Rift plotting and all that jazz (even heaven has rules)
Mar 19, 2017 21:48:10 GMT -5
mintedstar/fur likes this
Post by Brownie on Mar 19, 2017 21:48:10 GMT -5
WELCOME
Hey there. Welcome to the Rift world. I used to mention this timeline a lot back on the old forums like. . . just after the first big forum change. 2014? This is the first new plot I put out with HTML coding fancy. But then I decided to finish the rest of the series before this one so it faded away, but I still have plenty of documents with plots for this world on it. Honestly don't know why I'm putting this here but why not I guess.
Anyways, the world of Rift has some of my favorite and most developed characters to date, and most all of that takes place in far future RiverClan. However, almost at the same time that normal-cat plot goes on, the actual StarClan-Rift plot goes on too, so this is a page to gather my thoughts for that half of the tale. The two plots collide often (with Dovesplash playing a particularly big role in both of them), but neither mentions the other plot directly so I decided it would be better to write them separately (they were going to be going on every other chapter style but omg the other plot got so big and this plot is growing and that won't work anymore unless it becomes 100+ chapters or something stupid).
Welcome to the Rift world, where everything breaks apart.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Timeline
Plots
Characters
StarClan (major, minor, namedrops, others)
Dark Forest (wip)
Four Clans (Need name suggestions! River done, working on the rest)
StarClan/Dark Forest (my view of them; a bit of a shift)
StarClan/Dark Forest moodboards/color palettes
Rules of Astral Projection
Short Stories
Petalsong (wip)
Thistlefang (done)
TIMELINE
So, timeline wise, this takes place in the same world as (in chronological order) Starless, DaN, Demarc*, Rift, Dragonfly and Haven as part of "the Big Six".
*Includes all canon shorts (Home, Irr, Drop, Storm)
So not quite the finale, but very necessary to the setup of Dragonfly (reworked) and familiar faces will be seen in Haven from here too.
there are also some characters in Rift from DaN and an easter egg from Vengeance (remember that thing?).
Note for the timeline: Starless takes place before the book series in the Old Forest, DaN/Demarc would be a few generations after the first four book arcs, Rift is a few generations past DaN, Dragonfly about a gen after that (like the same time from 1-4 arcs) and Haven far, far future.
DotC and AVoS don't exist because they didn't when I started planning for this and I'm not changing everything to compensate for those two; it would ruin too many things that are already stretched to time space capacity.
PLOT of STARS
StarClan was breaking.
For cats in StarClan, it is common knowledge that the Place of No Stars is contained at the heart of StarClan territory. It is completely encircled by a shining barrier of light, protecting the rest of the afterlife from evil. For hundreds of years, everything was peaceful. Until one cat brought news of the Rift. A hole in the fabric of the world, one that was growing larger day by day, the world crumbling down, down into nothingness, as it steadily expanded, slowly consuming the Place of No Stars.
#x cats are sent out of StarClan into the unknown to find whatever --or whoever-- is causing the Rift and put a stop to it. Before it consumes their entire world.
PLOT of LAND
Peace was a thing of the past.
WindClan was hostile, encroaching farther and farther onto borders as the days went on.
ShadowClan was tired of being the enemies of the Clans, seeking for only peace.
ThunderClan was split. Half to war and half to peace, with a weak leader who didn't know which side to choose.
RiverClan was broken. With a fatally ill medicine cat and most the Clan poisoned, they can't do anything to stop attacks on their borders.
They are coming. Like sharks to blood, They can smell the divide of the Clans, their territories ripe for the taking.
The Clans are dying.
And the stars have fallen silent too.
CHARACTERS (StarClan)
(mostly just some randoms)
CHARACTERS LAND
RiverClan:
ShadowClan
Lᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
Maplestar 2/9 90 Calico she-cat with yellow eyes.
Dᴇᴘᴜᴛʏ
Scarfang 42 Dark grey tom with black tabby markings and blue eyes. Half ThunderClan.
Mᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇ Cᴀᴛ
Mintstripe 72 Pale grey tabby she-cat with amber eyes.
Beepaw 15 Ginger and white tabby she-cat with blue eyes. Mothpaw's sister.
Wᴀʀʀɪᴏʀs
Brackencloud 48 tan smoke tom with black ears and amber eyes.
Tansyclaw 31 White she-cat with tortoiseshell patches and amber eyes. Tallpaw's mother.
Cedarblaze 31 ginger tom with green eyes. Tansyclaw's brother.
Berrythroat 31 blue-grey tom with a white chest. Tansyclaw's brother.
Aᴘᴘʀᴇɴᴛɪᴄᴇs
Mothpaw 15 Black she-cat with white flecks and green eyes. Beepaw's sister.
Pikepaw 8 Dark brown she-cat with lighter dapples and white paws.
Tallpaw 6 White tom with black flecks and amber eyes.
Qᴜᴇᴇɴs / Kɪᴛs
Rosedrop 54 Grey she-cat with ginger tabby patches and blue eyes. Expecting Brackencloud's kits.
Eʟᴅᴇʀs
Oakwing "Fishface" 135 brown mottled tom with yellow eyes. Surprisingly healthy.
Minkthorn 102 Dark brown she-cat with green eyes. Once had a secret relationship with Gorsefang (RC).
Daisyheart 98 Cream she-cat with faint grey bridling and green eyes. Mother to Tansyclaw's litter and Rosedrop.
