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Okay so I decided this year I wanted to listen to the warrior cats audio books. I've liked warrior cats for a long time, but it was just amvs and rp when I was younger. I could never find the books at book fairs, and at some point I gave up on actually reading them. So, I've watched theory videos, joke videos, had thoughts about characters, and played a dumb amount of clangen. Now, getting through the books I have some of my own thoughts, which I'm gonna dump here. I don't expect anyone to read this, I didn't expect this to be so long even.
This is your warning now this is not Spoiler free. the book I'm on was released in 2010 and I... don't really think anyone is concerned about spoilers. This is also not me retelling the books, I'm just rambling. I welcome anyone else's thoughts, and I welcome questions. You're not gonna read these let me ramble.
I'm currently half way through Omen of Stars (Series 4). Theres about a half hour left of the third book, Night Whispers. Ivypaw and Dovepaw are still apprentices, and might start getting along again. I can only hope. I know I'm lying to myself. Flametail is... drowning. I was so happy to get out of thunderclan for a bit, and they've killed him.
Okay, I'm gonna start off with seemingly my most controversial take and the longest/most related to other lingering thoughts. I don't like Leafpool. I don't like her and I think they fumbled with what they wanted from her. Leafpaw was sweet and caring, and a huge worrier. She was always fussing over Squilf (I love Squrrielflight) and honestly, I loved hearing Leafpaws thoughts on other cats. She didn't like Hawkfrost right away, she wasn't fond of Brambleclaw, she loved her friend Sorreltail, and I understand Mothpool deeply because Leafpaw could not shut up about how beautiful Mothwing was. Leafpaw was a good character, I liked her, I like how her and Squrrielpaw balanced each other. I liked their magic emotional connection, Leafpaw biting burdock root so Squrrielpaw could know what herb to use on Tawnypelt's rat bites was such a cool thing to do. It was also a good way to make me, the reader, remember one of the various herbs. I've been, when I remember, putting those in my notes because I adore medicine cats.
Back on track, I adored Leafpaw. Leafpool is not the same cat. She's a lot more selfish and short tempered in the early days, and acts childish when Brightheart is helping Cinderpelt with the clan. Brightheart who I will point out is *PROBABLY* her littermate, and Leafpool is constantly in her littermate's business. (First arc problems, they were definitely in the nursery together and have the same mom, but half the litter is apprenticed much earlier. Cinderpaw and Brakenpaw, then Brightpaw and Thornpaw Later. IM COMING BACK TO THEM LATER!) Every time Leafpool said "But I'm a medicine cat!" when Crowfeather flirted with her I wanted to throw my phone into a pond. Maybe I'm cold but they did not make me care about her forbidden romance. And every time she justified it with "Cinderpelt is young, she'll be around for many moons" I knew my favorite girl was on borrowed time. I mean, I knew that already, but I can't explain to you how obvious they make it. I don't really care that her relationship didn't work out. He saved her one time, and I think that was the first time they really talked? And it was a love confession? It didn't make sense. And it ruined her to me at least.
In power of three, towards the series end when the secret is out, they really tried to make it seem like "Leafpool always loved her kits" but she was mean to them. She didn't give Hollypaw a chance to be a medicine cat apprentice because she seemed to assume Jaypaw HAD to be her apprentice. Like everyone else. I don't know that hollypaw was even given more than a moon. And them trying to be like "Holly's squeamish about injuries but so ready for battle" and "She can't remember herbs easily" was so frustrating. And she wasn't patient with either of her apprentices. She just seemed to expect them to know things (again, I think Hollypaw was only her apprentice for a single moon). Cinderpelt was shown to be patient with her, correct her gently and guide her. She started being impatient after she was fully named, but like... yeah that's seemingly normal for the cats. I'm supposed to think she cared so so deeply about her kits, but honestly the only kit/paw I thought she cared about was cinderpaw2 (Cinderheart, I'm gonna just call her that). She was almost smothering for cinderheart when the apprentice hurt her leg, and I know its a "well she didn't want cinderpelts ghost to do this again" but this was the first time I felt like she actually LIKED any of the other cats in the clan this arc. She's short with people, she's constantly badgering Jaypaw and hiding things from him or yelling at him, and then the book is like "Jayfeather can feel that shes sad" I don't care. Act like it? Please? Leafpool I want to like you.
