Darkstar (SkC)

"No other leader should have to face such insubordination in front of the other Clans. I propose a law that the word of a leader is the warrior code. What we say must never be challenged. StarClan gave us the power to lead; StarClan would wish it to be so."

— Darkstar proposing the thirteenth law in Code of the Clans, page 127

Darkstar (SkC)
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	StarClan
Past:	SkyClan ancestor SkyClan
Names
Warrior:	Unknown
Leader:	Darkstar
StarClan resident:	Darkstar
Book appearances
Living	Code of the Clans, Battles of the Clans
Living	Code of the Clans, Battles of the Clans
Dead	Cloudstar's Journey, Shattered Sky
Dead	Cloudstar's Journey, Shattered Sky

Darkstar is a dark brown tom with soft, thick fur underlaid with black, nicked ears, and milky-yellow eyes.

Darkstar was an ancient SkyClan leader in the forest territories, and his deputy was Raincloud. At a Gathering, Darkstar gave a part of their territory to ThunderClan whose queens had recently given birth to numerous kits. Despite his deputy's outburst, Darkstar suggested a new law to the warrior code: the word of the Clan leader is the warrior code. Darkstar's decision to give up land remained controversial for many generations. After his death, Darkstar appeared in StarClan at Cloudstorm's leadership ceremony, and gave him a life to have faith in his instincts.

History

In the A Vision of Shadows arc

Shattered Sky

Upon SkyClan's return with the other Clans in the lake territories, Alderheart and the other medicine cats happily witness SkyClan's ancestors have joined StarClan.

In the Novellas

Cloudstar's Journey

"We are all part of the noble history of SkyClan, but it is thanks to me that the leaders of all five Clans know that their judgement is final, that their word goes unchallenged."

―Darkstar explaining his contribution to the code ^{Cloudstar's Journey, chapter 2}

As Cloudstar and Buzzardtail discuss about how the ThunderClan cats trespassed onto SkyClan territory, Buzzardtail mentions that if Darkstar did not give them the strip of the territory, they would not walk over them as if their scent marks meant nothing. He adds that he knew he was their leader, but to him, it was a mouse-brained decision. It is noted that Cloudstar was not born when Darkstar made the announcement at a Gathering, surrendering part of his territory to ThunderClan, but the decision sat uneasily within the Clan. Cloudstar then replies that Darkstar had his reasons, but Buzzardtail questions if he had bees in his brain.

Cloudstar then tries to imagine himself in Darkstar's place, stating that the part of the forest he gave to them offered better hunting for ThunderClan than for SkyClan. He adds that Darkstar knew ThunderClan queens had recently given birth to several litters of kits, and their need for food was greater than the territory could provide, and states that if one Clan was starving to death, it was their duty to help them survive. Buzzardtail responds by stating that it was not part of the warrior code, and Cloudstar points out that obeying his leader was, which Darkstar was responsible for.

It is revealed that Darkstar gave Cloudstar a life to have faith in his instincts and know that his word was law. Cloudstar asks if Darkstar ever regretted giving ThunderClan a strip of forest, and Darkstar replies that he could not bear to watch ThunderClan starve. For goodbye, the tom assures Cloudstar that the SkyClan will endure forever, although later gets exiled from forest.

In the Field Guides

Code of the Clans

"Forgive my insolent deputy. She does not understand what it means to be truly loyal to her Clan. Vinestar, the land is yours. My warriors will set new border markers tomorrow."

―Darkstar telling Vinestar he can have the land ^{Code of the Clans, page 126}

As an ancient SkyClan leader, Darkstar is getting on in years and is nearing the end of his last life. At a Gathering, he is shown to be very frail, having trouble climbing the Great Rock and needing to catch his breath. Darkstar is sitting with his head bowed and eyes closed while the other leaders give their reports, including ThunderClan's leader, Vinestar, about having many more mouths to feed. Raincloud, his deputy, worries about this since SkyClan has seen more ThunderClan activity near their border. When RiverClan's leader, Talonstar, gives him a shove, Darkstar climbs up to make his report about SkyClan.

