#marshwing

In this rewrite, Marsh and Toad are swapping places!

Marshkit was saved by Brackenfur from the eagle, and has grown into a respected warrior named Marshwing. He's a friend of Birchfall, as ShadowClan has a tentative alliance with ThunderClan through Po3 and their battles are controlled and honorable (unlike canon where they're legitimately hostile).

Marshwing is mentored by Oakfur, and becomes the mentor of Tigerheart.

His sister Applefur is jealous and resentful of him. Their brother Toadkit died in a fox trap that Marshkit was investigating, and Applefur has never been able to forgive Marshwing for it. As they've grown, Marshwing has become a prodigal warrior on 'stolen time' while Applefur feels left behind.

This is how she's pulled into the Dark Forest, at first hoping to get a leg up on him, but eventually having this spite exploited.

She eventually is able to have a takeover of ShadowClan with Redwillow and Ratscar following the death of Russetfur, when Blackstar refuses to lead because of Sol's influence. Blackstar returns at the request of his clanmates, and kicks them out of power.

Hmm... it would make for a really good angle. Especially if I'm gonna try and approach OotS with the idea they're trying to put cats in positions of power. I went over every cat looking for some possibilities-- but we're only looking at real opportunity with the deputies. I saved them for last.

Leaders

Unfortunately, no leader in OotS would make sense as a potential trainee.

Blackstar: No Was actually offered the choice to align with the Dark Forest by Runningnose back in the Slash-and-Burn Era. I'm approaching his development post-TPB as him being slowly eaten alive by guilt and becoming repentant by his death after OotS.

Onestar: No Demands loyalty, subservience to himself and StarClan. He doesn't need MORE power because he already is asserting himself and committing to his role. Besides, there's enough WindClan trainees and I would like for him to rightfully distrust the DF trainees, not be displaying hypocrisy in this instance.

Bramblestar: No Already rejected the DF in TNP, doesn't make sense for him to relapse.

Mistystar: No Train with Tigerstar? Misty would sooner kill the guy a TENTH time. Plus-- she killed Leopardstar and sent her here, and it was quite traumatic. I don't think she wants to face her again anytime soon.

Medicine Cats

I thought this section was going to look better and then I realized, this rank is ALSO full of goody two-shoes... but maybe the apprentices?

Flametail and Kestrelflight are possibilities

Littlecloud: VERY no I still need to make that big post I wanted to make about him, but he's actually one of my little favorites. And he's a total nerd with a really rigid sense of justice. He'd actually be upset and betrayed to find out that Runningnose is in the Dark Forest by choice.

Flametail: Possibility Maybe it would be worth it to retool him a bit? Make it so he was training there to learn Secret Medicine but tried to leave, and the DF killed him with the thin ice in retaliation? Only hesitating because I don't want there to be a lot of ShadowClan DF trainees.

Mothwing: Can't.

Willowshine: No Has a strong connection to StarClan to make up for Mothwing's inability to planeshift/talk to spirits, doesn't feel right for her to be going into the DF when she has stuff to do.

Leafpool: No

Jayfeather: No But! He CAN actually go there when he wants to and can probably pull people out at will. He's losing the time traveling stuff so his dreamwalking/planeshifting superpower is actually getting a buff.

Kestrelflight: Possibility But leaning towards a no, because he's overwhelmed with responsibilities and Barkface died in the Forest Territories before he could train him, so StarClan is on his tail. But-- he could still go there hoping to get help from Runningnose, who may have briefly mentored him before his death.

Deputies

THIS is where we've got some material to work with!

Bramblestar's Deputy: Might be Graystripe His first deputy was Squirrelflight, who he demoted when the secret of the three's parentage came out. I know the pick after her is going to be a BAD choice but that can mean a lot of things. It could even be Thornclaw (bracken is dead in late Po3; killed by Applefur, before Firestar dies).

I'm leaning towards the pick being Graystripe, keeping him away from his kids when they're young, and giving me space to show that the clan has mixed feelings about Gray taking Squilf's position and giving me room for him to step down.

Blackstar's Deputy: Russetfur DIES, could make for deputy drama. In the end it's going to be Rowanclaw who becomes the next leader, but maybe Applefur and Marshwing could have been competing for the position? It would be interesting if Applefur was looking for some way to get rid of Marsh without being suspected.

They could even kill each other during the Great Battle. I'd give Marsh kits before then, though, so Tallpoppy's tree doesn't die out again.

Mistyfoot's Deputy: Reedwhisker... or I could shuffle.

Reedwhisker doesn't have to be her FIRST deputy. The first could be an old supporter of Leopardstar who uncovered Mistyfoot's assassination. In fact, it could have been Icewing, who then steps down or is dismissed after the Great Battle.

Though... this would make it strange that Icewing doesn't re-take deputyship for the current events in ASC... but I could just show the clan dismissing her because of her DF training. It's a juicy thought.

Onestar's Deputy: Ashfoot

Apple is a super cute prefix, it's a great suffix too.

I got some MASSIVE turnout for Marshkit though, the final tally is looking like it's a 2 to 1 vote... but! Don't worry! I won't forget Applefur either.

My plan for now is to make Toadkit the one who died in a trap (Or, at the very least, he died as an apprentice), and Applefur trains in the Dark Forest like in canon. She's probably compelled to train there out of grief for Toad and jealousy of Marsh.