Power of the Sun

A Po3 Warriors AU where The Three must rise up against Sol rather than the Dark Forest. This AU is a work in progress, feel free to send me Asks!

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Welcome to Power of The Sun! - 📌

This is a blog where I share details about a Warriors AU I am working on! As this is a work in progress a lot id subject to change, concepts will likely change throughout posts and my Asks are open for any suggestions, questions or comments!

What is the basic premise of Power of the Sun?

This AU is mostly set during Po3 and OotS, with some important details of TNP. Instead of the Dark Forest being the ultimate threat, Sol leads a group called the Sun Troop who try to destroy the clans through shaking their belief in their ancestors. The Three are prophcised to save the clans despite Sol attempting to manipulate them

What are the goals with this AU?

1. Clan Worldbuilding - I feel that after the first arc the worldbuilding in Warriors took a slump, I will be fleshing out the traditions and beliefs of clan and outsider groups

2. Fleshing out Characters - I would love to explore characters in more depth. Some characters with Sol will simply have their backstories fleshed out while others like Crowfeather will have a lot more changes

What is the Sun Troop?

The Sun Troop is a group of travellers lead by Sol. The group travel to learn about how different communities of cats interpret omens and contact their ancestors. Sol aims to take over their clans by being their sole contact to the dead by destroying their relationship with StarClan (by influence and blocking their access to the MoonStone)

What are some major changes in this AU?

A lot changes in TNP and events prior to the birth of the Three but I will give a quick rundown to give some context:

The clans do not leave the forest. The quest during TNP is to restore SkyClan

SkyClan remains in the gorge. Sol being a medicine cat who was exiled

BloodClan is a neutral outside group, being formed under the basis of protecting kittypets and loners from the clans. Scourge joins ThunderClan as a medicine cat upon his defeat

The Dark Forest does not exist. StarClan/Silverpelt remains a distsnt afterlife and interact less with the living. There are deities in other cultures and folk tales exist within the clans

The MoonStone remains the area of spiritual contact, every apprentice visits it before becoming warriors. Highstones and Mothermouth being near WindClan but technically being 'neutral' territory

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Lives of Apprentices

Hi again, sorry its been a while since the last post, I've become less interested in art so wanted to structure this lore/headcanon post as a blog.

Apprentices and Mentors:

Some clans choose mentors that are related to apprentices (RiverClan), some actively avoid this (WindClan) and some are indifferent (ShadowClan)

The leader likely would take the mother's thoughts or requests into account

The leader rarely takes on an apprentice due to other duties but msy do so if they see leadership potiential in a kit, Firestar chose to mentor Hollykit due to the prophcey and her natural leadership with her siblings

Apprentices make a warrior eligible for deputyship as it shows the leader they can build rapport within the clan and give orders

The apprentice can strongly influences the mentor's relationship, if a young warrior is unruly or disobedient, their mentor msy be viewed as soft

Apprentices using have a close bond with their mentors once becoming warriors, rather than family this resembled a close friendship or allyship in the clan

Most warriors mentor 1-2 apprentices in their lives, a respected warrior considered for deputyship may have mentored up to four

Apprentice Duties:

Train with their mentor

Memorise the warrior code and clan traditions

Assist around camp such as picking ticks off the elders and making nests for the nursery, actively building a relationship with their clan

Often serving as messengers (e.g a border patrol spots a intruder and sends the apprentice back to camp to tell leader)

Often doing what is deemed as "dirty work" firstly for preparing them for camp-repairing in the future but also allows more experienced warriors time to hunt/patrol

Lives of Apprentices

All apprentices make friends at gatherings but a sign of maturity is being able to prioritise friendships in own clan. These friendships become more distant in adulthood

Most kits don't realise that a lot of being an spprentice is staying in camp, learning to maintain their home and building relationships with other cats

It is quite rare for an apprentice to catch prey on their first outing. Hunting practice starts esrly during greenleaf and is delayed during leaf-bare

Training Timeline (Moons)

1-2: Learning to become more familiar with camp, learning to identify borders and scents of own clan vs outsiders. Still too smsll to fight so basic battle-training is claw-swipes and self-defense. Starting to memorise code. A lot of time spent in camp taking care of it. Hunting practice may be delayed during leaf bare

3-4: Experiencing hunting and border patrols and encouraged to parpiciate. A lot more time out of camp learning to hunt and fight

5-6: Actively encouraged to make decisions during hunting. Given scenario-based questions about the warrior code. Trusted to learn more dangerous moves and to go into battle

Medicine Cat Apprentices:

Training period is 8 moons instead of 6

Apprentices are a lot more isolated from friends and littermates compared to warrior apprentices

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SWIFTPAW

He has a more important role than canon here. Not only as Tigerstar's eldest son but as an incredibly influential spirit and guide within SkyClan.