ThunderClan
Lᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
Lightningstar 6/9 56
Dᴇᴘᴜᴛʏ
Kestrelflame 89
Mᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇ Cᴀᴛ
Graystorm 57
Wᴀʀʀɪᴏʀs
Tinybreeze 63
Willowleaf 63
Aᴘᴘʀᴇɴᴛɪᴄᴇs
Owlpaw 14
Sagepaw 14
Maskpaw 14
Ferretpaw 14
Qᴜᴇᴇɴs / Kɪᴛs
Eʟᴅᴇʀs
WindClan
Lᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
Sunstar 62
Dᴇᴘᴜᴛʏ
Swallowcreek 45
Mᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇ Cᴀᴛ
Juniperbreeze 45
Volepelt 18
Wᴀʀʀɪᴏʀs
Aᴘᴘʀᴇɴᴛɪᴄᴇs
Sparkpaw 8
Firepaw 10
Stormpaw 10
Qᴜᴇᴇɴs / Kɪᴛs
Eʟᴅᴇʀs
Elmheart 114
Whitefire 114
STARCLAN & DARK FOREST
My versions of the different places; for consistency's sake. They're quite a bit different from the way they were canonically described, but this way makes more sense for actual plots taking place here instead of the thrown together inconstant mess that were just dumped in the real books.
StarClan: Mostly forested, although there's a great variety of terrain in between: cresting hills, a small valley, a pine marsh, rivers and streams along with a few small ponds. A pool mirroring that of the starpool and a stand of rocks containing the old starstone can also be found in the west and east respectively. These are the two places StarClan is connected to the real world, and it is in the starpool and starstone cavern that StarClan cats must go to interact with the world below*. Cats can also use these places to watch their Clans from the stars. The forest is eternally dusk, with the sky a light purple/pink and covered with stars and nebulae. The horizons are a yellow/gold shade. There is plenty enough light in the forest, and the trees often seem to produce their own glow. The time is kept by the cycling of the moon across the sky, the same as in the Dark Forest, and the moon waxes and wanes with the one below. The Dark Forest is contained at the center of StarClan, a circle completely closed off by a bright gold glowing ring in the ground. Mist rises up, tinted gold and rose with silvery-white sparks, concealing the dark forest from those in StarClan. StarClan cats can cross over this boundary if they so choose, but getting out is much harder than getting in. Only those strong enough can pass back into StarClan once they cross. The outer boundary of StarClan is blurry, if there is a boundary at all. After walking a certain distance away from the center, things start becoming. . . odd. Wrong. Everything starts to become blurred, lose their color, and fade away. Details are lost. Nothing feels like it should, though it is impossible to tell exactly what is out of place. Most cats avoid this boundary, only those who don't wish to go on eternally existing make their way into the fog to fade away with the edges of the world.
*A note on how astral projection works/rules
Dark Forest:
MOODBOARDS
STORY SHORTS
Petalsong and co. derpy derp
She batted a paw at the leaves above her head, letting patches of the star-filled sky peek through the bush.
Thistlefang and co. (because what else can I do when there's back in black on I can't do innocent childs)
The Rift began as a single dot. A speck of darkness in the center of the dark forest. I remember the day it first was spotted: Larkshade was walking and it cut right through him, burning a hole right through his shoulder. It was a source of interest for the first few nights, but when it didn't do anything else it was ignored.
About two moons later it changed. The ground below the darkness began to crumble away. The bravest of us dared to look into the hole, but it just went down and down as far as the eye could see, down into nothingness.
The darkness spread. More and more of the ground fell. It was the size of a stone, then a large rock, now it was almost halfway through the clearing. You didn't need to stand near the edge to see down anymore; all that was down there was darkness.
We didn't know what to do. The darkness grows every night now. We've started marking its progress by drawing lines in the ground. It had taken several nights for the lines to disappear when it first started, but now two or three of the lines disappear every time the moon passes over the sky.
We're scared. Dark forest cats, scared. Sure we're supposed to be the big baddies, cats who have done unspeakable deeds.
But we didn't want to die. Not like this.
I stared at the darkness, trying to track its movement based on the surrounding trees, but I couldn't make anything out. "Still obsessed with that thing, Thistle?"
"And you aren't?" I retorted, "You're over here just as much as I am, Sam, don't you go denying it."
"Guess yer right on that one," Sam said. The burly black and white tom slipped into my view, standing beside me in the space between two scraggly bushes --more sticks than leaves. "It's not like there's nothin' much else to see anymore."
I didn't say anything. I didn't need to; the Rift was our world here. Most the cats in the Place of No Stars migrated towards the Rift now, all besides a few of the crazier residents, who stayed alone in their own little territories. But there were more cats in the central clearing than there had ever been before in the history of the Place of No Stars. From my place near the edge, I could see tails and pelts flashing in the gloom all around the area. Every once in a while a brave soul would venture out into the clearing itself for a short time.
No cat ever strayed that close to the darkness for any length of time.
Sam and I stayed near the edge of the clearing, sometimes passing some meaningless words, but more often than not letting silence join us. That was the way of the Dark Forest. One didn't just talk to others, not unless you wanted your nose clawed off. Even dead, we could still feel pain. I didn't know if that was a curse, but at least it kept us feeling more like cats and less like monsters.
Soon my stomach started to rumble and I left Sam in search of food. Of course, I couldn't die from hunger, but the pangs in my stomach were still uncomfortable and the act of eating reminded me of what it was like to have a body. Though the forest had unlimited amounts of prey if one knew where to look, few of the cats here took the time to hunt now that it wasn't necessary for survival. I didn't complain as I picked apart a stringy mouse, that just meant more for me.
I dozed beside a sludgy river, the sound reminding me of the time I spent beside the stream that marked the ThunderClan border. Napping under the trees away from the moor was one of the only times I could look back on with something like longing.
