#bb!skyclan

Leafstar's replacement is VERY easy! Waspstar will almost certainly be taking her roles, and I can already see how perfectly it will work out.

Xey remember her as being fair, above all. Committed to peace, to negotiation, to the ideals of justice and rationality winning out through unwavering generosity. Her first reward was to see SkyClan was driven from their home by Darktail and Sharpclaw's coup. Her second was to eat Juniperclaw's poisoned food.

Leafstar was fatally wrong. And Waspstar adored her.

How can you not? She lived by her ideals and died by them. Principles of modern SkyClan itself; to consider new ways of life, extend hospitality to strangers, and to keep the family together. In a good world, a better world, we could all live by these ideals.

...but Waspstar can see that the lake is not that world. So, xey lead ruthlessly.

As xeir mind starts to slip and the past becomes the present, xey'd see a lot of her. Consequences of xeir leadership catching up to them, it would be impossible to not ask what xey could have done different. If anything could have been different.

Plenty of interesting people for Wasp to remember, too, even beside Leafstar;

Sharpclaw, who betrayed SkyClan with the Kin.

Creekfeather, one of Waspstar's children, who xey had to kill to defend the Clan.

One of Rabbitleap's kittens who died very young.

The daylight warriors who stayed behind, or any cats trapped by humans.

People from xeir life as a kittypet, before xey were rescued from wandering the gorge that cold winter morning. Perhaps even xeir humans.

Again, say it with me; I Don't Rewrite Arcs Until Theyre Done. But. I've got a LOT to work with thanks to Waspy.

(Politely watches anon attempt to finish the ask while they're tripping over an unexpected rock or perhaps being accosted by a bee)

Clerics in SkyClan are allowed to have families while serving, but it's actually preferred that they've lived a full life before even starting their medical training! If you asked a random SkyClan cat, they'd say that it makes total sense when you think of it logically;

"What's the sense in having a Cleric with no life experience?"

It's fine and dandy to know how to make a treatment, but what's the good in medicine that the patient won't take? Why would you entrust your life to someone who's never been responsible for other people? Imagine training a medic for years and years with drills and pop quizzes, only for them to freeze with fear in the middle of a real life disaster!

Heavens, no! Better to honor a clever, reliable adult warrior with the privilege. Having had kittens of their own before is evidence of their maturity.

That's not to say they "encourage" Clerics to have kittens while serving, though. In truth, it's a teeny bit frowned upon, especially if you're acting as the kitten's Mi. They hit you with the Worried Politeness.

"Ohh, are you sure it's the best time...?"

"I admire you, if I had that many responsibilities I could never cope."

"Have you considered who will be the Mi? It's never too early to talk about it."

It's a very mild stigma, more "annoying" than damaging, and easily overcome with enough social capital. It's the kind of bias that walks alongside legitimate practical concerns.

To answer the question directly;

SkyClan Cleric training typically starts later in life.

From the "pool" of candidates, cats who have had kittens are HIGHLY sought after.

You may still chose to expand your family while serving, if you want.

Being the primary responsible parent (Mi) of a litter while serving as a Cleric is discouraged. There's an unspoken expectation that those days are behind you.

That said-- It's not that big a deal if you're popular, supported by a co-parent, and considered mature.

For BB, I'm making a push that Fidgetflake is actually "let go" from his Cleric apprenticeship once there's enough older cats to fill the den. He's told that he can come back, but first, he should live a life in this new home to bring wisdom to his role in the future.

(When I get around to making a Version 2 of SkyClan's family tree, Fidgetflake will probably end up with kits as a result! Boy successfully sent to the club)

It's also VERY likely that BB!Alderheart ends up in SkyClan as one of its Clerics. It feels too perfect.

The only thing holding me back is Frecklewing (conflict renamed SkyClan Frecklewish). She supports the Kin in their coup of SkyClan, but I do want her to eventually return to the Clans, and three cats in the Cleric den (Echosong is sticking around longer, Leafstar is not) is a lot.