Oh I dont think her and Lionpaw talked in an important way ever.
I think I'm supposed to pity her and know that she Is Sad because Jayfeather can tell, but they didn't make me agree with him. And her dumb drama ruined how people treated Squilf, who just wanted to help her sister. I'm supposed to be mad at them I think, but I'm.... really not. I'm not mad at Leafpool for having the kits, I'm mad that the writers didn't make me think she cared. I'm not mad Squilf cared for kits for her sister. Honestly, it's implied a few times that she didn't really handle being a fake queen well, I think they could have made her more uncomfortable as an adult with the kits and I'd believe Leafpool cared more. But they didn't really stick with this.
I wish theyd let me see warrior leafpool a bit more. She's been a warrior for maybe a year at this point and I wanna know how its going. Jayfeather is pissed she isn't bossing him around and keeps asking what he thinks about helping cats when he is asking her for help. She's acting like her training didn't happen and he's pissed. I agree with him, leafpool stop acting like a mouse.
TLDR: Leafpaw was great, Leafpool did not make me feel like she actually always loved her kits. She should have been a better mentor.
Also feel like I should say Squilf is Squrrielflight, one of the writers gave her that nickname. It's fun.
Off of this, I'm gonna talk about leafpool's kits for a second.
Lionpaw/Lionblaze is blood thirsty. He dreams of killing, and then when he does kill hes shocked and upset. He trained under Tigerstar and Hawkfrost in the dark forest, and then moons later is so quick to call dark forest trainees mouse brained. Particularly Ivypaw and Tigerheart, lionblaze needs to shut up. He constantly bounces between demanding Dovepaw use her powers to do more (hear more, see more, sense more, spy) and then goes "I hope she's not pushing herself too hard. I hope she doesn't feel like all the clans' issues are in her paws." YOU are making her feel like they are. His romance with Cinderheart has come out of nowhere, but also I like them. For now I like this pair. Im coming back to write he's bitchy about the fact Firestar won't let him go to the mountains 1 time. I want more people to tell him no.
Hollypaw was my favorite until she got like... too into the warrior code. She was the most well rounded, and the least whiny. And she's not the first cat to be into the warrior code, I think it was even a good idea, but it kind of ruined her personality. Until she killed Ashfur. Hollyleaf after killing Ashfur is such an interesting character. The fact the in the other chapters, those perspective characters already had talked about "I wonder who killed Ashfur" meant that when she didn't think about it I almost didn't notice. She was so focused on finding Sol so he could tell her who her dad was, so uninterested in the murder that had been talked about repeatedly, that it almost makes you forget WHY cats wanted Sol. Hollyleaf you are fascinating, as I'm writing this Jayfeather and Lionblaze just realized she's not dead and hiding in tunnels, can't wait till you come back to die again. Hollypaw was a very caring apprentice who worried about her brothers constantly, Hollyleaf is angry and listens to emo pop.
Jaypaw was a whiny mean baby and I loved it. He was mean to Brightheart which was uncalled for, and he hated apprentice duties. Hated cleaning ticks, hated fetching moss, talked about how unfair it was he had to do normal apprentice duty before exploring. AND THEN, when he was taken to explore, he complained that he knew everything already (then walked off and almost drowned, was saved by his secret dad). Jaypaw does not come across to me as a "good medicine cat apprentice" because he basically hates everyone and everything. I'm almost positive he even talked about not feeding the elders. BUT, Leafpool picked him and basically wouldn't shut up about it. Because.... why. He remembers herbs from scents? Truly I think only Brightheart even gave him a chance to try being a warrior, but I think he was a shitty apprentice to give her. He needed an experienced mentor, one who would call him on his bs. Leafpool and Jayfeather never seemed to get along, I kind hate them in every scene together. Jayfeathers favorite cat was the stick. Jayfeather is fascinating to me because one chapter he will complain that cats get hurt too often and then complain that no one has needed him today. Also he gardens??? It's smart for a medicine cat, but i love when they make the mean character garden. And it's implied this is a him thing, not a normal clan thing. Good job Jayfeather. One more thing, but I'm gonna spoil this. Nothing graphic but uh... birth warn? Im mostly gonna talk about kits this is me being overly cautious
I'm also supposed to think these three are super close, but theyre not. I don't think I Jayfeather and Lionblaze have a conversation until Hollyleaf is "dead". Hollyleaf and Jayfeather actually get along very well, they bicker a little but he doesn't seem upset when she tries to help him. Jayfeather gets along with she cats better, except for Leafpool. Lionblaze and Hollyleaf never seem to agree, they are fighting constantly. These three are so so close, but they're not. They're really not. I love these three. Hollyleaf is the only one who didn't make me feel like she wanted to be evil at some point as a teen, then she committed murder.
