#Don't be so nice to him Feathertail

[bonefall]

I’m not sure if you talked about it, but what do you think about A Thief in Thunderclan? I actually liked it, though it definitely had a few ehhh moments

Eh, honestly? Im kinda disappointed that James Barry had to go out on such a low note. I did not like it, it felt like a waste of time.

It wasn't like... offensively bad but I have very little good to say about it. It was fine. If you want to see more ThunderClan you can check it out?

(A lot of Thief in ThunderClan critique below the cut, I didn't like it much)

First of all, the mystery was just bad. I'm sorry. An owl? Swooping in at night for dead animals and leaving perfect scores in the dirt? It felt like a real "running out of ideas" type plot.

Brightheart was NOT fun to follow. She was uncomfortable for most of the story and secondhand embarassment is an emotion I really don't enjoy. Even moments that were supposed to be thought-provoking (like the Brambleclaw name confrontation) just felt like cringe because they were written so poorly.

Like, seriously? "Firestar why did you name Bramble after his father who disfigured me?" "Oh its because i uhhhh wanted to remind ppl of it so they would stop being reminded of it eventually" WHAT? That was a brainless enough choice when it was FIRST made, you can't fucking tell me any cat with a brain cell would go "wao... really makes you think... hngsociety"

I disliked the fact they decided to give Brightheart serious suspicion towards people like Longtail and Brambleclaw, I strongly disagree she would be like that. She feels so much to me like someone who would feel awful for doubting people she logically knows are innocent, and express to Cloudtail that it makes her feel like a bad person, but she CANT help it. She is such a kind, loving, and self doubting sort of cat... or, was, I guess? Or maybe it was never there at all and I'm the fool.

On that note? Her character arc was a mess. As much as I hate Shadow in RiverClan, I can say that Feathertail's arc was a competent *story*. Brightheart is having nightmares, suspects Bramble and Long of treason, is trying to figure out this mystery, trying to help train Rainpaw, the fact she resents not being his mentor is mentioned and dropped, she is pregnant... so much shit is going on and it feels absolutely unfocused.

And even worse, because it's overlapping with the beginning of Firestar's Quest, we end up having to Show Off The Continuity instead of telling a cohesive story. Oop Willowpelt died and Rainpaw is kind of sad about it! But wait we have to say bye to Firestar, make sure to squeeze in the Brambleclaw name confrontation before he goes! GO BACK Longtail has been blinded!! ALSO THE OWL! HERES WHY THE OWL WASNT MENTIONED IN FQ!!

And DUDE if there's anything that's a SERIOUS problem, it's Brightheart's stupid ass cutesy "look who's being USEFUL in here!" When blinded Longtail is helping out in the medcat den

First of all fuck you for the wording of that line! Second of all, GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEAD that disabled people shouldn't have to find a way to be "useful" to belong to their society.

The fact we're getting a book from Bright's perspective as a disabled person and the whole thing is chock full of "useful" language as she struggles with PTSD makes the fact this is COMMON in WC sting so much more.

Anyway back to just, normal critique and not frustration with ableism in wc.

I feel like they really wasted Brightheart's family. I enjoyed finally getting Cinder and Bright hanging out as sisters, but we got a MENTION of Frostfur, and barely anything with her brothers. It's already a mess so why not go the whole way?

Ashfur also has his post-TBC personality retcon which absolutely kills me. Why do we need this shitty "foreshadowing"? Why do we need him to have been so obviously controlling and argumentative? Why are these writers fucking allergic to having a villain that people thought was nice and normal once?

NITPICK: if i have to see another cat gently picked up by a large bird of prey without at LEAST getting a cracked rib I will shapeshift into 10,000 crows and fly away forever

I have some good feelings towards it though, and I have to be clear, this is actually Ambivalent Bones. I'm only mad at the "Usefulness" rhetoric, the rest is just my normal amount of whinging lmao.

I do really like Cinderpelt and Brightheart finally getting some interactions. It's long overdo lmao

I like Cloudtail and Brightheart as a ship so it's nice to see them hang out.

Uhhh this is a bit of a backhanded compliment but I liked how she was upset at not getting one of Whitestorm's children to mentor? I don't like how it bodes for the wider narrative though, because we know this ends in her getting shafted FOR YEARS and unable to get an apprentice. But I liked the plot setup of her having resentment for Cloudtail because of this. I thought that would make a really good plot point for putting a wedge between them to work through. Like, stop being cowards, LEAN INTO Firestar making some very serious, insulting, short-sighted mistakes, and it interfering with Brightheart's ability to heal. Kill your darling.

There were some nice lines. I do remember Ashfur's lame "greedyclaw" insult, which was funny.

I enjoyed the cute moments between the cats in ThunderClan. Ferncloud chasing after her kids, Brightheart convincing people to help her investigate, the Willowkin being upset about their mom. It's a mess but there's some nice stuff in that mess, y'know?

Overall, my memory hasn't been kind to it. I think I was giving it a 6/10 when I first saw it, but it's dropped down to a low 5/10. Not (very) offensive but too messy and pointless to revisit.

#bone babble #Also funfact in bb im turning cinders weird purple snail into a special leech #Little gave it to her because there is literally no stronger display of autistic affection than gifting your best friend a favored creature

[dollybeagle]

mothwing for the character opinion bingo?

can you tell i like mothwing

ramble under the cut

FHNDAKS MOTHWING MY BEST FRIEND MOTHWING. I am the only one who's right about her ever /j. She's so important to me

Mothwing has been one my fav cats ever since I started reading the books, but I don't remember being so attached to her until last year. I recall it starting after (and also during, but mostly after) going through some nasty experiences related to toxic religious people and stuff that led into me having a complete religious meltdown. Mothwing was a character I could heavily relate to and project to during that time, and i became really attached to her oof

Mothwing is a really complex character in canon, with a lot of missed potential that I will never shut up about. So, she is the daughter of tigerstar, yet we never get any canon content of her even aknowledging that, at all? Which sucks because, unlike her siblings, she seems almost completely uneffected by the fact that tigerstar is her father.

Tigerstar is not the only character that Mothwing's relationship with had a lot of potential, but there are also other characters that could have been great to see intereacting with her. For example, something that really frustrates me is how we never get to see mothwing intereacting with her half-siblings (cough cough. tawnypelt.) especially at moments when there was a lot of potential. During tbc, we could have gotten some great scenes of Mothwing bonding with tawnypelt over their common origins that have left them unfairly wronged at multiple situations. Also, when they both found peace in shadowclan when their own clan screwed them over. Im pointing at you erins please im desperate

Another thing that I don't see people talk about is how much wasted potential there was between Feathertail and Mothwing's friendship. SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HER MENTOR BEFORE SHE DECIDED TO TRAIN AS A MEDICINE CAT.. PLEASE.

Anyway im done yelling at the erins so i will decide to be nice and not scream about how mothwing should have been a pov character during tnp because again. there was a lot of potential there but the erins are cowards. So let's get into canon mothwing. Canon Mothwing is sometimes hard to understand since we don't get any canon content with her during tnp, so we get to only see her from leafpaw/pool's point of view. When she's firstly introduced and throughout the whole series, Mothwing is often described by leafpool as beautiful, which I think has also influenced the fandom into portraying her as a "confident, pretty medicine cat etc etc". But I've always liked to interpret her as self conscious and awkward, literally anything but confident. I feel like sasha leaving riverclan, along with the reveal of the moth's wing sign and the reveal of her origins has left her pretty self conscious and awkward, if that makes sense.