Wasp says: you want Skyclan to be like the forest4? Alright bet!!

my ggoddddd I had an IDEA

Waspstar receives xeir nine lives the way the Forest Four show xem to, in their new pool, by their new rules. While there, Heartstar assures xem that Juniperclaw has been removed as deputy, will never serve in a position of power again, has gone into exile.

...and Waspstar doesn't respond to that very quickly. Xe has a polite, pungent pause. "Is that the punishment for taking a life? By your code?"

"Our code," Heartstar corrects boldly, in a tone that suggests she sees this as reason and fairness. Our Code-- it protects you too, a gesture of sharing. It makes Waspstar's belly twist. "I've made his punishment VERY severe."

Severe. What a word to describe a vacation.

"He regrets what he's done?"

"Yes, very much."

Waspstar's ear flicks. No. Juniperclaw hasn't even begun to regret what he's done to SkyClan.

"SkyClan will be having a ceremony for Leafstar, to say our goodbyes and welcome in a new era," Xey offer in an even tone, "Spread the word that is is a time of forgiveness. All honored guests may come-- if they want to pay."

Heartstar waits for a beat. Then chuckles incredulously, "Your Clanmew skills could use a brush up. You mean pay their respects, yes? To honor the dead?"

"Oh my, how embarassing," Waspstar smiles back, "I'm so very sorry if I was unclear."

I'm leaning HEAVILY towards doing it. Killing off Leafstar during Squirrelflight's Horror by having Juniperclaw poison their food makes perfect sense. He was trying to make them desperate to leave the territory, so they'd invade the Sisters' camp.

Plus, then I can delete the Meadow Saffron subplot. There was no new plant that suddenly showed up like a big coincidence RIGHT as tensions escalated-- Sparkpelt can just have gotten a bite of the poisoned food somehow.

(Maybe a diplomatic meeting... I'll think about it.)

Anyway, here's an Intro to BB!Waspwhisker, and how xey would act as Waspstar in comparison to BB!Leafstar;

WASPWHISKER

Once the ShadowClan family tree is complete, I will be going back to SkyClan's overhaul and making it more significant.

But in the meanwhile, Waspwhisker is a very close family cat to xeir mate Fallowfern, and kids; Plumwillow, Rabbitleap, and Creekfeather.

(Nettleplash might be gone, unsure.)

I really like Creekfeather for absolutely no reason. I just like his name lmao. SO I'm probably going to put him into The Kin so I can get mileage out of him as a villain

Having Waspwhisker have to fight and maybe even kill xeir own son sounds absolutely JUICY. Push this guy to the BRINK

Show, over and over, how Waspwhisker is willing to put SkyClan above everything xey've ever loved.

When The Kin absorbed a significant portion of SkyClan, Waspwhisker took Leafstar's side. Though xey can be tough, xey're always fair and rational.

The reason to exclude Daylight Warriors makes no sense and is just based on pride, in xeir eyes. The Daylight Warriors are not the ones attacking the camp right now, are they?

There are SkyClan Warriors in the gorge that night, and there are traitors.

And if that includes Creekfeather... then so be it. Creekfeather has made his choice.

You might think that Waspwhisker is a mean person. Xey're not.

In fact, when it comes to friends and family, Wasp's compassion is absolutely limitless.

Plumwillow and Rabbitleap get their love of long discussions from xem, as a Ba Waspwhisker was always encouraging their curiosity.

Xey like to answer questions with more questions, and guide kits and apprentices by leading them to the right answer instead of outright telling them.

The thing that makes Waspwhisker so brutal is that, well... xey just don't see the value in being overly generous. Xey want what xey are owed.

Down to the last scrap of fur, the final droplet of blood.

As a warrior who has gone through so much, loved so thoroughly, and serves a people who have lost everything, shouldn't respect come with that?

SkyClan has been cheated, threatened, and betrayed from the moment they were driven from the forest. Waspwhisker believes in reciprocity like it's a bank account-- xey simply want the positives and the negatives to be in balance.

