#bonefall tpb

[ID: Firestar from Warrior Cats with his tail on fire. The text reads, "Ssoen kafyar-ul ulnyams ssarshefpa," which is "Fire Alone will save the Clans" in Clanmew]

The man, the myth, the legend. Bringer of change, righter of ancient wrongs, ancestral patron of fire and of breaking bad habits.

Clanmew Name: Kafyarbabi, Kafyarshai [Wildfire + Heartbeating = Behaves like a wildfire.]

Alignment: ThunderClan

Relationships: Mates (platonic) - Sandstorm, Onestar (ex) Family - Squirrelflight, Leafpool, Cloudtail (nephew), Princess, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, Hollyleaf Mentors - Bluestar, Spottedleaf, Yellowfang Friends - EVERYONE. Graystripe, Deerfoot, Iceheart (Scourge), Brokenstar (post-death), Longtail, Cinderpelt

[ID: Dustpelt from warrior cats. He has diamond-shaped markings on his chest, feet, and the end of his tail, with a large, flat marking on the top of his face. The background is the genderqueer flag colors.]

Since I made genders, BB!Dustpelt's story is coming together in my mind.

He's AMAB, or, ATAB. Assigned Tom at Birth.

Dust and Raven's entire family died a horrible death of plague about 6 months before TPB started. Dustpaw was one of the few who managed to not catch it; Ravenpaw survived with stunted growth.

That traumatic experience definitely prompted Bluestar to want to give them the strongest and most loyal warriors in ThunderClan as mentors.

Redtail is transgender and very disciplined, so he was given Dust who was pretty obviously gender-nonconforming and lashing out in the hopes they'd figure it out together.

This is how he got so close with Sandstorm! Her and Longtail are the kits of Redtail and Runningwind, from two different litters.

They're besties. It's completely platonic.

The mentorship wasn't perfect but it WAS working. Dustpaw was close with his mentor, but had a long way to go.

...And then the plot happened, of course.

He was really lost when he didn't have Redtail anymore, and associated poor Firepaw with that loss. It was made worse by his new mentor being Darkstripe. Him and Longtail became very close with Tigerclaw, supporting him and even joining the rumor mill about Ravenpaw.

Dustpelt regrets that pretty deeply now, that he did that to his own brother. It's something he did when he was young and susceptible, and he can't really make it right.

He was still trying to figure himself out through TPB, generally being antagonistic towards Fireheart out of anger and jealousy and dissatisfaction with himself

Sandstorm even started losing her patience with him

And yet, when the time came for Tigerclaw's plot to be revealed, Dustpelt didn't waver and proved his loyalty.

Even Fireheart's mentorships of Cinderpaw and Cloudpaw were both unfair because of his age and inexperience, AND ended disastrously. Fireheart knew when he was picking mentors for Fernpaw and Elderpaw that Dustpelt would need to be rewarded in some way.

But he wouldn't repeat Bluestar's mistake. So he had a solution;

Frostfur would mentor Elderpaw. Darkstripe would mentor Fernpaw. And for Dustpelt-- what he really needed was some way to put his paws to work.

One-eye came out of retirement for a while to grant him a third mentorship, as she had once been a nearly legendary builder and no one was ever truly able to pick up her skills.

He didn't need to connect with tom-gendered traits like patrolling and passivity. This felt right, and it felt good. THIS was what he needed.

And so, Dustpelt came into his own. He is genderqueer! After TPB, he becomes an important background character as the head of the Construction Patrol.

His surviving children are Spiderleg, Birchfall, and Lilyheart, and his grandchildren are Spotfur, Duststripe, Rosepetal, and Toadstep.

LMAO Jeez didn't realize you guys were hungry

Spotty, Red, and Tiger were apprentices together. Red and Spotty are the kids of Rosetail with an unknown sire, a fact that INFURIATED their crappy uncle Thistleclaw.

So Tigerpaw being assigned to the jerk... it was rough. They'd all been close and then Thistleclaw was trying to tell Tiger that they were not worth associating with. But still, they stayed friends.