I spent a few moon cycles out and about before the Rift pulled me back again. As I walked in, I noticed cats were leaving the clearing, all walking in the same direction. Curious, I followed the crowd until I found what caused the commotion: a group of cats sat huddled at the top of a pile of dead logs, the others gathering somewhat around the general area. It looked like a poor reenactment of a Clan gathering.
My eyes immediately found Sam, sitting near the center with a few other cats I recognized by pelt if not by name. A ginger she-cat with a firey tongue to match her pelt, a grey and black dappled tom (Sootfrost?) and a white cat that I only knew from their dead pink eyes. As I wandered over closer to them, I couldn't help but overhear the whispered and muttered conversations of the cats I passed:
"Do you really think--"
"--stinks like RiverClan--"
"Is it about the Rift?"
"Coppertuft will know--"
"Can StarClan help us?"
"Better question is will they--"
I made it to Sam, who twitched his tail in greeting. I sat as far away as I could from the white cat; their eyes gave me the creeps. It didn't seem to bother the black tom or the ginger she-cat, however, as both sat close. Sam didn't look bothered either. Perhaps he knows these cats.
A yowl from the logs pulls me out of my thoughts. I did know the five cats that stood up there, every cat in the Place of No Stars did. They were as close to leaders as one could get here, and each was well known in their own way:
Bluethorn was a dark grey she-cat with amber eyes. She was a past RiverClan warrior who drowned three kits after finding out the father had been a rogue, then killed the mother two days later.
Rainleap was a grey tom that convinced his entire Clan to fight against each other, then watched as they tore each other apart.
Flamewillow was a cream she-cat that was once from ShadowClan. Her reasons for being sent here were unknown, but shortly after coming here she grew into the source of many rumors. Dangerous, they said. Do not bother her.
Coppertuft was a chestnut hued tom. His analytical mind left no room for compassion, for mercy, for emotion. His actions were based on practicality, even if that meant killing.
The last cat was one simply called Boon. He was a brown tom, plain, but with a trio of scars from his eye to his mouth. If he had a Clan name, no one knew it.
The five cut an imposing figure outlined against the sky, even for Dark Forest standards. Most the cats in the area fell silent. Rainleap stepped forward, Flamewillow smirked in the background.
And then they spoke their plan.
Hey there. Welcome to the Rift world. I used to mention this timeline a lot back on the old forums like. . . just after the first big forum change. 2014? This is the first new plot I put out with HTML coding fancy. But then I decided to finish the rest of the series before this one so it faded away, but I still have plenty of documents with plots for this world on it. Honestly don't know why I'm putting this here but why not I guess.
Anyways, the world of Rift has some of my favorite and most developed characters to date, and most all of that takes place in far future RiverClan. However, almost at the same time that normal-cat plot goes on, the actual StarClan-Rift plot goes on too, so this is a page to gather my thoughts for that half of the tale. The two plots collide often (with Dovesplash playing a particularly big role in both of them), but neither mentions the other plot directly so I decided it would be better to write them separately (they were going to be going on every other chapter style but omg the other plot got so big and this plot is growing and that won't work anymore unless it becomes 100+ chapters or something stupid).
Welcome to the Rift world, where everything breaks apart.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Timeline
Plots
Characters
StarClan (major, minor, namedrops, others)
Dark Forest (wip)
Four Clans (Need name suggestions! River done, working on the rest)
StarClan/Dark Forest (my view of them; a bit of a shift)
StarClan/Dark Forest moodboards/color palettes
Rules of Astral Projection
Short Stories
Petalsong (wip)
Thistlefang (done)
TIMELINE
So, timeline wise, this takes place in the same world as (in chronological order) Starless, DaN, Demarc*, Rift, Dragonfly and Haven as part of "the Big Six".
*Includes all canon shorts (Home, Irr, Drop, Storm)
So not quite the finale, but very necessary to the setup of Dragonfly (reworked) and familiar faces will be seen in Haven from here too.
there are also some characters in Rift from DaN and an easter egg from Vengeance (remember that thing?).
Note for the timeline: Starless takes place before the book series in the Old Forest, DaN/Demarc would be a few generations after the first four book arcs, Rift is a few generations past DaN, Dragonfly about a gen after that (like the same time from 1-4 arcs) and Haven far, far future.
DotC and AVoS don't exist because they didn't when I started planning for this and I'm not changing everything to compensate for those two; it would ruin too many things that are already stretched to time space capacity.
PLOT of STARS
StarClan was breaking.
For cats in StarClan, it is common knowledge that the Place of No Stars is contained at the heart of StarClan territory. It is completely encircled by a shining barrier of light, protecting the rest of the afterlife from evil. For hundreds of years, everything was peaceful. Until one cat brought news of the Rift. A hole in the fabric of the world, one that was growing larger day by day, the world crumbling down, down into nothingness, as it steadily expanded, slowly consuming the Place of No Stars.
#x cats are sent out of StarClan into the unknown to find whatever --or whoever-- is causing the Rift and put a stop to it. Before it consumes their entire world.
PLOT of LAND
Peace was a thing of the past.
WindClan was hostile, encroaching farther and farther onto borders as the days went on.
ShadowClan was tired of being the enemies of the Clans, seeking for only peace.
ThunderClan was split. Half to war and half to peace, with a weak leader who didn't know which side to choose.
RiverClan was broken. With a fatally ill medicine cat and most the Clan poisoned, they can't do anything to stop attacks on their borders.
They are coming. Like sharks to blood, They can smell the divide of the Clans, their territories ripe for the taking.
The Clans are dying.
