#rowankit is dead

[koolaidcatley]

[bonefall]

It’d be interesting to have the whole “kits die commonly” thing be important too. Like Bristle died a war hero and will be remembered, but rowankit was just another young death in the grand scheme of the clans, which means dovewing probably faced cats saying “oh that happens all the time, it’s just how life is out here”

so Ivypool trying to relate would probably set her off

There's also an angle here where it's clear that the other Clans are ready to brush off Rowankit's death as "just a sickly kit" when THEY had no losses. Like the whole world wants to treat her son like he was born doomed instead of a preventable tragedy.

TigerHeartstar was sounding this alarm for MONTHS before the epidemic hit. Everyone knew stocks were low, and they were rolling their eyes like it was a future problem. It was only when people got sick that they sent a patrol out to fetch catmint. There were so many moments where, if they'd treated the situation with the urgency it required, Rowankit would still be here.

But instead, her son is dead, and people try to tell her it's not a big deal because in like 40 cat years she can look foward to also being dead, so she can spend eternity with a permanent baby who will never have a chance to grow up.

It's like the only ones who actually understand Dovewing's grief is her family..... except Ivypool. And that should hurt.

So for BB,

I still need to wait for the ASC arc to wrap up before I rewrite it (S O O N) but, this whoooole situation is going to be a LOT crazier even with JUST the changes I made to BB!TBC.

In BB!TBC, Bristlefrost dies twice. First, she's executed by the Impostor early on for being in a relationship with Rootspring. Then, at the end of the arc, she dies knocking Ashfur out of heaven to burn him up in orbit. Both times, Ivypool failed to protect her daughter even when she'd vowed to do so.

I plan to use this SE as a major opportunity to get into Ivypool's head again, and explore how she's dealing with that. I've also been hanging onto an idea for a few months now; that Rosepetal will actually be Squirrelstar's first deputy, but die either on this mission, or during ASC.

I need a couple more books to come out before I start cooking, but the ingredients smell reaaaal nice right now.

[everybody-loves-purdy]

more cats should've died this arc. some shadowclan cats should've drowned. some riverclan cats should've been killed in the battle between shadow and river. if splashtail was so big and intimidating (despite being one cat), why did he only kill harelight? and I am SO TIRED of StarClan interferring. it's so irritating, but ig dead little Harelight had to tell Frostdawn how to murder Splashtail because there was zero way she was winning otherwise lmao. Splashtail nearly murdered Frostdawn twice Frostdawn only lived because she got lucky (AKA the narrative needs their protags to live) kill off irrelevant background cats nobody knows who they are anyway. Brackenpelt has done NOTHINGGGG

I totally agree about more cats should have died, my biggest problem with the arc is not enough death. Big greencough outbreak across all the clans? Just Rowankit. RiverClan forcibly taken over? Everyone’s fine. Multiple battles in Star? Literally the two remaining main villains die and that’s it. And they don’t even die in the battles themselves.

There were so many situations where more cats could have very easily died and probably should have, and just didn’t.

Erin Hunter please kill more characters off we’re begging you. Give us mass death. We crave violence.

[goldenflowerceo]

maybe controversial to say but i don't really think there's any like. "winner" to who's death is more upsetting when it comes to bristlefrost and rowankit. like rowankit died young and never got to grow up, but dovewing will see him in starclan again. bristlefrost grew up and did choose to sacrifice herself, but her family will never see her again when they pass. she's double dead. she's erased from all of reality

EDIT: IF YOU'RE GONNA REBLOG, REBLOG MY VERSION WITH NEW ADDITIONS!!!

[wc-confessions]

I HATE how much more popular Mosskit is over Mistystar ad Stonefur, shes not even in the first arc! HER DEATH IS BARELY MENTIONED YET SO MANY PEOPLE SEE ETHEM AS MUCH MORE INTERESTING like yes shes cute but there are so many more interesting dead kits, like Perchkit(MISTYSTARS OWN KIT WHO GIVES HER A LIFE) or Rowankit or EVEN FLUTTERING BIRD Snowkit is cuter than mosskit anways or what about Flickerkit???? He has so much potential especially since he is waiting for his mom in Starclan...but...Mosskit is the most popular out of the Blue oak kits just because she is a dead kit

ฅ^>⩊<^ ฅ

[wokeleftistmob]

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

WindClan: Leafkit

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

ThunderClan: Stempaw or Graypaw

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

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

RiverClan: Floatkit, Rapidkit, or Troutkit

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

SkyClan: Ridgekit or Duskkit

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

ShadowClan: Birchpaw

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[fallenclan]

The Worry Box - Chapter 5: Altschmerz

a/n: hey guys it's lollipop have u missed me :3 back with a worry box chapter after [checks calendar] 7 months!!!!! rejoice!!!!

–

“I'm worried about Rowankit,” Newtscar mutters.

Silverbelly looks up from her herb sorting, and turns to face Newtscar.

Sometimes, Newtscar just walks into the medicine den and makes herself at home. Silverbelly won't begrudge her of that simple comfort.

She wishes Bluefern would come to her. She wishes Evie and Moxie would come to her, and she wishes Oaktuft and Goldenstar and everyone else who wouldn't come to her would. But they don't. She takes what she can get.

“Worried how? Emotional, physical–”

Because stars forbid Rowankit, or any of the kits for that matter, remembered it. They'd had nightmares for a quarter moon, and Mistykit had finally slept a full night just yesterday. They were all still confused, missed their siblings, but with any luck they wouldn't remember it.

“She winces when she plays,” Newtscar says. “I didn't– I didn't pick up on it until today, but she was whimpering, Silverbelly, I–”

“We can go look at her now,” Silverbelly interrupts. Because she knows Newtscar, and she knows that Newtscar is prone to the same sort of spiraling thinking of oh stars this is all my fault that Silverbelly is.

Newtscar briefly nods, and Silverbelly trails behind her as she walks back towards the nursery.

It's getting dark. The moon hangs heavy in the sky. She catches a glimpse of the clearing, where red still stains some dirt, and her wrenches her eyes away.

Bluefern blearily opens her eyes when Silverbelly and Newtscar come in.

“Hi, Silverbelly. I thought you just looked at me yesterday?”

“I'm looking at Rowankit today, I'm afraid,” she says. She kneels down to look at Rowankit, who is sitting next to Moxie.

“You think somethings wrong with her?” Moxie whispers, practically hovering over her as Silverbelly noses a very confused Rowankit. “She's--she's completely fine. I've been careful with her, the kits have been careful, everyone has been careful. We haven't talked about it around her, and–”

“Newtscar,” Silverbelly says. Moxie falls entirely silent, practically holding her breath. “Fetch Oaktuft.”

–

“You think it's permanent?” Oaktuft asks. It's not as much of a question as it is a confirmation.

“Yes,” Silverbelly says. “Lichenstripe once told me of a kitten with achy joints, back in Shallowclan. Her joints never stopped aching, even as she matured. I believe it's the case with Rowankit.”

“I see,” Moxie says. “Thanks for catching that, I hardly even noticed. Sometimes kits just get back up slower, you know?”

Rowankit sleeps peacefully next to Sleepykit, because Bluefern said that kits shouldn't sleep by themselves. So, every queen just cuddles around their kits in a giant cuddle pile every night. It's extremely endearing.

“Yes,” Silverbelly nods. “If she starts looking particularly shaky, take her to my den. I have herbs that can help soothe her joints.”

Moxie and Oaktuft nods, and that's that. Newtscar looks relieved.

Silverbelly leaves for her own den, and seed Stormsight remaking his nest, for possibly thr fourth time that day.

“What's on your mind?”

“Ah, not much,” Stormsight absently replies. “Just thinking.”

“Hm,” she grunts, and lays in her own nest. She casts a careful eye to Eaglepaw, who was already dozing off. She chooses sleep.

–

“Toro?”

The white cat keeps walking, just fast enough to outpace her.

“Toro!”

Thunder cracks over her.

The white cat turns around. They are faceless, though they look suspiciously like her dead mother.

She feels something brush against her. She whips around.

Nothing is there, except a single brown pebble.

“Stupid fucking rocks,” she mutters. “Stupid fucking dreams. Stupid fucking rogues.”

