just influence them to dissolve the political body that could vote another duke in. He made sure the individuals were destroyed, too.

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #enver gortash #gortash #bg3 meta #bg3 spoilers #anyway this took up way too much of my life so I hope my Gortash Math can be useful to someone else #also side note: I know some other sources like Murder in Baldur's Gate claim there's closer to 50 Peers #but going based on in-game evidence here

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bonefall · 1 month

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My birthday was a couple days ago, and I got to see my bio dad for the first time in a while. He surprised me with the fact that I have a little half-sister, whom I've never met and who was adopted about two years back. So, I wondered if any situations in BB mimic this or have a theme of "secret siblings" or "secret family"? Sorry if this is a weird ask; this blog is honestly just such a cool little place and I love the way you approach the subject matter and take the flawed misogynistic foundation of the WC books and make them so much better (JUSTICE FOR BUMBLE!!!). I've also learned a lot about healthy and unhealthy relationships here and am really glad for your deep dives on Squilf and Bramble. Thanks, Bones!

Not weird at all! I really like exploring all the little nooks and crannies of complicated familial dynamics. I think one of the untapped strengths of WC (that the writers seem to be unaware of) is how their MASSIVE cast allows them to present all sorts of unique dynamics. So I like to pick up on it, since they don't.

For secret siblings...

I'm pretty heavily leaning towards Ambermoon being adopted by Wildfur, as a surrogacy. Something feels correct about it. Especially since Icecloud is getting retooled into a post-Battle of the True Eclipse birth, and a major supporting character in AVoS-era stories as a friend of Alderheart.

Thinking about it, I should zoom in and expand this. Maybe have Icecloud, somehow, acquire forbidden knowledge that would invalidate the Queen’s Rights and he (transman) struggles with if he's going to use it to expose his parents as an excuse to help Ambermoon.

(Especially since Ambermoon and Icecloud are basically nothing alike. Amber is independent, bold, and vain. Ice is jessie pinkman big-hearted, disorganized, and deceptively meek if you look past his "chill" demeanor)

But that's wip-- there's also Breezepelt and the Three, who are going to have an actual friendship. In particular I can't unsee Breeze and Lion having a deep one. I know I commit the Cardinal Sin of borderline himbo-ifying Lionblaze in BB, but I can't help it.

Hollyleaf ended up nabbing a bunch of his most violent roles to make her villainous descent smoother narratively, so BB!Lionblaze's story ends up being more focused on Ashfur's abuse, comic relief with cats in other Clans (something that the very serious Jay and Holly have a hard time providing), and the emotional fallout of the big reveal and Bramblestar's turn on them. Breezepelt slots neatly into that.

They were friends. Lionblaze's whole life came down around the reveal, everyone looking at him and his siblings differently, like they're suddenly something terrible. Why can't we find a silver lining, Breezepelt? Why can't we call ourselves brothers if the whole world is going to do it anyway? So much is changing, but THIS doesn't have to, we will take their weapon and turn it to armor, my ally, my friend, my brother.

(and when Breezepelt is lashing out at the three because of the Dark Forest's influence, Lionblaze is there, taking the blows and trying not to give in to the impulse to send him flying with a single paw)

There's also Harespring and Kestrelflight of WindClan and Owlclaw of ShadowClan. All of them are from a single litter between Whitewater and Mudclaw. She was going to raise the three of them alone as ShadowClan cats, but when the sire was smote, Whitewater felt they were cursed.

She was able to give the oldest two to their bio-uncle, Torear, but the weather was so bad that day and the runt was so sickly and small that it surely would have killed him. I don't think Owlclaw ever finds out why his mother always treated him with suspicion, but it did mess him up horribly.

Over in BB!DOTC, Thunder Storm is getting more half-siblings earlier. Clear Sky and Falling Feather had two daughters-- Pale Sky and Tiger Sky.

I want to explore the way that the various stages of Clear Sky's life acted on his kids. How any little curiosity Thunder Storm had about the life he might have had if he wasn't abandoned is crushed by seeing kittens who weren't. How Clear's favoritism of his oldest child set the trio against each other from the start. How this idea of "love" is toxic yet intoxicating.

It feels good to be the golden child. The power it gives you over his sycophants is satisfying. To know you, and you alone, have what someone else craves. Problem is, that's conditional, and it's cruel.

What Thunder Storm learns from his time with his biodad is that Clear Sky is not his father at all. He's taught him exactly what he DOESN'T want to be. There may be similarities-- in temperament, in physical prowess (though BB!Thunder is three-legged, he's still ripped), in taste and senses. But Thunder Storm's father is Shaded Flower.

(BB!Gray Wing died in the first book, rescuing Shaded Flower from being trampled by a horse. Xey're a patron of wisdom, Shaded Moss is taking the role of fatherhood to Thunder)

His sister is Rainswept Flower. His mom is Bright Storm. If there was a bond he could have had with Tiger Sky and Pale Sky, it dies simply and cruelly on the knife they used to cut each other out.

Pale might have wanted to mend it, she was the gentler one. But she dies in the First Battle along with her mother. Tiger Sky is too stubborn to accept any help, should Thunderstar offer it, and Thunderstar isn't in the business of begging for others to like him.

Naturally I'm lowkey obsessed with them lmao. I need to make a BB!DOTC overviewww

#I have a perspective on half siblings colored by a dynamic in my family #The generation above me has two siblings who had an awful biodad and an amazing stepdad (who did officially adopt them)#And there was nothing ''natural'' or good about how one of them was obsessed with their biodad.#It was influenced by his surroundings and did nothing but drag an incredibly toxic man back into his sister's life #Over and over #But anyway the son used to tell me ''theres no half in siblings''#The daughter adored her halfbrother through the mother who raised them-- but was adamant that her biodad's newer kids were nothing to her #I guess I agree with the son. But not in the way he believes it #There's no half in siblings because you either Are. Or you are Not.#You have a shared experience with having that person as a parent or you don't. And that's what's unchanging.#It's not the blood; it's the sweat and tears. But anyhoo #Personal details of my life aside #Tiger Sky and Pale Sky are Clear's Dead Angel Fetus Children in-canon. I think that was Weird.#So instead I made them. Not. Dead angel fetus children....#They're characters now lmaoo #Better bones au #I think Tiger Sky (i call her Tigs in my head a lot) is one of my favorite kit saves ever though #She's not going to be from the last litter either. I haven't picked who the mom is yet but he does have even more #At least one of those is going to make a grab at power but um. Sparrow Heart will not react Well.#BASICALLY lads I'm cooking. My revamps of the DOTC characters basically write themselves because I am very fond of them.#Clear's youngest: ''OH I JUST CANT WAIT TO BE KI-"#Sparrowstar: ''-lled.''

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cryptidclaw · 1 year

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Cryptidclaw's WC Prefixes List!

Yall said you were interested in seeing it so here it is!

This is a collection of mostly Flora, Fauna, Rocks, and other such things that can be found in Britain since that’s where the books take place!

I also have other Prefixes that have to do with pelt colors and patterns as well!

Here’s a link to the doc if you dont want to expand a 650 word list on your Tumblr feed lol! the doc is also in my drive linked in my pined post!

below is the actual list! If there are any names you think I should add plz tell me!

EDIT: I will update the doc with new names as I come up with them or have them suggested to me, but I wont update the list on this post! Plz visit my doc for a more updated version!