When he begins to speak, it is described that his voice is very thin, and the clearing below goes dead silent. Right before he makes his announcement, he raises his head and can almost be seen as the great warrior he once was. He tells the Clans that he wishes to give ThunderClan some of SkyClan's territory in order to feed their new kits. According to Raincloud, it is almost a quarter of SkyClan's territory.

When he finishes his announcement, Raincloud leaps to her paws, and then onto the Great Rock, protesting and asking him if he really wanted to give away the territory. Darkstar justifies his decision by saying that ThunderClan has more mouths to feed than them, and they could extend their own territory on their other boundaries. Raincloud points out that this isn't true, because they are surrounded by Twolegs on all sides, but Darkstar stands by what he said, despite her words rebuking Raincloud and continues on with his decree.

He then tells the other leaders that they should not have to face insubordination like this, and suggests a new rule to the warrior code; that the word of a leader is the warrior code. Raincloud fears that he had gone mad right in the middle of a Gathering. The other leaders slowly agree, although they seem to have some reservation about the rule. He tells Raincloud that she may still serve as his deputy, but she must never challenge him like that again.

Battles of the Clans

"Darkstar's words stand, now and forever!"

―Redstar ^{Battles of the Clans, page 152}

Darkstar is mentioned that there was a piece of territory so frequently fought over between SkyClan and ThunderClan that Darkstar gave it to ThunderClan, much to the shock of his deputy and his Clanmates. Despite this, he refuses to go back on his word. When the first of the stars appears, Redstar looks at them. Kestrelwing then comes and tells him that StarClan approved of ThunderClan winning the battle against SkyClan. Redstar then states that Darkstar's word stands, now and forever.

Character pixels

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. Warrior Version Leader Version StarClan Version

Official art

Please do not edit this gallery Darkstar in Code of the Clans

Ceremonies

Lives granted

The following is a list of gifts Darkstar has granted during nine lives ceremonies:

Lives granted
Gift Receiver Faith in instincts Cloudstar

Leader info

Leader info
Deputies Name From To Raincloud Code of the Clans Code of the Clans Medicine cats Name From To Twigtail Code of the Clans Code of the Clans

Appearances

• Cloudstar's Journey
• Shattered Sky (Indirect mention only)
• Code of the Clans (First appearance)
• Battles of the Clans (Mentioned only)

Trivia

Mistakes

• His name is printed as Duskstar throughout the entirety of Cloudstar's Journey.
• His name has been spelled as Dusk-star.

Quotes

"Cats of all Clans, I, too, have an announcement. I wish to give part of SkyClan's territory to ThunderClan, to feed their new kits."

―Darkstar giving ThunderClan some of SkyClan's territory ^{Code of the Clans, page 125}

"You may continue to serve as my deputy. But never challenge me like that again. The borders will change at dawn."

―Darkstar telling Raincloud not to speak against him ^{Code of the Clans, page 128}

Buzzardtail: "Those ThunderClan cats think they can hunt where they like. If Duskstar hadn't given them that strip of SkyClan territory to start with, they wouldn't walk all over us as if our scent marks meant nothing. I know he was our leader, but really, it was a mouse-brained decision."

Cloudstar: "Duskstar had his reasons."

^{Cloudstar's Journey, chapter 1}

"Wherever our heart lies, we have a duty to preserve the survival of all five Clans in the forest. I could not watch our neighhbors starve when we had prey to spare. Hold your head high, Cloudstar. SkyClan is the noblest of all the Clans, with the strongest borders, the bravest warriors and the most skilled hunters. You have nothing to fear from Twolegs, or their monsters, or the animals they have bent to their will. SkyClan will endure forever!"

―Darkstar to Cloudstar ^{Cloudstar's Journey, chapter 2}

External links

• Leadership Among the Clans: An Overview on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only)
• The Warrior Code: An Outdated Relic? on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only)

Fan content

• More Code of the Clans artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)