#bramblesong

LionHoney Family

Leafstripe

The firstborn kit of Lionblaze and Honeyfern. She was named after Lionblaze's mother, Leafpool, after she died in The Great Battle. Unlike her namesake, Leafstripe is a fighter and can be quiet feisty and temperamental. She was nudged towards medicine at a young age, which she didn't mind at first since she does love her Uncle Jayfeather, but as she realized why, she became more rebellious and wary of being soft. She loves to battle, and is fiercely loyal to her clan. The moth wings she wears behind her ear were found in the mouth of the very first piece of prey she ever caught, and she's kept them ever since as a token of her warriorhood. She's incredibly close with her littermate, Bramblesong.

Bramblesong

He was named after Lionblaze's adoptive father, Brambleclaw, who died in The Great Battle. Unlike his namesake, Bramblesong is softspoken, shy, and doesn't like to fight. He takes up the role of a Caretaker, and is especially fond of caring for kits. He wants a litter of his own someday, but he knows he'd never feel that way about a she-cat. Leafstripe has offered to be a surrogate for him if he wants to raise kits, but the more that offer starts to become true, the more Leafstripe seems to squirm...

Spotfur

The first born kit of Lionblaze and Honeyfern's second litter - Spotfur was always considered rather ordinary. She wasn't as strong willed as Flywhisker, nor as social as Snaptooth. She never thought it'd be her who'd step up to rally against Hollystar and urge her to fight and not sulk. After Sparkfire's betrayal, Hollystar had become complacent in the codebreaker trials. While Spotfur loved her Aunt, she was disgusted with her choices, and she led a rebellion against the possessed Shadowsight's decrees. She lost her mate, Stemleaf, in the battles, but did discover she was carrying his kits. She bears Lionblaze's first grandchildren - Stemkit, Bristlekit, and Tigerkit.

Flywhisker

A dark gray kitten at her mother's golden belly, Flywhisker strongly takes after her grandfather, Crowfeather. With her prideful and headstrong personality, she often got scolded and called disrespectful as an apprentice. Many joked she was "just like a young Crowfeather", and those words got to her. She'd talk about WindClan with her brother Snaptooth, and how they have kin there - how she looked so much like Crowfeather. When her own father is forced to leave ThunderClan during the codebreaker trials, Flywhisker leaves as well, fed up with the clan she grew up in. Snaptooth follows her, hoping she'll come back if they go to WindClan like they always talked about, but Flywhisker scoffs. It was never about the clan. It was always about the flawed system and the value placed in blood. As a kittypet, it didn't matter where she came from or whose blood she had. She could just be herself, not reminding her twolegs of any other cat.

Snaptooth

Updated designs for the two of them as well for this!

Honeyfern is a big daddy’s girl. She loves her dad so much and has a lot of fun spending time with him. In my rewrite Brackenfur is Lionblaze’s mentor rather than Ashfur, so Honeypaw enjoyed tagging along specifically to see her dad, though Lionpaw never complained.

She’s a talented fighter amongst her fellow apprentices, something not many expect when they see her. She seems to have picked up on this and likes to use it to her advantage.

Related to the above point, she can pin Lionblaze, even with his bigger size compared to her. She just knows him and how he fights well, and her adaptability has her always finding new ways to get him back on the ground.

She was definitely seen as little Miss Perfect - beautiful, kind, smart, talented - it was no wonder both Lionpaw and Berrypaw crushed on her growing up.

Honestly though, it was a lot of pressure, and though she had so much to offer, she was often swept aside because she’d get teased about having a mate as soon as she was able since she had two obvious admirers. Many would ask her “who she would pick” when she was older, when really that wasn’t even crossing her mind.

Honeypaw believed if she continued to excel, she’d be able to stand out on her own and not keep being seen as this frail little beauty. Despite her fellow she-cat apprentices not receiving the same treatment, it didn’t let up. It seemed the more “perfect” she was, the more others saw her as something to be taken care of.

Lionpaw was once one of these cats. He liked her for much of the same reasons Berrypaw liked her - she was absolutely beautiful and her skills weren’t anything to scoff at. However, it took Honeypaw telling him off and losing that sweet and kind persona she always had for him to see she wasn’t the perfect princess he idolized. It was at this point (narrative-wise) that Lionpaw stops pursuing her, admittedly becoming more focused on things related to his brother and the other clans with their prophecy evolving.

Honeypaw feels bad, thinking she really upset him with her words, even if he did totally deserve it. They keep running into each other since her father, Brackenfur, is Lionpaw’s mentor, and she likes to tag along. In a shocking turn of events, Lionpaw ends up apologizing to her for his behavior, and asking if they could be friends, to which she responded “good to know we weren’t already.”Officially Lionpaw is not just the guy who crushes on her, rather they’re mutuals, and that’s... admittedly rather new for Honeypaw.

