What Is This, Me Giving Background Characters Actual Personalities? No Way. I Tried Applying Some Tarot

What is this, me giving background characters actual personalities? No way. I tried applying some tarot symbolism and assigned each character a card based on looking up what they meant and some bits that stood out to me, but I’m not involved in the tarot so don’t read too much into it I suppose.

[read more below bc there’s a lot of story; also content warning for Oakclaw generally being an abusive piece of shit.]

Oakclaw sort of always had this vibe of being a more “traditionalist” and antagonistic character. Basically, Tigerstar. He was always sort of suspicious of Emberdusk, and didn’t like that outsiders such as he and Windsong were welcomed into the clan. It makes more sense now with the lore of quarry cats believing those born in the forest are cursed by Barkstar.

Ahh, Barkstar. Speaking of her, Oakclaw was her biggest supporter, and in fact they’re actually kin. She always wanted things to be more like the old clans, with a stricter adherence to the warrior code and all its aggressive territorialism, closed-minded ideologies, and total loyalty to the leader and StarClan. To her, the old clans fell apart because they lost sight of that, when in fact the opposite was true. When a separate group of cats decided to inhabit the nearby cove, it was mistaken as a threat and war was waged. Many were killed, Barkstar herself included.

Oakclaw in all his self-absorption thinks he’s their last chance. He still feels anger and betrayal that Barkstar picked that runt to be next in line over him. It must’ve been a lapse in judgement. He peers over the other cats at gatherings, how awfully friendly they all are. If he was leader, he’d have driven out the cove cats and claimed their land. His eyes rest on one in particular: Sootear. His involvement with their medicine cat irritates him. Ryestar’s youngest has always been soft, just like his father. Though it was startling to see the look of absolute fury on Ryestar’s face and the threat to exile him for suggesting that Mallowcloud be punished (Oakclaw’s exact words were more extreme, not that he’d admit it).

It’s a wonder that a cat so passive and quiet would take to someone like him, but perhaps that’s why he likes Fawnspot: she won’t argue against his opinions. Whether or not she agrees with him, she won’t say. She’s more content to be a rule-abiding follower than try to come up with her own ideas. Fawnspot is stressed by the change in order, and frequently joins patrols and hunting parties because a part of her is afraid at the idea of having free time to just do... nothing. She doesn’t know what she even likes because she’s never stopped to ask herself that.

As a result, her three kits don’t have much of a relationship with her. Which, sadly, is better than what they have with their father. Oakclaw is varying degrees of disappointed with all his children, and by extension believes that their mentors are bad influences, unfit to teach them.

Foxpaw is the simplest case: he’s pretty ‘no thoughts, head empty’. He is surprisingly happy-go-lucky and doesn’t particularly care about his father’s goals, if he’s even aware of them. Oakclaw deems him lazy and a failure, and doesn’t even bother with him.

Where Oakclaw is Tigerstar, Hickorypaw is Brambleclaw... Well, the whole “cats assuming I’m like my dad because we look similar and having to step out from under his shadow” thing they had going on originally with him and then dropped the ball on, anyway. He’s a big soft fluffball who is kind out of pure spite, though he feels the most pressure from his father to challenge the current leadership in his stead. Oakclaw knows he’s not getting younger and that his chance has just about passed.

Creekpaw suffers from the same flaw as her mother: staying silent. She knows of her father’s disinterest towards her (but why? she’s done nothing to offend him) and is afraid to speak up for herself. Combined with her distant relationship with her detached mentor, she’s left confused and wondering what’s going on. Creekpaw takes the role of an observer, watching everything that goes on from the background, until certain events force her to take action. 

When Hickoryheart’s life is in sudden danger at his father’s claws, Creekwhisper may finally have to break her silence.

Hey, I only want the same as anyone

Broke: Onestar was named after his one long whisker

Woke: Onestar was named after the song One because his mom was a huge Metallica fan

Bespoke: Onestar was named after the “haha, one!” meme from the Sonic 06 SnapCube fandub

Warrior apprentice with the prefix Apple: exists

Me: Your warrior name will be... Applebottomjeans.

Now for things from Sootear’s perspective. Quotes from the picture are in italics because I’m aware my handwriting is horrible, to say the least.

“Oh Sooty, you and Cricketleap would be such a cute couple!” “Haha, yeah...”

At least a small group of cats in Coveclan are waiting for Sootear and Cricketleap to “realize their feelings for each other” and announce that they’re mates (read as: I was originally going to pair them together once). The two would be perfect for each other, with how goofy and high-energy they both are. They’re just close friends, though. Finchwing’s comment is made extra awkward since Sootear is... already taken but nobody knows.

“When are you gonna settle down and start a family like your brother?” “Never! It’s the single life for me, Pops!”

Allow me to sidetrack for a second and say that I headcanon Sootear and Rainfoot’s dad Icetail as sounding like Daud from Dishonored. That aside, Sootear’s seen as the irresponsible, troublemaking younger brother between the two. It’s not entirely wrong, but he does exaggerate a little to keep up the charade so nobody suspects a thing.

“So who’s this bundle of crow feathers here?” “This is my apprentice, Hallowpaw. Hallowpaw, this is Sootear. He’s the cat I told you about who saved me.” “...Hi...”

To make her feel more comfortable about her place in the clan, Mallowcloud has told Hallowpaw his own story at some point. They go out to collect some herbs--conveniently close to Coveclan borders--and who should show up but Sootear. Hallowpaw has always been very shy and remains so, even though she’s been assured this cat is a friend. Not long after this she wanders off to get herbs a little closer to camp while Mallow and Soot catch up.

“Y’know, she looks like she could be our kit.” “I mean, she’s my sister’s, so close enough.”

Sootear finds it amusing when he looks at Hallowpaw: with her tall, tufted ears, amber eyes, and long fur that sticks out despite how much it’s washed, she looks halfway like his kin. Her demeanor is far more like Mallowcloud’s, though. At gatherings, Soot notices that Hallow has the same kind of relationship with her siblings that Mallow does with his (an observation that Mallowcloud is very much aware of), and in a way feels a sense of protectiveness towards the quiet molly.

caffeine addiction, wow what a moron