His death was part of his destiny according to spirits beyond StarClan. For the Three to be born, he must die. Moments before his death by the dogs, ancient spirits spoke to Swiftpaw warning him that he would die but must go down protecting Brightpaw. Because if his sacrifice he was rewarded in Silverpelt with knowledge and power that made him even more influentual than some of the medicine cat and leader spirits.

Because of his death, this allowed Brightpaw to carry on living and become mates with Cloudtail. Eventually their daughter was born as the final member of the three. For Sol to be defeated, the Three must be born

Some of his influence allows him to appear to the Three in their living world. Although he is only able to appear and be heard by Dovepaw when she actively searches for his prescence at the Moonstone.

She finds out Swiftpaw's story when her mother eventually tells her about him after hearing his name mentioned in the elder's den. Swiftpaw becomes a personal guide to Dovepaw, he is rebellious and brash, often providing her instructions not on the orders of other spirits. He criticises her inexperience and her affection for Tigerheart. Ultimately he does mean well, driving her to not give up and to use her powers to protect others. However perhaps his determination comes from a place of desperation, after all in order for the clans to stand a chance against Sol, Swiftpaw's destiny was to die, he wants to make surw he died for something.

He aids the Three as a guide alongside Feathertail who was fated to die in similar way, to protect Crowpaw and Leafpaw, making sure they would get together and that Jayfeather and Lionblaze were born. They serve as interpreters between the almost silent Silverpelt and the Three. Swiftpaw often finds himself butting heads with Jayfeather who prefers to use his intelligence, and links with the spiritual world to build up a plan to defeat Sol rather than infiltraiting the Sun Troop in the living world and shutting them down as fast as possible

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Queen's Right

(Pictured Rainflower on the left and Mapleshade on the right)

The Queen's Right is not officially part of the warrior code but its word can be held above if used correctly. It has been adapted from a rule used in many cat colonies. It gives the mother protection from discrimination and persucution as well as keeping the clan gene pool healthy.

The Queen's Right's Aspects:

1. Not forced to disclose kits' parentage or circumstance

2. The kits cannot be taken away from her or moved to another clan. If she wishes to leave or move clans, the kits go with her. If her kits are stolen or kidnapped StarClan calls on the clan to return them to her side

3. The kits names can be changed until apprentice age. Their mentors can be suggested by the mother

It gives the mother ownership over her kits until apprentice age. However some cats do not use the right to protect their kits' parentage such as Rainflower. A notable exception is that medicibe cats cannot use the Queen's Right.

The right must be sworn within the first moon or half-moon (depending on clan) of the kits' birth, accompanied by the medicine cat to verify as well as some witnesses.

Clan attitudes are different to the Queen's Right. In ThunderClan it is allowed however is seen as taboo, a cat broke the code or made a mistake and is trying to hide it (causing a scandal whwn Squirrelflight used the Queen's Right). ShadowClan cares little about parentage and clan purity in general. In RiverClan the Queen's Right is automatically given to all queens but some queen's like to confirm it anyways. WindClan honours the Queen's Right with less suspicion than ThunderClan, seeing it more as a mother's trust in StarClan.

Mapleshade's Vengeance

Mapleshade chose not to use the Queen's Right. In the aftermath of the kit's deaths and Mapleshade's murders, ThunderClan's attitude of the Queen's Right hardened while Darkstar made a blanket policy that all queen's are entitled to it to ensure a tradegy like that never happens again

Special Case - Adoption

As the Queen's Right states that the parentage of the kits does not need to be disclosed, a few cats have used this to also conceal the identity of the mother.

Squirrelflight swears the oath to hide Crofeather and Leafpool as the parents of the Three to protect her sister

Greypool confirms the oath at the request of Oakheart, not officially announcing herself as his mate but this protects Mistykit and Stonekit from being discriminated or possibly taken back to ThunderClan

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LEAFPOOL REDESIGN

Basic Notes:

Green eyes because both her parents have them?!

Considered as 'daughter of Firestar' a lot more than Squirrelflight due to theur similar pelt patterns, body shape and strong connection with StarClan

Shares her connection with Squirrelflight, allowing them to sense what is happening to the other

Trained under her uncle and former BloodClan leader, Scourge, now Iceheart who had a supressed supernatural ability to contact spirits

Firestar falsely believed she was one of the 'Power of Three' prophcey he was given as a reward for sparing Scourge

PLOT CHANGES - TNP the SkyClan Patrol:

When sent on the quest to restore SkyClan, she is chosen to represent StarClan due to her healing skills and strong connection to spirits like her father. Squirrelpaw senses this and sneaks off to accompany her.

She is the healer and spiritual guide of the group, growing particularly close to Feathertail. She is quiet, kind and fades into the background when compared to louder characters like Brambleclaw, Feathertail and Crowpaw.