And the stars have fallen silent too.
CHARACTERS (StarClan)
(mostly just some randoms)
MAJOR CHARACTERS (pending)
Petalsong- calico she-cat with green eyes. Previously RiverClan. Died as a kit and 'grew up' in StarClan.
MINOR CHARACTERS
Ivyleap - brown tabby tom with blue eyes. RiverClan, Petalsong's brother; died alongside Petalsong and grew up with her in StarClan.
Hawkspots - Grey speckled she-cat with white paws and yellow eyes. Grew up alongside Petalsong, previously WindClan.
Stonepool - brown tabby tom with blue eyes. RiverClan, Petalsong's brother that lived.
Brackenfall - brown and tan patched tom with yellow eyes. Previously ThunderClan. Ivyleap's 'mentor'
Tawnyclaw - calico she-cat with blue eyes. Previously RiverClan. Petalsong's 'mentor'
Whiteblossom - Ginger she-cat with one white paw and amber eyes. Previously WindClan. Hawkspots' 'mentor'
Fernpatch - siamese she-cat. Previously kittypet, then ShadowClan, Thistlepool's mate.
Dustwing- A light brown smoke tom with dark blue eyes. RiverClan. Leafwing’s grandfather.
RANDOMS
Lakeshadow - dark grey she-cat with green eyes. Previously WindClan.
Thistlepool - grey tabby tom with amber eyes. Polydactyl. Previously ShadowClan.
Icicleclaw - white she-cat with ginger tabby patches and green eyes. Previously ThunderClan.
Duskstripe - Black tom with faint grey classic tabby markings and yellow eyes. Previously WindClan.
Amberfrost - Grey she-cat with darker flecks and a small russet spot on her nose. She has dark green eyes. ThunderClan.
Cloudfoot - Light grey tom with white patches and yellow eyes. WindClan.
Spottedwolf -A brown mottled she-cat with piercing green eyes and long claws. ShadowClan.
Nettlefang - A spikey-furred brown tom with orange eyes. Old in StarClan terms. ThunderClan.
Adderblaze - A ginger tom with grey eyes. ShadowClan.
Tansypool - A grey dappled she-cat with green eyes. RiverClan
SOME LEADERS
Thornstar- black tom with white paws. Lead WindClan.
Whitestar- Ginger tom with a striking white mask. Lead ThunderClan.
Ripplestar- Grey tabby tom with yellow eyes. Lead RiverClan.
Miststar- Grey tabby she-cat with yellow eyes. Lead RiverClan. Ripplestar's daughter.
Eaglestar- tortoiseshell she-cat with grey eyes. Lead ShadowClan.
Batstar A black she-cat with blue eyes. Lead WindClan.
Pinestar- black she-cat with green eyes. Lead ShadowClan. One of the oldest cats in StarClan.
Scorchstar- black tom with ginger paws. Lead ThunderClan for a very short time. Another of the oldest cats in StarClan, though younger than Pinestar.
Alderfoot - grey and white tom with yellow eyes. Somewhat of a leader/celebrity. Doesn't claim Clan affiliations.
MEDDY CATS
Whisperleaf - white tom with light grey tabby stripes and yellow eyes. ThunderClan.
Gorseberry - Black and white patched she-cat with green eyes. WindClan.
Marshpool - brown nb with grey eyes. Mute. ShadowClan.
Waspfang - ginger tom with blue eyes and a distinct underbite. ShadowClan.
Flametuft - black tom with ginger spots. RiverClan.
THE OUTSIDE
River - Silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes (usually). Often takes the form of a kit.
Star - Black tom with striking gold eyes. "My name is--" he made a series of sounds from the back of his throat. If it was a language, no cat on earth --or in StarClan for that matter-- could speak it. "However you may call me Star, it is a adequate translation."
Petalsong- calico she-cat with green eyes. Previously RiverClan. Died as a kit and 'grew up' in StarClan.
MINOR CHARACTERS
Ivyleap - brown tabby tom with blue eyes. RiverClan, Petalsong's brother; died alongside Petalsong and grew up with her in StarClan.
Hawkspots - Grey speckled she-cat with white paws and yellow eyes. Grew up alongside Petalsong, previously WindClan.
Stonepool - brown tabby tom with blue eyes. RiverClan, Petalsong's brother that lived.
Brackenfall - brown and tan patched tom with yellow eyes. Previously ThunderClan. Ivyleap's 'mentor'
Tawnyclaw - calico she-cat with blue eyes. Previously RiverClan. Petalsong's 'mentor'
Whiteblossom - Ginger she-cat with one white paw and amber eyes. Previously WindClan. Hawkspots' 'mentor'
Fernpatch - siamese she-cat. Previously kittypet, then ShadowClan, Thistlepool's mate.
Dustwing- A light brown smoke tom with dark blue eyes. RiverClan. Leafwing’s grandfather.
RANDOMS
Lakeshadow - dark grey she-cat with green eyes. Previously WindClan.
Thistlepool - grey tabby tom with amber eyes. Polydactyl. Previously ShadowClan.
Icicleclaw - white she-cat with ginger tabby patches and green eyes. Previously ThunderClan.
Duskstripe - Black tom with faint grey classic tabby markings and yellow eyes. Previously WindClan.
Amberfrost - Grey she-cat with darker flecks and a small russet spot on her nose. She has dark green eyes. ThunderClan.
Cloudfoot - Light grey tom with white patches and yellow eyes. WindClan.
Spottedwolf -A brown mottled she-cat with piercing green eyes and long claws. ShadowClan.