Animals

Mammal

Badger

Bat

Bear

Beaver

Bison

Boar

Buck

Calf

Cow

Deer

Elk

Fawn

Ferret

Fox

Goat

Hare

Horse

Lamb

Lynx

Marten

Mole

Mouse

Otter

Rabbit

Rat

Seal

Sheep

Shrew

Squirrel

Stoat

Vole

Weasel

Wolf

Wolverine

Amphibians

Frog

Newt

Toad

Reptiles

Scale

Adder

Lizard

Snake

Turtle

Shell

Birds

Bird

Down

Feather

Albatross

Bittern

Buzzard

Chaffinch

Chick

Chicken

Coot

Cormorant

Corvid

Crane

Crow

Curlew

Dove

Duck

Dunlin

Eagle

Egret

Falcon

Finch

Gannet

Goose

Grouse

Gull

Hawk

Hen

Heron

Ibis

Jackdaw

Jay

Kestrel

Kite

Lark

Magpie

Mallard

Merlin

Mockingbird

Murrelet

Nightingale

Osprey

Owl

Partridge

Pelican

Peregrine

Petrel

Pheasant

Pigeon

Plover

Puffin

Quail

Raven

Robin

Rook

Rooster

Ruff

Shrike

Snipe

Sparrow

Starling

Stork

Swallow

Swan

Swift

Tern

Thrasher

Thrush

Vulture

Warbler

Whimbrel

Wren

Freshwater Fish

Fish

Bass

Bream

Carp

Dace

Eel

Lamprey

Loach

Minnow

Perch

Pike

Rudd

Salmon

Sterlet

Tench

Trout

Roach

Saltwater fish and other Sea creatures (would cats be able to find some of these? Probably not, I don't care tho)

Alge

Barnacle

Bass (Saltwater version)

Bream (Saltwater version)

Brill

Clam

Cod

Crab

Dolphin

Eel (Saltwater version)

Flounder

Garfish

Halibut

Kelp

Lobster

Mackerel

Mollusk

Orca

Prawn

Ray

Seal

Shark

Shrimp

Starfish

Sting

Urchin

Whale

Insects and Arachnids

Honey

Insect

Web

Ant

Bee

Beetle

Bug

Butterfly

Caterpillar

Cricket

Damselfly

Dragonfly

Fly

Grasshopper

Grub

Hornet

Maggot

Moth

Spider

Wasp

Worm

Trees

Acorn

Bark

Branch

Forest

Hollow

Log

Root

Stump

Timber

Tree

Twig

Wood

Alder

Apple

Ash

Aspen

Beech

Birch

Cedar

Cherry

Chestnut

Cypress

Elm

Fir

Hawthorn

Hazel

Hemlock

Linden

Maple

Oak

Pear

Poplar

Rowan

Redwood

Spruce

Willow

Yew

Flowers, Shrubs and Other plants

Berry

Blossom

Briar

Field

Flower

Leaf

Meadow

Needle

Petal

Shrub

Stem

Thicket

Thorn

Vine

Anemone

Apricot

Barley

Bellflower

Bluebell

Borage

Bracken

Bramble

Briar

Burnet

Buttercup

Campion

Chamomile

Chanterelle

Chicory

Clover

Cornflower

Daffodil

Daisy

Dandelion

Dogwood

Fallow

Fennel

Fern

Flax

Foxglove

Furze

Garlic

Ginger

Gorse

Grass

Hay

Heather

Holly

Honeysuckle

Hop

Hyacinth

Iris

Ivy

Juniper

Lavender

Lichen

Lilac

Lilly

Mallow

Marigold

Mint

Mistletoe

Moss

Mushroom

Nettle

Nightshade

Oat

Olive

Orchid

Parsley

Periwinkle

Pine

Poppy

Primrose

Privet

Raspberry

Reed

Reedmace

Rose

Rush

Rye

Saffron

Sage

Sedge

Seed

Snowdrop

Spindle

Strawberry

Tangerine

Tansy

Teasel

Thistle

Thrift

Thyme

Violet

Weed

Wheat

Woodruff

Yarrow

Rocks and earth

Agate

Amber

Amethyst

Arch

Basalt

Bounder

Cave

Chalk

Coal

Copper

Dirt

Dust

Flint

Garnet

Gold

Granite

Hill

Iron

Jagged

Jet

Mountain

Mud

Peak

Pebble

Pinnacle

Pit

Quartz

Ridge

Rock

Rubble

Ruby

Rust(y)

Sand

Sapphire

Sediment

Silt

Silver

Slate

Soil

Spire

Stone

Trench

Zircon

Water Formations

Bay

Cove

Creek

Delta

Lake

Marsh

Ocean

Pool

Puddle

River

Sea

Water

Weather and such

Autumn

Avalanche

Balmy

Blaze

Blizzard

Breeze

Burnt

Chill

Cinder

Cloud

Cold

Dew

Drift

Drizzle

Drought

Dry

Ember

Fall

Fire

Flame

Flood

Fog

Freeze

Frost

Frozen

Gale

Gust

Hail

Ice

Icicle

Lightening

Mist

Muggy

Rain

Scorch

Singe

Sky

Sleet

Sloe

Smoke

Snow

Snowflake

Soot

Sorrel

Spark

Spring

Steam

Storm

Summer

Sun

Thunder

Water

Wave

Wet

Wind

Winter

Celestial??

Comet

Dawn

Dusk

Evening

Midnight

Moon

Morning

Night

Noon

Twilight

Cat Features, Traits, and Misc.

Azure

Beige

Big

Black

Blonde

Blotch(ed)

Blue

Bounce

Bright

Brindle

Broken

Bronze

Brown

Bumble

Burgundy

Call

Carmine

Claw

Cobalt

Cream

Crimson

Cry

Curl(y)

Dapple

Dark

Dot(ted)

Dusky

Ebony

Echo

Fallen

Fleck(ed)

Fluffy

Freckle

Ginger

Golden

Gray

Green

Heavy

Kink

Knot(ted)

Light

Little

Lost

Loud

Marbled

Mew

Milk

Mottle

Mumble

Ochre

Odd

One

Orange

Pale

Patch(ed)

Pounce

Prickle

Ragged

Red

Ripple

Rough

Rugged

Russet

Scarlet

Shade

Shaggy

Sharp

Shimmer

Shining

Small

Smudge

Soft

Song

Speckle

Spike

Splash

Spot(ted)

Streak

Stripe(d)

Strong

Stump(y)

Sweet

Tall

Talon

Tangle

Tatter(ed)

Tawny

Tiny

Tough

Tumble

Twist

Violet

Whisker

Whisper

White

Wild

Wooly

Yellow

#cryptidclaw's warriors au #?#Im tempted to use these in the au #some characters deserve some more fun names hehe #rise of change #warrior cats #warrior cats design #warriors #warriors names #warriors naming #warriors prefixes

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greenwitchcrafts · 3 hours

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May 2024 witch guide

Full moon: May 23rd

New moon: May 7th

Sabbats: Beltane-May1st

May Flower Moon

Known as: Bright Moon, Budding Moon, Dyad Moon, Egg Laying Moon, Frog Moon, Hare Moon, Leaf Budding Moon, Merry Moon, Moon of the Shedding Ponies, Planting Moon, Sproutkale, Thrimilcmonath & Winnemanoth

Element: Fire

Zodiac: Taurus & Gemini

Nature spirits: Elves & Faeries

Deities: Aphrodite, Artemis, Bast, Cernunnos, Diana, Frigga, Flora, Horned God, Kali, Maia, Pan, Priapus & Venus

Animals: Cat, leopard & lynx

Birds: Dove, Swallow & Swan

Trees: Hawthorne & rowan

Herbs: Cinnamon, dittany of Crete, Elder, mint, mugwort & thyme

Flowers: Foxglove, lily of the valley & rose

Scents: Rose & sandalwood

Stones: Amber, Apache tear, carnelian, emerald, garnet, malachite, rose quartz, ruby, tourmaline & tsavorite

Colors: Brown, green, orange, pink & yellow

Energy: Abundance, creative energy, faerie & spirit contact, fertility, intuition, love, marriage, material gains, money, propagation, prosperity, real-estate dealings, relationships & tenacity

May’s Flower Moon name should be no surprise; flowers spring forth across North America in abundance this month!

• “Flower Moon” has been attributed to Algonquin peoples, as confirmed by Christina Ruddy of The Algonquin Way Cultural Centre in Pikwakanagan, Ontario.

May’s Moon was also referred to as the “Month of Flowers” by Jonathan Carver in his 1798 publication, Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America: 1766, 1767, 1768 (pp. 250-252), as a likely Dakota name. Carver stayed with the Naudowessie (Dakota) over a period of time; his expedition covered the Great Lakes region, including the Wisconsin and Minnesota areas.