Spotty and Tiger had big crushes on each other. Sneaking off to hang out, staying up late to chat, when Tigerpaw would come back scratched up Spotty was usually the one patching him up.

They were kids, y'know? Tigerpaw wasn't born evil.

But, Spottedpaw realized something; she LOVED healing. She LOVED interpreting signs, and she ADORED getting involved in Featherwhisker's rituals. More than anything, she was dreaming of being his apprentice and becoming the counselor of the leader.

She is a kind of ambitious, too. The Cleric role is VERY powerful, they are the sole interpreters of StarClan's will and have immense sway over Clan politics. She's a smart little cookie, and she picked up quickly that Featherwhisker was basically untouchable in the Clan so long as he hides his rulebreaking.

Just... everything about it is amazing. The power, its freedom, knowledge both arcane and forbidden, helping people. The only catch... having to give up the possibility of kittens and mateship.

(At least openly. Featherwhisker has a secret forbidden child-- Frostfur.)

That was simply a cost she was willing to pay. Wouldn't you?

Tigerpaw understood, but she knew him well enough to realize how badly it hurt him. He's more torn up about it than she is, underneath the stoic mask Thistleclaw put on him. Somehow, it's worse knowing it's requited.

They continued to flirt for their entire lives, and there was always a tension between them. Especially in the brief period of time they had after Redtail's 'death'... he didn't know how, but he knew she knew.

(This tension goes RIGHT over Firepaw's head. "Wow Spottedleaf is standing up to Tigerclaw :0 shes so cool and brave." *aromantic flag slowly manifests in the background*)

When Spottedleaf dies in a raid that Tigerclaw invoked, he mourns her truly. A friend, a possible lover in another life, a compassionate cleric who was always there with a joke and a soft paw. To him, it is an... unfortunate cost.

wdym by “catching deerfoot” ? i have a vague memory of deerfoot having a gorey death in BF but don’t remember completely

@figgybeans

[Image ID: Deerfoot from Warrior Cats. He is a solid brown cat with yellow eyes, long whiskers, and dark brown paws, tail tip, and mustache. His upper lip is slightly cleft, permanently showing his front teeth. He's drinking some sort of pink liquid refresher from a glass with a straw.]

Deerfoot is a ShadowClan warrior who has opposed Thistle Law since Brokenstar took power. He's a son of Lizardstripe and Mudfoot, and the brother of Tangleburr and Runningnose.

He was actually one of my first reduxes so I'm super fond of the whole Mudlizard family lmao

Him and Tangleburr are the "two halves" of ShadowClan symbolically. Tangleburr immediately threw her weight behind Runningnose and Brokenstar and enthusiastically supported every campaign they engaged with. Deerfoot meanwhile was working with Nightpelt to plan the coup.

How did he not die during Runningnose's Plague? Maybe he got lucky. Maybe Runningnose couldn't bring himself to kill his brother. In any case, when TigerClan rolled around, Deerfoot did as Deerfoot does and organized the rebels once more.

He meets his end after helping Mistyfoot, Featherpaw, and Stormpaw escape to safety. He was the only cat captured in the 'Great Escape', and refused to snitch on any of his accomplices, paying with his life.

It's very similar to Canon TPB in terms of plot beats, it's the least reworked arc because I think it's the one that needs the least amount of fixing. Even as-is I think it's a really good narrative against isolationism that just has some moderate stumbles (namely the introduction of BloodClan as the endgame enemy)

The majority of its problems come from its treatment of disability and its... terribly written romance. Even ships that should check out in theory like FireSand I think are just... frustrating at best.