She helps to teach the future SkyClan members about StarClan. She is suprised to meet a cat shating the same name as her, a newly pregnant she-cat Leaf. Leafpaw is in charge of choosing which of the two possible medicine cat candiates will take the head position. Echo is both a natural healer and interpreter. The other, Sol has phrophcey capabilities far beyond Echo could ever dream of but is extremely lazy and has no desire to learn herbs. He eventually settles into the role of Echosong's assistant but is in charge of interpreting most of StarClan's messages.

Sol teaches her about interpreting messages beyond StarClan and gives her a warning:

"Your apprentice will destroy everything you love, then spirits you devote your to, then the code that lays broken around you"

Feathertail dies in the Battle of the Rats. Unknown to everyone, some spirits madr Feathertail carry out the act knowing that she will die. For the Three to be born she must die (she becomes a powerful spirit and guide for the 3 after her death)

On the way home to the forest, in their shared grief she and Crowpaw grow close and they have a rebound relationship of sorts. They meet most nights at Foretrees and she discovers her pregnancy shortly after earning her full name. Crowfeather ends their relationship, realising that she can never be Feathertail and cannot drag Leafpool into a grief she cannot resolve on her own. Leafpool chooses not disclose her pregnancy, wishes to carry on her medicine duties and ask StarClan for forgiveness. Crowfeather likes her as a friend, but never truly saw her in a romantic way.

Squirrelflight senses her pregnancy and offers to raise the kits. Just leaving a courtship with Ashfur and recently becoming mates with Brambleclaw, she is aware that cats will question their parentage but will use the Queen's Right. The Queen Right allows a cat to not disclose a kit's parentage, and Squirrelflight reasons both the mother and the father,and therfore would be able to protect them both.

Leafpool during Power of Three:

Loving Aunt to the Three

Solo med-cat when Iceheart retires due to mobility issues (possibly oestioperosis or similar condition?)

Mentors Hollypaw, then Jaypaw when the two switch

Has a loving, yet strained relationship with Jaypaw due to the warning she was given, as well as not being sure if the Power of Three phrophcey was really an omen

When Sol and the Sun Troop arrive into the forest she is not aware he slmost destroyed SkyClan. With Hollyleaf's help he blocks her contact to StarClan and threatens her into silence with the warning he gave her.

Hollyleaf takes over as leader and wants to punish Leafpool and Squirrelflight for breaking the code, but is unable to due to Squirrelflight's use of the Queen's Right. Distraught and furious, Hollyleaf works as an agent of Sol who annexes parts of ThunderClan, WindClan and ShadowClan into the Sun Troop.

She is accidently killed when delivering a secret message to rebels in RiverClan and WindClan (including Mothwing, Breezepelt and Crowfeather).

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STORMFUR AND FEATHERTAIL

Kits of Greystripe and Silverstream. After Leopardstar's alliance with Tigerstar, Feathertail managed to eventually forgive her leader but Stormfur never really moved on, A Shadow in RiverClan is set from his perspective. He feels more disturbed about TigerClan's legacy due to his resemblance to his father but also witnessing the death of his mentor Stonefur who Leopardstar names him after but never explicitly apologises for causing the death of.

Feathertail is chosen to go on the quest to restore SkyClan and Stormfur goes with her. One of the new SkyClan cats, Echosong recieves an omen that a silver cat will save SkyClan, while she and the other SkyClan cats believe this to be Stormfur, it is Feathertail who dies saving Leafpaw and Crowpaw by killing the rat leader, Crowfeather names himself after her.

Moments before her death, Feathertail experiences possesion by ancient silverpelt spirits who tell her that it is her destiny to die saving Leafpaw and Crowpaw to ensure that the Three are born. Although StarClan spirits do not interact much with the living, Feathertail becomes an important cat in StarClan's hierarchy along with Swiftpaw (who dies saving Brightpaw)

Stormfur becomes close with a new member of SkyClan, Brook. She joins the clan as Brookfish. Stormfur chooses to stay behind in SkyClan with her instead of going back to RiverClan.

He and Brookfish stay in ThunderClan to warn them of Sol when he attempts to seize power in the clan. While they are there, Brookfish gives birth to their kits, Bumblekit, Blossomkit and Briarkit. When Stormfur and Brookfish learn of the state of SkyClan they wish to return home. However their kits are happy in ThunderClan.

After Sharpclaw's death, Stormfur is offered position of deputy but turns it down.

Stormfur and Brookfish eventually have their second litter after SkyClan manages to pick up the pieces after Sol's power struggle. They eventually return to the forest along with the rest of SkyClan but unfortunately their daughter Briarlight dies before their reunion.

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ICEHEART (Scourge)

Scourge plays a large part not only in the events of TPB but of later arcs as well.

He tries to join ThunderClan but is driven out by Tigerpaw. He wanders the clan borders for a while before making his home in twolegplace. After the stories Quince told him about the clans, Tiny still wishes to live in a group like them. He forms BloodClan as inspured by his mother's tales of fearless warriors living a somewhat-noble life.