Beltane

Known as: Beltaine, May day, Roodmas & Cethsamhain

Season: Spring

Symbols: Eggs, faeries, fire, flowers & maypoles

Colors: Blue, dark yellow, green, light pink, orange, red, white yellow & rainbow spectrum

Oils/Incense: Frankincense, lilac, passion flower, rose, tuberose & vanilla

Animals: Bee, cattle, goat & rabbit

Mythical: Faeries

Stones: Bloodstone, emerald, lapis lazuli, orange carnelian, rose quartz & sapphire

Food: Beltane cakes, cherries, dairy foods, farls, green herbal salads, honey, meade, nuts, oat cakes, oats, strawberries & sweets

Herbs/Plants: Almond, ash tree, birch, bramble, cinquefoil, damiana, frankincense, hawthorn, ivy, meadowsweet, mushroom, rosemary, saffron, satyrion root, St.John's wort & woodruff

Flowers: Angelica, bluebell, daisy, hibiscus, honeysuckle, lilac, marigold, primrose, rose, rose hips & yellow cowslips

Trees: Ash, cedar, elder, fir, hawthorn, juniper, linden, mesquite, oak, pine, poplar, rowan & willow

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Areil, Artemis, Cybele, Danu, Diana, Dôn, Eiru, Elen, Eostre, Fand, Flidais, Flora, Freya, Frigga, Maia, Niwalen, Rhea, Rhiannon, Var, Venus & Xochiquetzal

Gods: Baal, Bacchnalia, Balder, Belanos, Belenus, Beli, Beltene, Cernunnos, Cupid, Faunus, Freyr, Grannus, The Green Man, Lares, Lugh, Manawyddan, Odin, Pan, Puck & Taranis

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Agriculture, creativity, fertility, lust, marriage, the otherworld/Underworld, pleasure, psychic ability, purification, sensuality, sex/uality, visions, warmth & youth

Spellwork: Birth, Earth magick, healing, health & pregnancy

Activities:

• Create a daisy chain or floral decorations

• Decorate & dance around a Maypole

• Set up an outdoor altar & leave offerings to faeries

• Prepare a ritual bath with fresh flowers

• Light a bonfire or candles & dance around them

• Set aside time for self care

• Gather flowers & use them to decorate your home or altar

• Prepare a feast to celebrate with friends/family

• Make flower crowns

• Bake bannocks, oat cakes or cookies

• Hang wreaths decorated with ribbons & flowers

• Plant flowers in your garden

• Start a wish book/box/journal

• Go on a walk & gice thanks to nature⁸

• Cast fertility or a bunch spells

• Fill small baskets of flowers & small goodies, then leave them on your friends/neighbors doorstep as a gesture of goodwill & friendship

Beltane is mentioned in the earliest Irish literature and is associated with important events in Irish mythology. Also known as Cétshamhain ('first of summer'), it marked the beginning of summer & was when cattle were driven out to the summer pastures. Rituals were performed to protect cattle, people & crops, and to encourage growth. (Today, Witches who observe the Wheel of the Year celebrate Beltane as the height of Spring.)

Special bonfires were kindled, whose flames, smoke & ashes were deemed to have protective powers. The people and their cattle would walk around or between bonfires & sometimes leap over the flames or embers. All household fires would be doused & then re-lit from the Beltane bonfire.

These gatherings would be accompanied by a feast, and some of the food and drink would be offered to the aos sí. Doors, windows, byres and livestock would be decorated with yellow May flowers, perhaps because they evoked fire.

In parts of Ireland, people would make a May Bush: typically a thorn bush or branch decorated with flowers, ribbons, bright shells & rushlights. Holy wells were also visited, while Beltane dew was thought to bring beauty & maintain youthfulness.

• The aos sí (often referred to as spirits or fairies) were thought to be especially active at Beltane. Like Samhain, which lies directly opposite from Beltane on the Wheel of the Year, this was seen as a time when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest. At Samhain the veil between the worlds of the living & the dead is thin enough that we can connect & convene with our beloved dead, here at Beltane it’s the veil between the human world, and the world of faeries & nature spirits that has grown thin. Offerings would be left at the ancient faerie forts, the wells and in other sacred places in an effort to appease these nature spirits to ensure a successful growing season.

Some believe this is when The Goddess is now the Mother & the God is seen as the Green Man or the wild stag. It celebrates the symbolic union, mating or marriage of the Goddess & God & heralds in the coming summer months. It represents life rather than Samhain on the opposite side of the Wheel of the Year.

Other Celebrations:

• Rosealia- May 23rd

Rosalia or Rosaria was a festival of roses celebrated on various dates, primarily in May, but scattered through mid-July. The observance is sometimes called a rosatio ("rose-adornment") or the dies rosationis, "day of rose-adornment," & could be celebrated also with violets. As a commemoration of the dead, the rosatio developed from the custom of placing flowers at burial sites. It was among the extensive private religious practices by means of which the Romans cared for their dead, reflecting the value placed on tradition (mos maiorum, "the way of the ancestors"), family lineage & memorials ranging from simple inscriptions to grand public works. Several dates on the Roman calendar were set aside as public holidays or memorial days devoted to the dead.

Roses had funerary significance in Greece, but were particularly associated with death & entombment among the Romans. In Greece, roses appear on funerary steles & in epitaphs most often of girls. Flowers were traditional symbols of rejuvenation, rebirth &memory, with the red & purple of roses & violets felt to evoke the color of blood as a form of propitiation

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

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bestworstcase · 3 months

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thinking about those two deer in the lost fable again. out of all the assets created just for this one episode, why?

like… it’s not random. the only other animals in this story have been amber’s horse, zwei, and the branwens’ bird forms. all have some narrative relevance, a clear connection to a character that justifies the expense and effort of modeling them. and then in the lost fable—an episode that was always going to be a heavy lift technically and financially for the sheer amount of ground to cover and novel assets required—has these two deer. they’re only on screen for like two seconds.

it’s narratively motivated. the lost fable is a highly symbolic episode and that symbolism foreshadows the ever after / ascension / all the v9 lore quite strongly; it follows that the intended symbolism of this shot demanded the presence of these deer.

the god of light has deer antlers. in the blacksmith’s story, the first act of destruction is to eat; darkness eats, light does not. light holds himself at a distance, he designs, he does not live. these deer are grazing. salem appears from a plume of smoke at the base of the withered tree, and the deer startle at her approach and look up at her. the shot transitions to salem looking upon the grimm in the ruins of a town—

“she cursed the gods, she cursed the universe. she cursed everything—everything but herself,” says jinn. but her expression isn’t anger. (always check her eyebrows.) it’s more intense concentration, intense thought…

…which brings her back to the pool of grimm. jinn says that “fate” led her back here because that’s what ozpin believes. but this sequence begins with those deer, eating. destruction in its purest unadulterated form. salem visually emerges from the withered tree. she’s observing the grimm and she’s thinking. if the fountain of life had given her immortality, then surely the pools of grimm would finally take it away—not “finally let her die.”

rolls over.

the fountain of life gave her infinite life. salem hoped the pool of grimm would take it away. not kill. not destroy. infinite life. if you take from an infinite quantity, an infinite quantity still remains. this force of pure destruction could not destroy, so it created…

destruction first, to clear the wilderness away. darkness eats the tree’s brambles and through this act creation is born. jinn’s telling distorts through ozpin’s belief, but the truth is there. pure destruction and infinite life are not in conflict; rather, destruction feeds life.

the pool of grimm did take from her life—subtract from the infinite and the infinite remains—she’s torn apart and remade. creativity, to imagine what, and who, could replace the wilderness.

jinn tells this story, ozpin’s story, in a way that obfuscates salem’s real agency and her personhood, casting her alternately as tragic object of fate and inhuman monster. fate led her back to the land of darkness; a being of infinite life with a desire for pure destruction.

he believes salem wanted to die when she leapt into the pool of grimm.

did she?

the deer, the grimm, herself, the pool of grimm. wilderness and ruin. all that remained. i arrive at the edge of the world […] should i kneel?/what should i feel?/will i fall apart?/maybe that’s all i want […] and in my heart it’s there/standing tall enough to fix it all/it’s just a new beginning/it’s just a different ending […] i am everything and nothing/all at once/i’ll meet you at the horizon/where we first met/where i died, i’ll be born again…

(something. something. without you i am nothing, but because of you, i am everything. self-similar narrative.)

the edge of the world. . .

mutters. sow the death and reap the seed -> the moon will sadly watch the roses die -> a rose will grow to be a seed/from every life another leads -> some roses will never bloom. the burning rose, the shattered moon.

did. she know—did she have an idea that destroying herself would create a new world? destruction to clear the wilderness, creativity to imagine its replacement.