So anyway I'll walk you through the changed plot beats off the top of my head. I'll also make some off-brand title changes for fun

Book 1: Into the Clans

Fireheart is aware of BloodClan to begin with and knows about their warnings of Clan Cats

Smudge has actually been seeing Spottedleaf in the darkness of the forest, she looks like an apparition of death because of her leaf-blight spots and bone-shaped markings

To begin with, more time is spent on Firepaw's apprenticeship before deposing Brokenstar

We're introduced to Channeling, which is an illegal way to contact a spirit... if they're willing to come when called. Spottedleaf does this to try and talk to her brother.

Redtail is not helpful because he is a jerk. Fireheart learns to not be afraid of death because of Spottedleaf's blithe attitude towards it

I also plan to establish at some point here that Longtail and Sandpaw's dads are Runningwind and Redtail and have Firepaw realize that the death of Redtail has affected them deeply

He considers this because he does not know what it is like to have a single dad let alone two, but if it's like losing a mom that's rough

Spottedleaf, Lionheart, and Rosetail die in the same raid where the Frostfour are snatched

Fireheart joins that patrol to retrieve the Frostfour from ShadowClan. Bluestar is on it, also.

Deerfoot is established as a rebel and Tangleburr as a Brokentail loyalist.

Deerfoot and many others don't like what Brokenstar has done, but he's a popular leader and they need help getting rid of him

Bluestar agrees to send the reinforcement they need. Tigerclaw is upset about this, citing that Clans aren't supposed to meddle in the affairs of others. They should just take the kits back honorably

An explanation of the ancient tradition of kit-stealing is given to Firepaw, which he is horrified by, but then he tunes back in to Bluestar rebuffing Tigerclaw with the Queen's Rights. He bows his head and agrees.

After Brokenstar is dethroned, Fireheart is named, and uses tarspot-blighted sycamore leaves to channel Spottedleaf for the first of many times.

Book 2: Blood and Water

Fire and Ice is basically unchanged, WindClan is retrieved, Silverstream is introduced, Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw apprenticed (though they are not below 6 moons this time), Brokenstar blinded, Cloudkit acquired, etc, but there's minor changes to motivations of scenes.

For example, the scuffle that gets Whiteclaw killed is an example of the Right of Challenge in action... and also Deadfoot and Leopardfur are equally matched the abelism in this fight bothers me.

Customary Deadfoot bonkening. All of his opponents get bonked once.

Graystripe's utter failure to train Brackenpaw is not forgotten, this is remembered. Fireheart is also asked to fill the role of Brackenpaw's mentor during the Warriorship ceremony later

Cloudkit is raised by Fireheart alone, Brindle just suckles him because Fireheart can't make milk.

Brindleface's kits are swapped! Ashkit is born later; the childhood friends of Cloudtail are Elderberry and Ferncloud.

Book 3: Old Secrets

In general THIS is the book where we would get an actual description of Thistle Law and its name

Fireheart also learns about Bluestar's Forget-Me-Nots, her old group of friends, and he starts to piece things together quicker than in canon.

For newcomers: The Forget-Me-Nots were a friend group of Bluestar, Deadfoot, Ashfoot, Barley Sr, Lizardstripe, and Oakheart. Her love of these people is what causes her to lead the way she does, helping all clans in a way unlike any other leader before her.

Similar to canon this is the book where Silverstream dies, Graystripe leaves, Tigerclaw is exiled, and Brokentail is poisoned. Not much else is different.

Book 4: Rising Fire

Runningnose does a little bit of epidemic. As a treat. Kills Cinderfur and Nightstar and installs Tigerstar

This is the book where Longtail starts to rise up as a close ally of Fireheart, more reliably than his younger sister Sandstorm who has more of her own mind.

The apprenticing of Elderpaw and Fernpaw is changed; Dustpelt is too young to have an apprentice and is rewarded for his loyalty by becoming the secondary apprentice of a Clan builder.

Frostfur gets Elderpaw, Darkstripe gets Fernpaw

Dustfern does not happen while Fernpaw is an apprentice, ick. She admires him one-sidedly while he is a young warrior arguing loudly with her awful mentor, though.

Snowkit is given some extra personality as being serious like his mom, and quite religious.

He is also a friend of Tawny and Bramble.