BloodClan remain a threat during Firepaw's apprenticeship. ThunderClan frequently encounter them in patrols near twolegplace.

BloodClan are more morally forgivable than in canon. They see clan cats as an oppressive threat to kittypets and loners. Skirmishes that take place in twolegplace are over border markings, the clans see BloodClan as a grouo of rogues, so they are to be treated as outsiders according to the warrior code.

BloodClan try to mimic the lifestyle of a clan through meetings and similar names, (Brickshard, Bonesnap, etc) however do not have a healer or an apprentice system. Although they do not have a warrior code, Scourge encourages his cats to be somewhat merciful. Seeing clan cats as a self-righteous evil group he wants his cats not to be as arrogant as they are.

Scourge is only mentioned in passing until Tigerstar persuades him to join his TigerClan allegiance. Scourge accepts out of the promise of a portion of territory for his cats and better relations with the clans. However upon witnessing Tigerstar's cruelty and arrogance he is reminded of when he was attacked as a kit. He kills Tigerstar and declares war on the other clans, hoping to drive them out the forest for good.

Within the battle he takes Firestar's first life but just before Firestar kills him StarClan orders him to spare Scourge's life. He had always been destined to be a clan cat, a medicine cat, however the incident with Tigerpaw threw him off that path. After the battle Firestar hesitantly accepts him into ThunderClan, giving him the name Iceheart. StarClan trains Iceheart to be a medicine cat through dreams. Although ThunderClan do not fully trust him, they understand that this was StarClan's will. BloodClan is handed over to new leadership.

After a power struggle in BloodClan, Iceheart finally earns ThunderClan's respect through aiding BloodClan to remove their corrupt leader Furyclaws who seized power. BloodClan ceases to interact with the clans with Iceheart's persuasion, moving deeper into twolegplace. Some cats join SkyClan when it forms in the gorge when the TNP travellers journey through twoleplace. Over time BloodClan eventually transitions to WarriorClan.

Iceheart believes in StarClan, however does not believe that they are always a force of good. He is willing to let acts against the warrior or medicine cat code if he thinks they are pointless. His closest friends outside the clans is Brokenheart, medicine cat of ShadowClan, despite Brokenheart's somber and soft personality he respects him. As well as Mothwing as the two hold similar beliefs.

He mentors Firestar's daughter Leafpool. However he develops joint problems and needs to retire from being a medicine cat. He helps her hide her pregnancy from ThunderClan, he views the rule of medicine cats not having kits as pointless. He dies of old age when the Three are kits. When Jaypaw walks in StarClan, Iceheart does not hesitate to speak to him unlike the other StarClan cats who fear his power.

Jaypaw only has a few memories of Iceheart's health deteroriating in the elder's den but heard and was fascinated by stories of the tiny cat who lead the cats of twolegplace and killed Tigerstar with one swipe. Rather than Spottedleaf attempting to guide him, it is Iceheart, with Yelowfang contributing occasssionally.

In his StarClan form, Iceheart wears his BloodClan collar for 2 reasons. The first is that when a spirit reaches StarClan their form is the one that is considered the peak of their success, the elders' tales of Iceheart as the legendery leader of BloodClan is responsible for this. The second representing Iceheart's own rejection of traditional StarClan beliefs. He believes in Silverpelt but does not follow them blindly.

Additional Note: Firestar and Sandstorm have a second litter, Foxleap and Icecloud. Their daughter Icecloud is naned after Iceheart

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Darktail Revamp

Past names: Darkpaw, Darktail

Parents: Onestar and Smoke/Ruby

Allegiance: Co-Deputy of the Sun Troop

Given a clan name by Smoke (despite him not yet being 6 moons) and she begs Onewhisker to take him into WindClan after she is kicked out by her housefolk. After Onestar's rejection, Smoke's dies after exposure to the elements. Darkpaw is found by Sol on his travels who senses something different about the kit. He travels with Sol for a while before the Sun Troop return to the forest when he is roughly the same age as Lionpaw, Jaypaw and Hollypaw.

Despite his young age he holds a high position in the Sun Troop, Sol has no plans to make him a future leader however even as a young cat he serves as an adviser. He fights along with the rest of Sun Troop for Sol's cause, taking over WindClan and ShadowClan. Before the final battle he learns about SkyClan through reading Tawnypelt's memories (TNP restore SkyClan instead of Firestar's Quest) he is sent to the gorge by Sol.

He does not return until after Sol is defeated. He learns about the death of his old leader by speaking to Lionblaze's kits Alderpaw and Sparkpaw

The Fourth Cat

Instead of Firestar, Darktail is the fourth cat. He is related to Firestar as his half-sister's son, being his kin's kin. He has the power to access the momories of other cats (including to transfer them).

Darktail had wished to return to the clans for revenge after examining his mother's memories of his father. He reveals his identity to Onestar by transferring his mother's memories to him.

