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Hawkfrost and Darkstripe both die without taking an actual life, and end up in the Dark Forest. Meanwhile, Yellowfang and Hollyleaf both kill someone in cold blood, but end up in StarClan. (I say this as a Hollyleaf fan).
The tragedy is that the bears had to hide themselves from the world to stay safe. But they never felt safe. In the end the Guardians left their children behind to pursue evil but were chasing a Shadow for years. So they wasted their life on trying to protect their young by killing the enemy.
- Overview
- Description
- Territory
- History
- Known residents
- Known trainees
- Trivia
- Quotes
The Place of No Stars, informally known as the Dark Forest, is the opposite of StarClan's hunting grounds. It is a place where cats that have committed great crimes against their Clans and the warrior code go when they die. However, cats who commit crimes but believe they are following the warrior code can usually join the ranks of StarClan instead...
General
Thistleclaw: "StarClan? You mouse-brain! This isn't StarClan! Those smug, toothless fools won't teach you anything as useful as this." Crookedjaw: "This isn't StarClan? Then...where am I?" Silverhawk: "This is the Dark Forest. This is where you go if StarClan won't take you." —Crookedjaw in the Dark Forest Crookedstar's Promise, page 345 There is no prey and cats feel no hunger. Instead of walking the skies with friends and family like in StarClan, cats here are banished to walk through the forest in solitude. Much like in StarClan, cats of the Place of No Stars who are forgotten by all living cats fade away to little more than ghostlike spirits, who haunt the Dark Forest. Time also passes strangely, with residents often losing track of how much time has passed. Several Dark Forest spirits can walk in the dreams of living cats, though it is a skill that must be learned. Usually in the dream, the cat finds themselves in the Dark Forest with the deceased cat. Though sometimes Dark Forest cats can enter into living cats' dreams, such as Tigerstar summoning Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost into Brambleclaw's dream of ThunderClan's former camp and Hawkfrost visiting Ivypaw in a field she dreamed of. There seems to be no limitations on who the Dark Forest cats can visit, although if a cat consciously decides that they don't want to be visited any more, it seems to prevent it from happening again. Upon waking up from the dream, they will retain all characteristics acquired; for example, if they get wounded in the Dark Forest, they will have the same wound in reality as well. This also applies to fatigue and skills practiced in the dream. This also includes death, as cats who are killed in the Dark Forest die in real life. At times, cats can dream themselves into the Dark Forest without a spirit guide, by harnessing on dark thoughts and being open to negative emotions, such as anger and hatred fear, anguish and hopelessness, and jealousy. Cats can enter with their physical body by being dragged by a spirit cat through the Moonpool. StarClan cats are able to pass into the Place of No Stars if they need to, but by doing so, they risk the chance of becoming lost and never finding their way out again. From StarClan, there is a barrier of sorts consisting of a great cloud of mist, which eventually leads to the Dark Forest. Living cats are able to visit the Dark Forest when guided by a StarClan cat, although on one occasion Leafpool was able to see it without any StarClan cat to help her. Dark Forest cats can also sometimes materialize into the living world though on rare occasions. It is said that only Clan cats can find their way to the Place of No Stars. Although with individuals such as Darkstripe and Darktail who were not part of a Clan at the time of their death, they most likely must have some correlation with Clan life to be put in the residence post-death. Darktail specifically was brought to the Dark Forest by Ashfur, along with numerous rogue spirits.
Relation to living cats
"I heard your mother was sick when you were born. What could have made her sick? Probably a rotten kit, that's what! [...] You're going to end up in the Dark Forest with all the other murderers." ―Skykit to Leopardkit Leopardstar's Honor, pages 14-15 Clan cats are aware of the Dark Forest, and older warriors and elders frequently told tales of the spirits there as warnings for apprentices. Mentioning the Dark Forest is often used a fear tactic. Throughout the Clans' history, the Dark Forest has preyed on cats in the living world, manipulating them and teaching them advanced battle moves through brutal training sessions in their dreams. Spending time in the Dark Forest can also turn a good cat bad. Numerous Dark Forest spirits wished for vengeance on the living world, and plotted for war against the Clans. In the moons since the Great Battle, the Clans passed on nursery tales of the Dark Forest, and often spoke in hush murmurs about the spirits that resided there.