Nettlefang - A spikey-furred brown tom with orange eyes. Old in StarClan terms. ThunderClan.
Adderblaze - A ginger tom with grey eyes. ShadowClan.
Tansypool - A grey dappled she-cat with green eyes. RiverClan
SOME LEADERS
Thornstar- black tom with white paws. Lead WindClan.
Whitestar- Ginger tom with a striking white mask. Lead ThunderClan.
Ripplestar- Grey tabby tom with yellow eyes. Lead RiverClan.
Miststar- Grey tabby she-cat with yellow eyes. Lead RiverClan. Ripplestar's daughter.
Eaglestar- tortoiseshell she-cat with grey eyes. Lead ShadowClan.
Batstar A black she-cat with blue eyes. Lead WindClan.
Pinestar- black she-cat with green eyes. Lead ShadowClan. One of the oldest cats in StarClan.
Scorchstar- black tom with ginger paws. Lead ThunderClan for a very short time. Another of the oldest cats in StarClan, though younger than Pinestar.
Alderfoot - grey and white tom with yellow eyes. Somewhat of a leader/celebrity. Doesn't claim Clan affiliations.
MEDDY CATS
Whisperleaf - white tom with light grey tabby stripes and yellow eyes. ThunderClan.
Gorseberry - Black and white patched she-cat with green eyes. WindClan.
Marshpool - brown nb with grey eyes. Mute. ShadowClan.
Waspfang - ginger tom with blue eyes and a distinct underbite. ShadowClan.
Flametuft - black tom with ginger spots. RiverClan.
THE OUTSIDE
River - Silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes (usually). Often takes the form of a kit.
Star - Black tom with striking gold eyes. "My name is--" he made a series of sounds from the back of his throat. If it was a language, no cat on earth --or in StarClan for that matter-- could speak it. "However you may call me Star, it is a adequate translation."
CHARACTERS LAND
RiverClan:
Lᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
Kestrelstar 8/9 50 Moons Dark brown dappled she-cat with white flecks, and dark amber eyes.
Dᴇᴘᴜᴛʏ
Nightfleck 39 Moons Black tom with light grey flecks and dark blue eyes. Dewstripe's mate.
Mᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇ Cᴀᴛ
Dovesplash 31 Moon Long-furred, light grey tom with light blue eyes. Sorrelheart and Stonefrost's brother.
Wᴀʀʀɪᴏʀs
Sorrelheart 31 Moons Light ginger-and-white tabby she-cat with green eyes. Sister to Stonefrost and Dovesplash, mentors Emberpaw.
Stonefrost 31 Moons Dark grey tom with ginger splotches and paws. Sorrelheart and Dovesplash's sister.
Leafwing 68 Moons Brown-and-grey patched tom with small white patches and blue eyes. Mate is Frostripple.
Frostripple 56 Moons Long-furred white she-cat with amber eyes. Leafwing's mate, mother to Dovesplash, Stonefrost and Sorrelheart.
Marshstep 46 Moons Dark colored tortoiseshell she-cat with dark green eyes.
Thornpool 21 Moons Light brown tabby tom. Once a loner. Crush on Mistfeather.
Crowstorm 22 Moons Black tom with white paws and amber eyes. Crush on Mistfeather.
Dustbreeze 59 Moons Tan smoke tom with darker hints. Mentor to Rainpaw.
Cherrysplash 21 Moons Silver-and-cream tabby she-cat with yellow eyes. Mistfeather's sister.
Mistfeather 21 Moons Grey she-cat with silver paws and tail-tip and light green eyes. Cherrysplash's sister.
Aᴘᴘʀᴇɴᴛɪᴄᴇs
Rainpaw 9 Moons Grey-and-black dappled she-cat with amber eyes and white paws. Minnowpaw's sister. Mentor is Dustbreeze.
Emberpaw 11 Moons Black and grey tabby tom with ginger paws and tail-tip. Mentor is Sorrelheart.
Minnowpaw 9 Moons Silver tom with green eyes. Mentor is Frostripple.
Qᴜᴇᴇɴs / Kɪᴛs
Dewstripe 42 Moons Black-and-silver classic tabby she-cat with blue eyes. Expecting Nightfleck's kits.
Tigerfall 31 Moons Long-furred, brown she-cat with black tabby stripes and blue eyes. Mother to an unknown tom's kits; Icekit, Sparrowkit, Willowkit and Rockkit.
Icekit 2 Moons White tom with grey eyes. Blind.
Sparrowkit 2 Moons Ginger tom with white and black patches.
Rockkit 2 Moons Brown tom with black tabby stripes and green eyes.
Willowkit 2 Moon Tan she-cat with blue eyes.
Eʟᴅᴇʀs
Gorsefang 124 Moons Brown tom with white paws and grey eyes.
Creekwillow 89 Moons White she-cat with amber eyes and failing hearing.
Ivyfoot 112 Moon Dark grey tabby tom. Bad joints and eyesight.
Kestrelstar 8/9 50 Moons Dark brown dappled she-cat with white flecks, and dark amber eyes.
Dᴇᴘᴜᴛʏ
Nightfleck 39 Moons Black tom with light grey flecks and dark blue eyes. Dewstripe's mate.
Mᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇ Cᴀᴛ
Dovesplash 31 Moon Long-furred, light grey tom with light blue eyes. Sorrelheart and Stonefrost's brother.
Wᴀʀʀɪᴏʀs
Sorrelheart 31 Moons Light ginger-and-white tabby she-cat with green eyes. Sister to Stonefrost and Dovesplash, mentors Emberpaw.
Stonefrost 31 Moons Dark grey tom with ginger splotches and paws. Sorrelheart and Dovesplash's sister.
