#shrewrunner

In my AU the idea is Bramblestar develops well separate Squirrelflight! Yes he still makes her deputy for the same reasons, still doubts her judgement for the same reasons, and sometimes he can be an asshole - but because the dynamic of a romantic relationship is gone he can’t hold that power dynamic and guilt over her head.

He’s no longer a husband that needs/wants his wife to listen to him and feels betrayed by the kit/family thing, he’s just a domineering and occasionally annoying boss. He’s still an incompetent leader somewhat but that makes it so in the end Squirrelflight’s input actually serves him. He also has less incentive to feel like she’s undermining his authority or purposefully embarrassing him because they are both just doing their jobs.

Shrewrunner in my AU tries to avoid being a thorn in either of their sides, but he does comfort Squirrelflight in the average ways, defends her when her judgement comes into question, and is a good warrior/senior warrior.

I personally feel no joy punishing Bramblestar narratively more than I already do (which is essentially Squirrelflight struggles to trust him after he makes an attempt on Firestar’s life and the romance deteriorates) . I think by that point all the abusive behavior we grow to hate about Bramblestar just becomes character flaws, things that can exist away from the romantic relationship implications, and he gets to just be a grumpy boss that occasionally causes problems but doesn’t spiral Squirrelflight into depressions about her own status as a warrior, mother, and wife.

So sorry. Here he is faced with the inevitability of his demise as a child with his best friend who he loves