For the Love of Spottedleaf

[tempest]

I've been a bit hesitant in making this thread and overall forum involvement but it's about time to jump into it feet first (never head first.) Anyways here goes nothing.

When I first started reading Warriors I started in the second arc. I don't know if I realized it was a series when I picked the book out and just didn't care* or what. I slowly worked my ways through the second arc and then jumped back into the first arc. I remember the relationship between Spottedleaf and Firepaw being mentioned. I was surprised to say the least at what I discovered.

For starters Spottedleaf was barely even alive in the books. She died in Into the Wild during a fight with Clawface. In all of her other appearances she is a StarClan cat. Her interactions with Firepaw are practically nonexistent or at least undocumented. I recall them talking once maybe twice neither of those interactions even hinting at what the Erins are trying to pass off as 'romance.' One was just a warning for Firepaw, which isn't something I'd consider out of the ordinary considering she was the medicine cat. No ma'ams you aren't fooling anyone but yourself and your tons of blindly devoted fans.

She appears regularly in Firepaw/star's dreams to help guide him. In several places within the series Sandstorm makes comments about Spottedleaf and how it makes her uncomfortable that she visits Firestar in his dreams even thigh this eventually comes to a stop. Spottedleaf also comments on the love triangle in the short story "Spottedleaf's Honest Answer". If you haven't read it here is a brief summary provided by the WarriorsWiki:

Spottedleaf is the main character in the story.

She speaks about what she thinks about the pairing of Firestar and Sandstorm. She tells that she will love Firestar forever, even though her role as a medicine cat will keep her from being with him. And though she could never have Firestar as a mate, she would have walked beside him as he became a warrior, then deputy, and then leader.
She also tells of just how much she wants to be with him. She admits that she wishes that somehow Sandstorm would vanish and she could just stop being a medicine cat. Then she states that she knows that they can never be together but she will never stop watching over him.

Along with Firestar, Spottedleaf knew that Leafpool has a special destiny, and that she will guard Squirrelflight and her sister as best as she can.

It was also confirmed that Spottedleaf and Tigerstar, her nephew, was descended from SkyClan.

Here are a couple quotes provided by the wiki that provide a little more insight this relationship.

"With this life I give you love. Use it well, for all the cats in your care-and especially for Sandstorm."
—Spottedleaf to Fireheart The Darkest Hour, page 53

"That was never going to happen, my love. I cannot journey with you anymore. I'm so sorry."
—Spottedleaf to Firestar The Last Hope, page 315

Are both quotes that hint at some sort of romance between the two that never really happened. Obviously the Erins fancy themselves some sort of superior beings and whatever they say must be true because if it wasn't how could they have been in love? They couldn't of. As far as I could tell they had a standard medicine cat/apprentice relationship which is something along the lines of: 'apprentice gets hurt; medicine cat makes it better.' A lot of the 'romantic' bits of the relationship seemed tacked on in a poor effort to say: 'OHYEAH, WE FORGOT BUT SPOTTEDLEAF AND FIREPAW ARE BONKERS IN LOVE. KAY? PRETEND THIS DOESN'T SEEMED FORCED AND COMPLETELY UNORGANIC.'

The whole relationship seems completely like a last minute addition** before the books went to the presses. Honestly if it hadn't been awkwardly shoved in my face in random places throughout the fandom I probably never would of noticed. I understand their intent was a romantic relationship between the two but their writing is of such a poor quality it almost never shows up. Sorry Erin, maybe you'll get a gold star next time.

*Contary to popular belief I can start reading a series in the middle and understand fine.
**Feel this way about a lot of things in the series. I feel like they're so busy pumping out super editions, guides, Warriors manga, adventure games, andeverythingthatisn'tqualitywriting they forget to add things into the story which results in awkward and unnatural plot transition.

[Grey]

Obviously the Erins fancy themselves some sort of superior beings and whatever they say must be true because if it wasn't how could they have been in love?

