I no longer believe in what I said in this theory. For more info, go to these two theories: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1067925239/ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1071743581/ ————————————————————————— When you see '[next]' use the space bar, use the right arrow key, or click to go to the next image. TW: Poisoning, Overd0sing A common theory among EA fans is that Adderpaw is Salmonpaw's mom. There are many other theories that explain this better than I can, but I'll give you a run down for your convenience. [next] First, Hazepelt mentions Salmonpaw being just like her mom after Salmon black-mailed Hazepelt. Who is someone Hazepelt knew that would black mail someone? Adderpaw. [next] Salmonpaw has the same fur colors as Adderpaw and the same eye color as Cherrypaw. The two are shown as very close, meaning that Salmonpaw is probably their child. [next] Simple stuff out of the way, let's get into the bulk of the theory. Adderpaw is suspected to be a villain. Fish literally made a map part to the song villain, featuring Adderpaw. Along with that, there was an entire joke about Adder being a super villain in Chapter 28. In EA October, Fish also said they were the strongest EA character. A theory that I have is that Adder is responsible for Featherstar, Redeye's, and possibly other's deaths. Though they could've used their strength to do this, they obviously did it for a long time without being caught. How would she do this? Poison. [next] Adderpaw is seen to be good at using and recognizing herbs. This fact is brought up by Hazepaw (also in Chapter 28), to which Adder says she simply listens when Haze rants about being a medic apprentice. They could easily know ways to kill cats in a difficult-to-trace way. [next] What does this have to do with Salmonpaw? Well, first I need to talk about the flowers. It is common knowledge in EA that the flowers represent blood and/or how cats died. Volepaw's eye and neck and Breezypaw coughing up flowers are good examples. However, Salmon's flowers are never physically shown in/on her body. Her only symptom is dreams. So, could the flowers be in her brain? [next] Here's the idea: after Adder??? was banished for her crimes, she left prey laced with enough of a seemingly harmless herb to kill someone. Possibly poppyseeds, which put a cat to sleep. Unfortunately, instead of her target eating the prey, her daughter did, causing Salmonpaw's demise. This would explain why the symptoms were in Salmon's brain but not her body. I also think Hazepelt may have been killed in this way, as she also has no visible flowers and also has dream symptoms. [next] That, however, is just my theory for how she died; we still have The Cave to get into. My main basis for this part of the theory is the song 'The Cave' by Mumford and Sons, which Salmonpaw shares with the wolf. There are a few reasons the wolf could also be part of this song; they could be another victim of Adder, or they even could be Adder. (check out this theory by @ladnat for more info: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/993949517/ ) For the sake of this theory, I’ll be assuming the second option. [next] Before we start to break down the lyrics, let’s go over the main symbolism of the song. The Cave by Mumford and Sons is based of an analogy from Plato’s Republic, also called the cave. The idea is that three people have been chained in a cave since birth, their backs to a fire and facing a wall. Occasionally, people will walk in front of the fire, casting shadows on the wall in front of the prisoners. Since all they know is the shadows, they assume the shadows are all there is. In some versions of the stories, their captors are making certain shaped shadows to distract the prisoners from discovering the truth (as shown in the image). However, randomly, the chains of one of the prisoners break, and they stumble out of the cave into the real world. The light is harsh and unfamiliar to him, and he is confused at everything around him; he spent his whole life thinking the shadows were real, and now he sees they were just echos of real things. Eventually, his eyes adjust to the light and he starts to understand the world around him. When he goes back to the other people in the cave, wanting to free them, they respond with aggression. For them, ignorance is bliss, and they don’t want to have to re-examine their views. Connecting this to Salmonpaw and Adderpaw, Adder might find out a dark secret about Shadowclan, but might not be able to convince the others to consider it. For Salmonpaw, they might see echos of the real world in the cave, leading them to wonder what’s real and what’s fake. [next] Now it’s lyric time. (Chorus:) But I will hold in hope And I won’t let you choke On the noose around your neck And I’ll find strength in pain And I will change my ways I’ll know my name as it’s called again (CONT)
For Adder, I see this as either a promise to the ignorant that she won’t give up on them or the other’s promise to not let her go through on her evil ways. For Salmon, I see this as her reaching out to people who are trapped, also promising to not leave them behind. (Verse 1, Part 1) It’s empty in the valley of your heart The sun it rises slowly as you walk Away from all the fears And all the faults you’ve left behind I think this part mostly fits Adder. The first line could represent feeling unloved or not loving anybody. The second could show the sun shining away all the lies and shadows. For the last two, I hear it as someone running from their sins. (Verse 1, Part 2) The harvest left no food for you to eat You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see But I have seen the same I know the shame in your defeat I also think this best represents Adder. The first two lines, the idea of someone having to kill to feed themselves, makes me think that she was a victim of circumstance. She was at the wrong place in the wrong time and made a bad decision, causing her to become evil. Alternatively, it could be someone catching her in the act of killing purely by luck. The last two lines make me think of someone who understands Adder trying to reach out to her, possibly another ‘evil’ cat like OJ. [next] (Verse 2, Part 1) ‘Cause I have other things to fill my time You take what is yours and I’ll take mine Now let me at the truth Which will refresh my broken mind. This relates to both Salmon and Adder. I think this is someone rejecting another’s help in the pursuit of truth. For Salmon, this is disobeying Featherstar and going into the woods, and for Adder she rejects others trying to take her off her evil path. They are both striving for information and the truth. (Verse 2, Part 2) So tie me to a post and block my ears I can see widows and orphans through my tears I know my call despite my faults And despite my growing fears I don’t understand the first line as much, but ‘widows and orphans’ could refer to either Salmonpaw with Starclan or Adderpaw with Cherrypaw (and maybe the family of her victims). The last two lines are an obvious call back to the first verse, and it seems to refer to Salmonpaw. Instead of running away from her fears and faults like her mother, she confronts them. This could be a hero vs villain comparison. (Verse 3) So come out of the cave walking on your hands And see the world hanging upside down You can understand dependance Once you know the maker’s lands This one seems pretty self-explanatory for me: once Salmon emerges from the cave her world will seem upside-down, strange, and disorienting. However, the only way to understand the world around her is to enter the cave. [next] (Bridge) So make your sirens call And sing all you want I will not hear what you have to say ‘Cause I need freedom now And I need to know how To live my life as it’s meant to be I see the bridge as Salmon and Adder getting fed up with those restraining them from finding the truth. They refer to the distractor’s words as a ‘siren’s call’ that is trying to keep them from the their goal. They refer to knowledge as freedom that will help them live their life as it’s meant to be, which fits for both cats. The song ends with the chorus repeating, except louder and more desperate, as the voices again call out for them to stop. And that concludes my theory :D (which is the longest one to date) The Cave by Mumford and Sons Story, art, and characters by @Meadowfoot_ToPH Also, Meadow, if you’re interested in a third music and art, I would suggest Hurt by Johnny Cash and It Was a Sin by The Revivalists.