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Sol is aware of this and is careful to use this power to his own advantage, not to be used by it. Upon learning about The Three, he wishes to train them to develop his powers like Darkpaw

He uses Darktail to take over WindClan, rattling their morale through traumatusing Onestar. Upon their first battle he declares his name as Darktail, showing that he could have been a fearsome ally and warrior if his father had accepted him as a kit

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The Light of My Life

Broken Shadow (Left) and Fallen Leaves (right)

Both spiritual leaders of Rock's followers. The leadership role is not usually passed down from parent to kit but Broken Shadow had a mobility ailment that got worse throughout her life after having kits. Rock wanted Fallen Leaves in a leadership position and Broken Shadow, as a disciple of Rock couldn't object.

Their duties involved organising the rituals at Mothermouth several times a month. Interpreting omens from Rock and communicating them to the three tribes in the forest.

Changes since the Jay Wing's post

I've made some changes since my post in November about Jayfeather's reincarnations. The three tribes lived in the forest, the tunnelling tradition was started by one of the three tribes. Rock is a deity worshipped at where the modern clans would call the Moonstone

Broken Shadow

She was reluctant to let her only son join as she received a message that her son would fall in love and then sell his soul to save them. She tried to bar him from serving Rock but was unable. She was reassured that there were few she-cats in Rock's closest circle, the only ones were far enough in age not to be seen as potiental mates. Unknowingly, Fallen Leaves developed unrequited feelings for Jay's Wing and made a bargain with Rock, devoting an eternity of service and binding his soul to the MoonStone. Broken Shadow was devastated and died of grief, the religion later faded out after the war of the three groups.

Fallen Leaves

Fallen Leaves was naturally skilled and picked up more and more leadership duties when his mother grew frail. He fell in love with his closest friend and eventual co-leader Jay's Wing who never returned his feelings. When Jay's Wing was killed in the war he made a direct plea to Rock: 'his life and soul for Jay's Wing's own'. Rock granted his request. Fallen Leaves was to serve Rock for eternity as a ghost, Jay's Wing would be reincarnated over and over again, tragically unable to recognise his former friend.

Jayfeather meets Fallen Leaves

Jay's Wing's first reincarnation was into his sister Dove Wing's kit. Jayfeather first meets Fallen Leaves when Leafpool takes him to the Moonstone. Unable to recall any of his past memories Fallen Leaves acts an initial link between Jayfeather and Rock and provides him with the stick used to contact Rock. He also warns Jayfeather of dangers. Later on Jayfeather frees himself from his cycle of reincarnation by snapping the stick, this causes Fallen Leaves to cease out of existence.

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Mentor and Apprentice

Ashfur becomes close with Squirrelpaw when she returns from her journey to SkyClan. However he becomes jealous of Brambleclaw. He and Squirrelflight have a falling out over the nature of their relationship, with Squirrelflight seeing their connection strictly as friendship despite Ashfur believing she had feelings for him.

Upon seeing her happy with Brambleclaw he realises he will never truly win her over. He is already moody and struggles to manage his emotions so starts to take it out on others. He vows to make Squirrelflight as miserable as he was.

He takes out his anger on his apprentice and Squirrelflight's son, Lionpaw.

He abuses Lionpaw, subtly at first, hidden from his family and clan. Through vicious battle training (Lionpaw's combat training from the DF is from Ashfur instead in this AU).

He tells Lionpaw that he will never be as worthy as his littermates (Jaypaw being a med cat apprentice and Hollypaw being mentored by Firestar himself). He evokes all of Lionpaw's insecurities, his struggle to get along with his denmates, his legacy to live up to his family.

Although Lionpaw is heroic and wishes to protect his clan and family out of love, he inherits Ashfur's worst traits. Quick to anger, emotionally unstable and refusal to let himself heal from the past.

Upon learning from Squirrelflight about the Three's real parentage and Ashfur hanging the threat of exposing it over their heads Lionblaze breaks down. He is influenced by Hollyleaf to kill Ashfur just for her to be encouraged by Sol to reveal it at the gathering anyway.

Lionblaze unfortunately continues this cycle of mentor-apprentice abuse, passing some of the trauma dealt by Ashfur to Ivypaw and Dovepaw. Believing that the pain he suffered made him stronger and better prepared warrior, especially with the high stakes of the Sun Troop this leads to him traumatising his apprentice Dovepaw and neglecting Hollyleaf's apprentice Ivypaw who cut ties with him once The Three defeat Sol

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DOVEWING & IVYPOOL

Immediate differences to canon:

Daughters of Cloudtail and Brightheart (Birchfall and Whitewing cut to simplify family tree) and to better fit 'Kin of your kin'

Hereditary Name meanings

Dove - Brightheart's feeling of peace being able to start a family with Cloudtail. Also in hope that her kits would not suffer during turbulent times in ThunderClan

Ivy - reference to ivy growing in Princess' garden and to the ones that grow in the forest. Decleration that Firestar, Cloudtail and their family's kittypet heritage does not limit them as warriors

Aged up slightly: They are newly apprenticed during Sunrise when both the Three's parentage and the prophcey are revealed.

