relating to profic-firestar’s hawkivy post, how would you personally interpret a hawkivy au where bristle is their kit? B/c I’m really interested in it :0
Oh wow. Ok. So I haven't read the TBC arc yet, so I am sure I'll have more thoughts when I have. BUT. Based on my current thoughts and a quick skim of Bristlefrost's history on the wiki.
So let's assume that Hawkfrost survives. He helps turn the tide against the Dark Forest cats along Ivypool's side. This ofc does not absolve him and he isn't welcomed by the Clans, but he continues to meet with her in her dreams for the next arc. Optional polyamory with Fernsong (vee polycule).
SO. Eventually, Ivypool becomes pregnant. Either with Bristlekit alone or she has a split pregnancy (Flipkit and Thriftkit are Fernsong's).
She gives birth to Bristlekit, and Hawkfrost looks over her in his ghost form and adores her. It takes a few moons, but eventually Bristlekit is brought into a dream with both of her parents. She meets Hawkfrost for the first time and she's aware that she's Different but Ivypool pushes on the idea that cats must be loyal to their Clan. Hawkfrost agrees and says that not being loyal was his downfall, so now he has no Clan, but he knows Bristlekit will grow up to be ThunderClan's greatest warrior.
Hawkfrost watches over her as she becomes an apprentice, and in her dreams he teaches her how to swim like a RiverClan cat. She's nervous. She's not sure about it at all. But he tells her that water never needs to be her enemy, and learning to swim can only ever help her.
Sure enough, a few moons later she saves Rootpaw by using her father's swimming technique and Hawkfrost couldn't be prouder. Some cats wonder about just how well she can swim, because ThunderClan apprentices don't exactly practice swimming, especially not like this, but Ivypool defends her by asking why they're criticising and analysing her daughter rather than being impressed by how she saved another cat. It gets them to stop.
When struggling to catch prey, Hawkfrost encourages her to try fishing. She's resistant because only RiverClan catches fish, so he focuses on teaching her about swimming and how she can catch prey (fish) in water instead of fishing from above. When she catches her first fish, Ivypool goes to Hawkfrost, worried because ThunderClan don't catch fish, and they don't want RiverClan to accuse them of stealing prey even if it's from the lake. Hawkfrost accepts this, apologises, and tells Bristlepaw they should focus on hunting prey in water only if they're water voles or otherwise escape into water. She asks why, and her parents are honest with her.
Part of Bristlepaw's lack of urgency over the medicine cats not focusing on the lack of prey is because, while she believes, she's also aware her father isn't in StarClan. If Hawkfrost can teach her to help catch prey, then why can't StarClan do the same for the Clans?
It's Ivypool that comforts her when Stemleaf doesn't return her feelings, but Hawkfrost also tells her that love takes time - from both sides.
That's all I have right now! One day I'll read through TBC and we'll see how I feel about it then. In general, based on the wiki descriptions, I feel like there are a LOT of opportunities and potential plot lines for fitting Hawkfrost into place!