I feel like I should share my opinion on mothpool, so here we go. I think i have mentioned before, that I'm not a big fan of fanon mothpool, mostly because the interpretation of both characters in this ship always felt a little odd to me (eg mothwing being a big buff fluffy personalityless gf and leafpool being the short, lithe, shy small gf. I just never really liked it). But I'm a big fan of canon mothpool, as well as messy mothpool. The one of them lives under rules they don't agree with, in a society that they see as "brainwashed and blind", while the other is a firm follower of these rules (leafpool fuck the code you should start killing), and while the two want to be together, they can do nothing but stare each other in longing. doomed yuri ftw

So, since we got these out of the way, let's talk about some design potential mothwing has. I'm a huge fan of colorpoint mothwing, but I can't help but notice that I'm growing fonder of tigerclone/brown rabby mothwing more. I feel like it would have been cool to see a tigerstar desceasand that also looks lik him trying to fix their reputation through their actions. Also, eye imagery mothwing design anyone?

also i believe she's an aroace lesbian.

#rowan speaks #i got so excited when i got this ask i didnt know where to start from #so if you wanna ask me more about mothwing. please do im not even finished here #wc #warrior cats #warrior cats mothwing #mothwing #mothwing wc

[yuridovewing]

RazorVerse: Name Changes

I want to have a place to keep all my name changes hehe. Again, this is all just a WIP and is subject to change (and I am open to recommendations!)

Going to try to go in chronological order here.

Frecklewish (TC) > Frecklefur. Reasoning: Sorry yall I know she's more popular than the SkyClan one, but SkyClan Frecklewish came first and that's muuuuch more of a SkyClan name to me than a base clan one. Frecklefur is still cute and has a nice ring to it to me.

Rainflower > Rainstar + Hailstar > Hailstep. Reasoning: Simply to reflect the new ranks. In flashbacks and references, that's what they'll be referred as.

Bluefur and Snowfur > Blueflower and Snowflower. Reasoning: Matching names with their mom!

Ravenpaw > Boo. Reasoning: He becomes a kittypet instead of a barn cat.

Brambleclaw > Brambleblaze. Reasoning: Matches Hawkfrost. Fire theme- Firestar offers it as a sort of apology. "You take after me more than you ever did him"... which Bramble would go on to challenge over the years. Also, makes it so Lionblaze is named after both his ex-adoptive father and grandfather

Tawnypelt > Tawnyclaw. Reasoning: The "honoring your father as the warrior he was, not his crimes" reasoning was moved to her, Blackstar names her. This is meant to be evidence that the clans have not moved on from Tigerstar and his ideology even if they try to show otherwise. This gives Tawny issues!

Jayfeather > Jayflight. Reasoning: Named after Squirrelflight as opposed to his father because A) Leafpool really regrets her time with Crowfeather and B) he isn't getting named by her anyways, and all of the three are named after their family in some form.

Tigerheartstar > Goldenheart/Goldenstar. Reasoning: Taking away the duplicate name, and she is now a FeatherTawny kitten so naming her after the man who tried to kill her mother as a baby is sorta in poor taste anyways. (i mean it was always in poor taste but. yknow.) She is now named after Goldenflower.

Ivypool > Ivyleaf. Reasoning: Named after her biological mother and grandmother. This gives Ivy issues!

Snowbush > Snowfall. Reasoning. I mean. It's Snowbush. (Note: Here he's named after Snowtail, who's a grown up Snowkit and his adoptive grandfather.)

Sorrelstripe > Honeystripe. Also Man Beamed. She, Honeyfur, and Fernsong got combined together (possibly Larksong as well depending on what I decide. Tragic fates for both of the siblings :( ). Reasoning: Hollytuft and Honeystripe are now Jaypoppy kits. neither Ferncloud nor Sorrelstripe die in The Last Hope, so this final child is named after Honeyfern, whose death is moved here. The kits are named for both of their deceased aunts. Name is pending.

Sparkpelt > Sparkstorm. Reasoning: Named after Sandstorm. Also I just think -pelt is about the lamest suffix ever for her and she deserves better.

Twigbranch > Twigshade. Reasoning: Sisters gotta match!

Birchkit > Whitekit. Reasoning: Dovewing's relationship with her (adoptive) parents is changed here. Birchfall was not the father to any of Whitewing's kittens because they were simply friends and he wanted to help her, but he really only played father to her bio kits, Ambermoon, Snowfall, and Dewnose. He distanced himself from Dovekit and Ivykit when Hollyleaf revealed she was their biological mother, and was embarrassed. Dovewing was instead much closer to Whitewing, who she herself was named after. (NOTE: May change this to Willowkit, after Willowshine, due to her dying in TBC.)

Characters that may get renamed but I haven't really figured them out yet.

Crowfeather. Reasoning: Feathertail lives in this AU and she and Crowfeather don't have their brief romance. So he doesn't really have a reason to request the name Crowfeather here, and it loses meaning. (Best I can think of is that he had a one sided crush and this was his way of coming onto her one last time before they went to the lake, which is..... ehhhhhh. It's unnecessary and creepy and he really doesn't need it.) Can't quite figure out a good alternative that holds a similar meaning to the original name though, besides Crowstorm which I don't really like for him.

Most of the Original Elder/First arc disability Names: You know the ones. You know why. Just trying to figure out good alternatives. Besides Sparrowtail.

#sorry gamers ik brambleflower is a popular rename. but i dont feel it suits him personally #not bc its feminine or anything i just dont think its a fitting suffix. plus goldenstar is getting named after goldenflower #razorverse #im not gonna go too crazy with the renames. i'll try to keep what i can #reason i ended up not going with sparkfire despite it being the original name btw is bc i kinda just. dont care for it sorry

[luxrayz64]

rereading crowfeathers trial. I do think this one has some of the best writing of all the super editions - I have a very clear sense of who crowfeather is. I like that he's mostly just fucking standing there silently. he's evolved from an angry yelling at everyone teen to being just. a quiet and kind of grouchy reserved guy. I appreciate that he's aware he's fucked up with breeze and night and wants to not only make amends with night but do better with breezepelt too. I love that everytime he compliments breezepelt the book notes that breezepelt is visibly surprised, and frequently responds by affirming his bond with nightcloud instead of really recognising crowfeather. the way crowfeather often says nothing, just kind of hoping breezepelt can read his mind, or when he does compliment breezepelt he says it so matter of factly like it should be obvious. he's so bad at vulnerability it's insane

i haven't gotten up to the part where he tries reaching out to jay and lion but I like that he thinks of them too and wishes he could've known hollyleaf. he didn't raise them but recognises some kind of responsibility towards them (and still wishes he'd had that life with leafpool) but accepts that they don't and will never view him that way. his life didn't turn out that way after all - he chose the life he chose after all.

i quite like watching him struggle to try and connect with and defend breezepelt. without nightcloud around, he's stepping up to protect his son from the rest of the clan. I wish we got more of an explanation for how/breeze went from wanting the clans gone to not that, but the rest of the clan (crowfeather included) not forgiving him immediately feels realistic.

it's also just really nice for once to see one of the erins darling shitty guys get called out by the text. repeatedly they talk about crowfeathers shitty attitude getting passed down to breezepelt, how he fucked up and neglected breezepelt, how he's often a hypocrite and kind of unpleasant. it's probably because the person he abused was another man instead of a woman - but it ends up giving crowfeather a lot of depth most of the shitty guys in wc tend to not have. he actually gets to work on his flaws here.

idk I just really do like this one so far. when I first read it I found it really engaging - most of the newer SEs are really boring to me, but this one grabbed me from the get go. it's nice revisiting it knowing what im getting into and better able to analyse it.

also sorry lesbians but crowleaf is so cute (;- _-) im a sucker for them ok. crowfeather still having a soft spot for her is so sweet. I love the flashback in the prologue where he's thinking about how he always knew it would end with her returning to her clan and how he admires and loves her for it even if it means they were doomed from the start. the idea that even after so long he still respects and admires and loves her and though the puppy crush is long burnt out he still feels this way mannn. feathertails death happening when it does and having the effect on him that it does has Bad implications for his fling with leafpool but it was real man. he wasn't just projecting feather onto leaf he wasn't just rebounding with leaf. there was something real there. god

