A BRIEF FORWARD
The story you are about to read has already been published under the same name; however, I'm republishing it so that I can do a clean revamp of this story. When I was first writing the story, I fell out of touch with it and stopped writing for a while-thus, I decided that, when I finally got back to it, I was going to rewrite it completely so I could start on a blank slate and rework the characters to fit the style I had adjusted my writing ethic to.
However, that's not to say that I've not had a great enjoyment working on Fates of the Sea; at the current time I'm writing this, it's one of my projects that I am most invested in and working nearly every day on. I've grown to love and cherish nearly every character that I've created through writing it, and I hope that you come to grow the same fondness for them, too. They're each very special to me-even the background characters. Under the influence of other Warriors writers, I've learned how to enrich my storytelling and cast to create a truly immersive experience, which I do hope that you'll be able to understand and enjoy. Storytelling and writing have always been a huge part of my life, and writing using my favorite book series of all time is a truly special and enjoyable experience for me each time I sit down to work on this project.
I'm writing this foreword so that you're able to fully understand everything that I'm going to be putting into the story. I'll leave out most of the characterization and lore, so you can pick it up as you read, but I'll include any details that I want to share or think might be important towards your understanding of the story and its characters. Without further ado, here is said list:
1. STARCLAN. In the original series, StarClan is generally a pretty controversial topic-some people dislike how vague or prophetic messages are delivered at times, especially considering that StarClan's main purpose is to guide the living cats below, which is... something difficult to do when you don't actually directly instruct them on what they need to do. In Fates of the Sea, StarClan acts as a much more direct message-giver; they tell the medicine cats what needs to be done or what could happen clearly. However, in exchange for this directness, StarClan is much morelimited in their power. They can only truly be accessed by the Pond of Stars, and even so, contact can be draining for the StarClan cats, and at times messages cannot be fully delivered-and it may take awhile before contact can be established again.
2. Warriors in the Clans are divided into "sub-categories", if you will. They're all still warriors, and perform typical warrior duties-such as hunting, battling, and patrolling-but each "sub-category" has its own special niche and importance in the Clans. Additionally, different Clans have different "sub-categories" for their warriors depending on the specific needs of the Clan. Here's a quick rundown of each "sub-category":
Healers - Act as secondary medicine cats in the case of an emergency, and can be relied on to use a decent knowledge of herbs to heal Classmates in or after battle if the medicine cat is not available, or if a wound needs immediate treatment.
Mediators -Limited to two cats and one apprentice per Clan; act as peacemakers and diplomats within each Clan for the Clan itself-diplomacy between Clans is mainly reserved for the leaders, though the mediators may accompany them occasionally.
Architects -Tasked with the creation, construction, revision, and maintenance of structures within camp, including the camp walls or borders and dens, as well as changing the layout of the camp and clearing debris and waste from the camp.
Guides -Act as stand-in leaders or deputies; take up special leadership positions within the Clan and are engaged and involved more in the political climate and issues of the Clan; many deputies are also chosen from guides (though this is not a strict regulation or requirement).
Folklorists -SeaClan speciality; in charge of the storytelling, lore-keeping, and culture of the Clan; also sometimes participate in nursery duties, such as care for the kits and aiding expecting queens.
Coders -MistClan specialty; devise "codes" using body language and signals, and devise ways to implement them into Clan life and teach them to apprentices to be used for hunting, battles, or any other situation where silent signals would be useful.
Trackers -StoneClan speciality; tasked with much of the hunting and patrolling for the Clan and are typically the fastest on their paws; also do scouting to check for potential dangers or threats to the Clan, as well as any changes in the territory via weather.
Tunnelers - StoneClan speciality; construct and create intricate systems of tunnels in Clan territory that can be used for efficient hunting and as a retreat and safe-house during an emergency when it would be dangerous to remain in camp.
Fishers - SilverClan speciality; because of the Clan's diet largely consisting of fish, these cats are trained to fish efficiently and provide for the Clan using their skills; they also have a broader and more intricate knowledge of the river and its innerworkings, patterns, and channels.
3. As well as "sub-categories" for warriors, the four most senior warriors of in a Clan are known as "The Council". The Council's job is to advise their leader in decision-making using their wisdom and experience. They're typically called upon in Clan meetings and are trusted to be honest with their responses and advice. However, having four different cats also offers the leader different points of view, depending on what walks of life that cat has come from and their own personal beliefs and opinions.
4. There's a brief timeline that, though mentioned throughout the first few chapters, I'll put here for any additional or missed context. Firstly, during late leaf bare through early newleaf, a large and deadly greencough epidemic swept through the Clans and claimed the lives of several cats-if you check the Relations chapter, you will notice that even young cats succumbed to the illness. Additionally, around this time, the previous SeaClan leader, Milkstar, passed away, leaving his very young deputy Morningsong to take the position of leader. Though she has trained an apprentice and has the skills and experience needed for the position, there are several cats within SeaClan who don't think she's qualified for the job, and would rather see another cat-with one in mind specifically-fill the role. This has led to a serious rift in the Clan that could lead to issues later on...
5. Lastly, touching on three of the most major characters in the story-Cloudpaw, Gorsepaw, and Squirrelpaw. If you are familiar with the movieLuca that was released by Disney/Pixar in 2021, they are heavily based on the characters of Luca Paguro, Alberto Scorfano, and Giulia Marcovaldo, respectively. This characterization includes their personalities, but also headcanons that I have built for these three over the course of several years (which, yes, includes Cloudpaw and Squirrelpaw being siblings). With Gorsepaw being a main POV character, you'll get to see a part of where his story (and my headcanon) is going in Chapter 3. I would love to spoil right here and now, but I'll do my best to refrain from it... I just love them so much.
That should sum it all up. Thank you for taking the time to read this; I hope it wasn't too long, and I can promise you it'll come in handy to further enrich your reading experience. I truly appreciate it. That being said, enjoy the story... and welcome to the world of Fates of the Sea!