Hollyleaf who stood in for leader while poisoning Greystar realises that she has no powers and suspecting 'kin of kin' could refer to Cloudtail's kits, Dovekit and Ivykit. While convincing the clans (who are all aware of the prophcey) that she is still the third member.

In order to keep an eye on the kits she takes on Ivypaw as an apprentice and assigns Dovepaw to her 'deputy' Lionblaze. Both mentors are way too young to have first apprentices and along with taking over leadership duties in the clan this results in Dovepaw and Ivypaw having quite a poor relationship with their mentors. After Hollyleaf betrayal and death Lionblaze does not assign Ivypaw a new mentor.

Both sisters feel exploited by StarClan and by extension Lionblaze and Jayfeather when they try and take down Hollyleaf and Sol. Dovewing wishes she was never part of the prophcey while Ivypool feels she was roped in by Lionblaze and Jayfeather but never treat her as an equal. Compared to her sister Ivypaw is expendable, a cat that coyld be disposed of to protect the Three. By Sol's defeat both of them end on bitter terms with Lionblaze and Jayfeather and the sisterly bond they once shared tainted with resentment.

________

Dovewing

She is pushed by Jayfeather to learn how to use her powers so she can hear what Sol is planning. After Hollyleaf's death Lionblaze reveals Dovepaw to the other rebels as the third prophcey cat. Dovepaw feels pressure to live up to be the saviour that her family, ThunderClan and rebels in other clans see her as.

Upon accompying Lionblaze to a meeting with ShadowClan rebels she falls for Tigerheart who is the first cat to wants to know more about her, not just what her powers can do. She is given the name Dovesong. Upon Sol's defeat she chooses to live with Tigerheart in ShadowClan, feeling neglected by her clan and used by her mentor who was supposed to protect her. ShadowClan easily accept her (due to less importance on blood ties) and due to them seeing her defeat of Sol as the feat needed in her initiation cermony. Rowanstar, the new leader of ShadowClan changes her name to Dovewing.

More info on ShadowClan here:

Clan Guide: SHADOWCLAN

Even though ShadowClan is seen as vicious and secretive by the other clans, the clan holds cunning and bravery as its highest virtues. This

Ivypool

Ivypaw is also drawn into the rebel movement by Lionblaze who tasks her to spy on Sol under the guise of due to being Hollyleaf's apprentice (and by extension, her successor if things went differently). Ivypool begins to resent the Three as Lionblaze and Jayfeather repeatedly pile dangerous responsibilities onto her while openly aknowledging the fact that she will never be equal to them and Ivypaw soon grows to resent Dovepaw too, feeling disposable compared to her sister. She pushes herself to be the best fighter in the clan to show the Three that she is willing to pull her own weight. After Sol's defeat despite her tough exterior she is forced to deal with feelings of worthlesness. After meeting Fernsong (who is an outsider in this AU) she allows herself to heal and to move on from Jayfeather and Lionblaze, realising she does not need to prove herself to them, already being surrounded by cats who love and admire her for who she is like Fernsong, her parents, her apprentices and her friends.

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Relationship with Parents

Despite Dovewing choosing to leave ThunderClan Cloudtail and Brightheart are not neglectful parents although due to Lionblaze and Jayfeather's influence, Ivypool and Dovewing become more distant with their parents.

Both Brightheart and Cloudtail are saddened by Dovewing's decision to leave ThunderClan although not angry. Just as Cloudtail meets Princess on the border of twolegplace sometimes Dovewing occasionally meets her parents to check up on them (though heavily discouraged by her new clan).

[powerofthesunau]

i love your shadowclan culture profile! i hope we see more soon, they’re a blast to read and so inspiring as a fellow au creator! 💕

Thank you so much!! ❤️❤️

[powerofthesunau]

The Fourth Cat

Role: Sun Troop Missionary (high ranking member/deputy) (official title)

Darktail: has the power to walk in the memories of others. Transfer his own or to delibrately summon them. He can't go in depth like Jayfeather can but can evoke a cat's most traumatising memories to incapacitate them or share his own memories to get information

He is trained by Sol to be his second in command after sensing a 'difference' in the kit. Although careful to protect his own mind he uses this to drip-feed knowledge to his apprentice.