It feels clear to xem that the moment they stepped paw into the new forest, the Forest Four saw them as pitiable.

They were not equal. SkyClan is a mixed-blood Clan of ex-kittypets and loners.

The politeness that defines SkyClan, helped to keep coalitions of cats together at a distance through forgiveness and cordiality, is a funny joke to Forest Four.

Though times are changing in Clan Culture, strength is currently still a stronger value than diplomacy.

Leafstar was playing by SkyClan rules. They have their own values, traditions, even a copy of the warrior code that diverges earlier.

But Waspwhisker can see-- what at first seems "amusing" about SkyClan to the Forest Four is quickly hardening into contempt.

And that contempt is mutual.

Forest Four cats are proud, self-absorbed, xenophobic, and stubborn. And they don't even realize that.

They're so used to only ever dealing with each other. With their big bluffs, political showboating, and ceremonial fights.

To Waspwhisker, it seems as though Forest Four cats see battle like a game. One you play together, with ancient, unspoken rules that SkyClan has been locked out of for generations.

It's been so long since they've known REAL fear that they've forgotten it. SkyClan hasn't.

Claws aren't toys; battle isn't a game. To SkyClan, their skills are a martial art.

To be respected.

In SkyClan's conversation about what "version" of the Warrior Code they will use, and how they interact with other Clans, Waspwhisker has always felt uneasy about the very premise.

Who interprets the Code, to begin with? Us, or them?

WASPSTAR

If I end up going with this, Leafstar will die of poisoning in Squirrelflight's Horror.

Juniperclaw did it to try and convince SkyClan that the Sisters ARE a threat. He wants them out of ShadowClan territory.

At first, Heartstar is going to refute any accusations of her deputy/nephew doing this poisoning. Nepotism is her consistent weak spot.

Waspwhisker might have died too, but someone tasted poison.

(Maybe I'll have it be the wounded sister they are holding as a prisoner. She can recognize a flower in a spoonful of soup and lurch foward to slap it out of their paw, then dump over the pot. Maybe when Squilf's about to have a bite, so there's a big accusation that the sister only stopped it to try and help the one who's been nice to her)

But in any case, when Waspwhisker finds out that it was a Forest Four warrior who did this...

It really solidifies in xem that xeir uneasiness was right.

Juniperclaw may have acted alone, but his feelings were born out of a deeper spite. One that Leafstar was too optimistic about.

They'll never take SkyClan seriously if something is not done about Juniperclaw. Exile is a JOKE.

The only thing that Forest Four cats seem to respect is brutality.

So xey will GIVE them brutality.

You demand we follow your version of this code?

"We'll start with a true warrior not needing to kill to win his battles, unless it is necessary for self-defense. Understand that I have no reason to believe Juniperclaw would not do it again. This was self-defense."

If the Forest Four can't even be consistent about Commandment 1, then they wouldn't be able to handle how SkyClan interprets the rest.

Xey insist SkyClan matters will be handled by SkyClan. When a law would affect another Clan, then we can discuss it.

Like Bramblestar, Waspstar refuses to be pushed around.

Unlike Bramblestar, they aren't a particularly emotional or biased person. In fact, Waspstar is cold.

That reputation is exactly what xey want, though. Let it precede us. "If they fear us, we live in peace. If they respect us, we live in peace. I offer the choice of which type of harmony we have together."

A good diplomat realizes quickly that Waspstar is not unreasonable, though. Getting xem to do anything is a matter of demonstrating mutual benefit.

Or making a show of goodwill.

Hawkwing is chosen as Waspstar's deputy because of his compassion and commitment.

They're not TOO different as well, and that's a plus to Wasp. Xey want the deputy to see eye-to-eye with xem, but still be bold and emotional enough to launch a challenge if needed.

Xey have thought fondly of Hawkwing ever since Plumwillow's mate went missing, and Hawkwing became a father to Wasp's grandkits.

Unfortunately, I can see Waspstar either respecting the Impostor a lot (for living by the same brutality he demands of other Clans) OR coming to a huge battle against the Impostor (for trying to force SkyClan to live a certain way).