TLDR: Lionblaze needs anger management, Hollyleaf put herself in a timeout, and Jayfeather hates you.
Cinderpelt is my favorite cat, and she remains that. She's been dead for almost two series now and I miss her. I hate that she "needed to die for the plot" I was attached and this doesn't help with me being mad at Leafpool. She could be sassy like her wonderful mentor Yellowfang, she was an energetic curse of an apprentice for fireheart, and she was a gentle mentor for leafpaw. Her and littlecloud's frienship is incredibly touching, I love that she ignored yellowfang to help a cat in need, and he said, "Yeah I want to be her". I would have loved more scenes with them, or him learning about her death. Let me be emotional Erin Hunters.
At one-point Firestar says "she acts more like Yellowfang every day" when she really isn't acting like Yellowfang in my opinion. But he says it in a "I'm so happy she stands up for herself" way. To punish Firestar and Yellowfang for this, the universe made Jayfeather. Jayfeather is Yellowfang but younger. Yellowfang and Jayfeather are a funny duo who basically flip eachother off in half death.
It's pretty obvious to me that they didn't really know what to do with the ghost subplot. Knowing a little of whats happening in the current series the new team might actually be doing the concept better. But I'm in series 4 not series 9, Moonpaw isn't real yet, and isn't here to remind me that was exactly what I wanted my rp cat to look like at 12. Cinderheart is... a good enough character. I kind of wish Cinderpelt haunting her was handled better, and wasn't just used to make Leafpool and Jayfeather stare at her over dying cats begging for help.
Related to Cinderpelt, Brightheart is a darling and her and Cloudtail have maybe the best relationship? It's not really focused on at this point, but they got along before her accident. He definitely had a crush but wasn't weird about it, and she got along with him. Honestly, I thought her and Swiftpaw would have more of a problem with Cloudtail, but really, they were just mad about being left behind when he's made a warrior. And he was so sweet with her after the dogs, when other cats reacted with fear. Even got mad at his kittypet mom. Helped Lostface (Brightheart's punishment name) figure out fighting moves and hunting techniques to make up for her lost senses (half blind, half deaf, I think balance problems, but also, I don't know specifically). There's a brief period of issue where Cloudtail is trying to help Daisy adjust to clan life, and Brightheart is jealous. I... actually feel like this was realistic. I feel like Cloudtail is shown to be caring, and kind of portrayed to be dumb enough not to see the issue. Not to pick up on flirting. And Brightheart was very hurt by Daisy being so scared of her, so her getting angry with Cloudtail was... I don't think she was really mad at him, just hurt. And normally he helped her, so now him hurting her was... ah. But I kind of love that they let them have this fight. Let the cats fight and make up.
Frostfur and Lionheart's litter of kits is cursed in a weird way to me. The males, Brakenfur and Thornclaw, are just guys. They're there! I think they're both tabbies that are brown and if the erins need a "responsible male cat" they pick one of them. The average background guys! Now you have the girls, who both suffer tragic accidents as apprentices. WOW. I... I don't think that was on purpose. Cinderpelt's leg and Brighthearts face aren't actually a curse, or the Erin's even trying to purposely say something. They just had two cats they wanted to use, and weirdly they were from the same litter PROBABLY. Theres no explanation for why half the litter is apprenticed later, just know that and move on.