She hears shouting. She hears thunder, rumbling. Rain pattering, but none of it falls on her.

She steps closer to the cliff. Sunwish would tell her that was a bad idea, and she should wait until something happens naturally.

Ah, well. Silverbelly never has liked waiting.

One step forward.

“Hello?” Her voice calls.

She stills.

“I didn't say anything,” she whispers. “What?”

Something slams into her. She stumbles, and stares at the thorny vines and sharp rocks that await her at the bottom of this drop.

Falling.

Air rushing past her.

The odd feeling of victory, of revenge, of deserved deserved he deserved it.

guilt guilt shame shame why did you do it

Why did you

why did you do it?

it was for her

no.

he deserved it.

Silverbelly blinks her eyes open, facing the dark stone of her den and breathing the sharp tang of herbs.

–

“Nightmares,” Flyspots flatly says. “Nightmares, for moons.”

Silverbelly had taken the apprentices out, for some basic medical training. Because stars forbid some cat died on patrol over preventable injuries, and stars forbid some cat had a panic attack on patrol and nobody knew what to do.

“Yes,” Stormsight says. “Since the rogue attack, apparently.”

Silverbelly had covered all her bases. She had gone over what berries they don't need to be touching, let alone eating, what stupid tricks simply weren't worth it, which included backsliding off a branch of the Sky Pine, and basic medicinal herbs they could use on patrol.

“And I was going to find out about this when?” Flyspots says, from his awkward position. Wormshade stands next to him, looking a bit offended.

“Whenever he was comfortable,” Stormsight shrugs. “I'm sure he'd rather you not have found out about it like this either, but here we are.”

She'd gotten to the specific spot where she planned to discuss anxiety and panic attacks, and as she explained symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, she watched every apprentice slowly turn to look at Beepaw, who looked like he wanted to sink into a puddle.

“I just– I don't understand why he'd keep this from us.” Flyspots is practically dragging the words. “We're not that unapproachable?”

Silverbelly immediately shakes her head. “No. No, absolutely not. You're good parents, both of you.”

“So then, why?”

“You'd have to ask him.”

She remembers watery eyes, once Maplethorn had taken the rest of the apprentices back to camp. She remembers guilt and all my fault and she remembers things that weren't true.

“Just keep an extra eye on him,” Stormsight says. “Don't force him to come to you, but gently encourage it instead.”

Wormshade nods.

Silverbelly, clear as day, remembered sneaking out with Applebranch when they were still just Silverpaw and Applepaw. When they were still Silverpaw and Applepaw, before all the rocks and the omens and the death death death that left a bitter tang on her tongue when she managed to choke it down. She always snuck out through the tunnel behind the elders den, suppressing giggles and laughter when they finally squirmed out of the rocks.

Beepaw and Spiderpaw had both snuck out. Beepaw and Spiderpaw had managed to avoid the bloodshed. They returned in the middle of the night to eleven dead cats and their sibling badly wounded. They returned in the middle of the night to a red stained clearing.

And so, Beepaw told her, he couldn't stop considering the what-if's.

“Maybe, maybe if I wasn't gone–”

Silverbelly knows, as it is, that nobody has recovered. Not really. She still hears the occasional yowl, and she still sees Goldenstar sit on the high rocks whenever he can't sleep. She sees Bluefern pacing, and she sees Evie with one eye on the entrance, and she sees Robinblaze padding into camp at late hours of the night. She watches Eaglepaw scrabble at nothing in her sleep, and she hears shrill screams from the apprentices den. Things will get better, but she doesn't know when.

“I'm sorry for sneaking out,” Beepaw had said. “I should have been there to help.”

“Don't be sorry for saving your own life,” Silverbelly had replied. “I'm never going to be angry at you for being a kid, okay?”

“I'm not a kid,” Beepaw protested.

“You're still a moon old to me,” Silverbelly said.

“Yeah, okay gran. You're literally dissolving into dust as we speak, that's how prehistoric you are!”

Silverbelly laughed, and Beepaw laughed, and for a moment everything was fine.

“He'll get better, with time,” Stormsight assures. “For now, it's just a matter of supporting him where it's needed.”

Wormshade nods. “I'll do my best.”

–

Things get better over time.

She supposes that this theory can also be attributed to Goldenstar's odd, belated grieving process. For maybe fifty moons, he never let anyone close, and now he's making friends with Celia of all cats.

He decides, in his typical impulsive manner, to take a last second trip to the glow cave.

“Before I say anything, I want to ask Morningbloom and Sunwish. Can you do that, like can you ask a specific cat?”

Silverbelly shrugs. “I don't see why not. And what do you need to ask them for anyways?”

“I wanna know what they think of Celia,” Goldenstar replies.

“Oh? Did I miss something?”

“I'm thinking about asking him,” Goldenstar says. She nods, and he continues, “but I don't want Morningbloom to think I'm replacing her. I'd never do that. So, if she disapproves, then I won't.”

Silverbelly debates with herself for a moment. The relationship between Goldenstar and his dead loved ones was a tense, fragile thing. Trying to understand it was difficult. He spoke to Morningbloom and Sunwish and Honeygleam in dreams like they were still alive, like they had never been cruelly taken away from him before he was ready to say goodbye.

“I don’t think that loving Celia means you don’t love her,” she finally says. “Celia has been good for you.”

“I don’t want her to think I don’t love her,” Goldenstar murmurs. “Because I don’t think I could ever stop loving her to begin with.”

“Morningbloom would want what’s best for you,” Silverbelly says. She’s careful with her wording, because the last thing she needed was to set him off and revert him back twenty moons of healing.

“She would,” Goldenstar says. “I just want to make sure.”

They stop at the mouth of the cave.

“I’m sure you know the drill by now,” she says. A firefly flickers in the dim light. “Follow the glowing mushrooms, until you’re in the mouth of the cave.”

“You’re not coming in with me?” Goldenstar glances at her, then at the setting sun.

“I’m sure you can handle the trip on your own,” she says.

The real answer was that Starclan has certainly had no issues reaching her from the comfort of her own nest. In a place as spiritual as this, she’d never get a moment of rest within the cave. It was easier to stay outside and pretend like she wanted to watch the stars, or stay to keep watch.

After a long moment, Goldenstar finally sighs, “Alright. I’ll see you in the morning, I suppose.”

She thinly nods, and watches him disappear into the cave.

–

Sleep finds her anyways, between the sound of cicadas and owls hooting. She walks around in the dimly lit space, until she spots a light.

No. That wasn’t necessary. Lights are pointless. They may take her to the same space again.

She considers her surroundings, a bleak wasteland of mud and rotting leaves, and considers that anything would be better than here. So, she walks towards the light, mud dragging at her paws.

“Maybe Sunwish was right, when she said that being a medicine cat is miserable,” she mutters.

“Now don’t say that,” some cat whispers. A familiar voice.

“Sunwish?” She almost turns around, but a firm paw places itself on her cheek.

“Nice to see you too,” Sunwish grunts. “Don’t look behind you. Just keep walking.”

“Where am I?” She asks, between the awful sensation of mud between her toes, cementing between her pawpads. “What is this place?”

“Breezeshadow decided we needed a place to send evil cats, once they perished,” Sunwish steadily answers. “This is the Place of No Stars.” She hums, and continues: “It’s a bit of a mouthful though, I just call it the dark forest. We’re in the outskirts of it.”

“Is Goldenstar here too?” Silverbelly asks. “I should have gone with him.”

“Yes, you should have, but there’s no use dwelling on that,” Sunwish says. “But, I can assure you that he’s not here with you. Toro escorted him to our grounds.”

“Toro,” Silverbelly whispers. “How is she?”

“As well as she could be, with these circumstances,” Sunwish replies. “She gets along quite well with Breezeshadow, which is a relief.”

“Ah.”

“I suppose you didn’t want to go into the Glowcave today for personal reasons,” Sunwish begins. The dim light grows stronger. “But that isn’t important.”

“You don’t get it,” she says. Despite her respect for her mentor, it was easy to say the words. “You weren’t kept awake every night for stupid reasons.”

