Mothwing as RiverClan's potential future leader...

If it truly is MothStar as the next leader LeafPool better give her one of her nine lives along with maybe Sasha, MistyStar, and HawkFrost if they can grab him out of the dark forest.

Hawkfrost is double dead thanks to Bramblestar.

And DF cats can't give lives anyways, otherwise Thistleclaw definitely would've given a life to Tigerstar.

I was worried that HawkFrost had double died, but I just wanted to make sure and its still an interesting idea for a fanfic and tbh I doubt the new team members that Dark forest warriors can't give any lives

That's honestly what I'm thinking would happen too if she was ever openly asked (or at least wish would happen). But as I said in my initial post, perhaps it could be the point of her not wanting to be leader but still being chosen as such (for some reason). Again, I don't really want Mothstar to happen (still hoping for Froststar instead until I'll either be proven right or wrong).

I wouldn’t really mind Mothstar, I just want Froststar. I don’t think Mothstar is actually a bad idea but I kinda want a newer cat to take over, though there aren’t very many options that would narratively make sense. If Mothstar becomes leader her reign probably won’t be super long, probably only one arc, and that would leave the door open for a newer cat to be RiverClan’s leader. I’m not sure who Mothstar would pick though, because it wouldn’t be Frostpaw, and the obvious choices would be Duskfur or Icewing who I don’t really want as leader. I’ll probably be happy as long as it isn’t Nightstar or Sunstar though. But I kinda want Mothwing to die and Froststar to become leader and Whistlepaw moves to RiverClan to be the medicine cat so there can be implied happy FrostWhistle but that will never happen lol.

If Mothstar happens, her lives would probably be:

Between Reddit and Youtubers advocating Mothwing for leader, I am going to scream in frustration and anger. Especially if the writers somehow shoehorn her in to be leader. I hope when Frostpaw reestablishes Riverclan, Mothwing retires and Frostpaw takes her place as a medicine cat or maybe even Bee. I don't care who becomes leader but please, please not Mothwing.

realistically, probably not. she doesnt approve of starclan, i dont see why starclan or mothwing would willingly do it.

i doubt it'll be mothwing, for 2 reasons
1. she's honestly worked so hard in proving she can be a medicine cat without speaking to starclan. i don't think starclan or riverstar would do that to her?
2. she's honestly very old and i just don't see her as leader
but the authors could possibly do that. it would suck though, but maybe they'll be good and not do that. they've been great with frostpaw's character arc so far.
but please, no froststar, as moonkitti stated.

Bring back Stormfur so he can become leader. "Stormstar" is a dope name.

In Thunder, Frostpaw comes to believe that Riverstar and StarClan want her to choose RiverClan’s next leader. She considers what qualities RiverClan’s future leader should have, based off what she’s learned from her time with the park cats.

Qualities Frostpaw’s Looking For:
-A leader who cats can turn to during a dispute.
-Thoughtful, open-minded, wise.
-Honest and smart.
-Helps out any cat who needs it.
-Thinks before they act.
-Makes choices that are best for every cat, not just themselves.
-Looks beyond borders and thinks about cats born outside their territory.
-Slow to judge others.
-Willing to share.
-Wants Clans to help each other rather than compete.
-Only fights when there is no other option.
-Believes in kindness rather than competition.

I do think Mothwing meets several of these requirements to varying degrees, and there is an argument to be made for her becoming leader. But looking at ASC, I honestly think Icewing (if not Frostpaw herself) fits these descriptors much, much better than Mothwing.

In ASC, and especially the first two books, Mothwing is very focused on keeping secrets from the other Clans. She does not want them to get involved in RiverClan’s affairs. She refuses to seek help from the other Clans, or even from her fellow medicine cats. She isn’t looking beyond her borders for help— she is doing everything she can to maintain a facade of normalcy in the midst of disaster. She is so wrapped up in preventing RiverClan’s public collapse that she forgets she has catmint stores that could save the lives of neighboring Clan cats. And when Frostpaw learns she doesn’t have a real connection to StarClan, Mothwing is adamant that she should lie to her Clanmates about it.