Briarlight is darling and also cursed. The Erin's keep almost killing her, and her back injury actually made me cry (not hard but my eyes were teary). Starting with her as a kit, when she's pretty young her and Millie (her mom) are two of the first cats to get the green cough outbreak. Briarkit probably should have died, im gonna be honest. It takes a life from Firestar, who gets sick later than her and is a stronger cat (full grown cat vs basically a newborn). But only Firestar dies, because he has spare lives. More cats should die. I'm happy she didn't but that's a separate issue. THEN Briarkit, close to apprentice age I think, almost gets bit by a snake. Honeyfern protects her and dies, this poor kit can't escape almost death.
On the day of Briarpaw's assessment to become a warrior, after her and her sibling celebrate passing, a tree falls into camp. I knew this would happen, I didn't know the details. Dovepaw hearing the tree fall and trying to rush everyone, people freaking out, Mousefur (I love her) being old and not wanting to leave her bed and then insisting they go back for a mouse. A Mouse. I was expecting Briarpaw's accident, I didn't know this was how Longtail died at the same time. Longtail had been such a joy since the early books, his death hurt. And hearing Briarpaw's desperation and pain as she couldn't move her legs, as cats struggled to pull her and Longtail's body out from under the tree that was going to collapse further, it was a lot. It was a lot. I knew this was gonna hurt a bit more after everything with Chappy, but fuck man I wish she'd live forever. She was supposed die for the record, but Vicky (one of the original Erins) had unfortunately had a cousin who had a tragic accident, a spinal injury. So she really wanted to figure out ways Jayfeather could help Briarlight, sort of a way to get through her cousin's injury and kind of support him. Hope the guys doing well for what it's worth.
Briarlight is already a pretty good cat for jayfeather to be around, but I'm looking forward to this continuing. The medicine den needs a nice helper cat. It's not Jayfeather, and not really Leafpool. The books think its Leafpool but it's a lie.
I don't love cats talking about Briarlight's injury. Millie keeps yelling at Jayfeather for making Briarlight do things, and it hurts Briarlight. Before this I liked Millie, but this injury has brought out something awful in her. However, Jayfeather is kind of a hypocrite. He thinks at one point in a book that Briarlight might have been better off dead like Longtail, then gets pissed later when Millie says that she wishes her daughter was maybe dead rather than this. Its a bad interaction all around, no one is in the right here, and I'm pretty sure this is all ableism. Jayfeather isn't really mad she thinks that he's mad she said it where Briarlight can hear. Now to be fair, yeah it's not realistic for a wild cat with this injury to last super long. I'm happy she makes it a few years but... Yeah her dying kind of young is real. And when I get there, I will cry. For now she's getting stronger and I love her.
Okay last thing I really need to say is I love Blackstar. Blackstar hasn't done anything wrong in a while, and I kind of agree with him about Thunderclan being in everyone's business and expecting the other clans to be forever in their debt. Even when all the clans help. Honestly Firestar didn't think like that, but Jayfeather and Lionblaze sure do. Even Dovepaw kind of does, but she's also extremely stressed that she can constantly hear ways to help every clan. I'm willing to ignore the child thinking like her older cousin mentor guy. Blackstar's biggest crime as leader was briefly having a twink boyfriend (Sol) and giving up Starclan, but I think leaders just need to do that sometimes. Shadowclan is supposed to be evil and sneaky but outside of the first series where Brokenstar is baby killer evil, Shadowclan is just vibing. And Tigerstar was their leader, but he's mostly Thunderclans fault imo. Windclan is a bigger issue, and Riverclan even helps them one-time raiding thunderclan, but shadowclan helps thunderclan in this fight. Then the eclipse stops the war, and then Sol flirts with Blackstar... yeah. Power of three has so many plots. Shadowclan being evil is over played, theyre kind of just chill. I love you Blackstar, I'm happy you decided to be a better leader than Tigerstar.
Riverclan cats love dying on adventures. Silverstream when the six go to the mountain in series 2, and Rippletail in series 4 when they go to fight the beavers. Stormfur also leaves during the great journey and stays with the tribe, good for him and his wife. Can't wait for all the clans to send cats on boat in series 6 and lose Riverclan to sharks, and cats from all the clans to go to space in series 8 and Riverclan to take off their helmets. This is a joke, as far as I know the cats haven't built a boat yet.