Leafwing 68 Moons Brown-and-grey patched tom with small white patches and blue eyes. Mate is Frostripple.
Frostripple 56 Moons Long-furred white she-cat with amber eyes. Leafwing's mate, mother to Dovesplash, Stonefrost and Sorrelheart.
Marshstep 46 Moons Dark colored tortoiseshell she-cat with dark green eyes.
Thornpool 21 Moons Light brown tabby tom. Once a loner. Crush on Mistfeather.
Crowstorm 22 Moons Black tom with white paws and amber eyes. Crush on Mistfeather.
Dustbreeze 59 Moons Tan smoke tom with darker hints. Mentor to Rainpaw.
Cherrysplash 21 Moons Silver-and-cream tabby she-cat with yellow eyes. Mistfeather's sister.
Mistfeather 21 Moons Grey she-cat with silver paws and tail-tip and light green eyes. Cherrysplash's sister.
Aᴘᴘʀᴇɴᴛɪᴄᴇs
Rainpaw 9 Moons Grey-and-black dappled she-cat with amber eyes and white paws. Minnowpaw's sister. Mentor is Dustbreeze.
Emberpaw 11 Moons Black and grey tabby tom with ginger paws and tail-tip. Mentor is Sorrelheart.
Minnowpaw 9 Moons Silver tom with green eyes. Mentor is Frostripple.
Qᴜᴇᴇɴs / Kɪᴛs
Dewstripe 42 Moons Black-and-silver classic tabby she-cat with blue eyes. Expecting Nightfleck's kits.
Tigerfall 31 Moons Long-furred, brown she-cat with black tabby stripes and blue eyes. Mother to an unknown tom's kits; Icekit, Sparrowkit, Willowkit and Rockkit.
Icekit 2 Moons White tom with grey eyes. Blind.
Sparrowkit 2 Moons Ginger tom with white and black patches.
Rockkit 2 Moons Brown tom with black tabby stripes and green eyes.
Willowkit 2 Moon Tan she-cat with blue eyes.
Eʟᴅᴇʀs
Gorsefang 124 Moons Brown tom with white paws and grey eyes.
Creekwillow 89 Moons White she-cat with amber eyes and failing hearing.
Ivyfoot 112 Moon Dark grey tabby tom. Bad joints and eyesight.
ShadowClan
Lᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
Maplestar 2/9 90 Calico she-cat with yellow eyes.
Dᴇᴘᴜᴛʏ
Scarfang 42 Dark grey tom with black tabby markings and blue eyes. Half ThunderClan.
Mᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇ Cᴀᴛ
Mintstripe 72 Pale grey tabby she-cat with amber eyes.
Beepaw 15 Ginger and white tabby she-cat with blue eyes. Mothpaw's sister.
Wᴀʀʀɪᴏʀs
Brackencloud 48 tan smoke tom with black ears and amber eyes.
Tansyclaw 31 White she-cat with tortoiseshell patches and amber eyes. Tallpaw's mother.
Cedarblaze 31 ginger tom with green eyes. Tansyclaw's brother.
Berrythroat 31 blue-grey tom with a white chest. Tansyclaw's brother.
Aᴘᴘʀᴇɴᴛɪᴄᴇs
Mothpaw 15 Black she-cat with white flecks and green eyes. Beepaw's sister.
Pikepaw 8 Dark brown she-cat with lighter dapples and white paws.
Tallpaw 6 White tom with black flecks and amber eyes.
Qᴜᴇᴇɴs / Kɪᴛs
Rosedrop 54 Grey she-cat with ginger tabby patches and blue eyes. Expecting Brackencloud's kits.
Eʟᴅᴇʀs
Oakwing "Fishface" 135 brown mottled tom with yellow eyes. Surprisingly healthy.
Minkthorn 102 Dark brown she-cat with green eyes. Once had a secret relationship with Gorsefang (RC).
Daisyheart 98 Cream she-cat with faint grey bridling and green eyes. Mother to Tansyclaw's litter and Rosedrop.
ThunderClan
Lᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
Lightningstar 6/9 56
Dᴇᴘᴜᴛʏ
Kestrelflame 89
Mᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇ Cᴀᴛ
Graystorm 57
Wᴀʀʀɪᴏʀs
Tinybreeze 63
Willowleaf 63
Aᴘᴘʀᴇɴᴛɪᴄᴇs
Owlpaw 14
Sagepaw 14
Maskpaw 14
Ferretpaw 14
Qᴜᴇᴇɴs / Kɪᴛs
Eʟᴅᴇʀs
WindClan
Lᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
Sunstar 62
Dᴇᴘᴜᴛʏ
Swallowcreek 45
Mᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇ Cᴀᴛ
Juniperbreeze 45
Volepelt 18
Wᴀʀʀɪᴏʀs
Aᴘᴘʀᴇɴᴛɪᴄᴇs
Sparkpaw 8
Firepaw 10
Stormpaw 10
Qᴜᴇᴇɴs / Kɪᴛs
Eʟᴅᴇʀs
Elmheart 114
Whitefire 114
STARCLAN & DARK FOREST
My versions of the different places; for consistency's sake. They're quite a bit different from the way they were canonically described, but this way makes more sense for actual plots taking place here instead of the thrown together inconstant mess that were just dumped in the real books.