A lot of time there was a disconnect between her and the others because she was “on another level”, one that only seemed to grow as they got further in their apprenticeship and Honeypaw became the clear stand out. She loves her sisters, but they were all quite different and seemed to go in different directions. Unbeknownst to Lionpaw, he had become Honeypaw’s closest friend like that...

Curious to know more about Lionpaw as friends, Honeypaw ends up poking her nose in places she shouldn’t, noticing Lionpaw’s weird behavior, the scratches he wakes up with in the morning, and the way he hurries off to sit with Tigerpaw and Harepaw from ShadowClan and WindClan respectively. When she asks him, he insists it’s nothing, something the sweet Honeypaw struggles to be pushy on considering how used to her kind nature she’s gotten with others in the clan.

Jump to warriorhood. Honeyfern is nosy, something she’s not proud of, but it’s undeniable. She’s picked up medicine from Jaypaw so she can treat the scratches Lionblaze keeps waking up with, and her agitation with the tom is growing as he continues to brush her off. Eventually she’s just about had it and begins giving him a rather immature silent treatment.

Lionblaze truthfully does value Honeyfern. While he can’t be honest with her about the prophecy, they are close friends who hunt together, train together, know each other’s favorite freshkill. Before everything started blowing up drama wise for Lionblaze, he honestly did just love the days they’d hang out and joke about having apprentices to train alongside each other. When she stops hanging around him, it’s noticed immediately, I’m talking things stop, he can’t focus, he’s stumbling, like he just feels really off when she’s suddenly not hanging out with him.

To get her back he goes behind Jayfeather and Hollyleaf’s backs and tells her about things, to which she... believes him right away. Yeah Lionblaze is just as shocked. She reminds him she knows when he’s lying because his tail tip starts to twitch up and down.

Unlike Cinderheart in the books who pushes Lionblaze away believing he’s above her and his destiny is beyond her, Honeyfern basically becomes his righthand. She’s there to cover him when he needs to sneak off, back up his excuses, help with the apprentices, whatever it may be. At this point they still haven’t even acknowledged feelings, just close friends who lowkey both know this is something but don’t talk about it.

This annoys the shit out of Jayfeather who on one hand doesn’t think there is time for this, and on the other thinks it’s exhausting having to feel the overwhelming affection radiating off them whenever they walk by.

To make a long story short, they become mates going into the final battle, wanting to make sure that if they die, they die having known they loved each other. Neither die though, so that’s good.

Post-battle, Honeyfern gives birth to their two kits - Leafkit and Bramblekit, named after two important cats who perished in the final battle that they want to remember. Leafkit replaces Sorrelstripe and becomes Leafstripe. Bramblekit replaces Fernsong and becomes Bramblesong.

The Kin make their first appearance during the Po3/OotS arc. Like in the books they had previously terrorized SkyClan, however in this AU we blend what happened in SkyClan and the Stranger with Hawkwing's Journey in a way - in that the attack happened in that interaction with who we know as Sol. In this rewrite, he was always Sol, not Harry. He seems friendly at first, bringing his then small group at the time and assisting in rescuing Leafstar and her then kits from the Twoleg Nest. As thanks Leafstar welcomes Sol and his group into SkyClan, just as she had done with plenty of cats before. They felt no reason to be scared. However, this was a ploy to make the cats vulnerable, and after gaining their trust, Sol and his group would launch an attack on SkyClan, taking one of Leafstar's lives and killing Patchfoot, Shrewtooth, and Nutpetal (Nutmeg from SkyClan's Destiny). SkyClan works together and does manage to drive the group out thanks to their numbers and allies in many places, something Sol hadn't expected. The clan grieves the loss of their clanmates, but move on anew, believing things would move on as usual.

When Jaypaw, Dawnpaw, Kestrelpaw, and Pebblepaw leave to find SkyClan, they unknowingly pass The Kin, even asking them about the fabled clan. Darktail thinks they should take them prisoner, but Sol waves them off and thinks they dare not slow their journey further. They feign niceties with the apprentices before going on their way, heading to the Lake where the plan really takes motion. The Kin settle in on the edge of RiverClan territory and make use of parts of Twolegplace as well. With their group having grown through Sol's silver tongue, the mysterious tom begins to insert himself into clan affairs and starting violence through manipulation. Darktail does the dirty work, while Sol plays people and have the clans turning against each other.