#rambling. I like this book #coming out of the closet as a crowfeather and leafcrow enjoyer 😔 sorry everyone #espeon cries #i think mothpool and crowleaf can coexist. somehow. idk. but they do to me #actually do u guys remember that tweet that's like if I was pearl and I lost a bad bitch to a soundcloud rapper I'd eat my organs #THAT'S what mothpool and leafcrow look like

[lesbian-warrior-cats]

The thing about the Crowfeather Nightcloud and Breezepelt situation for me is that I like all these characters. Like I like Crowfeather as a character, I like Nightcloud as a character, and I like Breezepelt in concept as a character (until Crowfeather's Trial anyway). And it is SO MUCH more interesting to like Crowfeather if you read him as the bad person he is. Like I don't like Crowfeather as a person but I find him so interesting as a character. Take the way he treats Breezepelt and Nightcloud. It makes so much more sense and it much less hairpulling to read it as it is. Crowfeather bottom line is an awful dad and awful husband. But he THINKS he's good at both of those things and deserves to be told he's doing a good job. Reading him as an asshole who, because of the events of the Journey, never had to outgrow the spiteful and selfish apprentice role he played. He's perpetually stuck in that place he was when Feathertail died. And he SUCKS as a person because of that! Like their is literally zero going to bat for him, he treats everyone around him Terribly!

But I like that nuance in his character. Like the reading of him in my head as this awful person who thinks he's better than everyone and gets told off for his actions. And Nightcloud in this reading is so interesting as well from the perspective of someone who WAS used and is being treated badly anyway. Like she has every right to be mad and hurt because at least at first, their discussions in Crowfeather's trial are to be believed, they worked together nicely as a pair! Just not romantically. Then Breezepelt gets put in the picture and on top of the issues that loosing children brings he also has an emotionally absent father who can also very easily be read as abusive in the few interacts we see of them through other cats eyes, though the clans culture of physical reprimandment is something to talk about another time.

That just creates a shitstorm of a person! Like I saw another person say that we can acknowledge that Crowfeather was an awful father and is not a good person and that Breezepelt is the way he is becayse of that but that Breezepelt also has things he needs to account for and did shit that neither Crowfeather or Nightcloud could have done anything about or had a hand in. And that has the ability to be INTERESTING! Like I would have liked Crowfeather's Trial so much more if Breezepelt hadn't done a complete one-eighty in the first ten chapters. Like imagine a book where Nightcloud goes missing just as Breezepelt is brooding over the events of the Dark Forest battle and Crowfeather is left to pick up the pieces and acknowledge that this was his fuck up (or completely shift blame and have a true unreliable narrator if that's more your speed). Breezepelt has the ability to be such an interesting character to mirror Hollyleaf in his desperation to just be heard for once and where he's left in Dovewing's Silence, basically getting away with what he did being the only trainee to still be on the Dark Forests side, gives the chance for that dirty laundry to be aired out and for Breezepelt to demand that Crowfeather acknowledges that was his fault for just flat out pretending him and Nightcloud didn't exist minus being the picture perfect Windclan family for Crowfeather. What I'm trying to say is stop blaming Nightcloud for Breezepelt's "bad parenting" it is literally all Crowfeather's fault and Crowfeather is a bad person. But I like thinking about him anyway he's my favorite little pathetic manchild who deserves none of the wives he got. Goodnight tristate area

#warrior cats #crowfeather #nightcloud #breezepelt #discourse #ig? is this whole Crowfeather Breezepelt thing discourse? #I could not tell you #ollie mews #text post #long post

[blimbo-buddy]

7, 8, 25

7: What character did you begin to hate not because of canon but because how how the fandom acts about them?

FernSong, NightHeart, IvyPool, GreyWing, LeafStar, FeatherTail (Well, more of a mix between the fans and the books). Especially FernSong

8: Common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

That a male character who fucking sucks would actually be waaaaay better if they were rewritten to be nice. This ends up being boring as fuck.

Also the idea that FernSong is a "den dad" just because he SAID he'd take care of the kittens, yet we never ever see this. No I don't give a fuck if it was mentioned in one singular passing sentence. The fandom reaction to FernSong made me hate him so fucking much dude, you have no idea. He makes me want to rip out one of my teeth

25 answered here

#blimbo rambles #ask #wc

[mallowstep]

Mr. Mallow, how do you think Riverclan would have recovered if Misty, Feather, Storm, (and I'm assuming Reed as well cause idk when he was born) choose to stay in Thunderclan after the Bloodclan battle? How do you think that would have changed Thunderclan as well?

hey nonnie!

fun fact: reedpaw is a point of intense emotion for me. in my canon, which is far more canon than anything the erins say, mistyfoot has two litters: primrosepaw, pikepaw, and perchkit, who all die before tigerclan; and reedwhisker, greymist, and rippletail, who, well, you know about them already.

so the first big thing if they stayed is that her second litter wouldn't have been born, because she wouldn't have tried to get back together with blackclaw.

i've always thought mistyfoot's decision to return to riverclan makes sense, so this is kind of a hard question for me to answer. i think leopardstar would've made...idk, has mosspelt had an apprentice? she would be a good choice for deputy. depending on who you accept as Alive in that time period in riverclan, you could make various arguments.

functionally i don't think it would've actually changed riverclan all that much. all of riverclan suffered under tigerclan: not all as obviously as the riverclan four, but certainly tigerstar didn't treat them as equals. it's brought up several times in tdh that riverclan seems to have no power and be unequal. i write post-tpb riverclan as considering themselves a victim of tigerstar, and that wouldn't change.

(i say "considering themselves" because it doesn't feel quite right to say that, and yet at the same time, they are? riverclan unquestionably suffers worse than any other clan because of him. windclan is punished by brokenstar, not tigerstar, gorsepaw withstanding, but riverclan is the clan that is directly harmed most by tigerstar. idk. a fun question for everyone to ponder: can you be both victim and perpetrator of a single crime?)

hawk and moth would have somewhat different lives. notably, i think hawk's relationship with leopardstar would've been closer. it's not really expanded on in canon, but they are mentor and apprentice, and their relationship feels like it's almost skewed? i don't know how to explain it, but there are moments where i get that impression (e.g., the fact that she makes him deputy), but there are moments where they seem like strangers. i say that maybe leaving the abandoned kits of tigerstar unsupervised with the cat with burning rage and so little trust in her clan she didn't feel safe sleeping with them was. maybe not the best idea.

(translation: i adore the relationship feathertail has to hawkfrost and mothwing that asir introduces and i expand on. i also think it's worth noting that feathertail hates leopardstar so much she almost let leopardstar die, and leopardstar was hawkpaw's mentor. so imagine the closest thing you have to a mother thinking that the other closest thing you have to a mentor is the worst cat to ever be alive. that's a hell of a conflict to place in hawkpaw and i think it yields interesting flavors to his character.)

god what is this tone i'm taking. this is what happened you called me mr mallow and suddenly here i am writing in long paragraphs with a distinct note of wow, someone really read the dictionary.

thunderclan wise, i think...eh, hard to say?

they probably wouldn't have gone on the quest. so feathertail would be alive. it would be nice to see feathertail and greystripe have to balance out some major issues in their relationship (e.g., the favoritism he shows to stormpaw, the fact that he abandoned them, etc.), which might lead to greystripe being more mature, but honestly i don't think it would've changed all that much materially.

maybe greystripe and mistyfoot would get together. she does, after all, have terrible taste in men.