Okay after a day has passed and I'm finishing this the following night, I am about halfway through the 5th book in this 6 book series. Ivypool and Dovewing are friends again yay! Hollyleaf is helping Thunderclan from her tunnels, Lionblaze just went to look for her but instead has found Sol. I think they're trying to make Sol scary but Sol isn't scary. Oh and I kind of love traveling plots, but they keep making the tribe seem worse which is sad.
Watching someone play the Clangen Cruel season demo (It's only in the dev version so hopefully we get it soon!)
Hopefully any future update will be shorter. This was a lot that has built up in my head.
Ivypaw and Dovepaw
![[Image: 72mjcp.png]](https://files.catbox.moe/72mjcp.png)
This is your warning now this is not Spoiler free. the book I'm on was released in 2010 and I... don't really think anyone is concerned about spoilers. This is also not me retelling the books, I'm just rambling. I welcome anyone else's thoughts, and I welcome questions. You're not gonna read these let me ramble.
I'm currently half way through Omen of Stars (Series 4). Theres about a half hour left of the third book, Night Whispers. Ivypaw and Dovepaw are still apprentices, and might start getting along again. I can only hope. I know I'm lying to myself. Flametail is... drowning. I was so happy to get out of thunderclan for a bit, and they've killed him.
Okay, I'm gonna start off with seemingly my most controversial take and the longest/most related to other lingering thoughts. I don't like Leafpool. I don't like her and I think they fumbled with what they wanted from her. Leafpaw was sweet and caring, and a huge worrier. She was always fussing over Squilf (I love Squrrielflight) and honestly, I loved hearing Leafpaws thoughts on other cats. She didn't like Hawkfrost right away, she wasn't fond of Brambleclaw, she loved her friend Sorreltail, and I understand Mothpool deeply because Leafpaw could not shut up about how beautiful Mothwing was. Leafpaw was a good character, I liked her, I like how her and Squrrielpaw balanced each other. I liked their magic emotional connection, Leafpaw biting burdock root so Squrrielpaw could know what herb to use on Tawnypelt's rat bites was such a cool thing to do. It was also a good way to make me, the reader, remember one of the various herbs. I've been, when I remember, putting those in my notes because I adore medicine cats.
Back on track, I adored Leafpaw. Leafpool is not the same cat. She's a lot more selfish and short tempered in the early days, and acts childish when Brightheart is helping Cinderpelt with the clan. Brightheart who I will point out is *PROBABLY* her littermate, and Leafpool is constantly in her littermate's business. (First arc problems, they were definitely in the nursery together and have the same mom, but half the litter is apprenticed much earlier. Cinderpaw and Brakenpaw, then Brightpaw and Thornpaw Later. IM COMING BACK TO THEM LATER!) Every time Leafpool said "But I'm a medicine cat!" when Crowfeather flirted with her I wanted to throw my phone into a pond. Maybe I'm cold but they did not make me care about her forbidden romance. And every time she justified it with "Cinderpelt is young, she'll be around for many moons" I knew my favorite girl was on borrowed time. I mean, I knew that already, but I can't explain to you how obvious they make it. I don't really care that her relationship didn't work out. He saved her one time, and I think that was the first time they really talked? And it was a love confession? It didn't make sense. And it ruined her to me at least.
In power of three, towards the series end when the secret is out, they really tried to make it seem like "Leafpool always loved her kits" but she was mean to them. She didn't give Hollypaw a chance to be a medicine cat apprentice because she seemed to assume Jaypaw HAD to be her apprentice. Like everyone else. I don't know that hollypaw was even given more than a moon. And them trying to be like "Holly's squeamish about injuries but so ready for battle" and "She can't remember herbs easily" was so frustrating. And she wasn't patient with either of her apprentices. She just seemed to expect them to know things (again, I think Hollypaw was only her apprentice for a single moon). Cinderpelt was shown to be patient with her, correct her gently and guide her. She started being impatient after she was fully named, but like... yeah that's seemingly normal for the cats. I'm supposed to think she cared so so deeply about her kits, but honestly the only kit/paw I thought she cared about was cinderpaw2 (Cinderheart, I'm gonna just call her that). She was almost smothering for cinderheart when the apprentice hurt her leg, and I know its a "well she didn't want cinderpelts ghost to do this again" but this was the first time I felt like she actually LIKED any of the other cats in the clan this arc. She's short with people, she's constantly badgering Jaypaw and hiding things from him or yelling at him, and then the book is like "Jayfeather can feel that shes sad" I don't care. Act like it? Please? Leafpool I want to like you.