In contrast to BB!Leafstar, who would think Bramblefake is a lunatic from the very beginning.

In a nutshell; If the two leaders heard the phrase, "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind,"

Leafstar would hum and smile, praising the wisdom of the words. There are many ways to win a battle, and she does not want SkyClan to have to lose its peaceful life after enduring so much hardship. "That which cannot be fixed must be broken, and revenge is not something that can be repaired."

The list of SkyClan changes is probably longer than the list of things that are staying the same. Cultural expansions, a very different culture, unique politics, even an alternate Warrior Code. Real fans of SkyClan want them to be completely different <3

Leafstar's not an exception. I HATE canon Leafstar. Every action they've taken with her has felt absolutely awful since Firestar's Quest so I'm just overwriting her completely.

SkyClan's Leadership

The part of Firestar's Quietus where Firestar and Brokenstar actually CHOOSE who the new leader is going to be is a bit up in the air. I have the beginning and end with the rats figured out-- but the middle has been evading me.

I know that Brokenstar prefers Sharpclaw, at first. Probably because Sharpclaw is so aggressive and dedicated to the old ways.

So it makes sense that Firestar prefers Leafdapple. She's making him realize things about his own way of ruling, parts of Clan culture he's come to accept uncritically.

She straight up blows past his thought-terminating cliches;

Firestar: "You see, Leafdapple... you can't live with a paw in both worlds."

Leafdapple: "Pardon? I don't understand what that means?"

Firestar: "It means... um... hmm ._."

In the end, she's probably chosen exactly because she's not committed to bringing back the past. SkyClan has not been the Clan of Skystar for a long time. It's the Clan of Skywatcher.

It is no longer the Clan-in-the-Canopy, it is the Clan-in-the-Stones.

I feel that the first Leader and Deputy were chosen by Firestar and Brokenstar. Though Brokenstar's mind changes over the course of Firestar's Quietus, I think they ultimately still agree that there were two "sides" of SkyClan that should live in balance.

Leafstar, committed to fairness, abides this. Until Sharpclaw ultimately betrays her for The Kin. (Repeat link from above but if your eyes just popped out of your head it explains everything about how PROFOUNDLY differently I'm approaching The Kin lmaoo)

I hadn't planned explicitly for the deputy system to work a bit differently here, BUT it does also feel in line for Leafstar to decide it on a whim after regrouping. Surrounded by the remnants of her Clan, deputy having just turned half of their warriors against them, SkyClan's protector oak ripping itself off the cliffside and destroying their camp, she jumps up on top of a rock like, "Ok team, that sure was a doozy. Let's try to pick a better deputy this time 8)"

It feels better that deputies are popularly "elected," or at the very least nominated by the Clan. Might make for a nice climactic moment in a rework of Hawkwing's Journey.

Is Billyleaf sticking around?

Yes! But it's actually a bit different.

First of all, Leafstar is actually in a constellation with Billystorm and Echosong, the Cleric. Leafstar is mates with Billystorm and a partner of Echosong. Echosong is not romantically involved with Billystorm. SkyClan actually split off from the main Clans before the Cleric's Vow was codified by Larkstripe's strike. They don't have the same taboo against Clerics having mates or raising kittens.

Billystorm is also a massive himbo now lmao, I'm not a huge fan of him in-canon. I'm still reworking stuff here though-- I'm planning to change SkyClan and the Stranger into Sol's Game, a darker story diving into Sol, the Entity, and Harry, the vessel it courts.

But it's been a while and I need to revamp my old drafts, so that's on the backburner for now.

Is Leafstar going to remain an idiot?

absolutely not. christ. I Don't Rewrite Arcs Until They Are Done but if I ever produce something as brainless as "An entire society believes that a child is lying because her accused murderer says he heard her mother snoring evil manipulation plans in her sleep" then explode me to bits with 10000 pounds of nitroglycerin

instead of just having her and everyone else be dumb, it's an easy enough small change to just have Splashstar already be in power and show the beginning of his reign having gone smoothly. Everyone's desperate for RiverClan to have a leader again. Have Leafstar's bias be against ShadowClan specifically, because Heartstar's nephew Juniperclaw mass-poisoned her entire Clan.