“they could claim the powers of their creators for themselves and in turn perfect their own design; all they needed to do was destroy their old masters.” -> “this was it, this had to be it, the brother’s grimm, the pools of black that continued to give rise to horrific nightmares” -> “we could be the gods of this world. […] create the paradise the old gods could not.”

like. it’s not just

it’s those fucking deer. eating. the grimm picking over the ruins. (grimm eat their prey.) salem, observing, thinking. “the gods had hoped that salem would learn from her eternal curse, and she did.” the god of light bade her learn the importance of life and death, and she did. and then she jumped into the pool of grimm and created remnant. a new world. a completely unfamiliar world–

…oh. ohhh

“magic was a gift from the gods that all could wield” -> “without the blessings of the gods, no one could perform magic like mankind was once capable of”

and

“aura is a manifestation of the soul, a life force that runs through every living creature on remnant.” we could be the gods of this world.

how does pyrrha unlock jaune’s aura? “for it is in passing we achieve immortality; through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory, infinite in distance and unbound by death. i release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee.” a religious mantra echoing salem’s idea of transcendence. magic was a gift from the gods that all could wield; aura is a manifestation of the soul that everyone has, though only a select few are privileged by ozma’s institutions to learn. “with enough training and focus,” salem says, “a user’s aura can turn them into much more than just a man.” the illustration is ozpin’s silhouette—but ozma’s power isn’t derived from aura, it’s magic, and the infinite man is fond of saying that he is “only a man, not even a very good one,” and salem herself sees him as diminished, as lessened. he’s the image of “just a man.” a person’s aura can make them much more than ozma. much more than the brothers’ design.

our powers surpass all others.

salem is grimm. even if she has aura, she cannot use it to protect herself. the gods gave humans magic and then took it back; salem threw herself into the pool of grimm and it broke her apart and—symbolically if not literally—took away her aura and gave it to the people of remnant, reborn from the ashes of her rebellion. a semblance is the outward manifestation of one’s soul. she wanted humanity to claim the powers of their creators and perfect their own design, and… with enough training and focus, a user’s aura can turn them into something much more than just a man.

#mutters. knowledge then choice #she didn’t know exactly what would happen but i think she had #a pretty good guess

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mousetoe-wc · 7 months

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I Got bored one time awhile ago and made a list of every prefix plus some into organised sections so I thought I might as well share.

All the ones that aren’t cannon to warriors, yet at lest are bold

Describing names

Colours: red, russet, copper, golden, amber, yellow, green, blue, violet, pink, white, gray, black, ebony, dark, pale, silver, brown, tawny, fallow

Pattern, Texture + Size: spot/ted, dapple, speckle, freckle, brindle, patch, mottle, ragged, tangle, kink, bristle, fuzzy, curl/y, wooly, soft, sleek, little, tiny, small, slight, short, tall, long, big, heavy, crooked, broken, half, stumpy, shred, torn, jagged

Actions + Character: flip, pounce, bounce, jump, hop, crouch, down, low, drift, flail, strike, running, fidget, mumble, whistle, snap, sneeze, shiver/ing, shining, flutter, fallen, lost, rush, fleet, quick, shy, sweet, brave, loud, quiet, wild, hope, wish,

Other: claw, whisker, dead, odd, one, spike, fringe, echo, song, hallow, haven

Elements

Time + Weather: day, night, dusk, dawn, morning, sky, sun/ny, moon, storm, lightning, thunder, cloud/y, mist/y, fog, snow, blizzard, ice, frost, dew, drizzle, rain, clear, wind, breeze, gale, shadow, shade, bright, light,

Earth/Water/Fire names: stone, rock, boulder, slate, flint, pebble, gravel, sand/y, dust, mud/dy, meadow, hill, rubble, river, ripple, whorl, float, rapid, shimmer, lake, swamp, marsh, wave, wet, bubbling, splash, puddle, pool, creek, fire, flame, flicker, flash, blaze, scorch, ember, spark, ash, soot, cinder, smoke

Plants

Trees: alder, aspen, birch, beech, cedar, cypress, pine, elm, willow, oak, larch, maple, bay, rowan, timber, bark, log, wood, twig, acorn, cone, seed, spire

Berry/Nut/Fruit/Herb: juniper, elder, sloe, holly, yew, mistle, bramble, hickory, hazel, chestnut, nut, apple, cherry, cranberry, olive, pear, plum, peach, chive, mint, fennel, sage, basil, mallow, parsley

Flowers: aster, poppy, primrose, rose, bluebell, marigold, tansy, pansy, briar, cherry, daisy, dandelion, daffodil, tulip, violet, lily, myrtle, thrift, yarrow, heather, lavender, blossom, bloom, flower, petal

Other: leaf, frond, fern, bracken, sorrel, hay, rye, oat, wheat, cotton, reed, pod, cinnamon, milkweed, grass, clover, weed, stem, sedge, gorse, furze, flax, nettle, thistle, ivy, moss, lichen, bush, vine, root, thorn, prickle, nectar

Animals

Mammals: mouse, rat, mole, vole, shrew, squirrel, hedgehog, bat, rabbit, hare, ferret, weasel, stoat, mink, marten, otter, hog, wolf, hound, fox, vixen, badger, deer, doe, stag, fawn, sheep, cow, pig, lion, tiger, leopard, lynx, milk

Birds: robin, jay, cardinal, thrush, sparrow, swallow, shrike, starling, rook, swift, dove, pigeon, crow, raven, duck, goose, heron, wren, finch, swan, stork, quail, gull, lark, owl, eagle, hawk, kestrel, buzzard, kite, hoot, feather, bird, egg, talon

Fish, Reptiles + Amphibians: pike, perch, pollack, trout, tench, cod, carp, bass, bream, eel, minnow, fin, snake, adder, lizard, turtle, frog, toad, newt

Bug type Names: bug, lady or ladybug, moth, spider, ant, snail, slug, beetle, bee, wasp, dragon or dragonfly, bumble, worm, maggot, cricket, fly, midge, web, honey

Skyclan + Warriorclan: Bella, Billy, Big, Harry, Harvey, Snook, Ebony, Monkey

#warrior cats #wc

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redux-iterum · 7 months

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Burning Hearts: Epilogue

(AO3 counterpart here.)

Camp was silent, but in the purposefully hushed way, that of a Clan who’d woken up to the pained cries of a queen as she brought her litter into the world and had elected to leave her be until the night. The kits had stopped squealing, busily nursing at Goldenflower’s belly, kneading her with their shut eyes and ears. Brindleface and her kits had fallen asleep quickly after the birthing, and Frostfur was outside guarding the nursery as her own kits drifted off again.

With the sun thankfully dimmed by a cloudy sky, Goldenflower’s eyes were glued to her litter of three: two beautiful little torbie mollies, the stronger pale ginger and brown and the weaker a darker version, and a curious, rotund tabby tom. Somehow, despite everything the matriarch had learned in her studies, he had come out dark brown.

Just like his father.

Was StarClan punishing her for something? What for? Her ignorance? Her blind trust and love? How was this possible otherwise?

Goldenflower repressed a grieving shudder and forced her thoughts to something else—anything else.

Names. They needed names. And she was the only one here to give them.

If Fireheart were here, she could take the opportunity to teach him how to name his own kits when he had them. It could have taken her mind off of everything, to see his excitement when he met his little siblings, and his worry over Cloudkit, who had grown fatter and louder, if that was possible.

But he wasn’t here. She’d have to do this alone.

Some small part of her reminded her that Brindleface and Frostfur could help, but… no. This was for family to do. She had a feeling.

The first molly, the pale one, she regarded with no small amount of affection. She was as big as her brother—bigger, really—and her markings were paired together beautifully, a solid blend of pale ginger and a warm brown with the tabby markings streaking down her body evenly. She was mostly that ginger, though the brown wasn’t giving up its spaces without a fight.

Tawny, maybe, Goldenflower thought. Or Morning. She could be a Morning. But Tawny feels more obvious…

She could come back to that. She had better ideas for the other two.

The weakest, runty and spotted, had more mottled brown and ginger. She was the smallest and the quietest; Goldenflower’s experience warned her to be ready for the worst. She didn’t let that forbid her from naming the kit. She should have a mighty name, something to make up for her size.

Leopard. He would have called you that.

And perhaps she shouldn’t have thought of what he would have wanted, but... how could she not? They’d discussed names before she had retreated into the nursery full-time. He’d loved the idea of a Leopardkit. That had been his favorite one out of all they’d talked about.

He loved you before you were born, she thought, pressing her nose to Leopardkit, who barely twitched in response. I know that was real. No one else has to.

Now, the tom…

Curse her sentimentality, but it was impossible not to think of him. He was a spitting image of his father, big and starkly-striped. He was going to be tall and powerful, she could see already. But perhaps not brutish; even as a newborn, his claws seemed mostly tucked in, barely grazing her stomach when he pushed harder for milk. They were long, still, like his, and his paws were massive.

He wasn’t getting Tiger, obviously. But something close, something fierce and prickly… shame Thornkit had taken that name already.

A name struck her, and she couldn’t think of another. Bramble. Bramble, with long, sharp stripes and long, sharp claws.