His death after the forest fire by a hawk is unchanged; and the start of Bluestar's cruelty arc.

We get Littlecloud and Whitethroat's thing, Cloudpaw's abduction, the beginning of Bluestar's cruelty arc, the forest fire, RiverClan sheltering them, and the deaths of Snowkit, Yellowfang, and Runningwind largely unchanged.

Book 5: Paths Chosen

Who_Let_The_Dogs_Out.mp4

Bluestar's cruelty arc continues

Ashfur is born in this book

Graystripe refuses to let Leopardstar murder Fireheart and is exiled; his kittens remember this

Cloudtail is made a warrior and Swiftpaw and Brightpaw go play with puppies

IMPORTANT: Brightpaw's "Dishonor Title" is SWIFTHOUND, it has nothing to do with her scarring. Her actions got Swiftpaw killed and that is what is dishonorable about this. Scars are a desirable trait in this rewrite.

It's a dare to StarClan; take her as Swifthound or make her live with this name.

Shuffle: Tigerstar lays claim to his kits after Swiftpaw dies, that was his oldest son and he says that ThunderClan is not capable of protecting his children

Shuffle: Sandstorm is the new mentor of Tawnypaw, Brackenfur is too young.

Firestar is aromantic, no confession scenes. These two actually have kittens together later as a form of honor-siring with coparenting.

They do the dog relay race, Elderpaw replaces Ashpaw because Ashkit is literally baby rn

Longtail replaces Graystripe on this race because Longtail's got zoomies and Graystripe's extra thick; NOT a runner.

Bluestar dies

Also as a side note the redux of Bluestar's Prophecy opens up right here, with Lizardstripe playing as her defense lawyer in StarClan and the trial framing the story. Thistleclaw also LEAVES StarClan in that book in protest to Bluestar being allowed in.

Book 6: Hour of Need (but also it would be funny if this one was called Before The Dawn and then TNP opened up with Dawn lmao)

Tigerstar actually offers BloodClan land in exchange for them helping him. This is important.

Fireheart evolves into Firestar like canon

Sorrelkit's poisoning results in her developing epilepsy after this, which will follow her for the rest of her life.

TigerClan officially forms... though I am thinking of pushing this back to the previous book so it's formed for longer.

The Bonehill is actually a really stupid idea in-universe and cats are working themselves to the BONE HHA to finish this incredibly pointless vanity project

I'm thinking a TigerClan rebel actually fetches Raven, Fire, and Gray to get them to help save the prisoners. Unsure who; maybe Primrosepaw or Reedpaw.

Execution of Stonefur like canon

There are several TigerClan rebels, one of which is Deerfoot, who help the Halfclans escape. Jaggedtooth is another, Primrosepaw, Reedpaw, Pikepaw, and Mosspelt as well.

In escaping, the only cat captured is Deerfoot

He refuses to rat out the other rebels, saving their lives, and is executed for it

Tangleburr is distraught

Later, WindClan is attacked and Gorsepaw dies.

Laterer Tigerstar gets unzipped by Scourge

AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE;

Firestar calls to speak to Scourge, to ask what it is he really wants

He essentially learns that Scourge is sick of the dishonor of Clan cats, he was promised forest and he will have it. Diplomacy breaks down and the battle must happen

When Firestar and Scourge fight, Firestar dies once, revives, and beats him by ripping the collar off, but sparing his life.

"A true warrior does not need to kill to win their battles"

Scourge calls for a retreat

The Clans Win; but a lot of cats died on both sides

Longtail, not Graystripe, becomes deputy

Epilogue is ThunderClan, WindClan, and occasionally ShadowClan (but they're difficult) engaging in diplomacy with BloodClan, including trade and foraging rights.

[ID: A sketch of BB!Scourge, known by Iceheart, giving a thumbs up]

Every time I reread TPB, Darkest Hour is a huge disappointment. All series long, we see how isolation causes problems for the Clans, that the code itself is flawed and deserves to be challenged, and that Tigerstar's biggest threat is how he can turn a society cruel.

