The Place of No Stars (residence)

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, like Mudclaw.
==Description==
===General===
:There is no prey but cats feel no hunger. Instead of walking the skies with friends and kin 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===
:Clan cats are aware of the Dark Forest, and older warriors and elders frequently tell 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===
: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.
==Territory==
: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.
:The entrance to the Moonpool lies underneath a large tree with thick, twisting roots alone in a clearing. Cats must climb the tall branches to reach the Moonpool above and then swim through it to enter the living realm.
:The Dark Forest is connected to the other afterlives through the River of Spirits, though only the wildcats and their ancestors have learned how to travel between various afterlives.
===The island===
:Within the Dark Forest is an island that was utilized by Ashfur as his headquarters. Prior to Ashfur's death, it was surrounded by a dark lake, though the island itself is little more than a stretch of mud with decaying trees sagging at odd angles, but a narrow strip connects to the mainland within the residence. The island was the place used by Ashfur to keep his enslaved ghosts, as well as briefly the corpse of Bramblestar when it was not in use. However, the island disappeared under the rising dark water, forcing Ashfur to find a new location for his camp.
==History==
: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 deaths 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.
:Seasons later, Tigerstar summoned his sons, Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost, in their dreams briefly. Tigerstar continued to meet in his sons' dreams and instructed them how to rise into the ranks as deputies and leaders of their Clans. Leafpool witnessed one particular visit in her dreams and became to distrust Brambleclaw and his loyalty to ThunderClan. Tigerstar wished for his sons to rule the lake, and plotted for his sons to violently take over the Clans at a Gathering. Tigerstar attempted to reach out to Tawnypelt, but she refused his help. Suspecting Brambleclaw had doubts, Tigerstar plotted with Hawkfrost to test Brambleclaw's loyalty by luring Firestar to a fox trap so Brambleclaw could kill him. Instead, Brambleclaw killed Hawkfrost, sending his spirit to the Dark Forest.
:Tigerstar and Hawkfrost attempted to lure Jaypaw into the Dark Forest when he accidentally wandered there while dreaming at the Moonpool. They offered to teach him some fighting moves so he could become a warrior, but Spottedleaf whisked Jaypaw away before he could decide. Failing with Jaypaw, Tigerstar and Hawkfrost found success with his brother Lionpaw; Tigerstar briefly materialized to assist Lionpaw with his training, though Brambleclaw found Lionpaw's new battle moves a bit odd. Tigerstar and Hawkfrost later promised to teach Lionpaw how to become a powerful warrior, and conducted nightly training sessions with him to improve his skills. However, Lionpaw grew frustrated with Tigerstar when he was dismissive of Lionpaw's role in the prophecy, and became more aggressive and controlling of him. Lionblaze attempted to break ties from Tigerstar after he learned Brambleclaw wasn't his father, and he managed to beat Tigerstar in battle to break away from him.
:The Dark Forest continued to recruit living Clan cats in their dreams, including Breezepelt and Tigerheart. While visiting the Moonpool to speak to Honeyfern, Poppyfrost and Jayfeather were attacked by Breezepelt and Brokenstar's spirit. Honeyfern's spirit from StarClan arrived to help them, and Yellowfang warned Jayfeather that the spirits of the Dark Forest were rising. Rock also warned Jayfeather of ancient grievances that would soon be settled. Jayfeather and Lionblaze later surmised that a battle would soon come between the Dark Forest and StarClan. Suspicious of the Dark Forest training living cats, Yellowfang, Spottedleaf, and Jayfeather snuck into the Dark Forest, but only spotted Tigerstar and Hawkfrost training their fellow spirits. Meanwhile, Hawkfrost began to visit Ivypaw in her dreams, teaching her battle moves and feeding off her jealously of her sister Dovepaw. Hawkfrost later introduced Ivypaw to the rest of the Dark Forest spirits, instructing her that they're all Clanmates now. Hawkfrost and Tigerstar also manipulated Ivypaw to trick Firestar into reclaiming land he had once given to ShadowClan. This resulted in a battle between the two Clans, resulting in the loss of Russetfur's life, one of Firestar's nine lives, and doubt to be stirred in StarClan over the Dark Forest's influence. StarClan began to grow more divided as the Dark Forest grew stronger, re-establishing Clan borders as their hunting grounds faded from greenleaf to leaf-fall.