It was perfect. She could only pray no one figured out the source.

Drowsily, she returned to the pale molly, going over Tawny and Morning, back and forth, her exhaustion creeping in and tamping down her thoughts until she drifted off, with a vague image in her head of three little kits touching noses with their father, his amber eyes shining with love and pride.

Where was his soul now, she wondered…

---

He runs, paws scrambling for purchase on the rocky slope that borders the road. A shining silhouette blazes ahead of him and he ducks into the forest. Ferns and brush stand still as death as he races through them, mouth open, panting for air he no longer needs, amber eyes wild with fright.

Screams like roars follow him through the woods, light-figures easily keeping pace with him, creeping close to his tail as he stumbles and sprints with every bit of power he can channel to his legs. Whooping yowls and jovial caterwauls rattle his chest with horror.

How could they be chasing me? Were my intentions not noble? Didn’t I do the best for my Clan?

It wasn’t good enough.

His victims, drowned and sliced and crippled and gasping for air, flash in front of his eyes, glaring at him, nearly making him trip and fall as he tries to skid to a stop and dive to the side, away from them, away from their damning eyes.

This is a mistake. He only manages a few more steps before sun-bright figures cut off his path. He jerks sideways again, and backs away from the rounding line of Hunters encircling him. He’s surrounded on all sides by glowing warriors: some apprentices, few leaders—the best of the best, the strongest in life and most righteous in death, the ones who protect the territories from all ghostly dangers.

But…

No, this can’t be right. I’m no danger. Not like this. Not like—

The deputy flails about, scrambling for escape, some explanation, anything to get him out of this. There is none. The Hunters are stronger, larger than him. They hurt to look at, blazing as they do. They say nothing to him. Their eyes burn with rage.

Where is He?

Behind him, a searing light exiles what little darkness was left in the forest, the only sound now of a crackling fire. He is immediately pulled into gazing at the giant; it’d be sacrilege to refuse to acknowledge Him. His eyes squeeze shut—this is worse than looking at the sun—but again, he is forced to open them, eyes tearing up in agony as he looks upon the Endless Watcher.

“You disappoint Me, wraith,” the Lion rumbles, His voice shaking the ground and making the trees tremble. “Potential like yours has not been seen in a long time. You could have been the finest leader in generations, if you loved your Clan like you thought you did.”

The deputy’s mouth opens to no sound; his throat is dry as an autumn leaf.

“Destroying your Clanmates,” a Hunter adds coldly, a strangely familiar golden tom almost as sunny as Horoa Himself. “Ignoring your neighbors, wanting them to fall, though you’d never let yourself acknowledge that…”

“Leaving your own family to expose you,” another Hunter says, dark grey and small (standing taller than the deputy even so). She narrows her eyes that shine too bright for a mortal. “They will not rest easy for a long time. Is that what you wanted? Pain and grief, by your doing?”

The deputy barely manages to croak out, “My Lord, have mercy. Please—”

“Another said that, recently,” a tortoiseshell drawls. “The living didn’t heed him.” Her lip twitches as she dryly looks the deputy up and down, regarding him like the stringy remains of stale prey. “Neither did we.”

“Go peacefully,” the Lion growls, and the ground shakes under the deputy’s feet. “This we will give you. Offer your throat and fade to mist. You will not get anything else.”

The deputy trembles. He looks for any kindness, any empathy in the eyes of his undoing. There is none. Pathetically, kit-like in his huddling, he looks to Horoa again.

“By—” he swallows. “By Your teeth, then. It would be an honor, my Lord. Please…”

The Lion throws back His head with a thundering, hearty chuff. The sound is echoed by His Hunters, who shake their heads and give each other tickled looks, like they’re sharing a private joke. Horoa lowers His head again, gazing down at the deputy, His single eye blinding.

“None from ThunderClan will honor you,” He says. “Neither will I.”

The small dark grey molly bursts forward; her claws streak with light. A snap. A crash. Sparks tear open the mist of his flesh. The storm raging in his throat chokes back his words as it rends him apart.

In the heartbeat of a moment, in an eye amidst his agony, one quiet thought murmurs in her voice.

“They will never know your name, love.”

And then there is silence.

The vapor, split in two even wisps, disperses and fades, absorbed by the clean air of the forest. Horoa waves His tail, smoking at the tip, with satisfaction as His Hunters keep their eyes on the very last misty thread. It dissolves, and nothing remains. The Lion curtly nods, growls a chuff, turns and leaps into a gallop, His Titan-like feet hardly touching the ground. His followers race after Him, cheering again, searching for the next danger to protect the Clans from. Light encompasses them, like the sun is swallowing them up.

As they disappear, the forest’s natural light returns, followed by hesitant shadows. The cackle of flames dies, and birdsong carries on again, somewhat confused as to why it stopped. The woods, just for a bit, are beautifully warm with the echo of the sun’s heat.

The world continues on as if they were never there at all.

#warrior cats #redux iterum #iterum #epilogue #chapter #book two #arc one #burning hearts #and thats the book!#thank you all for reading along

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axperjan · 1 month

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OC Associations: Ilya

animal: red fox colors: orange, red month: April song: Royal Blood - Shiner In The Dark, Icarus - Machine Heart number: honestly..... don't know :| day or night: day plant: bramble smells: soldering smoke, copper, vanilla gemstone: amber season: summer, autumn places: dive bars, quiet empty streets, a makeshift workshop in a bedroom food: lahmajun, something home-cooked astrological sign: aries element: fire drink: brandy

@antisocialxconstruct tagged me (thank you love :3) and I will tag...... @partenopae if you feel like it o/

#ghost city #Ilya Kasharin #art shenanigans #artists on tumblr #pretend I finished this in a timely manner and just look at them jhfdhs I wish I could've made their pointy little teeth more obvious...

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cdd-system-help · 7 days

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alter names relating to bugs, nature, outside, and colours/colouring ⚘️🐛

requested by anon

masculine

Buck, Cedar, Bear, Lark, Bramble, Saffron, Heron, Robin, Nile, Maki, Kai, Orson, Gecko, Pincher, Viceroy, Alder, Attacus, Mantis, Cade, Cricket, Carabus, Ivory, Azure, Hyacinth, Evette, Bruno, Leo, Mydas, Apalone, Hawkbill

feminine

Aurora, Blossom, Daisy, Flora, Dawn, Doe, Ivy, Acacia, Azalea, Daphne, Dove, Marigold, Myrtle, Maybelle, Lavender, Adalia, Kaira, Nephila, Andrea, Clementine, Jade, Ruby, Mabel, Equine, Wisteria, Peach

androgynous or other

Citrus, Blue, Aspen, Brook/Brooke, Ash, Autumn, Coral, Hazel, Fawn, Cub, Briar, Juniper, Basil, Fox, Iris, Pepper, Wren, Rowan, Kestrel, Mint, Fern, Sterling, Reed, Paloma, Nieve, Cielo, Harvest, October, Raine, Dimitri, Panda, Bambi, Beetle, Tyria, River, Lysander, Malka, Bee, Amber, Auburn, Sienna, Raven, Vaiva, Scribble, Equinox, Tawny, Willow, Garnet, Mouse, Crow

#actually traumagenic #anti endo #complex dissociative disorder #did system #endos dni #traumagenic system #alter help #system help #—mod delphie #— alter names

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bramblestar334 · 1 year

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#the bramble polls #james #amber #the fall of salem #itd be kinda funny if james sweeped because hes literally the most average guy ever in tfos #and in the entire poll tbh

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bonefall · 1 year

Note

what you’re doing with sparkpelt is really interesting :) any specific plans for better bones alderheart? 👀 i know he doesn’t do a whole lot in canon but i still have a soft spot for him…

[ID: Better Bones Alderheart. He is a dark ginger tabby with wide, scared amber eyes. His stripes are thin, blotchy, and he displays the characteristic 'raptor claws' of BB!Tigerkin.]

My favorite Canon Alderheart scene is when his best friend Velvet says, "Wow you're an anxious wreck, have some cat prozac anmd go home."

Admittedly, I am more interested in Sparkpelt My Beloved, but Alderheart is still important too! However, his POV is scrubbed from AVoS to rework it into a Kin-centric arc, and his perspective is contained completely in the SE Bramblestar's Thorns.

Design wise this one's prone to change, I'm not super satisfied with it. Those funny eyes are staying though. I'll eventually do his parents Jessy and Bramblestar and then re-visit this one.