Oh I dont think her and Lionpaw talked in an important way ever.
I think I'm supposed to pity her and know that she Is Sad because Jayfeather can tell, but they didn't make me agree with him. And her dumb drama ruined how people treated Squilf, who just wanted to help her sister. I'm supposed to be mad at them I think, but I'm.... really not. I'm not mad at Leafpool for having the kits, I'm mad that the writers didn't make me think she cared. I'm not mad Squilf cared for kits for her sister. Honestly, it's implied a few times that she didn't really handle being a fake queen well, I think they could have made her more uncomfortable as an adult with the kits and I'd believe Leafpool cared more. But they didn't really stick with this.
I wish theyd let me see warrior leafpool a bit more. She's been a warrior for maybe a year at this point and I wanna know how its going. Jayfeather is pissed she isn't bossing him around and keeps asking what he thinks about helping cats when he is asking her for help. She's acting like her training didn't happen and he's pissed. I agree with him, leafpool stop acting like a mouse.
TLDR: Leafpaw was great, Leafpool did not make me feel like she actually always loved her kits. She should have been a better mentor.
Also feel like I should say Squilf is Squrrielflight, one of the writers gave her that nickname. It's fun.
Off of this, I'm gonna talk about leafpool's kits for a second.
Lionpaw/Lionblaze is blood thirsty. He dreams of killing, and then when he does kill hes shocked and upset. He trained under Tigerstar and Hawkfrost in the dark forest, and then moons later is so quick to call dark forest trainees mouse brained. Particularly Ivypaw and Tigerheart, lionblaze needs to shut up. He constantly bounces between demanding Dovepaw use her powers to do more (hear more, see more, sense more, spy) and then goes "I hope she's not pushing herself too hard. I hope she doesn't feel like all the clans' issues are in her paws." YOU are making her feel like they are. His romance with Cinderheart has come out of nowhere, but also I like them. For now I like this pair. Im coming back to write he's bitchy about the fact Firestar won't let him go to the mountains 1 time. I want more people to tell him no.
Hollypaw was my favorite until she got like... too into the warrior code. She was the most well rounded, and the least whiny. And she's not the first cat to be into the warrior code, I think it was even a good idea, but it kind of ruined her personality. Until she killed Ashfur. Hollyleaf after killing Ashfur is such an interesting character. The fact the in the other chapters, those perspective characters already had talked about "I wonder who killed Ashfur" meant that when she didn't think about it I almost didn't notice. She was so focused on finding Sol so he could tell her who her dad was, so uninterested in the murder that had been talked about repeatedly, that it almost makes you forget WHY cats wanted Sol. Hollyleaf you are fascinating, as I'm writing this Jayfeather and Lionblaze just realized she's not dead and hiding in tunnels, can't wait till you come back to die again. Hollypaw was a very caring apprentice who worried about her brothers constantly, Hollyleaf is angry and listens to emo pop.
Jaypaw was a whiny mean baby and I loved it. He was mean to Brightheart which was uncalled for, and he hated apprentice duties. Hated cleaning ticks, hated fetching moss, talked about how unfair it was he had to do normal apprentice duty before exploring. AND THEN, when he was taken to explore, he complained that he knew everything already (then walked off and almost drowned, was saved by his secret dad). Jaypaw does not come across to me as a "good medicine cat apprentice" because he basically hates everyone and everything. I'm almost positive he even talked about not feeding the elders. BUT, Leafpool picked him and basically wouldn't shut up about it. Because.... why. He remembers herbs from scents? Truly I think only Brightheart even gave him a chance to try being a warrior, but I think he was a shitty apprentice to give her. He needed an experienced mentor, one who would call him on his bs. Leafpool and Jayfeather never seemed to get along, I kind hate them in every scene together. Jayfeathers favorite cat was the stick. Jayfeather is fascinating to me because one chapter he will complain that cats get hurt too often and then complain that no one has needed him today. Also he gardens??? It's smart for a medicine cat, but i love when they make the mean character garden. And it's implied this is a him thing, not a normal clan thing. Good job Jayfeather. One more thing, but I'm gonna spoil this. Nothing graphic but uh... birth warn? Im mostly gonna talk about kits this is me being overly cautious
TLDR: Lionblaze needs anger management, Hollyleaf put herself in a timeout, and Jayfeather hates you.
