#thistlefall

Before explaining the scene, there is some background information. Budblossom is my rewrite equivalent of Squirrelflight, but she is NOT the same as Squirrelflight. Ashfur does not fall for her. Instead, Budblossom's first relationship is a mutal crush on fellow apprentice Shrewpaw. The two of them are very close/plan to be mates once they get to be warriors. Their parents are very supportive/the dynamic between them is very healthy and loving.

However, Shrewpaw "dies" tragically. He is struck by a monster when chasing down some prey. In canon he breaks his neck, but in my rewrite only his leg is caught. He manages to get himself off the Thunderpath but is heavily bleeding and passes out. The remainder of his patrol tries to find him, but the Thunderpath is very busy, and Shrewpaw isn't answering their calls, so they assume the worst and tell the Clan he died.

When Shrewpaw wakes, he is expecting to be in StarClan. However, a wandering kittypet found him and brought him to her home. Shrewpaw is alive and healthy, but his leg has been amputated. He spends several moons with the kittypet (who I've yet to name), learning to adapt to his lost leg. Once he's comfortable using it, he makes a journey to find the Clans.

This is where the fire scene stuff starts. So Shrewpaw finds the lake after a very long journey. He is reunited with his family and is extremely happy to be back. He asks where Budblossom is and finds her talking to a group of young warriors. When Shrewpaw asks who they are, Budblossom reluctantly tells him that they are her kits. Shrewpaw is devastated. Budblossom gets into a fight with him, arguing that she did nothing wrong, he was dead and she moved on. They are no longer close friends and Shrewpaw is extremely upset.

Boom. He traps Budblossom and her six kits in the fire. Explains how heartbroken he is, how could Budblossom move on? They were going to be mates someday! The kits should've been his! And then he says he's gonna kill them and so Budblossom does the first thing she can think of no matter the consequences that will follow. She says, go ahead, only half of them are actually mine.