“The visions you receive aren’t stupid,” Sunwish chides. “They all have a purpose, and show you things most cats aren’t privileged enough to receive.” Her mentor’s voice echoes behind her. “I suppose you’re right, in that I don’t understand. I never did quite have the connection that you and Stormsight have. Maybe it would have made you easier to understand, back when I was still around.”

“I wish you would just tell me what I need to know,” Silverbelly glares. “Why can’t you do that?”

“I’m not the one sending you visions most of the time,” Sunwish says. Her tail glides over Silverbelly’s back for a brief second, and she stops. “That’s more up Breezeshadow’s alley.”

“But you know what’s going to happen,” Silverbelly accuses.

“No,” Sunwish says.

“You don’t understand how long I’ve been thinking about it,” she says, voice growing thin with desperation. “Please, you have to know something!”

Sunwish continues walking her along, but Silverbelly can tell that she's thinking.

“I think that you think being dead inherently makes a cat all knowing,” Sunwish finally says. “It doesn’t. The visions you receive scarcely are gifted to Starclan cats, but rather come from the Ancients. All we do is pass it along.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t,” Sunwish hums. Silverbelly can see the sparkling light of Starclan’s grounds. “But it doesn’t change that I can’t help you with your visions. There are some things you need to figure out on your own.”

“I’ve tried,” she snaps. “I’ve had the same vision for 40 some moons, and you can’t give me a little help with it?

Silverbelly stops at the hole, into light and bliss and eternal greenleaf. She turns around.

Sunwish is staring at her, with mild remorse. “Maybe one day, you’ll understand.”

The vision of her mentor spurts blood at the neck, and dissipates into the ground, becoming just another shadowy figure. Startled, she steps away, trips over her tail, and falls, facing the sky.

“It’s Silverbelly!” A little voice squeals. “Smokekit, I told you I saw her!”

“That was dumb luck,” a second voice calls.

“Silverbelly! Silverbelly!” A third voice squeaks. “Are you okay? You look sad.”

Silverbelly blinks her eyes open. Four small blurs of fur are standing over her, in shades of gray, brown, black and white.

“Sandykit,” she realizes. “Smokekit. Icekit. Ravenkit.”

Sandykit startles backwards. Icekit and Smokekit break into cheers. Ravenkit continues prodding at her forehead.

“Are you dead too? Is that why you’re here?”

“No,” she says. “I don’t think so.” She rolls over, shaking off her pelt. “Do you know where we are?”

Ravenkit tilts his head. “Normally we sleep over there,” he says, stretching out a paw to a nice, distant swath of pine trees and rocks. “We snuck out to play, though.”

“Why did you sneak out?” Silverbelly asks.

“Because Toro was busy, and Rabbitpounce didn’t want to take us,” Smokekit answers. “He’s no fun anymore. He’s just in his nest all day.”

Silverbelly knows the issue already. Molesong hardly knew how to be a single mother, even with her family helping her. Eaglepaw and Hawkpaw both missed their father deeply. Of course Rabbitpounce felt guilt for something out of his control.

“You shouldn’t sneak out,” Silverbelly says. “He’s probably worried about you.”

Sandykit frowns “Told you so.”

Icekit and Smokekit’s previous elation fades, and they blow raspberries at Sandykit.

Ravenkit solemnly nods. “Yeah, I guess.”

“How about you take me back home?” Silverbelly asks. “You can show me all your favorite spots on the way.”

The kits look at eachother, then chorus: “Okay!”

—

She gets dizzy on the way back. She’s sure that the kits notice, when she has to stop every so often. It’s probably more noticeable, considering that they never get tired. But, they’re almost there, so she’s not too worried.

There aren’t many cats in the Starclan camp. She supposes most must simply be out and about, receiving prophecies and whatnot.

“Nah, Breezeshadow mostly does that,” Ravenkit says. “Most of the time, the older cats get prophecies. Like Tawnyash and Morningpetal.”

“Her name is Morningbloom,” Sandykit proudly corrects. Ravenkit sticks his tongue out at him.

“Yeah, normally we just go play,” Icekit adds. “Toro just says we aren’t allowed to go anywhere where we can’t see the sun.”

Silverbelly considers the area where she woke up, a dense forest where shadow took up more space than the sun. “You weren’t supposed to be in the place you found me at.”

The kits look sheepish. “Sorry, Silverbelly.”

She sighs. “What’s important is that you’re safe.”

She stops at a river. The blue water churns past her. It's speckled with stars and moondust, and hopes that flickered through her clan. She dips her face in it, allowing the cool water to splash her muzzle. She figures it probably shouldn’t be drunk from. She’s never been one to mess with spirit water.

Smokekit and Icekit skip down the river. Ravenkit and Sandykit follow, and Silverbelly picks herself up to move with them.

“There’s stepping stones that we use to cross the river down here,” Icekit announces, then sheepishly adds: “Toro says it’s not safe to swim in the river.”

“I can see why,” she says. “It’s very rough. The current might drag you down.”

She follows them to the stones, watching their tiny little star specked bodies go from one smooth rock to the next.

Eventually, they end up to the hollow that the kits were talking about. There are several nests, stuffed with perfect downy feathers and soft moss. One of the several nests are occupied.

“Rabbitpounce.”

Rabbitpounce opens his eyes, then wildly blinks. “Silverbelly? What are you doing here? Are Eaglepaw and Hawkpaw okay? How are Bluefern and Blizzardfang? Do you–”

“Slow down,” she stops. “I can’t stay, I’m just dropping off some kits.”

Somewhere within the time allocated for Rabbitpounce’s panic, all four kits had managed to hide themselves behind Silverbelly. She shoos them in front of her with her tail.

“What have I told you about going out on your own?” Rabbitpounce scolds.

“Not to,” Icekit sheepishly says. “Sorry uncle.”

Rabbitpounce sighs. “I suppose I was the same way at your age. I think Tawnyash is back from hunting, why don’t you ask him to play?”

The kits beam, and run over to Tawnyash, who sighs, accepting his fate as a babysitter for a bit.

“So what brings you up in Starclan?” Rabbitpounce looks her over. “You aren’t dead, I can tell.”

“Odd dream,” she says. “It’s not really important, though. How have you been?”

“Missing my family,” Rabbitpounce sighs. “Morningbloom has been great, though. And Holly and Lichenstripe, they’re nice too.”

Silverbelly nods.

“Silverbelly?” A voice calls. Too familiar, too good to hear after this time, so unexpected she stutters.

“Dawnshine?”

“Silverbelly!” Dawnshine shouts, mouse forgotten as he bounds towards her.

“Oh my stars,” she whispers. “Dawnshine!”

“Stars, I’ve missed you,” he says, with a brief lick to the shoulder. Silverbelly rests her head on top of his, because she was taller than him and she’d never let him forget it. Dawnshine stops, and backs away. “Why are you here?”

She hopelessly flicks her tail.

“You’re not dead,” he says. “Figured. You went with Goldenstar to the glowcave, right?”

She nods.

“So how’d you get in Starclan territory?”

Another hopeless shrug. “Dunno. I just woke up in the forest.”

“Okay. I’m not panicking at all,” he adds on. “I just need to figure out how to get you out of here.”

“Isn’t Breezeshadow the bridge between the dead and living?” Rabbitpounce asks.

“So, find Breezeshadow?” Silverbelly asks. “Can’t be hard.”

Dawnshine shrugs. “I haven’t seen her since she ferried me up here. It’s hard to say where she might be.”

“Isn't she Scorchstar's sister or something?” Tawnyash casually drops. “Just ask Morningbloom to find her for you.”

“Morningbloom's busy with Goldenstar,” Dawnshine interjects. “Maybe Sunwish?”

Silverbelly remembers the constant animosity, every argument between her mentor and former leader, and winces. “Not Sunwish.”

“Who knows where Nettlestem is,” Dawnshine mutters. “So that leaves… ah…”

“Wildfang might know,” Rabbitpounce says.

The four cats glance at eachother, then nod.

“Sure,” Silverbelly says. “Do you know where she might be?”

Dawnshine shakes his head. Rabbitpounce does the same.