Darkest Hour is the book that pivots on Firestar being a radical change to clan culture, decides that StarClan doesn't actually control anything, and that the final villain is an outsider, like Firestar...

Only this time, Firestar is fighting for the Clans to not change. The status quo is good, actually, Tigerstar didn't deserve to be murdered so horribly even though he killed tons of innocent people and it was self-defense, and after beating BloodClan for their right to exist, the forest four go right back to the isolationism that plagues the series to this day.

So I care very deeply about the Dramatic Necklace Removal change, I think it's one of my most important ones. The code's protection is for ALL cats, honor does not stop at the border, and Fire Alone can save the Clans because Firestar is symbolic of radical change.

So I am FINALLY about to start making allegiances. Since my rewrite covers ALL of Clan history, I think it would be a much better idea to divide these lists by GENERATION instead of period, era, or most relevant book.

A generation will be a period of about 4 - 6 years. As I laid out in my family tree rework rules, I have a cutoff for age gaps at 4-ish years exactly because of the fact that a senior warrior is hard defined as being at least 5. This is when a power imbalance would enter the dynamic.

So with all that said and explained... Feel free to pitch your suggestions for the following generations;

Yellowfang, Tallstar, One-eye, and the 'elder-age' cast of TPB. These cats are significantly older and born before the start of the "Campaign Era." Pinestar is one of the oldest cats of this generation.

Bluestar, Thistleclaw, Crookedjaw, Lizardstripe, Deadfoot, the "middle-aged" characters of TPB The ones who are already established, may have had apprentices and grandchildren, are generally no longer climbing the ranks. These cats are around 8 - 12 years old, considering retirement if they haven't already done so. They were born after the Campaign Era had already started but remember (and were shaped by) the escalation of force between Clans.

Also it could make Tawnypaw's decision more 'impactful'. After Starclan very clearly states their will of "fuck the (Tigerstar's) kits", Bluestar starts being horrible to both of them- maybe even threatening exiles or ordering them to go without food. IIRC in the books Tawnypaw leaves only bc the clan gives her hateful glances, but with Bluestar in the picture it'd make more sense for her to be a bigger factor in the decision. Maybe Darkstripe tells Tigerstar what's happening (or even Longtail if you want to make him fall back into old habits) and Tigerstar's argument goes from "My kits arent safe" to leveraging the Queen's Rights in his favor as she is judging them for their origins.

Maybe it's what gives Riverclan the push to ally with Shadowclan/Tigerclan since they hold the Queens rights in high regards? They were on the fence since Tigerstar was exiled, but seeing how Thunderclan treats their young and how Tigerstar is fighting to protect them makes them feel sympathetic and a sort of kinship.

Its sort of a snowball or domino effect here. Snowkit pushing Bramble out of the way implies Starclan wants the Tigerkin dead. Bluestar is basically going against everything Starclan wants, so she keeps them. However, they ARE still Tigerstar's kits, so she starts lashing out at them constantly. Tigerstar catches wind, and starts calling Bluestar's treatment out. Riverclan, who value family, sees this and respects Tigerstar more. Tawnypaw gets sick of the treatment and leaves (unfortunately into another bad situation), and Riverclan's opinion of Tigerstar is high enough for them to be more open about Tigerclan.

Well when you put it like that, I can't argue!

Okay. Snowkit shoved one of the Tigertwins out of the way and was taken by the hawk instead. I have one change though-- it should be Tawny

Bramblekit was saved from the fire that killed Patchpelt, Yellowfang, and Halftail, so in Bluestar's eyes, StarClan has already tried to kill him and taken three more in his place. Snowkit saving Tawnykit confirms it to her.

Snowkit was Bramble's bestie, but he noticed Tawny froze and ran back for her. In doing this, he drew the hawk's attention and got grabbed instead.

Tawny has to live with the fact that if she didn't freeze, Snowkit would still be alive.