Cinderpelt is my favorite cat, and she remains that. She's been dead for almost two series now and I miss her. I hate that she "needed to die for the plot" I was attached and this doesn't help with me being mad at Leafpool. She could be sassy like her wonderful mentor Yellowfang, she was an energetic curse of an apprentice for fireheart, and she was a gentle mentor for leafpaw. Her and littlecloud's frienship is incredibly touching, I love that she ignored yellowfang to help a cat in need, and he said, "Yeah I want to be her". I would have loved more scenes with them, or him learning about her death. Let me be emotional Erin Hunters.
At one-point Firestar says "she acts more like Yellowfang every day" when she really isn't acting like Yellowfang in my opinion. But he says it in a "I'm so happy she stands up for herself" way. To punish Firestar and Yellowfang for this, the universe made Jayfeather. Jayfeather is Yellowfang but younger. Yellowfang and Jayfeather are a funny duo who basically flip eachother off in half death.
It's pretty obvious to me that they didn't really know what to do with the ghost subplot. Knowing a little of whats happening in the current series the new team might actually be doing the concept better. But I'm in series 4 not series 9, Moonpaw isn't real yet, and isn't here to remind me that was exactly what I wanted my rp cat to look like at 12. Cinderheart is... a good enough character. I kind of wish Cinderpelt haunting her was handled better, and wasn't just used to make Leafpool and Jayfeather stare at her over dying cats begging for help.
Related to Cinderpelt, Brightheart is a darling and her and Cloudtail have maybe the best relationship? It's not really focused on at this point, but they got along before her accident. He definitely had a crush but wasn't weird about it, and she got along with him. Honestly, I thought her and Swiftpaw would have more of a problem with Cloudtail, but really, they were just mad about being left behind when he's made a warrior. And he was so sweet with her after the dogs, when other cats reacted with fear. Even got mad at his kittypet mom. Helped Lostface (Brightheart's punishment name) figure out fighting moves and hunting techniques to make up for her lost senses (half blind, half deaf, I think balance problems, but also, I don't know specifically). There's a brief period of issue where Cloudtail is trying to help Daisy adjust to clan life, and Brightheart is jealous. I... actually feel like this was realistic. I feel like Cloudtail is shown to be caring, and kind of portrayed to be dumb enough not to see the issue. Not to pick up on flirting. And Brightheart was very hurt by Daisy being so scared of her, so her getting angry with Cloudtail was... I don't think she was really mad at him, just hurt. And normally he helped her, so now him hurting her was... ah. But I kind of love that they let them have this fight. Let the cats fight and make up.
Frostfur and Lionheart's litter of kits is cursed in a weird way to me. The males, Brakenfur and Thornclaw, are just guys. They're there! I think they're both tabbies that are brown and if the erins need a "responsible male cat" they pick one of them. The average background guys! Now you have the girls, who both suffer tragic accidents as apprentices. WOW. I... I don't think that was on purpose. Cinderpelt's leg and Brighthearts face aren't actually a curse, or the Erin's even trying to purposely say something. They just had two cats they wanted to use, and weirdly they were from the same litter PROBABLY. Theres no explanation for why half the litter is apprenticed later, just know that and move on.
Briarlight is darling and also cursed. The Erin's keep almost killing her, and her back injury actually made me cry (not hard but my eyes were teary). Starting with her as a kit, when she's pretty young her and Millie (her mom) are two of the first cats to get the green cough outbreak. Briarkit probably should have died, im gonna be honest. It takes a life from Firestar, who gets sick later than her and is a stronger cat (full grown cat vs basically a newborn). But only Firestar dies, because he has spare lives. More cats should die. I'm happy she didn't but that's a separate issue. THEN Briarkit, close to apprentice age I think, almost gets bit by a snake. Honeyfern protects her and dies, this poor kit can't escape almost death.