“Normally she's here at camp, but right around now we could probably find her over by Shining Lake,” Tawnyash says, paw reaching to bat a moss ball back towards the flurry of kittens. “I could take you there.”

“Alright, so do we get going now?” Silverbelly asks.

“It would be best,” Tawnyash says, padding over to her.

Rabbitpounce motions to the kits, and they all walk towards him.

“Silverbelly has to go now,” he says. A chorus of awww’s quickly follow. “Say goodbye.”

“Bye Silverbelly,” Icekit says. “It was fun showing you the rocks.”

“Bye Silverbelly,” Sandykit says, solemn. “May Starclan light your path.”

“Stupid,” Icekit chides. “We are Starclan.”

“Yeah, I'm lighting her path,” Sandykit says. “Keep up, featherbrain.”

The two start quietly bickering. Rabbitpounce fondly rolls his eyes.

“Bye-bye Silverbelly,” Smokekit says. He stretches one paw up and waves to her, and slips, an endearing motion. “Can you tell Rowankit I miss her?”

“I will,” Silverbelly says.

“Bye Silverbelly,” Ravenkit quietly says, so quietly she nearly can't hear him over the bickering of his siblings. “Can you tell mommy I miss her?”

And there's her heart, shattered into a million tiny pieces. Little tears prick the corners of her eyes, in a way they haven't since her mother and two siblings died in one night. “Of course.” She takes one, shaky, delicate breath. “Of course I will.”

She says goodbye to the kits, and she walks next to Tawnyash for a long while.

She'd never known the tom while she was still alive. Goldenstar, once or twice, had mentioned his passing, a landslide that had taken out half their original camp and forced them to relocate. She'd never met him in dreams.

Come to think of it, she's only met Wildfang once, at her naming ceremony.

Before she can think of it more, they arrive at the spot.

Wildfang is an elderly tortoiseshell with gray eyes. She has long fur. Those are the four details she remembered from her naming ceremony.

Yet again, she thinks, the rocks had to ruin everything.

They stop at Shining Lake.

“Wildfang, are you out here?” Tawnyash shouts. “I've got a visitor!”

A few moments pass, and Silverbelly worries she may not be getting anywhere. Finally, a voice rings across the lake.

“Tawnyash?” A pause. “And Silverbelly?” Soon enough, a figure comes into her view. “Now, I might have expected seeing you, but how is Silverbelly here?”

“I don't really know,” she explains. “But we thought Breezeshadow might know.” She winces at how hasty she's being. “Can you take me to her?”

Wildfang nods. “Of course. Right about now, she's probably in the bridge.”

–

As it turns out, ‘the bridge’ is the Starclan version of the glowcave. Wildfang leads her up a winding mountain, to a cave that looks suspiciously like her own Glowcave. Wildfang says to go inside on her own, so she does. She follows the line of mushrooms, and finally stops at a glowing stream.

“Pretty, isn't it?” A feminine voice calls. “Silverbelly, right? Wasn't expecting to see you here for another hundred moons or so, but things have been a bit unexpected lately.”

“Breezeshadow,” she says.

“That's me!” Breezeshadow smiles. “So, what brings you to my humble abode? Did you die?”

“No,” Silverbelly says. “I don't think so. I shouldn't be dead, I just fell asleep outside of the Glowcave.”

“Oh,” Breezeshadow nods. “Okay. So, it's a lot easier for me to get you in the right spots when we have a direct window. I probably got confused, that's on me, sorry.”

“Oookay.” Silverbelly blinks. In the dim light, she can make out a brown singlestripe pelt, similar to Scorchstar's. Bright cyan eyes blink at her.

Breezeshadow isn't all that old, she realizes. Maybe Scorchstar's age.

“Expecting an older cat?” Breezeshadow quips. Silverbelly freezes. “Oh, don't worry, I'd expect some ancient all powerful being too.”

“Yeah, sort of,” Silverbelly says.

“Sorry, sorry, I got sidetracked. You need to get home, right?”

Little whispers dance around the cave.

“Yeah,” Silverbelly says.

She thinks about the rocks, and thinks about Breezeshadow, arguably the most spiritual cat know to her clan. This may be the closest she'd ever get to understanding.

“You're going to ask me about the rocks,” Breezeshadow says. “Right?”

“How did you..”

“A feeling,” the molly shrugs. “Well, do you want me to help you or send you back now?”

One chance. One chance to finally understand, get a good night's sleep, finally be able to look at the rocks and understand what they mean.

She nods. “Help, please.”

“Okay, so, these rocks,” she says, sweeping her tail over the rocks that look exactly like the ones she's been seeing for seasons. “They're all cut from the same stone.”

“They look different, though,” Silverbelly says.

“They are, but that doesn't mean they're not similar.”

“What does that mean?”

“What do you think?”

“I think I've been trying to figure this out for way too long,” Silverbelly snaps.

“It's like the spirit from earlier told you,” Breezeshadow says. “Being dead doesn't make a cat all knowing. All it does is give us a little more time to think.”

Oh. That made more sense than when Fake-Sunwish had explained it.

“And, here's what I think: it's a premonition. It's warning you of something,” Breezeshadow says. The darkest rock, chocolate brown, has one crack in the middle of it. “What that something is, I'm afraid I don't know.”

A premonition. A feeling that something bad will happen. Like the vision, of the scorched earth and shadowed sun that she recieved when–

Oh.

“I think you're starting to get it,” Breezeshadow quietly says.

The rocks had something to do with Scorchstar.

“Frankly, it's not good for you to be visiting Starclan at the rate you do. Too much time up here and your internal clock gets messed up. Lose your sense of self a bit.” Breezeshadow waves her tail around her ear. “I think I'd better send you back now.”

“Yeah,” she breathes. “Thank you, thank you so much.”

The rocks didn't mean anything good.

The feeling of stars, of fate death longing grief fate fate fate. The feeling of death death falling falling im falling—

why would he–

that hurts. oh, im bleeding.

She opens her eyes to the smooth stone of the mouth of the Glowcave, one bright star sparkling in the sky, and a lilac sky, and a phantom sensation of white hot pain searing through her.

-🍭

Previous chapters

(beetle note: ANOHTER CHAPTER OF WORRYBOX WOOOOO!!!!!!!!! fantastic as always,,,, read this one with rapt attention through breakfast, the part with the kits telling her "starclan be with you" made me almost spit out my toast)

[fightincatsart]

Headshot #36 : Rowankit

they saved Rowankit in my wag he's a player's apprentice now

'we named him after his dead grandfather oh oops nvm'

[the-owl-tree]

horrifying thought I just had: tawnypelt kicks the bucket at the end of the elder's quest and the shadowclan pov switches over to birchpaw, who spends the rest of the arc whining about how dovewing and tigerstar 2 prefer his dead brother rowankit over him

STOP SPEAKING IT INTO EXISTENCE I WANNA BELIEVE WE MIGHT JUST KEEP AN ALL GIRLIE ARC </3 <- knows deep down the authors shant ever resist putting sad boy #322 in the books

[rustclan]

Next up we have our two youngest members so far, Daisykit and Rowankit.

Daisykit is quiet, Rowankit is loud.

They were found crying near their mother's dead body and was quickly accepted in. Curlyrustle and Centipedestar decided to adopt the two.

[do0zy-artz]

At their happiest - 5k Words

Starclan cats look how they did when they were happiest in life. Jayfeather doesn't notice his own ghost's form until his mother points it out to him.

Tw: death, grief

Jayfeather lays down one day, and feels incredibly tired. When he mentions it to his apprentice, Alderheart just calls him an old badger, and says it because he's still working, even when he long should've retired to the elders den. "

This is different." Jayfeather insists, frowning. He knows this type of tiredness isn't the same. It feels different, somehow.

"It's probably fine-" His apprentice said, flicking his tail dismissively. You think, that as a medicine cat, he know to listen when cats tell him something is wrong. Jayfeather thought he trained this furball better than that!

"I'm gonna die soon, Alderheart." He says, maybe a little too matter-of-factly. But, Jayfeather doesn't know any other was he was supposed to deliver the news. He was never one for letting cats down slowly.

"Don't say that." Alderheart says, his amber eyes going wide. He looks scared, understandably so. It's njt every day some cat tells you they're going to die.