His mother Ruby had faced a lot of rejection in her life. First by the owners who adopted her and her brother Socks. Then by BloodClan's leader when they asked him for sanctuary. Then by Onewhisker, the cat who promised to be her mate. After her death her son Darkkit joins BloodClan, (a morally grey gang of rogues who want to protect themselves from the clans) and is renamed Darktail (BloodClan cats have similar names to clan warriors given to them when apprenticed-aged)

He learns about the clan's way of life through the fragments of memories from his mother and by other BloodClan cats. When he is an apprentice Sol and the Sun Troop spend some time with BloodClan. He learns that Sol was once medicine cat of SkyClan. Sol seeing potiential in the young cat trains him. Upon learning to stregnthen his power Darktail can transfer memories of other cats directly to Sol, allowing him to learn more about the cultures of other groups of cats and their ancestors. He leaves BloodClan to join Sol's group permently.

He stays in ShadowClan with Sol where by walking in the memories of ShadowClan cats memories the Sun Troop learn that the clan feels betrayed by StarClan. The Sun Troop use this to persuade Blackstar to turn his back on his ancestors. Upon realising that his father is the leader if WindClan he is enthuastic to assist Sol in invading WindClan's territory and the MoonStone. He helps cause divisions in WindClan by revealing himself as the illegimate son of Onestar. When the Sun Troop attacks WindClan, Darktail terrorises Onestar before his death through showing Onestar his own memories of being abandoned, revealing the true extent of his anger.

Upon killing his father he jumps into the memories of the nearest cat who tries to protect their leader. Crowfeather.

First thing he sees is Feathertail leaping into a horde of rats during a battle in a gorge. Then to her funeral with Echosong and Leafstar. This is the SkyClan that Sol had refused to tell him much about. Upon securing the Moonstone territory for his leader Darktail and a smaller group dissapears to take down SkyClan. Unable to fully destroy the clan without the support of the Sun Troop he resorts to influencing the clan's younger cats and eventually kitten stealing. Kidnapping Hawkwing's kits and tricking them into believing they are his own.

This may have contributed to Sol's downfall. He knew that Darktail had a power few other cats had but did not realise he was the fourth cat of the "kin of your kin" prophcey about Firestar he learns about from Midnight. Darktail only learns about Sol's defeat when his powers disappear.

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A destruction of my own doing

As much as this AU focuses on the relationship between The Three a lot of the story focuses on Crowfeather and the relationship with his family. A lot of the tension and damafe causee in this arc is caused by him and after Hollyleaf's death. He is horrified, this becoming remorse and he attempts to make up for his mistakes after Hollyleaf's death. Crowfeather himself has a massive overhaul in this AU.

Relationship with Nightcloud - Crowpaw and Nightpaw (who had a massive crush on him throughout her life) were childhood friends. Upon becoming adults Crowfeather chooses to be with her simply as a 'safe' choice, he does not truly love her. He tried to force himself to move on from Feathertail and his fling with Leafpool. He isn't outright abusive to his family be is neglectful and absent-minded. Nightcloud pushes their son to have a good relationship with his father and wants to uphold the image of the three of them as a united family

He will always love Feathertail - Feathertail is Crowfeather's one and true love. Upon his journey home from finding Midnight he and Leafpaw (who is part of TNP group) rely on eachother for support, Crowpaw to fill the void in his heart Feathertail died and Leafpaw seeks comfort after losing a close friend. The two of them decide to run away together but their relationship is more of a fling rather than real love. Just as Leafpool had doubts about abandoning her clan as a medicine cat Crowfeather relises he often catches himself wishing that Leafpool was Feathertail.

Dynamic with Breezepelt - As Hollyleaf takes the role of the angry, bitter Crowfeather kit, Breezepelt is not an antagonist in this AU. Crowfeather is curt and awkward around him due to not truly being in love with Breezepelt's mother. Breezepelt just wants a good relationship with his father and a happy family like most of his clan. Crowfeather and Breezepelt together lead WindClan's rebellion against Sol which forces them to trust one another and work as a strategic team.

Relationship with his ThunderClan kits - upon Hollyleaf announcing her parentage, Crowfeather tries to contact his half-clan kits, wishing to be part of their lives but immediately backing out, irrating all three of them and Breezepelt. He is forced to work together with Jayfeather and Lionblaze when they turn against Hollyleaf when she takes power and she and Sol attempt to invade Mothermouth and the MoonStone. Jayfeather walks in Crowfeather's dreams to give him information about Hollyleaf's plans and give him time to organise WindClan to fight back. The battle ends with the rebels' victory but with the deaths of Leafpool (executed by Hollyleaf) and Hollyleaf (killed by Lionblaze when she refuses to switch sides). The brothers tell Crowfeather never to speak to them again, which Crowfeather accepts.

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Cinderpelt and Cinderheart

Cinderpelt

With support from Fireheart, Yellowfang and ShadowClan's medicine cat Brokenheart (Brokenstar but he's a med cat instead), she becomes a warrior despite her injury and serves as Firestar's third deputy after Greystripe's disapperance. She is killed by a badger attack on camp while protecting her brother Brackenfur's mate and newborn kits.