<3

#ask #anon #mine #riverclan #thunderclan #tpb #tnp #asir #feathertail #mistyfoot #hawkfrost #greystripe #leopardstar #stormfur #good question! unfortunately my thoughts are: #it probably wouldn't adjust all that much #XD

[cryptidclaw]

I wish Oakkit lived, it would be a nice foil to Tawny and Bramble as siblings with Oak and Willow honestly

I get that but I don't really know what I would do with him as a character... Stormfur is a very boring character and combining him with Feathertail's plot makes things a lot more simple and interesting!

I will take ideas on what I could do with him tho, if he were to live...

One idea I did have was for Oak/Storm to be the one to die in the mountains so that could be a possibility...

#cryptid answers #cryptidclaw's warriors au #rise of change

[blorboclaw]

What do you think would have happened if Stormfur had indeed been the silver cat and had died instead of Feathertail?

hooo that's an interesting question thanks!

so firstly, Crowfea... wait, no, he wouldn't have asked to be named after her. Crowfoot. OK so Crowfoot and Feathertail arrive in the clans. SHe tells him he's very nice and all but 1) age difference 2) her brother just died, she's mourning and 3) she knows what it's like to be torn between clans and what the consequences are for the eventual kits and she doesn't want that to happen again.

So Crowfoot doesn't end up with Feathertail.

After the Great Journey, she joins Thunderclan, because it was stated (at least in A Shadow in Riverclan, which also made her come back on her decision but I’m chosing what to pick and what to ignore in canon) that she only stayed in Riverclan for Stormfur. Graystripe being kidnapped 

Windclan succession war happens. Crowfoot saves Leafpool but his ptsd doesn't induce him into some kind of love (still not convinced he was really in love with Leafpool in canon, even if he thought he was) and they don't run off together.

When Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw have kits (the Three) they name them Goldenkit (after Goldenflower), Nightkit (for the mid-night trip) and Stormkit (because his gray fur reminds them of Stormfur).

Feathertail is part of Thunderclan tho. When Goldenpaw is given to Ashfur, she is given Nightpaw, while Leafpool takes in Stormpaw. Feathertail admits she does find a likelihood in Stormpaw. When Graystripe comes back with Millie, she is thrilled that her father is still alive.

Training the apprentices together makes her develop a crush on Ashfur and she asks him out. He accepts because he thinks he’s getting back at Squirrelflight but she is actually thrilled that he’s getting with her best friend so it doesn’t work.

When Ashfur ambushes the Three and Squilf in the fire, Feathertail notices he’s missing (along with the four others) and goes back. She finds him, overhears everything, and ever since the Bonehill she’ll never let anyone hurt apprentices for who their parents are, so she accidentally kills him when trying to defend the others (particularly Stormpaw tbh but that’s not the point).

(the Three’s adult names are Goldenclaw, Nightleaf and Stormeye by the way)

Wanting to atone for the murder, she sets off for the Tribe, thinking they will let her join because her brother sacrificed himself for her. She is back by the time the three B are made warriors and she is given Bumblepaw, while Brightheart gets Blossompaw and Berrynose gets Briarpaw.

When Briarpaw gets paralysed, Feathertail and Brightheart visit her everyday, which makes Blossompaw and Bumblestripe, this time, jealous of her. Both start training in the dark forest.

Sol doesn’t return, because Ashfur’s murder didn’t send a patrol off, and because Sol cannot take credit for Hollyleaf saving Briarlight, because she’s not a forgotten warrior this time, but a “normal” warrior. There’s no battle in the tunnels.

When Dustpelt and Firestar spot Tigerstar’s spirit’s scent on the borders, they ask Feathertail to detail her experience in Tigerclan. Every single DF trainee feels ashamed and decides to stop training there. Ivypool is the only one who keeps doing so because of the spying. However the dark forest cats realize the truth and kill her (and possibly Thornclaw, Blossomfall and Birchfall, too, since the dark forest trainee cannot always decide to just stop coming). Since the other trainees don’t know what’s going on, just that seemingly loyal members are getting slaughtered for not reason, they all stop being loyal to the Dark Forest. They warn their leaders, ask for forgiveness, and on D-Day, despite Thunderclan being weakened, they are ready for the battle.Feathertail kills Tigerstar, avenging Stormfur. Nightleaf doesn’t die protecting Ivypool because Ivypool is already dead, and either fights among Starclan or doesn’t fight at all.

Brambleclaw becomes Bramblestar. He choses Squirrelflight as his deputy. They have a second litter (SparkAlderDandelionJuniper). Goldenclaw and Nightleaf train the two survivors before Alderpaw decides to go train under Stormeye instead. They are also the ones sent with Sandstorm and the apprentices to find Skyclan and Feathertail volunteers to join because she’s a great traveller. She saves Sandstorm a few injuries about the fox, she knows how to go through barbed wire... she’s a great asset. Sandstorm doesn’t die.

Feathertail has flashbacks of the tigerclan camp when she sees Darktail’s group, because they’ve got basically the same vices (carrion everywhere, people fighting for food...), and she tells Alderpaw that they better turn back, because even if those were Skyclan, which they don’t seem to be, the lake would be better off without them. Catastrophe avoided. No Darktail group around the lake. Onestar doesnt’ lose two lives to Darktail. They do find Twig and Violet tho, and later they find Skyclan.

TL;DR: If Stormfur had died instead of Feathertail, Hollyleaf wouldn’t have killed Ashfur and Darktail wouldn’t have gone to the lake.

#wc au #ask

[troutfur]

Anon-that-sent-the-long-tanistry-ask here, I like the idea that the choice for deputy needs a descendent of any kind instead of them needing an apprentice, it fits better with the whole idea. (and could set up some characters for failure since they might be a parent but not have the experience that comes from more strict organization, which is always a bonus for drama.) I also enjoy family drama getting magnified by power structures in stories, and ThunderClan's family tree definitely needs some work! It might not be what you're going for, since I don't know what you're plans are, but what if Tigerclaw was Whitestorm's brother? It might explain Bluestar's blind spot with him, despite being trained by Thistleclaw. (I'm not sure he'd still be mentored by Thistleclaw since that would be his father now, but it wouldn't be the first time a parent has mentored their child, and even if he's not he could still choose to train him in the Dark Forest.) Also, if we're assuming Firestar still chooses Graystripe to be his deputy, with Whitestorm's blessing, how would the clan handle the event where Graystripe becomes Graystar and chooses one of his kits to be his deputy? They're in RiverClan but unlike with Bluestar's kits everyone knows they're his, which would technically make them eligible for leadership. And on a related topic, how often would a pregnant queen lie about who the father of her kits where? Most often you couldn't because the dad would know, but what about instances where the "father" died recently? The reason I'm thinking about this is because Mapleshade lets everyone believe her kits are Birchface's by a lie of omission. It's not a power grab in canon, but in this AU (even if it wasn't her first priority) it would have probably crossed her mind at some point. It'd also be really interesting to see how a clan would choose a new leading family if one died out by sheer bad luck. (or on purpose.) As far as we know Mistystar has no living relatives now that Reedwhisker is also gone. Technically Stormfur through Silverstream would be the next best choice but he's in the mountains now, would RiverClan send a party to get him? Or would they decide to start over and poor Frostpaw would be under even more pressure to pick a good leader, since now it's not just one leader she's putting in power, it's a whole dynasty! Anyway, this ask is also really long, so I'll end it here!

Hi anon! Welcome back! You caught me while I was drafting my plans because this is shaping up to be definitely a writing project I want to tackle. Even got a series title and one-shot titles relating to exploring this concept in each of the four clans.