His anxiety is a larger part of the character and this is not going away. I plan for him to actually medicate for this, there will eventually be an herb guide for anxiety, and a second one for depression.

He's a bit more snappish than in-canon, more tired. Prone to catastrophizing. He gets insomnia when he's particularly stressed.

When he was only a few months old, Jessy and Bramblestar had a massive cat divorce. Alder chose to stay with his mother, and was taken back to the big twolegplace close to the sea, Hengest. (Note: My map is reworked, I chose to move this twolegplace to this location. In-canon it is elsewhere.)

Kittypets have much reduced freedom compared to wildcats, so Jessy was very careful introducing her kit to her twoleg. Thankfully the twoleg readily accepted him, naming him "Louie" after a singer they like a lot.

His childhood best friend was Velvet, but he didn't have too many other friends besides his mother.

When he started to have visions, Louie really didn't want to go back. He wanted to stay with Jessy... but his 6th month was approaching, which is often a time of tumult for kittypets.

Many are brought to new homes at that age, or neutered. Jessy was frank with him that there was going to be uncertainty either way, and if he was taken, he may never have the chance to get to the bottom of his visions.

So... he went back to ThunderClan. She walked with him, confirming for herself that there was no returning. Though she misses her friends and the connectivity of Clan life, Sparkpaw was looking at her with barely-bitten back anger, and she was reminded of how bad her relationship with Bramblestar was.

Bramblestar changed his name from Louie to Alderpaw, the name he had at birth. Alderpaw wasn't fond of this, or the way it felt like Bramble wanted to erase his life up to this point.

Unlike canon, all of ThunderClan isn't goddamn horrible to Alder. He has a really strained relationship with Bramblestar, gets caught in the middle of Jayfeather's complicated feelings towards his ex-dad, and tries to rekindle his innocent closeness with his sister, but he has allies too.

He becomes very close with Lilyheart and Icecloud, in particular. (shuffled, now part of the post-Great Battle generation. Lily does not have kids, Larksong is combined with Hollytuft and is the child of Fallenleaf and Cinderheart.)

Sandstorm becomes one of his favorite elders,

Eventually, Alder ends up becoming the primary guardian of Twigkit. It felt wrong to watch her get separated from her sister the way he was, and he hoped he would be able to make her time growing up easier than his own.

A lot of this part I'm still working on. AVoS is definitely one of the harder arcs for me, imo, a lot of it is under construction.

He was a supporter of SkyClan's place at the lake, especially since this time, they helped to destroy the Kin. He faced accusations of only sympathizing with them because their ranks were full of kittypets like himself, though.

Alderheart eventually finds his place, confident from the support of his friends, beloved by Twigbranch and seen as her dad, having settled into a tense peace with his sister and father.

At the end of the SE, he has a final trip to Hengest with Sparkpelt, to gather catmint and other garden herbs.

He shows her places he's outgrown, she's open with him about feelings she's kept hidden about their mom, their dad, themselves.

They check in on their mom and see she's doing fine.

Eventually he visits with Velvet again, and she gifts him a juicy sprig of thyme to show she still keeps him close to her heart.

And that's what I've got for him, so far. I have a pretty 'neat' little bundle of story, hopefully it makes up for him no longer being a main character.

#In my next draft I hope to incorporate thyme as an accessory more #Like maybe a laurel circlet of it or put it on a bag of some sort #I also should have given him tired eyebags thinking about it...#Aw well #BB!Alderheart #Better Bones AU

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that-dumbass-rabbit · 8 months

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Updated list of names! These are by far the best names in my opinion. Use em for whatever idc. They're divided into names for humans and for rabbits but you can use em for like, idk, a lamp too im not gonna stop you. Anyways it's a long post sorry-not-sorry

Names for people

Ada

Alice

Amber

Avalon

Bennet

Blythe

Cecil

Clement

Cornelia

Cyrus/cyril

Darcy

Enid

Ethel

Finnegan/Finn

Fletcher

Florence

Gladys

Hilda

Iris

Irma

Kiara

Lenore

Lucinda

Maple

Mitzi

Olivia

Oswald

Otis

Poppy

Seraphina

Spencer

Sylvia

Wexel

Winifred

Wyatt

Names for rabbits

Amber

Apollo

Archer

Bandit

Boomerang

Bramble

Buttons

Buzz

Casper

Cheddar

Comet

Crypt

Cupid

Dasher

Dolly

Domino

Dream

Elvis

Fish

Gadget

Ghost

Honey

Jazz

Klondike

Lucky

Marble

Mim

Noodles

Nudge

Ooma

Patches

Parker

Peanut

Pepper

Pinkie

Pluto

Prince

Pesto

River

Rocket

Rhyme

Sparks

Spike

Spirit

Spoon

Sunday

Thimble

Vanny

Waldo

Wisp

Zero

#names #baby names #oc names #pet names #name ideas #cat names #name suggestions #character names #trans names #name change #list of names

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talonslockau · 2 months

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Forest of Secrets - Chapter 12

Chapter 11 || Index || Chapter 13

Fireheart’s wounds stung as he wearily followed Yellowfang into camp, but he kept his head held high nonetheless. By the nursery, he could see Snowkit alongside five younger kits watching with wide eyes as they returned triumphantly. Closer to the entrance, the elders were bickering amongst themselves, but they slowly quieted as they caught sight of the returning patrol and the broken body that the healer leading them was carrying.

Bluestar herself was waiting for them by the Highrock, her blue eyes narrow as she watched them approach. “What has happened? Dewpaw and Longtail returned with Mistspring, but-” Her eyes widened in shock as she saw who Yellowfang was carrying. “Is that Brokentail?”

“He was hit by a Monster trying to flee from us.” Dustleap snarled before the old healer could set her burden down. “Yellowfang insists we should let him live instead of killing him for his crimes against the code!”

“He lives because Starclan wills it!” The cantankerous molly snapped back at him, turning a baleful copper gaze on the young tabby before turning to Bluestar. “They would not have let him return if they did not want him here. Starclan has spoken: Brokentail must be allowed to live!”

Bluestar looked upon the mangled tom uneasily. “Brokentail.” She murmured softly, her gaze cold and unkind - so different compared to how she often looked at Fireheart and the rest of her Clan. “What do you have to say in your defense?”

He couldn’t see the tabby’s expression from where he was standing, but the ginger tom could only imagine that the rogue’s face was twisted into a deep scowl. “I have nothing to say to you!” He spat at her spitefully. “Thunderclan is full of weak mousehearts. I should have driven you all out when I had the chance!”

The silver leader’s eyes narrowed at the provocative words, but she seemed almost amused by his words more than offended. “And yet you never could.” She replied steadily as she looked back up to the patrol. “I do not understand, Yellowfang. Brokentail has broken every law of Starclan’s noble code. And yet you claim he is here because they willed it?”

“Starclan is the one that grants us lives, Bluestar.” The grizzled healer responded with a dip of her head. “And they are the ones that can take them away, as well. If they had wanted him to die by the Thunderpath, they would have done so. And yet, they have allowed him to live. It is Starclan that judges us for our deeds; if they have decided he still deserves to live, then who are we to claim that we know better?”

Fireheart refrained from rolling his eyes at the healer’s superstitious nonsense. There was no such thing as multiple lives; every cat knew that, or else Quickflash might have come back. Whatever powers Starclan did have, it was very obvious from having met Redtail that they would not interfere so boldly by resurrecting such a horrible leader. Still, he knew better than to interrupt her.

His ear twitched as he heard someone emerge from the bramble tunnel behind them. Glancing back, he saw as Tigerclaw entered camp, his amber eyes glowing as he spotted his son next to Bluestar. The tabby tom made straight for the small crowd, while Peppermask and Darkstripe looked on curiously behind him.

Bluestar gave a slight nod to her deputy, but didn’t take her eyes off of Brokentail. “Be that as it may, Yellowfang, what would you have me do with him? Even if we let him live, he would die soon enough without aid.”

“You’re not suggesting we throw him out?” The healer sounded astonished, as though the thought had never occurred to her. He didn’t know why: it sounded like a perfectly sensible solution to him. “We would be no better than him, throwing out the broken to die in the wilderness!”

The fur on Bluestar’s scruff rose at that. Fireheart winced, remembering how irate she had been at Mosspaw’s exile. “Those are not remotely the same. He exiled innocent kits because he couldn’t be bothered to use herbs: he is a murderer, and should be treated as such.” Bluestar responded coldly. Tigerclaw nodded approvingly beside her, and though it rankled him to agree with the traitorous tabby, he had to admit he could not argue with her. “There is no place in our camp or our territory for him.”