"But I'm right." Jayfeather mews, he knows he's right. Alderheart knows he's right. Jayfeather's not often wrong about things like this. It's always been his least favorite medicine cat skill. Intuition.

Alderheart sighs, and presses his muzzle against his old mentors cheek. "I know." The older tom isn't even dead yet, and there's already such sadness in his mew.

"I'll stay here as long as I can." Jayfeather promises quietly. He knows he will miss his apprentice greatly when he gets to Starclan, almost as much as the ginger tom will grieve for him. He wants to spend as much time with Alderheart as he can, before it happens. Maybe it will help, make Jayfeather miss him less.

"Thank you." Alderheart says, and lays down next to his mentor for one of the last times.

___________________________________

He goes to visit his brother in the elders den the next day, nosing his way through the entrance. It took him longer than it used too, his senses having dulled as he aged. But Jayfeather got used to it.

"Jayfeather." Lionblaze purrs, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. He's the only elder in the den right now. Good. This isn't a conversation for anyone else to hear. "Why have you come to visit little ole me?"

"I think I'm going to leave you soon." He says, settling down in the same nest as his littermate. Lionblaze, still a big hunk of fur in his old age, scoots over for him.

"Don't say that!" Lionblaze snaps, eyes wide. Jayfeather knew it would upset his brother when he told him. He didn't want to upset Lionblaze, to leave him on edge for days; waiting and fearing the moment for when his littermate would die. But he couldn't just not say anything either.

He's just glad he can no longer feel the fear or grief of whatever emotion is currently rolling around inside his brother. That would've made all this worse.

"I can hear them calling, Lion." Jayfeather says, flicking his ears to the right. Starclan's been speaking to him far too much for his liking, even if he can barely hear what they're saying. Bluestar is going on about something right now, actually, but it is easy to drown her out. "Yellowfang's being awfully annoying with all her muttering."

"Didn't they call to Dove before she went?" Lionblaze says, recalling what Dovewing had told her. It was the last time they saw her, the last gathering she ever went too. She had said voices were calling to her, voices of the long dead. She heard her parents, Rowankit, Rippletail, cats who had fallen in the Great Battle, and voices of countless Clanmates. From Shadowclan and Thunderclan alike.

Back then, Jayfeather had just found it unsettling. Maybe a sign of trouble to come, perhaps the stars sending them a warning, even. Lionblaze had just thought it weird, an old cat's imagination acting up. With hindsight, both of them should've said their goodbyes to Dovewing and made her see Ivypool again.

They were invited to her burial merely a few days later. Her sister had been inconsolable. Lionblaze hadn't spoken a word to anybody. Jayfeather was in one of the worst moods he'd ever been in for the next fortnight.

The medicine cat didn't like thinking about Dovewing, the warning signs, her death, and the fallout afterwards. So he didn't. Not until now, when the same thing was happening to him.

If where any other cat, one not star touched, all of this would be terrifying rather than comforting. It still is a little scary, to be honest, but not as much as it could've been.

"They did, for a week or so." Jayfeather mewed. Bluestar's voice was gone now. She must’ve figured out he wouldn't be listening. "Must be because we're the prophecy kits."

"If I have to hear Crowfeather, or Starclan forbid Berrynose, whispering in my ear, I might just jump into the lake." Lionblaze snorts, shuddering at the thought of both of those things happening. His brother's tail twitches in amusement. He doesn’t think Berrynose would be that bad. Not at first, anyways.

"You'll probably get Crowfeather, or Brambleclaw. I'm getting either one or both of them." Jayfeather mews. It had been hard to tell which one of his father's had been speaking amongst all the voices, but one of them had been there. He hoped it was Brambleclaw's. "Leafpool's voice has been there too."

"Who else?" Lionblaze asks, clearly curious. And probably wanting some hints on his own Starclan voices will eventually be. Even though Jayfeather's sure they're all gonna get different cats, with a few expectations.

"Briarlight. And Poppyfrost." Jayfeather listens for voices again as he speaks, to see if he can hear anyone new. It seems they are being oddly silent. Maybe Starclan can recognize the importance of this conversation, and had decided to shut up for once.

Lionblaze pauses before asking his next question, voice a but shaky. Jayfeather already knows what it is before he even says it. "No Holly?"

"Not yet. But she might be waiting 'till I get there." He says, letting a sigh escape him. He wishes his sister was there, whispering nonsense in his ear instead of some medicine cat he never met. Her voice would certainly be a lot more welcome.

"That sounds like her." Lionblaze rumbles, a soft smile flashing across his face. Hollyleaf was never one for toying with cats. "But I want you here for a little bit longer."

"I'll try to stay." Jayfeather promises, the second time he's done so, as Lionblaze rests his big stupid head on his brothers back. The promise means as much hear as it did with Alderheart.

"Good." The golden tom mumbles, relieved, voice muffled when he hides his face in his brother's pelt. "I don't wanna be haunted just yet."

"Ha! I'm gonna haunt your tail off!" Jayfeather laughs, cuffing his brother affectionately. The medicine cat is already planning his haunting methods, and what stuff would scare his brother best.

"I'll have some good stories for the kits then!" Lionblaze purrs, probably guessing exactly how his brothers gonna haunt his tail off. It'll still be a successful haunting despite that.

"Oh you bet you will!" Jayfeather snorts, resting his head on his paws. It'll be nice to spend one last afternoon, curled up next to his littermate like they were just kits again.

___________________________________

All his family are there when it happens, the closest to him awkwardly shoved in the medicine den together; while the a few more cats linger outside, waiting to enter. Jayfeather insisted most of them didn't have to come, that he would be more than fine with only Lionblaze and Squirrelstar and Alderheart. They all insisted otherwise right back, and hovered around anyways.

Lionblaze lays next to him the whole time, stuck to him like a burr in his pelt. Jayfeather doesn't mind. He wishes he could've curled around Hollyleaf like this when she died, and knows his brother does too. He will let the golden tabby have this, for the very last time.

"I'm gonna miss you, Jay." He mutters, head buried in his brothers fur. He sounds like he's about to cry, even when Jayfeather specifically asked him to cry afterwards, when he won't know about it. He doesn't like seeing cats cry, especially not over him.

"I know you will." Jayfeather rubs his cheek against Lionblaze's temple, taking in his scent for the last time. He's gonna miss this idiot more than he thought. "Insult Breezepelt for me, will you?"

"Of course." His brother lets out a weak purr at his last request, then starts to list off his own requests for their dead friends in Starclan. Because of course he had some. "Tell Berrynose he still sucks, and Cinderheart-"

"I'll tell Cinderheart you miss her." Jayfeather snorts, amused. He was going to do that anyways, weather Lionblaze asked him or not. He'd be a pretty lackluster brother and brother-in-law if he didn't.

Alderheart sits infornt of him, tail wrapped over his paws. He looks like his world is ending. Jayfeather told him to stop looking like that, he was only dying! Alderheart would still see him at half moon meetings! His former apprentice, clearly, was still a horrible listener.

He flicks his tail, beckoning Alderheart even closer. The ginger tom blinks at him, and shuffles himself closer uncertainly. Jayfeather resists the urge to say something snappy about it. Now doesn't feel like the time.

"It'll be okay, kid." He mutters, touching his nose to Alderheart's. His apprentice is trembling with grief infront of him. Jayfeather wishes that dying didn't have to be so sad.

Alderheart's voice trembles, his mew sadder than Jayfeather has ever heard it aound before. It makes his heart break, just a little bit. (More like a lot...) "How am I gonna-?"

"You're gonna be a great medicine cat without me. You already are." Jayfeather tells him, like he's told him a million times already. He's seen Alderheart heal for moons and moons now, he knows he'll be a great medicine cat without his mentor. He already is. Maybe even better than Jayfeather himself one day.

Alderheart moves back with a shaky nod, letting the next cat come to visit their dying loved on. He sits where Leafpool's nest once was. Right across from Jayfeather's..

His sister, Sparkpelt, is next to him, one if the cats Jayfeather said didn't need to be here. He was never that close with his adopted sister after all. But she had come anyways. If not for him, then at least for her mother and brother.