When Jaypaw, Dawnpaw, Kestrelpaw, and Pebblepaw return with SkyClan, they're the force of knowledge and power they need to not only unite the clans to fight off The Kin, but drive them out as well. Sol and Darktail, alongside their group, flee for now, but that's not the last they're seen. Darktail is the brawn while Sol is the brains. The group truly does respect Sol due to his way with words charming them, while Darktail is far more fearmongering. Darktail wants to attack again, but Sol takes a more backseat approach and insists the clans will come around once they see "the truth of what the world has in store for them". The group largely takes a backseat after this point in the Po3/OoTS arc, with Darktail and his closer followers making an appearance later when they come to collect the injured Frosty from WindClan, as well as when Darktail infiltrates the final battle to take his revenge on his father Onestar and his half-siblings. Darktail kills Onestar during the Great Battle and greatly injures Harespring to the point he barely survives, traumatizing Harespring.

A VISION OF SHADOWS TIME

Now we reach AVoS finally. Peace only lasts for 3 moons before Darktail returns to make his claim on the clans. After the Great Battle, with StarClan now locked away, many of the clans feel hopeless and uncertain of their future - the ones who weren't so close with the 12 aren't going to exactly understand the ins-and-outs of all they went through. Darktail now sees what Sol meant when he said "the truth of what the world has in store for them", and takes advantage of the hopelessness amongst the clans. The Kin had hurt them, yes, but many were wondering if Sol's words had been true, and if perhaps they were nothing more than rogues now if they didn't have the guidance of StarClan. This is the sway Darktail uses to recruit cats to his side and divide the clans, particularly those young and know little of the world of stars. Alderpaw ends up joining Darktail because he sees the injured amongst Darktail's group, and wishes to help them, perhaps even hopeful he can reason with Darktail and persuade them against attacking when the clans are at their lowest point. Like if Darktail had attacked right then and there, the clans would be on the brink of destruction with their instability. Surprisingly Darktail takes Alderpaw up on this and brings him back to camp alongside the one other cat who steps up wanting to come along - Needlepaw, much to her parent's dismay.

Other recruits join later for one reason or the other. These include:

ThunderClan: Lilypaw, Seedpaw, Sorreltail, Rosepetal, and Bumblestripe

ShadowClan: Berryheart, Starlingwing, Juniperpaw, Sleekpaw, Puddlepaw, Yarrowleaf, Pinenose

WindClan: Oatclaw, Furzepelt, Slightfoot, Hootwhisker, Frostysnow, and Owlwhisker

Riverclan: Icewing, Grasspelt, Shimmerpelt, Sneezecloud, Heronwing, and Copperpaw

SkyClan: Sunnypelt, Bouncefire, Plumwillow, Sandynose, and Bellaleaf (Twigkit and Violetkit have been here since The Great Battle)

Things actually start... good? Alderpaw is surprised by how close many of The Kin are, taking care of each other and working together just as a clan would. Alderpaw is the sole knowledge of herbs and is busy taking care of many cats, quickly earning their favor with his kindness. This actually becomes a liability for Darktail over time because soon Alderheart will have more sway over him in who people look to for clan decisions.

As the first to join The Kin, Alderpaw and Needlepaw are the first clan cats to learn what really happened to Hawkwing's kits - who have been nursed by a she-cat named Silt up until that point alongside her daughter Dragonfly. Silt is rather quick to clarify they're not her kits, saying Darktail brought them to her, and things fall into place from there. Alderpaw makes sure the kits are growing well, while Needlepaw declares herself Needletail despite clearly still being apprentice age. Needletail thinks this is all great and she loves the freedom she has as cats don't talk to her and treat her as an equal. However, Darktail's cruelty soon begins to show itself as he lashes out as his own cats when they do wrong in his eyes. It seems the name Sol greatly upsets him, the name of the group's former leader who left them...

Alderpaw and Needletail become very close with the kits, looking out for and protecting them under Darktail's continuously cruel reign that they realize they have no way to escape. When recruits begin wanting to go home, Darktail doesn't allow it, and makes an example of what will happen to those who try and flee. He drowns and kills Furzepelt and Heronwing after their attempt, placing the clan cats in a state of submission. Slowly Twig and Violet grow, the two asking to have clan names like the rest of the cats they've been growing with, and Alderpaw and Needletail name them Twigpaw and Violetpaw. In return, Twigpaw names Alderpaw Alderheart because of his kind heart that always looked out for them. The clan cats, who regret their choice to join Darktail's group and feel stupid, become incredibly close and tight knit, leaning on each other in these times. We learn more about what drove cats here, Juniperclaw and Alderheart bonding over their mothers being often too busy to spend time with them when they were little due to their deputy duties, and how their fathers died before they had the chance to see them receive their full names. Eventually a coup is planned to overthrow Darktail, but there's a spy in their midst - Sleekwhisker warns Darktail and he takes the masterminds behind it all to be executed via drowning: Alderheart, Needletail, and Juniperclaw. Needletail is executed first, much to the horror of Alderheart and Juniperclaw. Twigpaw and Violetpaw desperately try to intervene, but are held back by Darktail's goons. Just when Juniperclaw is next though, WindClan cats Sunstrike, Breezepelt, Thistleheart and Smokepaw ambush the camp, led by the still unnamed leader, Harespring. This is a big moment for Harespring as since the beginning of the arc he had been terrified of Darktail and feeling hopeless due to his inability to lead his clan. Learning he can be WindClan's leader with or without StarClan's blessing, he attacks Darktail and gives the clan cats the opening to fight back. Sorreltail, Owlwhisker, and Thistleheart are killed though.