Ok, so, taking it from the top. I had contemplated both Thistleclaw and Bluefur as Sunstar's relatives to preserve the deputyship rivalry between them, but it didn't sit well with me considering that'd make Thistleclaw and Snowfur a little too related for my liking. Tigerclaw and Whitestorm as siblings though works well, it's even a family tree rework I've seen others make before! That only leaves figuring out Sunstar's relation to Bluestar and to Lionheart and Redtail.

I like the idea Tigerpaw was mentored by his own father and treated with favoritism. It's a nice parallel to Oakpaw and Crookedpaw back in RiverClan. Most of my planning RN is going into the RiverClan side so that's on the mind as of late.

I'm imagining a possible Graystripe deputyship to not go down super well with ThunderClan at large from the beginning tbh? Like, sure, Bramblepaw needs to grow up before he can be elected as tanist and Cloudtail needs to leave descendants. But as soon as one is elligible the Clan expects Graystripe to step down. Of course, Firestar could always loose his remaining 8 lives in the interval so in the event of a Graystar he's more likely to push for either Cloud or Bramble as tanist. Were he to try bringing back Stormfur or Feathertail not only would he have to convince them to move back to ThunderClan, he'd have to sell the idea to the Clan. I feel RiverClan would be very protective of them too, as elligible heirs.

The idea of someone in the line of succession dying and a queen claiming they were their sire is juicy! It's something I imagine you can only get away with if you have a history of being close, and even then you're opening your kits up for scrutiny. In the books the cats are portrayed as way too ignorant of genetics, more than I think is reasonable tbh. I don't think they'd have a modern scientific understanding but if they understand some core principles of like coat color and pattern inheritance they'd know when to raise an eyebrow at unlikely or impossible kits.

So, definitely rare, but there have certainly been a fair number of cunning queens in Clan history who've tried this gambit. Whether they succeeded or not depends on their exact situation and how similar was the claimed sire to the actual sire. I'd imagine this lie significantly increased the hostility the clan felt towards Mappleshade.

I don't imagine a mission to fetch Stormfur is very likely, no. For all RiverClan knows he could've died in the interim and they need leadership NOW. So, I think it's up to Frostpaw to determine which bloodline is most worthy. So, yeah, extreme pressure. HOWEVER, I have to say I'm fond of the headcanon that Minnowtail and Pebblefoot are Reedwhisker's children. So to me they'd be the obvious candidates the Clan would have to decide between.

#warrior cats #wc #warrior cats au #teamhair na ríthe #<-That's gonna be my tag for this AU #gonna explain in a bit because that's what anon caught me drafting concepts for

[am-i-too-old-for-warriors-yet]

Tough love

#Brambleclaw #Bramblestar #Crowfeather #Tawnypelt #Squirrelflight #Feathertail #Warrior Cats #I love the original post #I couldn't help myself XD #Don't be so nice to him Feathertail

[bonefall]

How do all five of Graystripe’s children feel about him?

BIG question, but here goes, brief intro to each of the Graykits and how they feel about their dad specifically in Better Bones:

Feathertail

At her core, Feather believes everything happens for a reason. She has immense faith in StarClan, and always rolls with the punches. Unflappable, fun-loving, and very calm, she likes telling jokes and usually says exactly what's on her mind.

So when Graystripe was exiled from RiverClan... she was upset until she got the full story. Then it made sense. She was sad she couldn't be around her dad, but, she imagines she would have done similar.

She returned to RiverClan after TigerClan's disbandment to support her mentor, Mistyfoot. If Leopardstar hadn't made her deputy, she would have stayed in ThunderClan.

If she didn't die, there would probably be more to this story. Stormfur wishes he was the easygoing type of person his sister was.

Stormfur

People have been disappointing him his whole life, everywhere he turns, cats are pulling him down, stabbing him in the back, and leaving him in a lurch.

He massively resents Graystripe for leaving RiverClan. At the time, he believed that a Clan was above all else, because RiverClan was his home. They fought for him, they wanted him, he was named for Crookedstar's pre-honor name, he saw himself as the inheritor of that legacy.

TigerClan didn't agree.

When Graystripe arrived to save him, Stormfur didn't WANT to go back to RiverClan. It made him think that he was wrong as a kid, and Graystripe was the one worth being loyal to. But Feathertail insisted that Mistyfoot was going to need her, that they had a duty to rebuild for the cats who had died saving them, and that RiverClan had learned its lesson.

The tumult in TNP, the death of his sister, and the capture of his dad... he felt like the Clans had nothing left for him. The LAST straw was when him, Brook, and Sheep (who would become Mintflower) were tossed out of RiverClan after some ridiculous "sign from StarClan" willed it. The Tribe cats had only been trying to help these jackasses get settled, and this was the thanks they got.

When Graystripe eventually comes to live his last days in the mountains, Stormfur is happy. The pain of losing him as a young apprentice is very far away, and he's grateful to finally be able to catch up with him after so long.

Bumblestripe

He wasn't reflective or articulate enough to put it into words, but Bumble always knew that Graystripe wasn't seeing him as a kitten. He just accepted that there was a distant Stormfur and Feathertail that he wasn't living up to, and if he worked hard, and tried to be like them, then maybe Graystripe could come to appreciate him too.

Briarlight and Blossomfall are able to reject that, with distance or with frustration, but even when it finally becomes clear to Bumble... it's not that easy. He can't just "get over it." He knows the problem, he knows that Graystripe is about to be happier than he's ever been here in the mountains where he last sees his father, but it can't change anything.

All his life Bumble is in pursuit of that. Shoving himself onto Dovewing, carrying out every demented task the Impostor comes up with, Bumblestripe NEEDS to be needed. He has to be helpful, and if you don't need him, he can't handle that. It's not enough to be wanted, there is no guarantee anyone wants anything forever, but NEEDING?

Basically Bumblestripe is fucked up and he's only just starting to work on it by the end of TBC. He is a major supporting character in Ferncloud's Parting along with Cloudtail, which is replacing Graystripe's Vow because Gray does not need a POV here lmao thanks.

Blossomfall

Blossom had very similar problems to Bumble growing up, but expressed them more through anger. She's a punk bitch, you know?

She's not a 'nice guy.' She's not out here trying to prove herself to Gray and Millie over and over, just to get a scrap of their affection. She leans into the label 'bad person' and wears it defensively, because if she's bad, that gives her agency over it. Like it's her choice that they see right through her.

But under that facade, she's the same sort of clingy, lonely person that Bumblestripe is. She was in a bad relationship with Ivypool from near the end of OotS up until ThunderClan's Tempest, before being dumped pretty hard when Fernsong joined the Clan, and allowed that resentment to fuel her.

I am planning for her to briefly become part of the Kin, to bolster their numbers, but she eventually defects either with Breezepelt or by rallying the other ex-Trainees to fight the Kin in the final battle. Her kits are from a Kin cat, though she invokes the Queen's Rights to not disclose which one it was. (she did not know she was pregnant when she defected.)

She never got the chance to really confront her resentment with Millie, something she massively regrets. However, she did reconcile with Briarlight in the end, though they were briefly on opposite sides of the Impostor.

But, anyway, the last time she sees Graystripe is when he decides to leave for the mountains. She tries to hide how much this hurts her, that her dad can't be with her after she just lost a son and a sister... but, she's had to learn twice that holding resentment never leads anywhere good.

Poor little meow meow material, this one

Briarlight

Graystripe was never there for her. He was terrified when she was disabled, just as overbearing as Millie, but then it became obvious that she was still going to have a full life... and he refused to do anything when Millie started treating her like a tragic glass doll.

Briarlight is SUPER nice, too fucking nice. She wants to snap so bad half of the time, when Millie's 'concern' is a backhanded insult, or when she speaks over her, or stops her from having literally any alone time, but how can she? When Graystripe is always there to smooth it over, and tell Briarlight that "your mom just loves you is all," excusing every little thing she does.

