#blackpelt

I’m noticing much nepotism in Field and River Colony. 😅😂 Forestleaf wanted that with Whitebelly being an envoy, I believe. With Rainfall keeping power strictly in the family to the point of almost sort of arranging a mateship (cat marriage???) for Frozen and Falcon I believe. Does Falcon know? If so, how does he feel about it?

Second, Forestleaf. She and Hazelfur didn’t approve of Missingfoot as a mate for Whitebelly. What would’ve been their standards for a, in their eyes, a suitable mate? Was there anyone in particular they were trying to push Whitebelly to?

The Frozen and Falcon pairing is mostly wishful thinking for now, sort of a loose expectation more than an actual betrothal. But yes, Frozenpool is very obsessed with lineages and blood, so Rainfall has arranged leadership of the colony a certain way. Frozen is like an heir, so Falcon isn't too put off by their expectations to court. Most River Colony cats are not too sure about the nepotism, but it hasn't been a problem yet and they wouldn't dare say anything anyway.

-Snap

Nepotism is a constant in the colonies, as favoritism for your own flesh and blood tends to be in the real world, and as you can see, it also causes many of the same problems that happen in the real world.

This one is a bit more Chucky centred. I hope it's fine that I post them guys! ✨️🫶

@chuckystar

@cornerofhell

Darkstripe has always been a bit of a bully, but seemingly only to his family. He's detested Ravenwing since he was a kit, seeing him as weak and wimpy, and he's embarrassed to be related to him. Goldenflower nearly took his eye for a specific incident where he purposefully terrified the little guy for...what reason, really? To feel big? For fun? For the joy of having power over someone else? Or is he just that miserable of a person, that he has no reason to do the things he does other than it being in his nature? Whatever source this action came from, he never did it again, only growling words at Ravenkit/paw/wing when he's been forced to interact with him. Goldenflower and his mother, Kestreltail, made very sure of that.

Blackpelt stayed polite to his brother, but he stopped humoring the idea of properly getting along with him when Darkstripe openly scorned his only son when he described how small and skinny the kit was. It was subconscious before, but now he was fully aware of the ugliness that resides in Darkstripe, a hatred born of nothing, an anger at the world that is undeserved. There was no getting through to him. There was no chance of kinship and love. In the eyes of his brother, his father, and the rest of ThunderClan, he's a lost cause and he should never have been born into Clan life.

When Hazelfur became Captain, his first Second was Russetpelt, Goldenpelt's father. Forestleaf, Moorbug, Dappledmaple, Swifttail, and Screechbuzz were all Envoys at the time.

When Whitebelly died, Russetpelt had only died a few months prior, so Forestleaf became Second. Dappledmaple had retired, Screechbuzz died with his brother Russetpelt, and Swifttail and Moorbug would be the only other Envoys for a while until complications from Moorbug's wounds caused an early death. Goldenpelt would become an Envoy soon after her passing, which is when Swifttail retired, and both he and Forestleaf tried to get Spottedshadow to become an Envoy as well.

Ooh. Easiest way to put this is:

~It's complicated~

What's important to keep in mind is that from the perspective of our characters, what Goldenpelt is doing wouldn't be seen as abuse. We can look at it and see the manipulation and controlling behavior, but in the societal structure of the Colony's...Goldenpelt is doing the right thing and is a really good friend to Spottedshadow.

Do Spottedshadow's friends find Goldenpelt annoying and overbearing? Yes. But they are in the minority. And even they still feel conflicted about it.

And Missingfoot is a good father. He does his best. But as someone who knows Goldenpelt well, and feels the pain of losing his best friend/childhood sweetheart...he secretly hopes Spottedshadow and Goldenpelt work things out in the end.

There's just also a lot Missingfoot is not aware about with the whole situation.

Two questions along the same lines, so I'll answer both here!

Stubbornness and unwavering conviction to your own beliefs divides this family more than it brings them together. It's their strength and weakness.

I try to show that in the post about Whitebelly , Forestleaf is in a power struggle with her daughter. Forestleaf wants control and order. She sees her daughter's potential being wasted by not pursuing being an Envoy and having a mate in Blackpelt (who she finds way too mediocre to her with HER daughter.) Forestleaf is a pragmatic type. She isn't with Hazelfur out of love and she serves her colony diligently.

On the other hand, Whitebelly is quite selfish (in the good way!) She's choosing her own path and fights with Forestleaf to have control over her own life.

And Blackpelt (Missingfoot) is the empathic one. He loves Whitebelly and supports her, but he can see where Forestleaf is coming from.

Forestleaf therefore sees all the worst personality traits from both her parents in Spottedshadow.