StarClan: Mostly forested, although there's a great variety of terrain in between: cresting hills, a small valley, a pine marsh, rivers and streams along with a few small ponds. A pool mirroring that of the starpool and a stand of rocks containing the old starstone can also be found in the west and east respectively. These are the two places StarClan is connected to the real world, and it is in the starpool and starstone cavern that StarClan cats must go to interact with the world below*. Cats can also use these places to watch their Clans from the stars. The forest is eternally dusk, with the sky a light purple/pink and covered with stars and nebulae. The horizons are a yellow/gold shade. There is plenty enough light in the forest, and the trees often seem to produce their own glow. The time is kept by the cycling of the moon across the sky, the same as in the Dark Forest, and the moon waxes and wanes with the one below. The Dark Forest is contained at the center of StarClan, a circle completely closed off by a bright gold glowing ring in the ground. Mist rises up, tinted gold and rose with silvery-white sparks, concealing the dark forest from those in StarClan. StarClan cats can cross over this boundary if they so choose, but getting out is much harder than getting in. Only those strong enough can pass back into StarClan once they cross. The outer boundary of StarClan is blurry, if there is a boundary at all. After walking a certain distance away from the center, things start becoming. . . odd. Wrong. Everything starts to become blurred, lose their color, and fade away. Details are lost. Nothing feels like it should, though it is impossible to tell exactly what is out of place. Most cats avoid this boundary, only those who don't wish to go on eternally existing make their way into the fog to fade away with the edges of the world.
*A note on how astral projection works/rules
Each cat has a varying strength to which they are able to project themselves back onto earth. Most medicine cats have this power as well as some leaders. Who they're trying to reach also influences the connection; cats who've walked in StarClan before make for an easier target. Being able to walk the real world has a lot to do with self-actualization as well: one must be able to accept all they are, good and bad, to be able to project themselves upon the earth. Emotion also has to do with the connection, both on the sending and receiving side, negative emotions being stronger than positive ones. Fear and pain being the strongest. Desperation and grief are also strong, making it so many mates/family see their loved ones in dreams for the few days since their death, although usually these connections are weak and the members involved cannot actually communicate. These little connections are due to the emotion overriding one's sense of self, allowing them to project some of their being --the part being their emotions at the time, essentially making their emotions their identity for a short time.
StarClan cats projecting onto the real world and/or into the dreams of cats is different from a cat visiting StarClan. A StarClan cat must physically project their spirit onto the real world. A cat does the same, in a way, although their body on the other side creates a tether to which their spirit is still connected. Their body is alive, but their spirit no longer inhabits it. This is why cats killed in StarClan/the Dark Forest die in real life as well: technically their body is still alive for a while after, but without a spirit, it has no brain and cannot do anything. The body-tether makes it easier for a cat to project into StarClan, as the tether supplies energy to the link. A StarClan cat does not have this, and so takes more will and energy to fully project down onto earth again, as they are moving their entire being and not just a spirit. Cats on earth must still use the starpool/starstone to project into StarClan (canonically Jayfeather would have been an exception to this rule, as he is so strongly connected to the dreamworld that he can project without the amplification of the starpool/starstone).
Canonically, the dark forest training sessions is a bit different from projection into StarClan by the focal points. Because the Dark Forest does not contain any of the focal points like StarClan does, cats from the real world cannot technically project into the Dark Forest (with Jay being the exception child, of course). Instead, the cats that trained in the Dark Forest did a piecewise projection: that is, they projected halfway, and the cats in the Dark Forest came halfway to meet them. In this, for every cat that was brought to the Dark Forest, it would take about two or three(depending on the strength of the cats) Dark Forest cats physically working to keep the real cats' bodies in the Dark Forest. It is because of this piecewise projection that cats in the Dark Forest were able to sustain wounds in real life while cats injured in StarClan were not; their bodies and spirits were basically split in two, the cats in the Dark Forest supporting the missing parts with their own powers. This was draining on all parties included.
**MINOR DAN SPOILERS**
This method is also what what Hawkfrost employed with Mossclaw in DaN. Three cats are needed to bring Mossclaw to the Dark Forest every nights, and an entire seven were needed to aid Hawkfrost in projecting down to her those first two times, despite Moss's emotions aiding the process significantly.
StarClan cats projecting onto the real world and/or into the dreams of cats is different from a cat visiting StarClan. A StarClan cat must physically project their spirit onto the real world. A cat does the same, in a way, although their body on the other side creates a tether to which their spirit is still connected. Their body is alive, but their spirit no longer inhabits it. This is why cats killed in StarClan/the Dark Forest die in real life as well: technically their body is still alive for a while after, but without a spirit, it has no brain and cannot do anything. The body-tether makes it easier for a cat to project into StarClan, as the tether supplies energy to the link. A StarClan cat does not have this, and so takes more will and energy to fully project down onto earth again, as they are moving their entire being and not just a spirit. Cats on earth must still use the starpool/starstone to project into StarClan (canonically Jayfeather would have been an exception to this rule, as he is so strongly connected to the dreamworld that he can project without the amplification of the starpool/starstone).
Canonically, the dark forest training sessions is a bit different from projection into StarClan by the focal points. Because the Dark Forest does not contain any of the focal points like StarClan does, cats from the real world cannot technically project into the Dark Forest (with Jay being the exception child, of course). Instead, the cats that trained in the Dark Forest did a piecewise projection: that is, they projected halfway, and the cats in the Dark Forest came halfway to meet them. In this, for every cat that was brought to the Dark Forest, it would take about two or three(depending on the strength of the cats) Dark Forest cats physically working to keep the real cats' bodies in the Dark Forest. It is because of this piecewise projection that cats in the Dark Forest were able to sustain wounds in real life while cats injured in StarClan were not; their bodies and spirits were basically split in two, the cats in the Dark Forest supporting the missing parts with their own powers. This was draining on all parties included.