That hurts a lot, that Graystripe is too afraid of offending Millie to take Briarlight's side, or even validate her feelings in private. Something clicks for her when she's chatting with a sibling, and she connects it all

The death of Silverstream. Stormfur in the mountain. How she both gets too much "love" and they're starved for it.

Graystripe can't lose Millie too.

That's why he won't take her side. That's why he won't suggest anything about Bumble and Blossom. And that's why it'll never get better, not until Briarlight does something.

So her response is to FINALLY, in ThunderClan's Tempest, after Jessie has upgraded her mobility device to allow her more freedom than ever before, cut Millie off. By doing that, it meant cutting off Graystripe too, and for a while, that included Bumblestripe as he took their side.

Sometimes love is a boundary, even a temporary one. She only wishes that all this hadn't unfortunately aligned with Ivypool's and Blossomfall's huge fallout. They lose so much time because Blossomfall is angry and lashing out at everyone, when Briarlight could really use her sister, the ONE family member she has left, right about now

I think, of all the kits of Graystripe's second litter, Briarlight would have understood him best as he went back to the mountain... but, she was one of the Impostor's victims. Only Blossom and Bumble were there to work out what his motivations could possibly be.

#Graykin #Better Bones au #ThunderClan's Tempest #SLAPS THE ROOF this bad boy can fit SO MANY fucked up family dynamics in it #You won't BELIEVE how much mileage these little kitty cat freakazoids can pack in em #BB!Briarlight #BB!Graystripe #BB!Millie #BB!Blossomfall #BB!Bumblestripe #BB!Feathertail #BB!Stormfur #Tawnyrain Family

[everybody-loves-purdy]

Ive been thinking about this a lot lately. The funny thing about warriors sexism is that... out of context from the other instances? A lot of it's (theoretically) good dramatic/subversive stories.

Spottedleaf being murdered? Absolutely shocking tragedy that kills off a cat that seems like she was on track to be an important character being set up for a forbidden romance and sets the anyone can die tone of the early series.

Cinderpaw being crippled? Absolutely tragic moment that destroys the clear course of a young ambitious lady and firehearts charge before it can start that forces them to confront an ugly side of warrior life and shows tigerclaw is unsatisfied while creating a very nice arc about discovering passions and friendships she would have never thought to explore and finding satisfaction in life anyways.

Yellowfang dying so bramblekit could be saved? Good character moment for yellowfang AND fireheart that lets yellowfang go out on a note of loyalty to her adopted clan.

Silverstream passing tragically and making a bad sotuation worse that forces fireheart's main source of support away from him at one of the darkest moments in his life? Pretty good for a stressor.

Sandstorm, a very qualified and capable cat being screwed over from apprenticeship and then deputyship becauae firestar is paranoid for the one he loves against her own wishes? Nice relationship drama that feeds off the lack of work-personal boundaries and creates a conflict with them that isn't one of them being a dickhead to the other.

Feathertail sacrificing herself for the tribe instead of stormfur? Good twist that plays on the fact that we expect her to make it back as the chosen cat.

Tawnypelt deciding she is not suited to be deputy and stepping down by choice to show just how loyal she is to her clan's wellbeing? Especially as a child of tigerstar who's ambition consumed his sons, its a really powerful twist on the standards set by the series of ambitious deputies who feel they're owed power.

Perfect Sparkpelt being kind of maybe a little evil and not the main character in favour of her Fail Brother? Lightleap being unimplrtant ultimately despite bother her name and tigerstar clone status after the last two were shoved into power? Funny twist that this generation of clones are finally not important, a longstanding complaint about the diversity of protagonists.

Bluestar, Leafstar, Leopardstar, Leafpool, Ivypool, and twigbranch all facing difficulties dealing with sexism in their society? Each one tackles it in different ways from making difficult choices to giving a middle finger to it and all come out the other end some of the most well respected and powerful cats in the clans. They all tackle the same conflict with different answers and aren't always the "right" one or most girl power one necessarily but based on their personal circumstances, morals, and desires.

Bristlefrost sacrificing herself to defeat ashfur? Very powerful and well written moment that ends a very bloody arc on a bittersweet end to hammer home that Things Need To Change.

The problem is with them being in the context of not only each other happening, but always being the short end of the stick compared to their male counterparts who usually get much more triumphant arcs... and then glorified for it and framed as suffering the loss of the female characters as though it was their tragedy and not the female character's who, you know, freaking died...

But thats why I don't blame people, especially younger kids for not noticing it because, as isolated character arcs/twists in the context of former patterns, they're all pretty good and seem like theyre only dealing with in-world sexism (and I do think some people who talk about it forget the intentional in-world aspect to some of it which can make it seem less reasonable to someone who hasnt seen these overarching patterns. This is a relatively primitive society that is far from perfect which the character ARE intended to struggle against the antiquated aspects of), which is why these things are all also sited as reasons these cats are beloved.

I think it also strikes a particular nerve due to the fact that all the authours and, from my personal experience, the majority of the readership are female...

Well said, I agree. And yeah it’s so weird having this sexism you describe from the narrative considering the original Erins at least were all women (I have no idea who is on the editors team now since Vicky left)

#anonymous

[yuridovewing]

A Shadow In RiverClan Diagnosis: C

Very pretty comic, Barry's art is absolutely gorgeous in this one. He did a great job with the backgrounds and the coloring, and I really love Feathertail's design here. It all looks really nice. I also like how Feathertail's PTSD is represented, she's resentful and cold to her clanmates and she has every right to be, yet doing so is still harming her. She makes reckless decisions and only serves to make her situation worse. That's a really compelling internal conflict for her to reconcile with. I found a lot of her struggles really relatable because I've also isolated myself and resented people who enabled my abuse. It honestly felt really freeing to see Feathertail cope with her feelings and begin to reach out to others again by the end of the book.

The problem is the everything else. This doesn't feel like a satisfying Feathertail story, and it just passes as a Stormfur one. Leopardstar being uwu so sorry is annoying, I think it's good that she apologized to Feathertail and Stormfur and I agree with the writing that it was a good thing to do for Feathertail's arc... but Feathertail shouldn't have to forgive her. She can move on, open up again, but she can do that without forgiving the one who had Stonefur executed in front of her. Also wow she's just as xenophobic to ThunderClan as the rest of RiverClan now... what fantastic character development. And it's so awkward with what we know from TNP, where she dates Crowpaw and sacrifices herself for the Tribe and stays in their afterlife instead of StarClan. I don't think reconciling with RiverClan was the correct option for this story specifically in the grand scheme of things.

Sasha deserved better too. It feels bad that Feathertail reconciled with Leopardstar but not Sasha. I can understand Feathertail being upset about Hawk and Moth being TIgerstar's children, and Sasha not immediately saying what the situation was, but its weird how she never ever recognizes that Sasha was a victim, just like she was. FFS, Sasha literally says she ran away before Tigerstar learned she was expecting his halfclan kits, and Feathertail is STILL like "muh muh muh you bastard i cant believe you love that guy". it's a shame, cause they're both not the "perfect victims" that the media likes to portray. Sasha still loves her abuser and misses him and wanted better for him even though he would never do the same for her, because he'd broken her down so much that she only wants his validation. Feathertail hates her leader for ordering her death and is scared of her clanmates for egging her on, and does not forgive them for a very long time. It makes sense! I always like to see different depictions of trauma. But there's just a lack of sympathy to Sasha that I don't like.

This is also just a nitpick btw, and not exclusive to this book, but why have Oakheart tell her the prophecy and not Crookedstar, the cat she actually knew and had a good relationship with? She'd absolutely listen to him so I don't get what the deal was. Even if Crookedstar wasn't a huge character when they wrote that plot point, neither was Deadfoot. I dunno, it's weird.