:The Place of No Stars residents continued to recruit numerous cats from all four Clans, feeding off their insecurities and wishes to be a better warrior for their Clan. When Ivypaw began to see the error of her ways, she agreed to spy for Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovepaw. Tigerstar announced his plans to the trainees to invade the living world and destroy the Clans. During a brutal training session, Antpelt was killed by Thistleclaw, and his spirit was later killed by Ivypool in order to prove herself worthy of becoming a Dark Forest warrior. As the battle drew near, Tigerstar and the other senior Dark Forest warriors began drawing up battle plans to attack the Clans in numerous places at once and targeting the nurseries. The Dark Forest warriors manipulated their trainees into a false promise of a paradise where the the four Clans would be united, and began exploring the Clans' territories at night to scope out areas to attack, informing the trainees they were learning about the best places to assist the other Clans. Tigerstar, Hawkfrost, Brokenstar, Mapleshade, and Thistleclaw informed their living Dark Forest warriors of their intent to attack the Clans, resulting in Beetlewhisker's death when he attempted to leave in protest. The Dark Forest launched their attack on all four camps at once and targeted their kits, though the Clans met them head on. Ivypool managed to convince most of the trainees to fight for their Clans instead, though Hawkfrost and Thistleclaw attacked Ivypool when they discovered her treachery. The Clans fought back furiously against the Dark Forest warriors and were soon joined by the Ancients and StarClan. The remaining Dark Forest spirits fled after Tigerstar's death at Firestar's claws.
:In the moons following the Great Battle and the Dark Forest's defeat, the afterlife became empty again as the spirits there resumed their walks of solitude. Meanwhile, Ashfur saw this as an opportunity for revenge; he sealed off the original entrance between StarClan and the Dark Forest and created his own entrance. Convincing StarClan that he needed to observe the living Clans, Ashfur possessed Bramblestar's body, and sealed off his secret entrance, blocking both StarClan and the Dark Forest from the Clans. Without their connection to the Clans, both the Place of No Stars and StarClan began to fade, with the Dark Forest disappearing under a growing thick mist and dark water. Ashfur promised the remaining Dark Forest spirits that he would teach them how to possess living cats so they could live again. Meanwhile, Ashfur trapped Bramblestar's ghost in the Dark Forest, and Shadowsight briefly found his spirit. The ShadowClan medicine cat also found a pool of stars trapped in the Dark Forest underneath a thick den of thorn branches, vines, and bramble tendrils. Ashfur also began harvesting dead spirits into the Dark Forest, preventing Clan cats from entering StarClan, and putting them under his mind control. Though Ashfur's possession could be broken by strong emotions and distance. The dark warrior later dragged Squirrelflight through the Moonpool to the Dark Forest, though she and Bramblestar escaped with the help of Rootspring, Shadowsight, and Snowtuft, a Dark Forest cat. However, Bristlefrost and Shadowsight returned to the Dark Forest to save Rootspring.