Trials
"Deciding who can join StarClan and who should be in the Dark Forest is a hard decision, and we don't take it lightly. A gathering of StarClan warriors discusses every cat to try to understand what is in their hearts, and to judge whether they should be allowed to join us." ―Onestar about the trial process A Light in the Mist (book), page 297 StarClan decides if a cat should go to the Dark Forest. When a Clan cat dies, a group of StarClan cats meet and discuss whether or not to grant them access to StarClan, deciding based upon if the cat broke the warrior code, their reasons for breaking it, or if they believed they were acting in the best interest of their Clan. If StarClan has deemed them worthy of the Dark Forest, their spirit will materialize in the Place of No Stars.
«The trees clustered close together here, their branches entwined over Ivypool's head. It was a relief not to be able to see the starless sky, always the most frightening reminder that she wasn't in ThunderClan.»
—Ivypool's thoughts about the Dark Forest Sign of the Moon, page 127
The Dark Forest is a dark, shadowy forest with lots of tall, dark, gray trees. It is mentioned to be a dull, vast empty place—the complete opposite of StarClan's hunting grounds, which are warm and sunny and bright. The air is cold, thick, foggy and damp and it has an echoing silence. It smells of damp earth, rotting wood, and rotting fresh-kill. There is a pale sickly light and a chilly wind blowing. The Dark Forest also has a black and starless sky, and the trees are so tall, it is impossible to see anything above them, as no light can reach it. Mist is mentioned to wreathe the thick, sticky, bare forest floor. It has a sluggish river, its waters dark and lifeless with no stepping stones or fallen trees to be used to cross it, and around the river is sucking mud. Fungus eerily glows on trees, and there is limited undergrowth beyond dead ferns, mulchy grass,and rotting weeds and bracken.
The land also appears to shift with caves and tunnels, valleys and rocky slopes, marshes and ridges, and endless forests with dead trees. Cats can have difficulty trekking through the changing terrain. There is a large lake with black water that feels like soft pelts and ice cold water. A low, small muddy island sits in the middle of the lake with rotting trees. A slim stretch of mud leads from the shore to the island.
The border between the Dark Forest and StarClan is a white, eerie light. Here the grass is thin, and it eventually disappears altogether. At this point, the air becomes so foggy, that any cat there finds themselves having trouble breathing. This border was sealed by Ashfur with thick bramble walls, tree branches, and vines woven together tightly. The barrier couldn't be forcefully pried away by brute force, but instead feelings of hope. The barrier was freed after Ashfur's defeat, and Juniperclaw vowed to guard the barrier for the rest of eternity, ensuring no cat would abuse it again.
Under Ashfur's reign and influence, he managed to shape the Dark Forest to his will by harnessing on dark emotions. A thick cold fog surrounded the boundaries of the Dark Forest, with the land and the cats living there disappearing. The fog was thick and roiling, and obscured the land behind it, and seemed moved closer with each passing day, causing the Dark Forest to shrink. The fog could also advance at incredible speeds. Dark, crow-black water also began emerging into pools and streams throughout the forest. The water is bone-chilling cold and saps the life of any cat who falls into it.
Mapleshade: "Am I dead? Is this StarClan?"
Unknown: "Not StarClan. This is the Dark Forest, the Place of No Stars. We welcome you, Mapleshade."
Mapleshade: "Who are you? Show yourself!"
Unknown: "Never. You have come here to walk alone in your blood-soaked memories."
—Mapleshade's welcome to the Dark Forest Mapleshade's Vengeance, page 44
It is unclear when the Dark Forest was created, though the Dark Forest cannot exist without StarClan. Maggottail was noted to be one of the oldest spirits residing there. Chronologically, One Eye is the eldest known cat in the Dark Forest, having terrorized the early settlers before the Clans were officially founded, though his afterlife residency has only been revealed by the Warrior Cats website. In the series, Mapleshade was the first cat to be shown entering the Dark Forest after her death, though she was not alone. Goosefeather was able to see her spirit in the living world with his powers, and he walked in the Dark Forest in his dreams. Following her death, Mapleshade vowed vengeance on Appledusk's kin, enacting her revenge on Crookedstar, Appledusk's great-grandson, when he promised to be loyal to his Clan above all else and that one day he would be Clan leader. Mapleshade watched over Crookedstar as a kit, and mentored him in his dreams, making him believe she was a StarClan cat. While Mapleshade was training Crookedjaw, Shredtail and Silverhawk began training Thistleclaw in preparation for him to become deputy one day. When Crookedjaw learned he was training in the Dark Forest, he attempted to break ties with Mapleshade, but she continued to haunt him for the rest of his life and took the blame for the death of his loved ones. Meanwhile, Thistleclaw excelled in his training in the Dark Forest. Mapleshade continued to speak in Tigerclaw's head throughout his life, mocking him, and guiding him.