I believe the phrase is "show, don't tell". Naturally, there are times in stories that you can use either, but in this particular case, Erin Hunter is relying solely on author's say-so, rather than evidence. Neither Spottedleaf or Firepaw/Fireheart actually seem to act as though they like each other all that much - they certainly don't appear to be two star-crossed lovers from what I can remember. I think they just repeat over and over that they totally dig each other.

Sandstorm: "Nice weather today, isn't it?"
Fireheart: "Yes, I do love Spottedleaf, thank you for asking."

Erin Hunter, master of dialogue and subtle emotion.

A lot of the 'romantic' bits of the relationship seemed tacked on in a poor effort to say: 'OHYEAH, WE FORGOT BUT SPOTTEDLEAF AND FIREPAW ARE BONKERS IN LOVE. KAY? PRETEND THIS DOESN'T SEEMED FORCED AND COMPLETELY UNORGANIC.'

Exactly this. I wouldn't mind drawing a few parallels between these two and Romeo and Juliet. Those latter two were mental as, and their "love" was basically crazy teenage infatuation - but there's definite evidence of action. They didn't just sigh on their balconies about how they love each other; Romeo broke into people's houses and slayed cousins on behalf of love, and Juliet got up to all kinds of shenanigans and pretty much yolo'd out of her home to elope. I think Romeo and Juliet were probably one of the least successful teenage romances ever (considering they both end up dead after only three days), but there's no denying it was a romance.

As you said, Tempest:

Honestly if it hadn't been awkwardly shoved in my face in random places throughout the fandom I probably never would of noticed.

Firepaw/Fireheart and Spottedleaf's is only a canon 'relationship' because Erin Hunter had to blatantly point it out. You wouldn't even know it was a romance if it weren't for the random, jarring dialogue to remind you. That's atrocious writing.

[celestialsquared]

Oct 21, 2012 19:47:33 GMT -6 tempest said:

The whole relationship seems completely like a last minute addition** before the books went to the presses.

This is the honest truth about most things in the series. Vicky even admitted herself that she often comes up with plot points after she's already two or three books into the series. Things are rarely planned out and when they finally do come up with an idea, it's hastily thrown in, creating an awkward flow of events.

For starters Spottedleaf was barely even alive in the books. She died in Into the Wild during a fight with Clawface. In all of her other appearances she is a StarClan cat. Her interactions with Firepaw are practically nonexistent or at least undocumented. I recall them talking once maybe twice neither of those interactions even hinting at what the Erins are trying to pass off as 'romance.' One was just a warning for Firepaw, which isn't something I'd consider out of the ordinary considering she was the medicine cat. No ma'ams you aren't fooling anyone but yourself and your tons of blindly devoted fans.

I remember reading some of Ten's notes of Into The Wild and laughing at Erin's attempt at creating romance between the two. Basically, Spottedleaf goes about her medic business and Firepaw gawks at her like he's never seen a she-cat before. Yup. Sounds like true love to me.
Heck, I barely even noticed her when she was alive. All I knew was that suddenly Fireheart is dreaming about her and apparently he liked her? When did this happen? Off screen? If Fireheart is the main character, why didn't you bother to tell us how he and Spottedleaf fell in love? I was especially confused when Fireheart felt such strong hatred towards Clawface and kills him with Spottedleaf's help. At that point, I decided to let it go and move on with the story.

[leah]

This is interesting to think about because I knew from lines in future books that Fireheart loved her for some incomprehensible reason but I never would have guessed that Spottedleaf loved him back. Of all those times where she "treated Firestar gently" or whatever, I just thought it was because Spottedleaf was the sweetest cat you could ever know, I mean she treated all cats gently... pretty much... the whole idea that every single Medicine Cat despite it being against Warrior Code has to be in love because of some odd, twisted reason is just pathetic. Can't we just have a Meddie Cat who doesn't give a crap about love? Please?

[saphirabunny]

What this always felt to me honestly was like it was a crush, and an unhealthy one too. Nothing more, nothing less. Just a crush on a cat Firepaw couldn't get and who he was physically attracted to. I just wanted him to let go and the thrown in romantic parts particularly annoyed me. I liked Spottedeaf, but all the "romantic fluff" was bull.