“If I may, Bluestar.” The crowd turned to see One-eye approach slowly. “The Clan once took prisoners, many seasons ago, back in the days when we fought bitterly with Windclan for territory. It has been long since that foxhole was used, but-” She glanced disdainfully at the exiled rogue before them, “I’m sure it would still fit him.”

“Keep Brokentail? In our own camp? One-eye, you must be mad.” Tigerclaw growled as he shook his head. “He would murder our kits by sundown!”

“I’m old, not senile! You’d do well to remember that, Tigerclaw.” The old white molly swung her head to glare at the deputy with a snarl. “I may only have one eye left, but I can see as well as you can that he’ll never be able to walk again. Even if he does manage to escape the prison, I’m sure whatever warrior is on guard duty will be able to catch him before he makes it to the nursery. Unless you don’t trust them to take on a two-legged elder, in which case they shouldn’t be on guard duty at all.” The elder gave a wide yawn once she finished her speech, showing off her broken and missing fangs prominently.

The deputy growled lowly in response, but he seemed momentarily cowed by the elder. Fireheart was surprised and impressed - not many cats could speak to the mighty warrior that way and expect to keep their ears. Beside him, Bluestar seemed thoughtful. “Perhaps it would be better to have him somewhere we can keep an eye on him.” She mewed at last. “He has already demonstrated a remarkable ability to survive destruction, like a swarm of rats. If we didn’t kill him now, it’s impossible to know what harm he could bring later.”

“You’re not seriously considering it?” Dustleap huffed bitterly as he lashed his tail. “Well, I’m not hunting even a flea for this pile of crowfood! He can starve to death for all I care.”

He glanced at Bluestar, wondering what the leader was going to say, but it was Yellowfang that spoke first. “I will care for him.” The old molly growled roughly, dipping her head to the silver queen before her. “As healer, it is my responsibility to see to Starclan’s will. If this is how I must serve them, so be it.”

The leader watched Yellowfang with a scrutinizing gaze. At last, she nodded slowly. “Very well. So long as no undue burdens are placed upon my warriors, I see no reason not to imprison him. Being held captive by such weak mousehearts will surely be punishment enough for this rogue for whatever lifetime Starclan grants him.” She gazed down on the exile, her whiskers twitching in amusement as she threw his words back at him. “One-eye, show Yellowfang to the foxhole. Tigerclaw, I expect that there should now be two cats on guard duty at all times, with one being posted next to the prison.”

The large tabby nodded slowly to the leader as One-eye began showing Yellowfang across camp, towards the apprentices’ den. “It will be done.” He mewed, though the irritation in his voice and his twitching tail tip indicated he still wasn’t quite pleased with this plan.

“What about the rest of Brokentail’s exiles?” Bluestar asked as she looked back to the rest of the patrol. “Longtail told me that they had been driven out. Do you think they will return?”

“It’s possible. None were killed in the attack.” Mousefur mewed as she stepped forward. “But I don’t think they will be so eager to attack us, especially not without their leader. I doubt we’ll be seeing them for many moons.”

“Make sure there’s a regular patrol along the Twolegplace border, as well.” The leader instructed Tigerclaw once the dusky brown molly had finished speaking. “Once a day will be enough - just to make sure that Brokentail’s rogues don’t find their way into our territory.”

“They were already hunting within our territory. We found crowfood near their nest, and one of them mentioned bringing back prey from our territory before the fight.” Mousefur mewed with a nod to Fireheart. “Fireheart and Longtail were right. Brokentail was already a threat, we just hadn’t realized it yet.”

“I see. I’m glad we acted quickly, then.” Bluestar mewed appreciatively. “You all will have to tell the other Clans of the battle at the next Gathering.” Fireheart perked his ears at that. She was already guaranteeing that he would get to go to the Gathering? The others would be thrilled to hear it. He started to get to his feet when the silver queen spoke again. “Though you could perhaps leave out the part about Brokentail himself.”

“Why?” Dustleap challenged brashly, his tail still lashing. “You’re not ashamed of taking in that old fleabag, are you?”

“No. I trust my healer’s word.” Bluestar replied, her gaze unwavering as she looked on at the reckless tabby warrior. “But mention of him will surely open old wounds. There is no reason to bring it up needlessly. If any cat asks, he died under that Monster’s paws.”

Dustleap sneered at that, but Fireheart nodded in understanding. Even with Yellowfang, the topic of the old Shadowclan tyrant seemed raw. He couldn’t imagine how it would be for Windclan, who lost their home to his greedy claws, or Shadowclan, who suffered cruelly underneath his leadership. She was right: it was best to leave the topic be.

The cats surrounding her began to disperse across the clearing. Fireheart watched as Cinderpaw bolted for the healer’s den - checking on her mentor, he realized guiltily. He had nearly forgotten about her in all that had happened after the battle. He was about to follow the gray apprentice when he stiffened and glanced back to Bluestar. “Has Graystripe returned from hunting yet?” He asked curiously.

She glanced at him, a small frown crossing her silvery muzzle. “He has not.” She admitted. “Why?”

He frowned at her response. It was unusual for any warrior to be out all day, but perhaps Graystripe had lost track of the sun. “You said you wanted two cats on guard duty. I was supposed to be the second, but then there was the battle.” Tigerclaw narrowed his amber eyes, and he added quickly, “I just wanted to offer to guard Brokentail first, at least until Tigerclaw assigns the night vigils.”

The deputy’s gaze stayed narrow, but Bluestar smiled in delight. “Of course, Fireheart. I appreciate the dedication. The Clan needs that more than ever these days.” She sighed softly as her blue eyes drifted across his pelt, torn from both the battle and the rose bush he had chased Brokentail through. “But you must see Yellowfang and Dewpaw afterwards. I can’t risk your wounds getting infected now that leafbare is here.”

“Of course.” He mewed with a dip of his head, taking the opportunity to dismiss himself. He crossed camp towards the ferns of the apprentices’ den that he had seen One-eye take Yellowfang. He paused by it, glancing around in confusion. She had mentioned a foxhole, but he had never seen one near their old den.

“Looking for the prison?” He jumped as One-eye seemed to materialize beside him. “It’s over there, just behind the warriors’ den.” She pointed with a paw, and he followed it to see an almost-hidden hole in the ground. Long grass and a few tree shoots surrounded it; if she hadn’t pointed it out, he would have never seen it. “Well hidden, of course. We couldn’t have any enemies sneaking in to free their friends.”

“Thank you.” He mewed, trotting over. The hole was small, only big enough for a young apprentice to fit through comfortably. Tigerclaw, Lionheart and Whitestorm would never be able to fit in on their own. Then, he supposed, perhaps that was a good thing for Brokentail - it meant that the more murderous members of the Clan wouldn’t enact their own justice on him.

He threw back his shoulders and started to squeeze his way in. He didn’t need to see the inside, really, but he was curious. It was evidently very rare for Thunderclan to take prisoners, and he didn’t know when he’d get another opportunity like this.

The inside was almost black, and even though he couldn’t see, he could feel with his whiskers how cramped it was. He blinked slowly, trying to let his eyes adjust, when he heard soft murmuring. As the space slowly came into focus, he could see Yellowfang and Brokentail laying in a shallow groove in the dirt. The healer was gently lapping at the exile’s head with her eyes closed, just like he had when he had been comforting Princess.

“Yellowfang!” He hissed in surprise. “What are you doing?”

The old molly startled at his voice, opening her eyes to see him standing in front of them. “Fireheart!” She gasped, clearly also shocked to see him. “What are you doing in here?”

“I was going to guard Brokentail.” He scowled at the kit-killer. Even though he had volunteered for it, that didn’t mean he liked the rogue any more than Dustleap seemed to. “What in Starclan’s name were you doing to him? Were you comforting him?”

The healer stared at him with wide eyes, as though she hadn’t processed what he said at all. Then her shoulders sagged and her gaze dropped to the floor. “I was.”

“Why?” Fireheart asked in confusion. She hated the tyrant that had exiled her, didn’t she? Surely his comfort would be the last thing on his mind. He shook his head slowly in disbelief. “He doesn’t deserve that.”

Her gaze slowly turned to the mangled tabby beside her, her eyes drifting across his still form. She watched as his flank slowly and steadily rose and fell. He was sleeping, the ginger tom realized after a moment. “Because he’s my son.”

Fireheart blinked at her, not sure if he had heard her right. “Your son?” He echoed dimly as he stared at her. “But I thought healers weren’t allowed to have kits.”