All of Mothwing’s decisions are understandable. She’s justifiably worried that the other Clans will take advantage of RiverClan’s leaderless state. But she’s doing exactly the same things Mistystar is often criticized for in the past— shutting RiverClan off from the rest of the Clans and doubling down on bad decisions. Even when she seems to realize RiverClan needs help from the other Clans, when Fidgetflake is offering the aid of his fellow medicine cats to find a solution that won’t intrude on RiverClan’s sovereignty… Mothwing ultimately chooses to deny that assistance and collaboration.

In ASC, Mothwing is constantly deceptive rather than honest in her policies. She withholds help from the other Clans, even if accidentally or unmaliciously. She (fairly) refuses to take on the full leadership role out of loyalty to her medicine cat calling, but demands Frostpaw remain a medicine cat for the sake of her Clan despite her lack of connection to StarClan and felt calling to be a warrior. She is quick to judge the other Clans as interlopers and threats rather than potential allies and aids, and keeps her focus firmly within RiverClan’s borders for solutions to its problems. So looking at ASC thematically, it would be strange for Mothwing to be presented as the champion of the traits Frostpaw is looking for in a leader, unless we see her have a big change of heart and decide she was wrong about the way she handled things in River and Sky.

So which RiverClan cat, besides Frostpaw herself, exhibits these traits the most? I would argue Icewing, especially based off what we see of her in Shadow. She is consistently depicted as honest, wise, open-minded, compassionate, a peace-maker, humble, and just. She even has experience cooperating with cats from other Clans and learning what it’s like to live in a different territory.

When every cat blames Owlnose for Tigerstar’s takeover, Icewing stands up for him, showcasing her kind, fair, and clear-sighted nature.

“‘That’s not fair,’ Icewing protested, slipping between the two cats and laying a calming tail on Owlnose’s shoulder. ‘Sure, we need a leader, but we don’t want one who knows in his heart that it’s wrong for him to lead. Owlnose has done something very brave and good for the Clan by choosing to step down.’”

She recognizes that RiverClan’s best way forward at the moment is to make peace with Tigerstar while doing everything they can to reestablish themselves and convince him to leave. She balances wisdom and humility, enduring her Clanmates’ accusations to do what’s best for every cat, while seeking to maintain RiverClan’s spirit and integrity. She even impresses Duskfur, the most vocal cat in her rage against Tigerstar’s imposition. And while Icewing is willing to accept the help ShadowClan could offer, she is also prepared to fight as a last resort.

“Stepping closer to her [Duskfur], Icewing continued in a lower voice. ‘We have to go along with this for now. Perhaps the time will come for us to fight again and win, but this is not that time.’

Frostpaw watched Duskfur choke back her anger as she listened to Icewing’s wise words. Owlnose, too, though he still looked ashamed, was clearly encouraged by what the white she-cat had said.”

When Frostpaw opens up to Icewing about her lack of a connection with StarClan, she is understanding, and defends the apprentice against her angry Clanmates. She continues to maintain peace throughout the novel, while still advocating for her Clanmates.

I think it’s also significant that, when the Clans question Tigerstar at the second Gathering about ShadowClan’s occupation, Duskfur points out that Icewing is performing the duties of a leader well, and every cat knows she is more than capable of standing on her own at RiverClan’s head.

So why rule Icewing out in favor of Mothwing? In her video, Moonkitti eliminates Icewing as a candidate on the narrative basis that she’s already served as temporary leader and stepped down. But Mothwing did the same thing. She served as temporary leader and readily stepped down to make way for Owlnose, just as Icewing stepped down when the Clan leaders decided to make Duskfur temporary leader because she is an elder. So if temporary leadership and a willingness to step down disqualifies Icewing, why doesn’t it disqualify Mothwing too?

So that’s why I think Icewing could become leader. Frostpaw herself fits all these traits as well, so I wouldn’t count her out! But if Frostpaw is going to stay a medicine cat, or if Frostpaw could become deputy first, I do think Icestar makes a lot of thematic sense.

To be fair Squirrel is just as old and she was made leader.