:Having escaped from Ashfur, Bristlefrost, Shadowsight, Rootspring, Stemleaf, Spiresight, and Willowshine discovered the former entrance to StarClan, now sealed up with a thick bramble wall. They discovered that hope will weaken the barrier. Sensing Ashfur drawing nearer, the cats split up to gather more hope. Not all of the Dark Forest spirits agreed with Ashfur's schemes, however; Bristlefrost managed to convince Maggottail, Sparrowfeather, and Redwillow to fight to save the Dark Forest, and Rootspring convinced Silverhawk. Upon Shadowsight's request, the five Clans sent cats into the Dark Forest to help the others: Crowfeather, Graystripe, Mistystar, Violetshine, and Shadowsight. More StarClan cats emerged from the now opened barrier: Needletail, Firestar, Silverstream, Feathertail, Onestar, Redtail, and Larksong. Juniperclaw also arrived from the Dark Forest to help, though the others were wary of his intentions. The group of living and dead cats found Ashfur waiting for them with his army of rogue spirits, including Darktail. The battle ended when Bristlefrost dragged Ashfur's spirit in the dark water, causing them both to disappear forever. Bristlefrost's sacrifice caused the dark water and fog to fade away, and re-established both the Dark Forest and StarClan with the living world. With the entrance to StarClan now freed, Juniperclaw was tasked with guarding the tunnel entrance between the afterlives so cats could not pass through ever again.
==Known residents==
===StarClan===
:Ashfur 
===ThunderClan===
===ShadowClan===
===SkyClan===
===WindClan===
===RiverClan===
===Other===
===Cats of unknown origins or Clans===
The Place of No Stars likely hosts more spirits, but only the presence of the aforementioned ones was confirmed in the books.
==Known trainees==
===ThunderClan===
===ShadowClan===
===RiverClan===
===WindClan===
===Cats of unknown origins or Clans===
:Unnamed she-cat
==Gallery==
The Place of No Stars (residence).SE-4.png|The Place of No Stars in Crookedstar's Promise
OTS-6-FC.jpg|The Place of No Stars (residence) on the cover of The Last Hope
TBC-5-FC.jpg|The Place of No Stars (residence) on the cover of The Place of No Stars
TBC-6-FC.jpg|The Place of No Stars (residence) on the cover of A Light in the Mist
==Trivia==
===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." 
===Author statements===
*Kate thinks that the Dark Forest only exists because warriors invented it.
**Kate has also said she thinks One Eye may have founded the Place of No Stars, though he was not a warrior.
*Vicky thinks that Ripplestar went to the Dark Forest.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
*During the Erin Hunter Chat 7, Vicky stated that Hawkheart likely went to the Dark Forest. Later, in 2014, she indicated that Hawkheart was probably in StarClan.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
*Kate thinks that Beetle, Bee, and Slash may have gone to the Dark Forest.
===Mistakes===
*The Place of No Stars was mistakenly called DarkClan in The Last Hope.
===Continuity===
*In Crookedstar's Promise, when Crookedjaw learns that he's been training in the Dark Forest, he acts in disbelief like he's never heard of it. In Starlight, Brambleclaw is also unfamiliar of where his father's spirit might lie. However, Mapleshade's Vengeance, Pinestar's Choice, Leopardstar's Honor, Spottedleaf's Heart and The Last Hope establish that the Clans knew about the Dark Forest.
*On Vicky's Facebook, Deerfoot, Tangleburr, and Lilywhisker reside in the Dark Forest.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook Blizzardwing, Brightflower, and Marshcloud also resided in the Dark Forest, but were confirmed to be StarClan residents in Blackfoot's Reckoning, The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition, and on the Warrior Cats website family tree, respectively.
**In addition, the black and white tom and the light brown tabby she-cat from Spottedleaf's Heart are named Batear and Fenneldust, respectively. Batear came from ShadowClan and Fenneldust from ThunderClan.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
==Quotes==
==See also==
*Place of No Stars residents
*Place of No Stars visitors
*Place of No Stars trainees
*StarClan
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
cs:Temný lesde:Wald der Finsternisfi:Synkkä Metsäfr:Forêt Sombreit:Foresta Oscuranl:Het Duistere Woudpl:Bezgwiezdna Ziemia (Miejsce)pt-br:Floresta Sombriaru:Сумрачный лесsv:Platsen utan stjärnoruk:Темний лісko:별이_없는_곳(장소)
Category:Locations
Category:Clans and groups
Category:Afterlives