“We aren’t.” Yellowfang sighed as she watched the tabby tom breathing, her eyes filled with a fondness he hadn’t seen from her before. “I was young, and foolish. I was in love with his father - Raggedstar. We were leader and healer, then, and I believed that there was nothing that could stop us.” Her copper gaze then clouded with grief. “I was wrong.”

Fireheart glanced behind him. No cat was going to sneak up on them, at least for the time being, so he slowly sat down. He owed it to Yellowfang, at least, to hear her out. “What happened?”

“I had three.” She mewed softly. “The first two were stillborn mollies. I named the first one Hopekit, after the hope I had that the rest would live. I named the second Wishkit, after the wish I had that they would forgive me in Starclan for breaking the code. The third…” Fireheart glanced at the exile before him. “Brokenkit, after the broken heart I had realizing I could never raise him as his mother.”

She looked back up to the Thunderclan warrior, her eyes watering. “I knew then that I had betrayed Starclan by taking a mate and kits, and that they were punishing me for my insolence. I thought that Hopekit and Wishkit’s deaths were the curse they had given me.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “But now I know I was wrong. My punishment was not that my daughters died. It’s that my son lived!”

Brokentail didn’t startle out of his sleep, still slumbering soundly despite the howling of the queen beside him. “Does he know? That you’re his mother, I mean?”

“No.” She opened her eyes and gazed back down at her tabby son. “I buried Hopekit and Wishkit where they were born, and took Brokenkit back to Raggedstar. He was surprised at my change of mind, but agreed to have one of the queens nurse him instead.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “One jumped at the chance to nurse Raggedstar’s son. She raised Brokentail like he was her own. He likely still believes she was his birth mother.”

She sighed wistfully at the memories. “I recommitted myself to my duties as a healer. No one but my mentor ever suspected that I was Brokentail’s birth mother, and I was able to move on with my life. But Starclan never forgot, and they certainly never forgave.” The healer’s paws shuffled shamefully in the soil. “Ever since his birth, I have been unable to speak to them. Thankfully, I have always had an apprentice there to interpret their will for me, but it is a constant reminder that I have broken our sacred code.”

He watched her carefully. “You said that you knew that my sister was in a hard position, and that you couldn’t leave her in distress. Is- is this why you agreed to help her?”

Yellowfang nodded slowly in response. “My mentor taught me those secrets I mentioned when I was a half-moon away from kitting. I think she knew, even if she didn’t say it out loud.” She sighed once more. “Sometimes I wonder if she looks down on me from Starclan even now, still disappointed in me for not following the healer code. I abandoned my old self completely - my love, my kits, my name - yet still, my shame follows me.”

He perked his ears in surprise as she spoke. “Your name? You had a different name?”

She snorted. “What, did you think I was born Yellowkit?” The grizzled healer’s whiskers twitched in amusement at his question. “My mother may have been a bit mad, but she wasn’t blind. I had a name to match the rest of my siblings’, once.” She looked away, her smile fading after a few heartbeats. “But that name was given to me by Starclan. In abandoning them, I abandoned that name. Raggedstar gave me my new name, just after Brokenkit was born. There aren’t many in the Clans who remember my old name, now.”

He recalled the joke Graystripe had made on the way to a Gathering with him a couple of moons ago. “I guess I didn’t really think about it.” He finally mewed. “What was it, if I may ask?”

The melancholy molly shook her head slowly. “No. Like I said, that name is no longer my own. Starclan has made it clear I no longer deserve it.” The dark gray queen sighed as she looked down on her son, her gaze filled with heartache that spoke more words than she could ever say. “Just like he is no longer my son. It is only in these secret moments, when no one is watching, that I even dare to think about what life might have been.”

The elderly healer finally looked back up to him, her sorrowful copper gaze meeting his emerald eyes. “I understand if you cannot forgive me. I don’t know if I would either, in your position.”

Her form seemed to shrink before him, until she looked nearly as small as a new apprentice. He looked between her and Brokentail - her son, the cat she loved despite all that he had done, cared for unconditionally. He understood now why she had defended him so desperately; what mother would willfully send her son to his death? And even knowing all the atrocious acts that the tabby had committed, knowing that he only still lived because of Yellowfang, Fireheart couldn’t find it in himself to blame her.

“I’ll forgive you.” He declared at last. “But only on one condition.”

Her eyes glittered in what little light remained. “Speak your mind.” She replied wearily, as though already resigned to him extorting her.

“You forgive me for breaking your leg.”

They stared at each other for several moments. He wondered if perhaps she was thinking it over, but then she began convulsing, letting out a growl in between each shaky breath. “Yellowfang?” He mewed in concern for the old molly, stepping closer in the small cave.

“Oh, Fireheart.” She wheezed in between growls, and after a heartbeat he realized she’d been laughing. “I forgave you for that many moons ago.”

“Then I forgive you.” He mewed simply, leaning over Brokentail to touch his nose to hers affectionately. “Cats aren’t just their parents. I am not the kittypet my mother and father were. Brokentail is not Raggedstar or you. I wouldn’t thank him for your actions, just like I won’t blame you for his.”

Her laughter finally ceased, and she slowly looked up to fix him with a steady copper gaze. “You have more wisdom than some elders I’ve known, Fireheart.” Yellowfang murmured softly, finally standing up and moving away from Brokentail’s body. “Thank you. It feels good to have told another cat the truth.” She hesitated and looked back at her son briefly. “It… it may be selfish of me to ask, but would you keep this between us? Even though I can no longer speak with Starclan, I still enjoy my role as the Clan’s healer. I don’t want to give it up for anything.”

Fireheart stared at her in confusion. “Why would you have to give it up if other cats knew? Brokentail being your son has nothing to do with your skill as a healer.”

She chuffed as though he’d said something funny, but he could see tears welling in her eyes. “If only other warriors thought as you did.” She sighed and glanced down at her paws. “By taking a mate and having kits, I broke Starclan’s code. I could be exiled, if Bluestar so chose. At best, I would likely be forced to retire to the elders’ den. I may be old, but I still have some life left in me, I should think.”

The ginger warrior pressed himself against her, giving her a reassuring purr. “You’ve kept my secret, I see no reason why I shouldn’t keep yours. Besides, Dewpaw still needs a mentor, and it would tear her up to have her second mentor taken from her in as many moons.” He wondered what the spotted molly would think if she learned of Yellowfang’s secret; she had always been ready to recite the healer code, but he had no doubt that she loved the grumpy old healer as well.

“Dewpaw…” The grizzled gray molly hesitated at the mention of her apprentice’s name. “Do you think I should tell her the truth as well? I never told Wetnose, but… perhaps she deserves to know.”

He wasn’t sure how to answer that. He didn’t see the issue, but then, he wasn’t a healer. “I think you should trust your own judgement on that. Dewpaw’s an understanding cat. If you think she needs to know, then I’m sure she would be willing to keep your secret.” He blinked as the thought of the healer’s apprentice suddenly reminded him of what had happened after the battle. “You should go see her, though, and help her with Mistspring. Besides, I’m supposed to be outside, guarding Brokentail.” Even as he said that, he glanced back at the sleeping form. It wasn’t like there was much to guard right now.

“I already did what I could to help Mistspring. Whatever happens, she’s in Starclan’s paws now.” Still, the healer moved towards the crevice that led outside, before glancing back at the two toms. “Brokentail won’t be moving for a while. I gave him some poppy seeds to help ease the pain, and they’ll likely keep him sleeping through the night. You should come with me, so I can see to those injuries of yours.”

Fireheart hesitated, glancing back. While he trusted Yellowfang’s assessment, he had still promised Bluestar that he would guard the prison. “Can I come see you after I’m done? I don’t want to disappoint Bluestar.”

The old queen rolled her eyes at his words. “I’ll bring the herbs to you. You’ll be sitting outside?” He nodded quickly in response. “Fine, then.” She pushed her way through the entrance, her bulky Shadowclan frame loosing some of the dirt as she went through.

The warrior gave one last glance at the almost peaceful form of Brokentail before following her. It would be strange, having the former tyrant in camp, but some part of him was glad the tom had survived the Monster. Especially now that he knew the truth about his parentage. Even if Yellowfang might deny it, it was clear she still had affection for the broken tom.

He shook his head briefly to rid himself of the thought. It wasn’t his concern, anymore. As far as he cared, Brokentail was just a prisoner. He left the foxhole quickly, leaving the dark tabby to the shadows where he belonged.

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