StarClan

StarClan are the deceased warrior ancestors of the Clans who live on in spirit form after dying, and watch over the living Clan cats. There is no specific leader for StarClan since there are many cats from all five Clans that work together. They are responsible for sending signs and omens to the living cats.

## Connections

StarClan act somewhat like guardians to the living Clan cats, often warning them of dangers ahead or to guide them in times of need. Ancestors usually watch over the living cats of their former Clan, and especially over cats who were close to them in their lifetime. Living cats visit StarClan in their dreams, although StarClan cats are able to appear even in the waking world, but such appearances are rare. Medicine cats are specially bonded with StarClan, and they are the cats who are usually contacted by their ancestors. At every half-moon, the medicine cats and medicine cat apprentices of each Clan go to their sacred place, the Moonstone or Moonpool, to speak with their ancestors, to seek advice or to learn of things awaiting in their futures. To receive the signs of StarClan, medicine cats either touch their nose to the cold surface of the Moonstone, or drink the cool water of the Moonpool to initiate their dreams. Besides medicine cats, StarClan cats sometimes send messages to leaders. All Clan cats give thanks to StarClan after catching prey for the life the prey has given to feed the Clan.

### Ceremonies

All Clan ceremonies are believed to be supervised by StarClan. The Clan leader performing a ceremony calls upon the warrior ancestors, and promotes a cat to their new rank by the powers of StarClan. The leader asks that StarClan welcome them by a new name, such as when a kit is named an apprentice. StarClan has the greatest role during leadership ceremonies, giving the new leader their nine lives and new name. Each of the lives are granted by a single ancestor, usually a cat the new leader had cherished when the cat was alive such as a loved family member or mentor. When a life is granted to a leader, they are given a special gift or attribute to make them a good leader, such as endurance, courage or strength.

## Life In The Stars

Once a cat reaches StarClan, they learn all about the territories, including the story of SkyClan. Cats in StarClan are restored to the age in which they were happiest. They also do not age in StarClan. Cats who die keep their name at the highest rank they had or would have achieved, for example, if a cat died as an apprentice, they would be named their apprentice name. There is always plenty of prey, so hunting is easy, and cats have no defined tasks (such as hunting and training). They are free to do as they please, so they are mostly content except when seeing living cats suffer. StarClan has no hierarchy, and there is no defined leader or deputy and cats respect each other in StarClan, although cats respect those who were their leaders or mentors in the living world. But, once a StarClan cat ceases to be remembered by any living or dead cats, they will slowly seem to appear as the faintest star and will live their life in StarClan peacefully and alone. Usually, they do not send dreams to any living cats except on special occasions.

## Relatives

#### The Place Of No Stars

The opposite of StarClan is the Place of No Stars, or Dark Forest, which is where cats who had committed the worst possible crimes when they had lived go to when they die. It has a sort of border with StarClan's hunting grounds, appearing as a wall of mist. StarClan cats can enter the Place of No Stars, but when they do, they risk being unable to escape, and might be trapped forever in the dark, eerily lit forest. Cats who make up the Place of No Stars, have no choice but to stay where they are.

#### The Tribe of Endless Hunting

The Tribe have their own spirit ancestors, the Tribe of Endless Hunting. The Tribe of Endless Hunting do not send dreams to the Tribe cats, but instead send prophecies through moonlight patterns and and the shape of rocks in the Cave of Pointed Stones. These signs are sent to the Tribe's Healer, Teller of the Pointed Stones, or Stoneteller. If a cat dies protecting the Tribe, they will be able to walk with both StarClan and the Tribe of Endless Hunting.