StarClan
Ashfur[136] (faded)
ThunderClan
Mapleshade[137] Frecklewish[138] Thistleclaw[139] Darkstripe[140] (faded) Bramblestar[141] (unwillingly and formerly) Stemleaf[142] (prisoner and formerly) Rosepetal[142] (prisoner and formerly) Berrynose (prisoner and formerly) Squirrelflight[136] (unwillingly and formerly)
ShadowClan
Snowtuft[143] (faded) Brokenstar[144] (faded) Tigerstar (faded) Redwillow[145] (faded) Maggottail[146] Stumpytail[147] Clawface[148] Juniperclaw[149] (formerly) Antfur[142] (prisoner and formerly) Frondwhisker[142] (prisoner and formerly) Strikestone[142] (prisoner and formerly) Conefoot (prisoner and formerly)
ThunderClan
Thistleclaw[187] Brambleclaw[188] Lionblaze[189] Ivypool[190] Blossomfall[191] Birchfall[192] Thornclaw[193] Mousewhisker[194]
ShadowClan
Tigerheart[195] Unnamed cat[196] Ratscar[197] Redwillow[197] Applefur[198]
RiverClan
Crookedjaw[187] Hawkfrost[188] Minnowtail[199] Hollowflight[200] Icewing[201] Beetlewhisker[192]
Interesting facts
•The Warrior Cats website addressed Frecklewish's placement in the Dark Forest in an article after it generated controversy. They explained that she was sent there because she was "careless with the lives of kits because she is angry, and she assumes that someone else will take the responsibility of trying to save them [...] Frecklewish's callow negligence toward three kits in danger, and her lack of remorse for their eventual death, means she belongs in the Dark Forest."[205]
Author statements
•Kate thinks that the Dark Forest only exists because warriors invented it.[blog 1] •Kate has also said she thinks One Eye may have founded the Place of No Stars, though he was not a warrior.[blog 2][blog 3] •Vicky thinks that Ripplestar went to the Dark Forest.[206] •During the Erin Hunter Chat 7, Vicky stated that Hawkheart likely went to the Dark Forest.[207] Later, in 2014, she indicated that Hawkheart was probably in StarClan.[208] •Kate thinks that Beetle, Bee, and Slash may have gone to the Dark Forest.[blog 4]
Mistakes
•The Place of No Stars was mistakenly called DarkClan in The Last Hope.[209]
"This is where the greatest cats come after they die. And if you keep your promise, this is where you'll come one day."
―Mapleshade to Crookedpaw Crookedstar's Promise, page 185
«Does he guide my paws in battle? Was it only Tigerstar's training that helped him beat every enemy and leave the fight unscathed?»
—Lionpaw's thoughts about Tigerstar Eclipse, page 293
"The time is close! The day is nearing! We are going to invade the world of the Clans and destroy them and their warrior code, once and for all."
―Tigerstar Night Whispers, page 288
There's a group of cats in the df for the sole reason of being disabled: brightflower, stumpytail, lilywhisker and frecklewish. There might be more i don't remember but like both lilywhisker and brightflower have been confirmed by the erins to be there purely because of disability. Reply.
Mar 8, 2022 · Frecklewish was reasonably upset when she found out that Mapleshade was manipulating the Clan and using her brother’s name to blackmail the Clan. When Mapleshade is exiled, Frecklewish is angry. She is making sure Mapleshade leaves when she sees the kits drowning in the river.
In this exclusive article, the Story Team addresses the big question - does Frecklewish deserve her place in the Dark Forest?
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