Sparkpelt starts to cover her brother in comforting licks, muttering sift words to him while she does so. Alderheart just nods stiffly at her. He doesn't say anything for the rest of the day.

Ivypool, another cat he'd told not to come, sits bext to Sparkpelt. Her head is bowed. She does not say anything, and cannot look at Jayfeather. He wonders if she's hear for herself, or because Dovewing can't be.

Thunderclan's leader is next to say her goodbyes, gently pushing past her kits. She sits down infront of Jayfeather, right where Alderheart had. He gets the impression that unlike her son, his leader will not be leaving his side.

"My kit." Squrrielstar murmurs, pressing her forehead against Jayfeather's. There is such a deep sadness in her voice, a sadness he has heard before. The kind that comes with losing a kit. He feels bad he is making his adopted mother live through yet another loss, but it cannot be helped.

His mother lays next to him, on the opposite side of Lionblaze. She doesn't say anything else. Jayfeather finds he cannot speak either. Leaving Squirrelstar, and being yet another one of her countless losses, has made him too choked up.

Hollytuft and Sorrelstripe enter the den next, the two cats he had kitsitted so many moons ago. Their younger sister, Spotfur, sits at the den entrance. He had told these three they didn't need to come see him. But they'd done it anyways. His family were all horrible listeners.

He's just glad the whole extended family didn't show up, that would've been far too many cats for anyone to handle on their deathbed. Especially for a cat like Jayfeather.

Hollytuft sits in front of him, Sorrelstripe on her other side. Jayfeather is going to tell Hollyleaf and Sorreltail everything about these two, even the stuff they already know. He doesn't need to tell Ferncloud anything. She's already met Fernsong. She already knows.

After many long moons, and with all his family finally beside him, Jayfeather closes his eyes for the very last time. And the last thing he feels in the living world is his brother purring steady, and his mother licking his ears as he goes. (It was the first thing he heard back as a tiny kit, too, in that old treestump in leaf-bare. It makes the whole process a lot more comforting.)

When he next opens his eyes, Jayfeather still cannot see anything. But his nose and ears feel as sharp just as they used too. So that's an improvement.

There's pawsteps bounding towards him, ones he knows well. Hearing them makes Jayfeather come to his sense faster. He hasn't heard those pawsteps in so long, he thought he would never hear them again-

"Jayfeather!" His sister calls, her voice sounding like music to his ears. It has been so long since he'd seen her, since Hollyleaf was never a spirt who liked to dream-walk. Not after her brother's powers. But that just made this reunion all the more special.

"Hollyleaf!" He yells back, right as a body crashes into him. The black she-cat sends them with tumbling to the ground in her excitement, giggling as she does so. Jayfeather cannot help the purr that escapes him, burying his muzzle in her soft black fur. He had missed his littermate so much, more than words could describe. It felt wonderful to finally be with her again

"I missed you." He says, hiding his face in her pelt like he did when he was a kit, scared of the too loud thunderstorms outside the nursery. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you, too." Hollyleaf says, purring still. Jayfeather can't remember when he last saw her this happy, when she last purred this much. But he didn't care. His sister was finally with him again, and that was all that mattered.

"Don't keep him all to yourself!" A voice calls, and Jayfeather's head shoots up. He almost can't believe that he's hearing her speak again. It can't be. It has to be. This is Starclan. It literally couldn't be anyone else but her.

"Briarlight!" He says, getting to his paws so quickly, he almost falls right down again. Hollyleaf lets him go with one last purr, most likely planning to steal him away once everyone else has said their hellos. And she can steal him away all she wants, but only after he sees her again.

"Jayfeather! I missed you so much!" Briarlight purrs, dragging herself towards. Jayfeather skidds to a halt infront of her, taking in her scent once again. Her scent, that no longer smells like the sickness that had taken her, and now holds the scent if Starclan's hunting grounds.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you, I'm so sorry-" Jayfeather whispers, pressing his muzzle against her cheek. Guilt chokes him even now, just as it had done since the day she died. If only he hadn't gone in the nursery with the sickness, if he'd just-

Briarlight cuts her old friend off, before he can keep apologizing for all eternity. "Hush. It was never your fault, silly."

Jayfeather moves back a bit, wanting to protest. But he stops himself. The look Briarlight is giving him, although he can't see it, is burning into his pelt. If he keeps blaming himself, she's probably going to smack him with her tail.

"Don't stand here saying sorry to me, not when you have other cats waiting to see you!" Briarlight continues, and two familiar scents hit Jayfeather's nose. Two more cats he'd missed dearly, and wished to meet again every single day. Seeing them now is almost like whiplash.

"Leafpool! Brambleclaw!" He calls, and before he knows it his mother and foster father are both curling around him joyfully. For once, he doesn't scowl at the affection they give. He's gone far too long without it to do that.

"Oh, my kit!" Leafpool rubs her cheek against her son's, purring louder than he's ever heard her purr before. Jayfeather gives in, and purrs alongside her. He had missed his mother more than he ever knew he would, just as much as he had missed his late sister.

"I've missed you." Brambleclaw rumbled to his right, and Jayfeather pressed himself against his father, burying his muzzle into dark tabby fur. Leafpool moved away to let them have their own moment, her amber eyes shining with enough love to fill the whole lake.

Poppyfrost is next to meet him, a loud purr coming from her throat. "There you are! You big furball!" She calls out, running to her friend's side. Jayfeather knows that stars must look beautiful in her calico pelt.

"Poppyfrost!" He exclaims, moving away from his kin and touching noses with her. "How have you been? And Honeyfern and Mousewhisker and Hazeltail-" Jayfeather asks about the cats they grew up with, most of them and their littermates having passed on already. He'd missed them more than he thought he would, missed sharing jokes and stories from their days as apprentices and young warriors, missed making references only they could understand. The Clan got lonelier and lonelier the less often he was able to turn to an old dennmate, and laugh at some stupid inside joke.

"They're all doing wonderfully." She assures him, sounding happier. A lot happier than she had ever sounded in life, especially after Honeyfern and Molepaw and Berrynose's deaths.

"Good." Jayfeather mews, touching his old friend's nose one last time. Then she moves away, letting the rest if his deceased kin come and visit him in her place.

Firestar and Sandstorm get to him eventually, both warriors drowning their grandson in affection. Jayfeather is too happy to see them to complain. He hasn't seen Sandstorm in moons, and Firestar longer. They bring with them Dandelionkit and Juniperkit, the two adopted siblings he couldn't save, and the kits run around his legs excitedly. Jayfeather purrs upon meeting them again, glad they are doing well in Starclan.

Once his family starts to file out, Hollyleaf behins to drag him away. She is excited to show him around Starclan's hunting grounds, and spend some much needed time with her youngest brother. Time that they did not have together in life, time that was stolen away from them. He is looking forward to spending time with his sister too, but not so much the exploring part. He hoped Starclan wouldn't be too tricky to learn his way around-

"Jayfeather." A gruff voice says, stopping him before he can follow his littermate into the starry field. Jayfeather stops, and turns back around. He knows that voice.

"Crowfeather." He greets his father with a nod. It has been many moons since he'd seen the gray Windclan tom. Jayfeather hadn't even gone to his burial. There was no reason for him to. And there was no reason for them to be any closer now.

Being dead changed nothing about their relationship, and he hoped Crowfeather wasn't expecting anything like that to happen. Because it wouldn't. He would have to wait for Lionblaze to have any luck in that department.

But instead of saying anything stupid, or sentimental, his father just dips his head. "Welcome to Starclan, son." He mews, and then steps away.

"Thank you." Jayfeather says, dipping his head in return. And that is that, Hollyleaf promptly ignoring their father and starting her tour of Starclan's territory. She promises to show him all the good spots to sun himself, and to introduce him to all the kits. Jayfeather doesn't think he could've had a better welcome into the afterlife.

___________________________________

"You know you can see if you wish too, don't you?" Yellowfang asks on his second day (or what Jayfeather thinks is his second day,) lounging in a rock next to him.

