I think I’ve finally figured out my Riverclan situation.
You see, it’s more or less a monarchy where unless you have a strong connection to the leader, you’ll never get the position. (former apprentices, mentors, and mates are allowed, but blood is always preferred)
Silverstream is still the only daughter of Crookedstar. But now Whitestorm is a Riverclanner and Oakheart’s son with Snowstar. Oak and Snow break up and Oak gets together with Rippleclaw. Whitestorm is raised alongside a pure-River kit, Swantail, and the two spend most of their lived believing themselves to be full-blood siblings.
Silver more or less the heir, White is second in line, and Swan is third. Though she’s never really wanted power.
Silver ends up kindling a fierce romance with Sandstorm. The kind that knocks you off your feet and robs the breath from your lungs. The one where you know it will end poorly but you charge forth anyway.
And Leopardstrike seizes this opportunity. She claims Silverstream died birthing her kits, whom she manages to drag back “home.”
The next day she quietly tells Crookedstar that Silverstream was her mate. And without Silvy there to argue against it, he believes her. Leopardstrike is named deputy that very night.
