Starhollow

* Map
* Official art

**Starhollow** is the clan term for an empty hollow, hidden in the rocky hills near Mountainclan in the forest territories. They are the tall jagged peaks surrounding the hollow, a large cave opening leading to the Moonstone. It is home to the Moonstone, a sacred place to clan cats.

## Description

Starhollow is a hollow within the rocky hills near Mountainclan, which contains the Moonstone, surrounded by a shallow pool of clear water. The high stones that is home to the starhollow can easily be seen from far away. The earth is darker here, the grass coarser underpaw, giving away to bare rocky soil dotted with patches of heather. Inside the tunnel, leading to the Moonstone. The air inside is stale, with a tang of dust and stone. starhollow also has two tunnels, one to the Moonstone, and the other that goes somewhere deep into the earth. Cats must find their way through a tunnel by using their whiskers to feel the edges of it, or by following the scent trail of the cat ahead of them. The tunnels of the starhollow are very rocky and may cut the pads of a cat if they have gone down the wrong tunnel.
It opens up to a cavern arching high above the cats visiting. The vast curved walls in the cavern reach to the ceiling, finally opening to a hole. The scents of heather and wind wash down from the hole, and the moonlight illuminates the Moonstone. There is scent of water, stone, and earth, and a jumble of strange odors surround the place. The cat is then dazzled by an extremely bright light, caused by the moon reflected onto the Moonstone from a hole in the ceiling, and it bleaches the cat's fur white. Cats are often surprised by the power of the Moonstone. The Moonstone is several tail-lengths high. To communicate with starwalkers, all the cat must do is press their nose to the rock, and they fall asleep almost immediately. It is said to be very cold, and some cats believe they are not dreaming until they open their eyes, realizing their nose is no longer pressed against the rock.
This is where leaders and healer go to share tongues with starreader, who then talks to the starwalkers. Leaders go there to receive their nine lives or ask the starreader for help. Once they enter the tunnles, the cats must stay silent, the healer or the leader about to receive their nine lives must lean down and place their nose to the water surrounding the Moonstone as the starreader walks up to the Moonstone. They will gradually fall into a special dream sent by starwalkers. They then dream about their warrior ancestors, and are able to walk with them. Cats come here as part of various ceremonies, such as healer walking with the starwalkers every half-moon, and leaders gaining their nine lives. Leaders receive nine lives and have the second half of their name replaced with the suffix "*–star*" to honor the starwalkers. Leaders and healer also come here if they need guidance from their warrior ancestors.
To get there, the clans must go through Mountainclan's territory.
### Mythology

Honeypelt, a descendent from the defunct clan called Shadowclan. As a castaway with the rest of the runaway kits, she was removed from her comfortable den to travel the world to settle down again. Finding where the clans settle now, she and another apprentice named Sunpaw found the pool together. They found that one cat named Stagleaf.
Stagleaf saw the large pool and the shining stone sitting there. She walked up to the stone, and she woke up with starwalkers surrounding her. They congratulated her, and told her that this was the Moonstone. They also told her that at the next half moon, she should bring three of their chosen cats to become the first healer. As she awoke, she told Honeypaw and Sunpaw. After this, the early settlers Seedcoat, Beewhisker, and Ravendawn also become healer of Hollowclan, Horizonclan, and Mountainclan, respectively.
## Location

Highstones is on the very edge of the forest territories, in the northwestern part. It is neutral ground, unclaimed by any clan, just as Fourtrees isn't claimed by any clan.
The clan cats' only passage to the high stones is to cross the Thunderpath. Cats can be easily killed on it. Mountainclan lives closest to high stones, and Hollowclan n' Forestclan cats must cross Mountainclan grounds to reach it. Cats are given free passage by Mountainclan.