**MINOR DAN SPOILERS**
This method is also what what Hawkfrost employed with Mossclaw in DaN. Three cats are needed to bring Mossclaw to the Dark Forest every nights, and an entire seven were needed to aid Hawkfrost in projecting down to her those first two times, despite Moss's emotions aiding the process significantly.
Dark Forest:
MOODBOARDS
STORY SHORTS
Petalsong and co. derpy derp
She batted a paw at the leaves above her head, letting patches of the star-filled sky peek through the bush.
Thistlefang and co. (because what else can I do when there's back in black on I can't do innocent childs)
The Rift began as a single dot. A speck of darkness in the center of the dark forest. I remember the day it first was spotted: Larkshade was walking and it cut right through him, burning a hole right through his shoulder. It was a source of interest for the first few nights, but when it didn't do anything else it was ignored.
About two moons later it changed. The ground below the darkness began to crumble away. The bravest of us dared to look into the hole, but it just went down and down as far as the eye could see, down into nothingness.
The darkness spread. More and more of the ground fell. It was the size of a stone, then a large rock, now it was almost halfway through the clearing. You didn't need to stand near the edge to see down anymore; all that was down there was darkness.
We didn't know what to do. The darkness grows every night now. We've started marking its progress by drawing lines in the ground. It had taken several nights for the lines to disappear when it first started, but now two or three of the lines disappear every time the moon passes over the sky.
We're scared. Dark forest cats, scared. Sure we're supposed to be the big baddies, cats who have done unspeakable deeds.
But we didn't want to die. Not like this.
I stared at the darkness, trying to track its movement based on the surrounding trees, but I couldn't make anything out. "Still obsessed with that thing, Thistle?"
"And you aren't?" I retorted, "You're over here just as much as I am, Sam, don't you go denying it."
"Guess yer right on that one," Sam said. The burly black and white tom slipped into my view, standing beside me in the space between two scraggly bushes --more sticks than leaves. "It's not like there's nothin' much else to see anymore."
I didn't say anything. I didn't need to; the Rift was our world here. Most the cats in the Place of No Stars migrated towards the Rift now, all besides a few of the crazier residents, who stayed alone in their own little territories. But there were more cats in the central clearing than there had ever been before in the history of the Place of No Stars. From my place near the edge, I could see tails and pelts flashing in the gloom all around the area. Every once in a while a brave soul would venture out into the clearing itself for a short time.
No cat ever strayed that close to the darkness for any length of time.
Sam and I stayed near the edge of the clearing, sometimes passing some meaningless words, but more often than not letting silence join us. That was the way of the Dark Forest. One didn't just talk to others, not unless you wanted your nose clawed off. Even dead, we could still feel pain. I didn't know if that was a curse, but at least it kept us feeling more like cats and less like monsters.
Soon my stomach started to rumble and I left Sam in search of food. Of course, I couldn't die from hunger, but the pangs in my stomach were still uncomfortable and the act of eating reminded me of what it was like to have a body. Though the forest had unlimited amounts of prey if one knew where to look, few of the cats here took the time to hunt now that it wasn't necessary for survival. I didn't complain as I picked apart a stringy mouse, that just meant more for me.
I dozed beside a sludgy river, the sound reminding me of the time I spent beside the stream that marked the ThunderClan border. Napping under the trees away from the moor was one of the only times I could look back on with something like longing.
I spent a few moon cycles out and about before the Rift pulled me back again. As I walked in, I noticed cats were leaving the clearing, all walking in the same direction. Curious, I followed the crowd until I found what caused the commotion: a group of cats sat huddled at the top of a pile of dead logs, the others gathering somewhat around the general area. It looked like a poor reenactment of a Clan gathering.
My eyes immediately found Sam, sitting near the center with a few other cats I recognized by pelt if not by name. A ginger she-cat with a firey tongue to match her pelt, a grey and black dappled tom (Sootfrost?) and a white cat that I only knew from their dead pink eyes. As I wandered over closer to them, I couldn't help but overhear the whispered and muttered conversations of the cats I passed:
"Do you really think--"
"--stinks like RiverClan--"
"Is it about the Rift?"
"Coppertuft will know--"
"Can StarClan help us?"
"Better question is will they--"
I made it to Sam, who twitched his tail in greeting. I sat as far away as I could from the white cat; their eyes gave me the creeps. It didn't seem to bother the black tom or the ginger she-cat, however, as both sat close. Sam didn't look bothered either. Perhaps he knows these cats.
A yowl from the logs pulls me out of my thoughts. I did know the five cats that stood up there, every cat in the Place of No Stars did. They were as close to leaders as one could get here, and each was well known in their own way:
Bluethorn was a dark grey she-cat with amber eyes. She was a past RiverClan warrior who drowned three kits after finding out the father had been a rogue, then killed the mother two days later.
Rainleap was a grey tom that convinced his entire Clan to fight against each other, then watched as they tore each other apart.
Flamewillow was a cream she-cat that was once from ShadowClan. Her reasons for being sent here were unknown, but shortly after coming here she grew into the source of many rumors. Dangerous, they said. Do not bother her.
Coppertuft was a chestnut hued tom. His analytical mind left no room for compassion, for mercy, for emotion. His actions were based on practicality, even if that meant killing.
The last cat was one simply called Boon. He was a brown tom, plain, but with a trio of scars from his eye to his mouth. If he had a Clan name, no one knew it.
The five cut an imposing figure outlined against the sky, even for Dark Forest standards. Most the cats in the area fell silent. Rainleap stepped forward, Flamewillow smirked in the background.
And then they spoke their plan.