Anyways. I'm just gonna be looking at this for spare parts for my au. I won't lie, I'm pretty sure this is alongside Leopardstar's Honor squarely in the "not canon" category. Which is a shame, cause there's stuff I like, but it just doesn't make a lot of sense.

#wc comics liveread

[mallowstep]

(pencil case)

Shadepelt arrives at seven. The triplets are already awake, and Feathertail is sitting with them at the table as they eat breakfast. "I brought a treat," she says, holding up a box of donut holes.

All three heads turn to her eagerly.

"Cheerios first," Feathertail says, and Shadepelt sets them on the counter. They're a planned distraction from Feathertail's departure.

"I'll be home at one," Stonefur says, "but if anything goes wrong, don't hesitate to call." He looks at both Feathertail and Shadepelt, and then fishes his keys out of the bowl, making rounds around the table.

"You'll call me if--"

"I'll pick you up myself," Stonefur says. He kisses the top of her head, then runs up the stairs.

Feathertail steals a strawberry sliver from Frogkit's plate.

"That's mine," he says, scrunching his nose.

"Better eat faster," she teases.

* * *

"I'll walk you to class," Stormheart says. "And d'you know when your lunch is? Because I can meet you and take you--"

"I know where things are," Feathertail says. "They gave me a tour."

"Maybe I want to spend time with you." She makes a face, but it'll be nice to see her during the day. "C'mon, let me see your schedule."

She hands him a paper version, and he skims it. "Oh, we have -- wait, you have gym?"

"It's a requirement, apparently. I didn't make the schedule."

"Well, I'll see you then." He passes it back to her, and they look at the entrance to the high school. They tried to get here early, but there are still anxious freshmen pacing the halls in roving bands. "Ready?"

"Let's just go."

* * *

Tawnypelt takes a moment to examine Feathertail.

Her hair is braided, just reaching her shoulders, and her face is fuller. She looks better.

"So you decided to come back?"

Feathertail looks straight at her, and Tawnypelt understands it is now her turn to be appraised.

"Yes," she says.

Owlfur clears his throat. "Right, so, you two know each other, then?"

"We grew up together," Tawnypelt says. She sees Feathertail narrow her eyes, but the other girl doesn't say anything.

Owlfur nods, and Tawnypelt can see the pieces click in his mind. "Okay. Good to know. Tawnypelt, you already know all this, so feel free to tune me out for the next few minutes, but the plan is to get the both of you in as many grade-appropriate courses as we can..."

It's been over two years since they were last in anything like a classroom together. A not-insignificant number of things were reversed, then. Tawnypelt twists one of her bracelets.

"...which is all a lot of words to say mornings here, electives in the afternoons." He takes a breath. "So let's get started."

* * *

True to his word, Stormheart waits for Feathertail before heading to lunch.

"How's it going?"

"It's fine."

It doesn't look fine, but Stormheart figures she doesn't want to talk about it. "I ate lunch with Bramblepaw and Tawnypelt last year, so I told them I'd sit with them today, but it doesn't have to be an everyday thing if you don't want."

Feathertail shrugs.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm tired," she says, "and I'm only halfway through the day and I miss my kids and I don't know anything. So -- it's just fine."

* * *

Dawnpaw buys lunch, but as soon as she has, she hunts down Stormheart. He's sitting near the front again, a new girl on one side, Bramblepaw across from them both.

"I can't do this," the girl says, holding a bag of some kind of snack, "Stormheart, can you--"

"Yeah, I got it." He takes it from her, and Dawnpaw takes her chance to sit down between the new girl and Bramblepaw.

"Hey, Stormheart," she says, smiling. "And -- I'm Dawnpaw." She holds out her hand towards the girl. Stormheart touches her shoulder, then says, "That's Dawnpaw."

She looks up, then takes your hand. "Feathertail."

"Oh! Like, Stormheart's sister?"

Stormheart nods, then passes her back the bag.

"It's so good that you're back," Dawnpaw says. "Stormheart is in my science class this year -- what's your schedule?"

Feathertail looks away from her, and Stormheart gives Dawnpaw half a smile. She twirls a fry through ketchup, wondering if she should repeat the question or wait for an answer. While she's still deciding, Feathertail starts cramming things back in her lunchbox abruptly.

"I can't do this," she says. "Stormheart, I'm gonna..." She shakes her head, grabbing her backpack and heading towards the exit.

"Feathertail, wait," he says. "You can't just leave."

He sighs, and stands, following her. Dawnpaw is left to look at Bramblepaw, and he shrugs.

"You need to sign out," the lunch monitor says, they're close enough to them that Dawnpaw can hear every word.

"Yeah, it's an emergency. She's going to the nurse's office, I can sign out for her, just..."

The monitor releases a belaboured sigh. "Fine. You -- go, you -- forms."

"Wait," Stormheart says, "I meant after we get--"

"Leave me alone, Stormheart," Feathertail says, her voice surprisingly cold. She rushes towards the exit, and his face falls. He scribbles on the log, and then walks back to the table.

He pulls out his phone and sends off a text, then looks back up at them.

"Sorry," he says, giving Dawnpaw half a smile. "What were you saying?"

* * *

feather: can you pick me up

stone: of course. what happened?

feather: long day. don't want to talk. nurse's.

stone: are you okay?

feather: fine

feather: don't tell mistyfoot

* * *

The girl pushes into the office looking frazzled.

"What's wrong?"

"I need -- can you call Stonefur? I want to go home."

"Who's Stonefur?"

She fidgets, wringing her hands. "My guardian."

"And you are..."

"Feathertail. Daughter of Mistyfoot."

He turns to sort through the files. "I can't just send you home," he says. "What's wrong?"

"I feel bad," she says, "I want to go home."

Found it. He flips through her file. They've been trying to get him to digitize, but things are better this way, and there's a sticky note slapped on it that reads allowed to go home early sometimes; tally.

"Okay. I'll call."

* * *

Owlfur does a last look over the classroom. He tries to leave it unlocked, but he's headed over to the elementary school for the afternoon, and no one will be back to lock it for him. He already told Tawnypelt and Feathertail, and at least right now it's just the three of them.

He catches a pencil case on the table, and it has no name, so he opens it.

There's a row of photos taped to the top: Feathertail, with three kids in turn, and then all four together. She's smiling in all four photos, and Owlfur counts that a blessing.

Luckily, it's still lunch, so he can track her down.

Owlfur searches the cafeteria, and Bramblepaw catches his eye. "Hey, Owlfur. Tawnypelt is in the back."

"I'm not looking for her today," he says. "You don't know Feathertail, do you?"

"She's in the nurse." The boy sitting across from Bramblepaw turns. "Why?"

"She left something in my room. Thanks for the help, uh..."

"Stormheart."

"Stormheart. Thanks for the help."

Owlfur pivots, rushing to the nurse before he runs out of time. Feathertail is sitting against the back wall, flipping through her phone, and he pulls up a chair to sit beside her.

"Feathertail?"

She startles at his voice.

"Sorry. I just wanted to bring you this." Owlfur offers her the pencil case and she seizes it, tucking into her bag with urgency. "D'you mind if I ask you a question?"

She shrugs.

"Who's in the photos?"

"The photos?"

"I had to open the case to figure out who it belonged to, and I figured Tawnypelt didn't have photos of you taped into her school things."

"They're my kids," she explains.

* * *

Owlfur bursts into her office.

"Alright," he says, "Tallpoppy, this isn't going to work."

"What isn't?"

"All of it. Feathertail and Tawnypelt can't work together--"

"And you know if there was something I could do, I'd do it. But you're the only literacy expert, Owlfur, so unless Tawnypelt is ready to be mainstreamed, you're her only option."

"I know," he says, "but I really think we should consider. But that's not -- Tallpoppy, did you think teen mom might be relevant to me?"

