#That would make sense as to how Thunder's Clan was seemingly suddenly on a similar standing to Sky's

[bonefall]

...Something's kinda hitting me, guys. I think something just clicked.

So we all know that BB!DOTC is the arc I'm not staying faithful to, right? A lot of characters are getting total overhauls? I'd actually been dancing pretty heavily around the pro-colonialism themes in the original text, simply because I don't really feel comfortable handling them (same with certain sexual themes, it's not great for my mental health to force myself to engage with certain elements that are triggering)

So I'd made it so there was Park Cats (Wind Coalition and River Kingdom) who arrived relatively recently, and Tribe Cats (Sky's Clan, Shadow's Clan) who nestle into an unclaimed spot in the forest. All groups roughly equal in power until Thunder's Clan which was existing in defiance.

But Clanmew isn't JUST comprised of Parkmew and Tribemew-- there's a third contributor. Old Townmew, which mixes with Parkmew and forms Middle Townmew, mixing again with Clanmew to create Modern Townmew.

Since I'm now really thinking about the colonialism themes, especially in my re-read where it starts reaching its narrative conclusion in Books 5 and 6... I think I need to add that 3rd cultural group. I need to make them a player. I think I'm doing a serious disservice by only having the Park Cats, Tribe Cats, and then saying all others mostly lived in the town.

I'm gonna do a BB!Brokenstar with Slash. Previously I'd just cut him completely-- but I think I should, instead, walk him back from being "Pure Evil" like he is in-canon and make him into a real character.

One Eye's a god drawn to the festering stink and rot of the First Battle; Slash is a mortal, leading a group like any other in the Forest Territories.

I think I'm also going to significantly bump up the time the Park Cats have been in this territory. Slash and his cats have been fighting them for years, and until the Mountain Cat influx, were basically spread through most of the Forest.

#Since BB!DOTC starts with leaving the mountain and ends with the First Battle #I'll also have a lot of time to explore Thunder interacting with all of these cats #Something often misunderstood is that Colonialism isn't... new. #It didn't come from capitalism. People have invaded and subjugated native groups for eons #What's new is how refined imperialism made it and how it's down to a bloody science now #I have plenty of cats to populate these groups too unlike newer material #Better Bones AU #BB!DOTC #I might have Slash and Thunder's groups eventually merge towards the end #That would make sense as to how Thunder's Clan was seemingly suddenly on a similar standing to Sky's #...could be a prettyyyy badass ending to the 'thunder ties to do a ton of diplomacy' arc by having him realize- #-his group has a LOT more in common with Slash than all the bigger groups #Kind of subvert DOTC's message by having him believe Slash IS a bloodthirsty monster who hates love and friendship #And then he realizes at some point. That was a fucking lie #That's sounding pretty good to me actually what do youse think