Alderheart hasn't seen his family in so long and is excited to reunite with ThunderClan fully, but Twigpaw refuses to leave his side, and Violetpaw is especially shaken after watching Needletail die. Knowing the two sisters are SkyClan cats, the still grief-stricken Alderheart brings them to SkyClan and reunites them with their father, Hawkwing. Even when he tries to leave though, Twigpaw panics. She wants to go back to the way things were before - where they played with Plumwillow's kits, wrestled with Juniperclaw, and cuddled under Alderheart's soft fur. Those days were scary under Darktail, but they were all Twigpaw knew, and she didn't want to be left here with these strangers. Hawkwing gives Alderheart permission to bring Twigpaw with him to ThunderClan for the time being, unable to see her in such a state. Violetpaw stays with SkyClan, looking for stability after all this time of longing for it. The two sisters say their goodbyes before separating.

Alderheart returns to ThunderClan, who welcome him back joyfully. Squirrelflight, Hollystar, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather are the first to embrace him, before he's reunited with his sister Sparkfire. They get to catch up, Alderheart learning she had a budding relationship with Ambermoon and Toadstep's son Larksong. He gets to spend time with Lionblaze's kits, Bramblepaw and Leafpaw. He's finally home, surrounded by the people he loved, and yet... it didn't feel like home. He was thinking about how Juniperclaw was doing back in ShadowClan, if Violetpaw was settling in ok in SkyClan, if Frostysnow and her kits had managed to stay together on their way back to WindClan, and if Copperpelt had been able to make up with her brother like she said she would when she got to RiverClan. He had Rosepetal, who felt the same, as well as Lilyheart and Seedflare who did their best to show Twigpaw around and how she could make friends her own age with Bramblepaw and Leafpaw. But Twigpaw too felt it. Many of them felt it. Not all... but many.

They missed each other.

Darktail still wasn't gone though. Alderheart had a newfound conviction to see his friends again, in a place where Darktail didn't rule them. He saw what a world of cats was like even without StarClan, without the same laws, and the way they loved and cared. They were a clan, but they were also different, and Alderheart wanted to preserve that. Twigpaw is named Twigshade by Alderheart, as the she-cat denies Hollystar's name of Twigbranch and insists Alderheart should be one to name her. Alderheart manages to get his family to back him up in forming an alliance with the other four clans, all except for Sparkfire, who wants to put things to rest and move on with life. She finally had her brother back. She lost him once and didn't want to lose him again to Darktail. She refuses to fight in the battle and stays in camp, the she-cat's belly beginning to show signs of her pregnancy. Hollystar easily manages to get the newly named Harestar and WindClan on their side, as well as Leafstar and SkyClan, with Mistystar slower to accept but coming around at Pebblefoot's request. Rowanstar is the toughest, the tom having the hardest time with his clan after things with Darktail, and his deputy Dawnpelt having to step up and keep things in order. We learn Juniperclaw is not having a good time as Dawnpelt treats him with scorn due to his betrayal, telling him its his fault Crowfrost was dead. Puddlepaw is still being refused his full medicine cat name by Littlecloud, Yarrowleaf is being shamed for falling pregnant with Nettle's kits, Berryheart and Starlingwing are mourning their only daughter's death - it's a mess all around. It takes some arguing, but Dawnpelt comes around, her and Rowanstar agreeing to assist.

The clans unite and go to war with The Kin once more. Harestar goes face to face with Darktail, who still believes the WindClan leader lacks his nine lives. In the battle Sandstorm, Larksong, Rowanstar, Pinenose, Lioneye, Frostysnow, Morningflower, Gorsetail, Petalfur, Copperpelt, Rushtail, Firefern, Sandynose, Reedclaw all lose their lives. Harestar kills Darktail without losing a life, symbolism for him not necessarily needing the lives to defeat Darktail, and also finally putting an end to his terror. The Kin flee without their leader, and Alderheart rallies his once clanmates.

The Kin was disbanded, but Alderheart surprises his family when he wishes to leave ThunderClan and join SkyClan to be with Twigshade and Violetshine.

This obviously skips over a lot like Violetshine's SkyClan stuff, Smokehaze's POV in WindClan, Sparkfire things, Tree, The Sisters & Sol stuff, the last third of AVoS with Shadowpaw and Sparkfire, Harespring's nine lives, Willowshine's StarClan connection, etc - just things about the The Kin.