"...are we still talking about Feathertail and Tawnypelt?"

"It's important, you know that."

"I didn't know." Tallpoppy sighs. "Owlfur, I get that it's not ideal, but two-to-one is an absolutely fantastic ratio, and I only know what's in Feathertail's file."

* * *

Stonefur helps Feathertail out of the car. She looks exhausted; he's glad he told Shadepelt to corral the kids upstairs.

"I'll get your bag later," he says. "Did you eat lunch?"

Feathertail shakes her head.

"Okay. You want anything in particular?"

"I'm not really hungry."

Stonefur sighs. Mistyfoot is better at convincing Feathertail to take care of herself, and he doesn't want to fight with her.

"I can make a smoothie?"

She shrugs, and he takes it as good as a yes.

"Couch or bedroom?"

"Bed." Feathertail glances at the stairs as they pass them. "Are they up?"

"Shadepelt said Mothkit couldn't stay asleep."

"She can come with me."

Stonefur pulls back the covers as Feathertail slips off her shoes. I"ll let Shadepelt know. Do you want to change?"

She shakes her head, and he lifts her into the bed. Stonefur kisses her forehead. "I'm proud of you."

"I had to come home early."

"Well," he says, "you both tried to go, and had the good sense to know when you were done. So I'm proud of you twice over."

Feathertail looks like she doesn't believe him, but he brings the blankets back over her. "I love you."

"Love you too, Stonefur. Don't forget about Mothkit."

"Promise you'll drink something?"

She rolls her eyes, but adds, "Yeah."

"Then it's a deal."

And if Hawkkit and Frogkit are jealous later, well, Stonefur will just have to find a way to balance the scales.

#mine #human misty au #q #feathertail #tawnypelt #stonefur #stormfur #owlfur #so many furs xd #dawnflower #tallpoppy #another long ass bit #this one goes in q tho #so y'know #buy me some time xd

[mallowstep]

(adoption stories)

cw: sexual assault, forced pregnancy

age three

"We're going to go to a courthouse soon," Feathertail says. They're lying outside, and Hawkkit lies on top of her, his head under his chin, looking up at the clouds.

"What's that?" he asks, while Frogkit asks, "Today?" and Mothkit asks, "Why?"

Feathertail laughs. "A courthouse is...a place where there's a judge to make decisions about the laws." She pauses, and Mothkit starts to invade Hawkkit's space, her elbows pushing him to one side. "And — we're going in a few days." She wraps her arm around Mothkit and Hawkkit. "I'm going to adopt you."

"What's that?" Hawkkit repeats.

"It's going to make me your mother," she explains.

"You aren't?" Mothkit's eyes are wide, and Feathertail sighs.

"It's...complicated. This is going to make it simple." She sits up, gathering all of them into her lap. "You know that Mistyfoot carried you inside her, when you were babies, right?" They nod. "Well, that means that the government wrote down her as your mother. But I loved you three so much, I asked to be your mom instead. And so now we have to go tell them to change all the papers."

age five

"How come Mistyfoot didn't want to be our mama?" Frogkit asks, climbing up onto Feathertail. She seems startled by the question. Her hand rubs his back and he waits for an answer.

"Do you remember about when you were born?"

Frogkit sits up and thinks for a second. "You were sick, right?" he says. "And we were born early."

Feathertail nods. "So I spent a lot of time with you. And I loved taking care of you and getting to be your mom." She kisses the top of Frogkit's head.

age seven

"Why don't we have a dad?" Mothpaw asks.

"Well," Feathertail says, "you have a birth father."

"Oh." Mothpaw shoves her hands in her pockets. "Who's that?"

"His name is Tigerstar."

"Why doesn't he live with us? Because Mistyfoot lives with us."

Feathertail hesitates. "He's not a part of our family."

"Yeah, but why?" Mothpaw stops walking, stepping in front of Feathertail. "Didn't he love us?"

"He was..." Feathertail takes a deep breath. "Mistyfoot and Tigerstar didn't love each other, and she left him before you were born. He never knew you."

"No one told him?"

"No, he...made some bad choices, and so a judge decided he had to go to jail. He didn't have a chance to meet you."

"Did he want to?"

"I'm not sure." Feathertail squeezes her hand. "We can talk more about this tonight, if you want, okay?"

age nine

"So just fill them up as far as you know," his teacher says. "You can bring them home tonight to ask your parents for the rest, but you only have to go as far out and up as you can."

Hawkpaw looks at his paper, putting his name in the middle, and listing his siblings underneath him.

He writes Feathertail where it says mother, and then Greystripe for grandfather, and he looks at the rest of his tree and puts down his pencil and sighs.

As he's leaving that afternoon, his teacher calls him back for a second, holding out the paper. "Don't forget to take this home," he says.

Hawkpaw considers throwing it away as he leaves.

age eleven

"How come Mistyfoot had us if she didn't love Tigerstar?"

Stonefur sighs. "Okay," he says, "okay, get your brothers."

Mothpaw rolls her eyes, but at least Hawkpaw and Frogpaw's rooms are upstairs. "Stonefur wants you," she says. "C'mon."

They sit on the couch in Stonefur's office, and he looks at them. Mothpaw fidgets, tucking her legs on the couch.

"You know that...most babies are born when a man and a woman have sex, right?"

Mothpaw nods.

"Tigerstar wanted to have a child with Mistyfoot, and--" Stonefur pauses, glancing towards the window. "Well, he forced her to have sex with him."

"But that's wrong." Hawkpaw looks angry. Mothpaw holds her knees to her chest. It's not like they were told things were good between Mistyfoot and Tigerstar, but they explained sex in school and Mothpaw thought about all the boys in her class, and how some girls kept saying they had crushes and wouldn't it be nice to hold someone's hand and did she hear that Cypresspaw said that Rosepaw kissed her and he's in sixth grade?

Mostly, Mothpaw thought Leafpaw was pretty in a way that she couldn't put into words.

Stonefur sighs. "I know."

"Is that why she didn't want us?" Frogpaw asks.

"Mistyfoot loves you."

"Yeah, but she didn't want us."

He looks down for a few seconds. Mothpaw pulls her legs in tighter.

"What happened between Mistyfoot and Tigerstar was bad," Stonefur says, "but you three were a very good thing that came from it. When you were born, she loved you, but she didn't feel like she could be a good mother."

"Why did she keep us?" Mothpaw asks.

Hawkpaw huffs. "She didn't," he says. "That's like, the whole concept of adoption."

"No -- like, before we were born."

Stonefur blinks a few times. Mothpaw picks at a hole in her jeans.

"I'm not sure," he admits. "What I know is that when she had that choice, she chose to keep you."

age thirteen

Leafpaw and Frogpaw sit in the back seat alone. Hawkpaw and Mothpaw lost rock-paper-scissors, and are helping Stormheart and Feathertail go grocery shopping, but they've been excused.

"Can I ask you a question?" Leafpaw says.

Frogpaw shrugs.

"Does it bother you, that you don't look like your mom?"

He considers this for a moment. Feathertail isn't not related to them. Her mother was Mistyfoot's cousin. Mothpaw and Hawkpaw look less like her, but Frogpaw takes after her.

Takes after Mistyfoot.

Whatever.

He looks at Leafpaw, considers her family. Firestar's hair is bright red, and Squirrelpaw takes after him, and Sandstorm has pale, cool blond hair. Leafpaw's hair is brown, lighter than even Hawkpaw, but still much, much darker than everyone else in her family.

"Nah," he says. "Family is family."

#mine #q #human misty au #tadpole #hawkfrost #mothwing #feathertail #stonefur #leafpool #mothpaw does straight up have a gay crisis in the middle of a family moment #in her defense it's relevant