Even before then, too. I don't like how the Erins seem to treat Leafstar as this "unreasonable" character who's usually some shade of wrong. I don't like how she just has to accept that Sharpclaw was undermining her for her own good in SkyClan's Destiny. I don't like how Dodge dragged SkyClan into his stupid conflict. Or how she went back to the Gorge after Juniperclaw's poisoning, only to be herded back by the noble Clan cats when a sudden flood makes their old home unsafe for some reason.

I don't like how she only seems to get a "win" when she's accepting or asserting that the Clans have the perfect way of life and she should resemble it more-- see the opening of AVoS, where it's strongly implied that Daylight Warriors being unable to fight to defend the camp at night was how The Kin was able to throw everyone out, and thus the practice has been abolished since then. I think these conflicts are frustrating in the way they're written and presented.

So quite frankly I'm tossing a lot of it. First and foremost, SkyClan's primary conflicts should be trying to keep its unique cultural identity. Secondary conflicts should be based around its political interactions with the other Clans at the lake, particularly ShadowClan and ThunderClan, which it shares borders with.

BB!Leafstar's personality is that she's assertive, fair, and polite. In my head I lovingly imagine her always speaking in the tone of a corporate manager trying to keep control of her team as the office goes up in flames around her. While she always tries to consider all perspectives and stay approachable to all her warriors, she's often misinterpreted as being passive-aggressive or not genuine.

BADLY. The Forest Four would be very likely to cause some kind of drama over it. It would be a very shocking moment for them, "What do you MEAN you follow a different Warrior Code? There's only THE Warrior Code!"

There would be a fight over if SkyClan will keep its version of the Warrior Code, or if it would be forced to "update." Most likely is that they're would be allowed to keep their self-governing laws, but forced to update the ones about violence and borders.

So even with Clerics being allowed to have kits under SkyClan's law, they would be picked on by more Traditionalist Clerics. They find themselves getting talked over a lot, their input on healing and prophecies ignored. Less trade and sharing of herbs.

Rabbitleap and Plumwillow having a galaxy brained conversion about what the Weewoo creatures are.

Plumwillow insists they must be going somewhere to be in such a hurry, not to mention how other cars move out of the way. Perhaps the Weewoo must not be impeded in some way.

Rabbitleap lurrs in consideration. All cars are operated by a human, so perhaps that's true. But ALL cars are going somewhere. If that was true, they must be going to some special, holy place.

Especially since cars are so aggressive towards each other... or, destructive at least. You don't forget what two of those creatures smashing into each other looks like; the eyes shatter into sharp bits, it bellows smoke and fire, and the metal bunches up like rolls in fabric.

To so desperately lurch off the road and risk smashing into another car... it surely must be somewhere important.

Or, perhaps it's scared? DOES the human control it well, or are those creatures mimics? Does it act so strangely because it is not a human's tool at all, but an animal with its own mind?

Plumwillow gasps and grins, then says, "I've got it! It must be getting its nine lives from its ancestors!"

Roasted Grandpaw is a special treat, honoring SkyClan's History! It can be made year-round, but has a special place in their version of an "independence day."

The traditional ingredients are;

Large Rat (for the rat ancestors)

Mushroom Gravy (for Cloudstar’s journey)

Kibble (for Spiderstar's plan)

You take the rat, skin it, and remove the offal. This is chopped and sauteed in the mushroom gravy. Meanwhile, you take your kibble and add it to a boiling bone broth, until it becomes fat and juicy.

Then, combine the sauteed offal and the marinated kibble, mixing them up nicely. Stuff this back into the raw rat, and then bake. The juices of the meat soak into the stuffing, and the whole rat will sizzle.

Apply extra juice as it bakes, so it doesn't dry. Firestar, leader of BarbequeClan, taught them this very important skill.