"Yes. But I don't want too." He says, still relaxed in the sun. Jayfeather had been blind all his life, only seeing in dreams and when he used his powers. The powers he'd lost moons ago, and the dreams he'd stopped having as he aged, and Alderheart took on more and more of his former role. Jayfeather had lived practically his whole life without seeing, it was normal for him. He was used to it, his body and mind where used to it. Suddenly being able to see everything now would probably just be more of a hindrance than anything.

"Besides, I've seen enough of your face already." He adds a minute later, not missing an opportunity to tease the old she-cat next to him.

Yellowfang laughs at that, a real, genuine one, and tells Jayfeather she missed their bantering. And for once, he couldn't agree with the old badger more.

___________________________________

He finds Dovewing quicker that expected, tracking her down on his second day. And tracking someone down in Starclan wasn't too hard. All you had to do was ask around. There were so many cats here, someone was bound to point you in the right direction eventually.

"You didn't greet me. What's with that." Jayfeather mews when he finds the gray she-cat, Dovewing sunning herself on some rocks. Hollyleaf had called this place Sunning Rocks on her tour, or something like that. "I thought we were friends or something."

"There were so many cats already!" Doevwing mews, jerking her head towards him. She must’ve been expecting him then. That, or Jayfeather was being as loud as a badger on his way here. "I didn't wanna steal anyone's moment!"

"You would've been welcomed, mouse-brain." He huffs, nudging her side with a paw lightly. "To make up for it you have to greet Lionblaze with me."

"That's fair." Dovewing yawns, shifting her position so that she gets even more sun. Get anymore than that, and Jayfeather thinks she'll be lighting her own fur on fire. "How is that old badger anyways?"

"Annoying as ever." Jayfeather snorts, flopping down on the rock next to her. He thinks Lionblaze will be annoying until the day he dies, and then when he gets up here as well.

"I expected nothing less." Dovewing purrs, resting her head on her paws comfortably, and then yawning one more time as the sun warmed her pelt. "And Ivypool?"

"Ivy's doing well. She's been muttering about retiring soon." Jayfeather says, remembering how the deputy had been complaining about her old, creaking bones and how she just wasn't young anymore. He had just laughed, and told her to toughen up a bit. Ivypool had retorted that he talked big for a cat who belonged in the elders den.

"Good," Dovewing puffs, Jayfeather atrechong out rigjt next to her, more than content to sit and enjoy the sun with an old friend. "She needs it."

___________________________________

"Hey, Jayfeather!" Berrynose's voice calls, the cream tom finding him in his first week of wandering Starclan. "Long time no see!"

"Berrynose." Jayfeather kews, faux exasperation in his tone. He turns to where his clanmates voice came from, feeling a rush of wind as the other tom stops beside him. "I see your still annoying as ever."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Berrynose jokes, the stub of his tail flicking playfully. Well, at least even he agrees he's annoying now.

"Lionblaze says you still suck, by the way." Jayfeather says, remembering what his brother had requested. He's sure Lionblaze will repeat the very same thing when he gets up here, whenever that is.

"Oh, of course he does!" Berrynose snorts, and rolls his eyes goid naturedly. "When he gets up here-"

"Where's Cinderheart?" Jayfeather cuts his friend off, remembering his brother's other request. Another thing Lionblaze will repeat when he gets up here, but something he'd been jn more trouble for forgetting than the Berrynose message.

"I think she was this way!" The cream tom says, getting to his paws once more. And he probably points to wherever this way is too, like Jayfeather could see that. "Hazeltail and Honeyfern are nearby too!"

"What about Mousewhisker?" He asks, noticing how he's not been mentioned yet. It's weird for the white and gray tom to not be with either of his littermates, especially Hazeltail. Those two were always stuck to each other like burrs.

"He's with Minnowtail, near where the Riverclan cats hang out." Berrynose calls over his shoulder, bounding through the undergrowth.

"No surprises there." Jayfeather snorts. Mousewhisker was almost as attached to his mate as he was his twin sister. The half-clan mate everyone had figured out he had but didn't say anything. It was a miracle they both got through the whole imposter thing undetected, really.

Berrynose leads him to where Cinderheart is, the gray tabby resting near bush. Jayfeather thanks him, and then shooes the annoying cat off and tells him to go bither Honeyfern or something. Which, thankfully, during his time in Starclan, Berrynose has learned to listen. But he does give a sharp remark as he leaves. Because he wouldn't be Berrynose if he didn't.

"Jayfeather!" Cinderheart purrs in greeting, reaching out to touch noses with her old friend. "It's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you, too." Jayfeather mews, sitting down on his haunches next to her. "Lionblaze said he missed you. He really wanted me to pass that along"

"That big idiot." Cinderheart purred, fondness in her voice. She clearly missed her mate greatly, the longing for him shining through jn her face. And Jayfeather, despite only being here for little while, was starting to feel the same. It was the longest he's ever gone without his big brother by his side..

The two of them sit there, chatting for a little while. But Cinderheart gets restless. Jayfeather isn't expecting anything less. She was always too excited and rambunctious for her own good, especially in their younger days. Said rambunctious energy had also landed her in the medicine den too many times for him to count. She never listened to him, or Leafpool and Alderheart, when they said to calm it down.

"Ya know, there's a stream nearby." Cinderheart says, sounding mischievous again. He'd gotten so used to her as an elder, and her bones being as old as half the trees in the forest, he'd forgotten how much of a trouble maker his sister-in-law could be.

"What are suggesting?" Jayfeather mews, whiskers twitching. He knows exactly what she's suggesting.

"How about we take a swim? Like the good ole days?" Cinderheart bumps his shoulder with hers playfully, already padding off towards the aforementioned stream before Jayfeather can even get to his paws.

Jayfeather takes a moment to think, then shrugs. "Why not." He's in Starclan now. He can do whatever he wants here. No one can yell at him for going swimming anymore, and he certainly can't drown. Not in Starclan, at least.

Cinderheart let's out a whoop of joy, and starts heading towards the stream. Jayfeather gets to his paws, and manages to race her all the way there, the whole forest clearing the path for both of them.

___________________________________

"You know....Starclan cats look like themselves at their happiest." Leafpool says one day. The two of them are resting under the shade of a great oak tree, one his mother said looked like the Owl Tree; a landmark from the old forest territories. Jayfeather, never knowing what an Owl Tree was, just nodded along with her words.

"And?" He mews, expecent. Leafpool knows hr knows this, it's been told to him many times in dreams before. He just doesn't know she she brought it up out of the blue.

"Nothing it's just....the way you look." His mother says, looking at him softly. Jayfeather goes to flick his tail in annoyance, then stops.

"...How do I look?" He asks hesitantly, a little scared of the awnser. The medicine cat wasn't quite sure when he had been the happiest in his life, though he had some pretty good guesses. Chances are that none of them were right.

"Like you did the day Hollyleaf came home." Leafpool breathes. She sounds like just the memory of that day, of seeing her precious daughter again, can still take her breath away.

Jayfeather pricks his ears, and blinks. Well, thats an awnser he hadn't been expecting. How could she know what he looked like on one specific day out of the hundreds he'd lived? "How can you tell?"

"Well, there's less gray on your muzzle. You didn't have any gray fur at all, back then." His mother mews, her amber eyes sweeping over him, studying him. "Your scars less faded, too."

"Oh. I never knew it faded." Jayfeather mumbles, unconsciously going to lick at his shoulder, tounge rasping over the scarred skin. He'd thought it had been too deep to fade.

"Yes, it did. It was still visible in your later years, but it had faded quite a bit." Leafpool mutters, and then her words trail off. Like she is trying to find other ways he looked different on that day specifically. Jayfeather doesn't think she's going to find much more. Not unless his stripes had changed without anybody telling him!

"That's just...small differences like that." She mews eventually. Jayfeather believes her, even if you just do it's not the strongest reason. "Firestar and Sandstorm said they see it too."

"Well, I guess that was the happiest day of my life." Jayfeather snorts. And, when he thinks on it more, he struggles to find a memory happier than the one of his sister coming home. Even with all the other emotions tangled within it.

Leafpool nods her head in agreement. "It was mine too."