On the day of Briarpaw's assessment to become a warrior, after her and her sibling celebrate passing, a tree falls into camp. I knew this would happen, I didn't know the details. Dovepaw hearing the tree fall and trying to rush everyone, people freaking out, Mousefur (I love her) being old and not wanting to leave her bed and then insisting they go back for a mouse. A Mouse. I was expecting Briarpaw's accident, I didn't know this was how Longtail died at the same time. Longtail had been such a joy since the early books, his death hurt. And hearing Briarpaw's desperation and pain as she couldn't move her legs, as cats struggled to pull her and Longtail's body out from under the tree that was going to collapse further, it was a lot. It was a lot. I knew this was gonna hurt a bit more after everything with Chappy, but fuck man I wish she'd live forever. She was supposed die for the record, but Vicky (one of the original Erins) had unfortunately had a cousin who had a tragic accident, a spinal injury. So she really wanted to figure out ways Jayfeather could help Briarlight, sort of a way to get through her cousin's injury and kind of support him. Hope the guys doing well for what it's worth.
Briarlight is already a pretty good cat for jayfeather to be around, but I'm looking forward to this continuing. The medicine den needs a nice helper cat. It's not Jayfeather, and not really Leafpool. The books think its Leafpool but it's a lie.
I don't love cats talking about Briarlight's injury. Millie keeps yelling at Jayfeather for making Briarlight do things, and it hurts Briarlight. Before this I liked Millie, but this injury has brought out something awful in her. However, Jayfeather is kind of a hypocrite. He thinks at one point in a book that Briarlight might have been better off dead like Longtail, then gets pissed later when Millie says that she wishes her daughter was maybe dead rather than this. Its a bad interaction all around, no one is in the right here, and I'm pretty sure this is all ableism. Jayfeather isn't really mad she thinks that he's mad she said it where Briarlight can hear. Now to be fair, yeah it's not realistic for a wild cat with this injury to last super long. I'm happy she makes it a few years but... Yeah her dying kind of young is real. And when I get there, I will cry. For now she's getting stronger and I love her.
Okay last thing I really need to say is I love Blackstar. Blackstar hasn't done anything wrong in a while, and I kind of agree with him about Thunderclan being in everyone's business and expecting the other clans to be forever in their debt. Even when all the clans help. Honestly Firestar didn't think like that, but Jayfeather and Lionblaze sure do. Even Dovepaw kind of does, but she's also extremely stressed that she can constantly hear ways to help every clan. I'm willing to ignore the child thinking like her older cousin mentor guy. Blackstar's biggest crime as leader was briefly having a twink boyfriend (Sol) and giving up Starclan, but I think leaders just need to do that sometimes. Shadowclan is supposed to be evil and sneaky but outside of the first series where Brokenstar is baby killer evil, Shadowclan is just vibing. And Tigerstar was their leader, but he's mostly Thunderclans fault imo. Windclan is a bigger issue, and Riverclan even helps them one-time raiding thunderclan, but shadowclan helps thunderclan in this fight. Then the eclipse stops the war, and then Sol flirts with Blackstar... yeah. Power of three has so many plots. Shadowclan being evil is over played, theyre kind of just chill. I love you Blackstar, I'm happy you decided to be a better leader than Tigerstar.
Riverclan cats love dying on adventures. Silverstream when the six go to the mountain in series 2, and Rippletail in series 4 when they go to fight the beavers. Stormfur also leaves during the great journey and stays with the tribe, good for him and his wife. Can't wait for all the clans to send cats on boat in series 6 and lose Riverclan to sharks, and cats from all the clans to go to space in series 8 and Riverclan to take off their helmets. This is a joke, as far as I know the cats haven't built a boat yet.
Okay after a day has passed and I'm finishing this the following night, I am about halfway through the 5th book in this 6 book series. Ivypool and Dovewing are friends again yay! Hollyleaf is helping Thunderclan from her tunnels, Lionblaze just went to look for her but instead has found Sol. I think they're trying to make Sol scary but Sol isn't scary. Oh and I kind of love traveling plots, but they keep making the tribe seem worse which is sad.
Watching someone play the Clangen Cruel season demo (It's only in the dev version so hopefully we get it soon!)
Hopefully any future update will be shorter. This was a lot that has built up in my head.
Ivypaw and Dovepaw
Give Me Your Coins