Cinderheart

She's not a reincarnated version of Cinderpelt but after breaking her leg falling a tree she feels weighed down by her aunt's legacy to recover and achieve something even greater than she did.

[powerofthesunau]

Time-Keeper

From Rock, Jayfeather learns that he is a deity more powerful than StarClan... sort of. He is one of many reincarnations. Upon finding the stick Jayfeather is able to use it as device to travel back in time to contact his previous selves.

Note: Unlike in canon where Jayfeather posseses the body of Jay's Wing, instead he is an invisible observer.

Top Left: Rock

Top Right: Jay Wing (Son of Dove's Wing)

Bottom Left: Jay's Wing (sister of Dove's Wing)

Bottom Right: Jayfeather

Rock

Once an ancient healer of his tribe Rock is an immortal guardian of the tunnels, keeping count of the cats who entered and which have left alive. Not much is known about him. Legend has it that he made a deal with ancient gods to sell part of his soul in exchange for immortality. To mock him the deities put his soul into a gnarled stick. However a tiny piece of his soul has been reincarnated into many cats over time which he can contact through the stick.

Jay's Wing (The First) - Po3 era

The Ancients are allowed to worship any gods or deities of their choosing. Jay's Wing commits his life to the worship of Rock, a deity of time who promises protection to his followers. Upon his best friend Fallen Leave's death the lake starts flooding. The other Ancient Tribes believe this is caused by Jay's Wing's tribe as they are the only ones who carry out the softpaw tunnel trials and have displeased some kind of deity. Jay's Wing learns of the mountains and tries to persuade the others in his tribe to go there for refuge to leave but they refuse. With the help of his sister Dove's Wing and young softpaw Lion's Roar, he tries to persuade the lake tribes to work together. He is hunted down and executed, his sister mourns for him and accepts defeat, changing her name to Half Moon as her tribe leaves the lake.

Jay Wing (The Second) - OotS era

Sometime on the journey and arrival to the mountains Half Moon and Lion's Roar get together and have a son, Jay Wing who they name after their dear friend and brother. The tribe are struggling in the mountains and are considering leaving again. Prompted by Rock, Jayfeather speaks to Jay Wing and with the help of future reincarnations shares the tribe's eagle hunting techniques with him. Jay Wing passes this information onto his reluctant group and the Tribe of Rushing Water thrives. Despite gaining the respect of the tribe he appoints his mother Half Moon as Stoneteller and healer. He leads a pretty uneventful life, dying by throwing himself in front of his newly pregnant mate Quiet Rain and his two young sons to protect them from an eagle attack.

Jayfeather

While searching for herbs near FourTrees, Jayfeather comes across the stick which he uses to contact Rock, a spirit from a faraway lake who tells him more about the phrophcey. Jayfeather is able to travel back in time and speak to Jay's Wing and Jay Wing in their dreams in a pocket dimension. He grows angry at Rock when he tells Jayfeather that if the Three were never born Sol would not have taken over the clans and hinting that if their connection is severed Jayfeather will be the most powerful link of all. Not wanting to be simply a "link", Jayfeather snaps the stick, killing Rock and destroying the link to previous reincarnations and his abilities to dream-walk are improved, he can manipulate the dreams of the cats he chooses to speak to.

[powerofthesunau]

Spirits #1 - MIDNIGHT

(AU Apperance Description - Midnight is a massive badger with flecks of light in its long fur and starry eyes. The average cat on its right is used to compare)

Midnight is a badger deity of knowledge. Despite being exclusively worshipped to by its own species, Midnight is a personification of the night and has the ability to contact other spirits, including StarClan. Midnight is as old as they sky itself and knows of phrophcies beyond StarClan and other afterlives.

As worship to Midnight phased out it has become a knowledge collector of sorts. Being able to speak to cats, badgers, foxes and almost every other forest animal Midnight acts as a connection between the afterlives of each species and contacts them when neccessary.

Finding Midnight

StarClan sends Brambleclaw, Feathertail, Tawnypelt and Crowpaw to find Midnight to figure out how to amend the past of the destruction of SkyClan. Midnight sends the cats back the way they came. It tells them to follow the "tears of the fallen clan". They follow the river that feeds into the sea, finding SkyClan's gorge

A Fated Traveller

When Sol is kicked out of SkyClan he travels with several groups of cats, eventually finding Midnight. Ready to learn, he asks Midnight to teach him the secrets of interpreting omens. Midnight has previously tutored other fated phrophets of other species but is most impressed by Sol. It gifts him the knowledge of the eclispe. Fate wills that SkyClan would be restored and from its rebirth a great seer would emerge (although it is unclear if the phrophcey meant Jayfeather or Sol). Midnight tells him that "The sun cannot exist without the sky to elevate it in place"

Spiritual Guidance

Jayfeather is able to contact Midnight through the stick (which is used to contact deities) about information about the phrophcey.