[lightleapfan]

lightleap's family and mine are very similar like you have tigerstar whos like my dad(hes a CEO) and dovewing is like my mom (she moved to floridaclan from newyorkclan) and pouncestep shadowsight and birchkit(we both have 3 siblings) and rowankit is kind of like all the babies my mom miscarried or like our dead dog hunter

[bonefall]

It's so funny that your idea is that DOVE should be the one mad because of course they make Ivy throw a hissy fit about their circumstances being different. Girl, your daughter chose to make a valiant sacrifice. Her kid's death was entirely preventable

To be clear; I'm unsure if they're going to give Ivypool another hissy fit. I only read that there is apparently going to be a scene where Dovewing and Ivypool (and also Icewing) bond over having dead kids.

And, I don't really like the idea of that, on its face. Even if this scene is written to be a very straightforward, positive moment of understanding between all of them, I feel like Dovewing's situation is so different from the two of them that I'd find it interesting if she was kind of offended by the comparison.

ESPECIALLY if it was Ivypool making an attempt to connect with Dovewing over this, y'know? Assuming she's totally being good intentioned here, legitimately trying to connect with her estranged sister over what she thinks is a similarity.

Bottom line is, Bristlefrost laid down her life to end tyranny. Beetlewhisker was an adult who chose to take the offer of demon training, and died standing up to Brokenstar. Rowankit was a baby, sick and in pain for days at his mother's belly while his father and older sister raced for a cure, as a parcel of lifesaving medicine sat untouched in the next territory over.

If anything, I'd prefer an Ivypool hissy fit, because I'd like to see her be framed as unreasonable, OR show how bereavement is causing her to lapse into old, bad behaviors. I strongly hope the narrative will examine the differences here (ESPECIALLY if this SE's theme is grief) instead of having the three of them "connect" in an uncomplicated way.

[blackfeatherdragon]

Batshade!

(Info below cut)

Batkit was born alongside littermates Rowankit and Palekit to Honeynettle and an unknown she-cat, coming to join CloverClan with their father. Unfortunately, Honeynettle died soon after their birth, leaving the trio of kits to be adopted by Sheeprise. Batkit was perhaps a bit unsociable, but otherwise got along well with his adoptive father and his brothers (including his adoptive brother Acornkit.)

On reaching six moons, Batpaw was apprenticed to Puddleshadow. Puddleshadow influenced Batpaw to be more likely to start fights, but also encouraged his ambition. Batpaw also proved to be a skilled swimmer and hunter, and was praised for his attention to detail when he earned his warrior name (Batshade) at eleven moons old. (He maybe had a bit of a crush on Puddleshadow, which ultimately went nowhere.)

However, he was almost taken by an eagle the same moon as his warrior ceremony. Batshade escaped, but was left with an injured leg that healed well but retained a scar. He later lost his tail saving Lynxpeak from a big dog.

On the side of his relationships with others, Batshade had a brief relationship with an unknown she-cat that resulted in two kits named Ravenwhisker and Flaxheart. Later on, after becoming mates with Boragepatch (after much flirting and asking Boragepatch out), he ended up with three more kits named Vinemouse, Rosemaryswish, and Creekraven. Batshade is very proud of Boragepatch's ascension to deputy in the wake of Pigeonstar's death and Bleakstar's ascension to leader.

While he's not super close with most of his living grandkits, he is close with Thunderwool, who once gifted him a laurel branch to wear.

(On a darker note, his dead bio dad Honeynettle tried to lure Batshade to the Dark Forest when he was an apprentice, but didn't get far with him. Batshade is too loyal to CloverClan.)

[wc-wild-rewrite]

Firestar's Family Tree by Arc 7! (This may change)

Needless to say, Firestar's kittypet gene of Big Litters carried over. That and Clan culture really likes naming after dead people.

The color coding for the clans is based off what they are currently in or were in during their death, not birth clan.

Changes to canon under the cut, and some explanations:

Relation Changes: -Breezepelt is part of Lion, Jay, and Holly's litter, alongside his no-longer-dead littermates, Raven and Bracken. -Dovewing and Ivypool are now Hollyleaf's kits, as Cloudtail's side of the family do not count as Firekin in Starclan's eyes (Fireheart gave up family rights to Brindleface) -Dewnose now has Myrtlebloom and Bayshine without a recognised mother, for bloodline's sake -Dustpelt and Sandstorm are now siblings, and Redtail & Runningwind are their dads -Cloudspeckle is now the adoptive mother of Redtail and Spottedcloud -Rainstorm and Mintfur are actually Rainwhisker's, but are raised by Reedwhisker -Spiderleg and Shrewfeather are Ferncloud's only kits, who she had without a disclosed father

Name Changes: -Crowfeather is now Crowstorm, as Stormfur was the prophecy cat and not Feathertail -Feather Of Flying Hawk is now Storm (That Hawk Flies Through), in memory of Stormfur -Nightheart is now Nightshade, and was born Nightkit -Sparkpelt is now Sparkfire -Spottedleaf's name has been changed to Spottedcloud, as she does not become a medicine cat -Crookedstar has been changed to Stormstar -Halftail and One-eye have been changed to Sparrowpelt and Whitespark -Tommy and Filou have the warrior names of Sparrowstalk and Paleflame -Shrewpaw survives, and takes the name of Shrewfeather in honor of the quail he tried to catch -Scourge has the warrior name of Icefang, and had a litter with Mossheart, who survives -Ivypool becomes Ivystar at the end of A Broken Code

New Characters: -Lionheart's litter has been fused together into Sorrelsong, Snapwhisker, and Hollyspot. -Jayfeather now has a litter with Briarlight, and took in a litter of two from Kestrelflight -Alderheart has a litter with Puddleshine and Fidgetflake -Firestar and Sandstorm have a litter shortly after Firestar's death -Shrew and Squirrel had another litter -Harper is added into Jake's litter, and has two litters of his own -Stripe is added into Crystal's litter

Memorial Namings: -Sparrowstalk after Mocha's warrior name, Sparrowpounce -Spottedcloud after her mother, Cloudspeckle -Blueflower after her mother, Moonflower -Snowstorm after her father, Stormtail -Whitestorm after his mother, Snowstorm -Stormfur after his grandfather, Stormstar, and his uncle, Stormkit -Feathertail after her great-grandfather, Featherwhisker -Flamespring after his father, Firestar -Rainstorm after his father, Rainwhisker -Crowstorm after his friend, Stormfur -Lark after their granduncle, Larkkit -Storm after their uncle, Stormfur, their great-grandfather, Stormstar, and their granduncle, Stormkit -Roseleaf after her cousin, Hollyleaf -Jayleap after his cousin, Jayfeather -Dandelionburr after her aunt, Dandelionkit -Rowankit after his grandmother, Rowanclaw -Bristlekit after his cousin, Bristlefrost -Stemkit after his father, Stemleaf -Graykit after his great-grandfather, Graystripe

[m1smatched-starsigns]

History Has Its Eye on You?

in response to this post:

This is my Blackfoot character study! The first four chapters are already posted to AO3 and there are only two chapters left!

It's a retelling of Blackfoot's life from kithood to Clan leader. It's an AU but I do my best to make it believeably canon. Aside from a romantic relationship that is decidedly for my shipper's heart and a few other minor details, I think most of it could align with canon if the story was told from Blackfoot's perspective.

This is something that I've wanted to write since I read the first arc and got into fanfiction but I always worried I would never be a "good enough" writer to do it justice, and I finally decided to just do it and see what happens. I'm really proud of it! I hope other people like it as much as I do. Getting inside Blackfoot's head and figuring him out has been delicious, and fleshing out his relationships has been a surprising treat as well!

For fun, here's an excerpt from the upcoming chapter:

Caramel-colored pine needles litter the floor and the kits have created a game of tossing pawfuls of them at each other. They duck and dodge and weave and their shrill giggles fill the air. Passing warriors watch the kits with amusement, others shake their heads fondly.

Blackfoot feels like a ghost, standing in the middle of an old memory. If he closes his eyes then those shrill giggles aren’t coming from Rowankit, Blossomkit, and Lavenderkit; instead they come from Nightkit, Clawkit, Flintkit, Fernkit, and himself. 

All but two of those five innocent kits are dead. What does the future hold for these three?

Here's the link to read it on AO3!