Moonpool

"This kind of suspicion, without a real reason behind it, could destroy the Tribe - or the Clans." This article contains major spoilers for the recently released book, Hidden Moon. Please proceed at your own discretion.

"It's amazing, isn't it? I'll never forget the first time I saw it. And it still takes my breath away."

— Willowshine to Alderpaw upon his first trip to the Moonpool in The Apprentice's Quest, page 85

Moonpool
General information
Location	The lake territories
Twoleg name	Crystal Pool
Usage	Communication with StarClan
Discovered by	The Ancients Leafpaw

The Moonpool, also known as the Crystal Pool and the Pool of Stars, is a round pool of water at the lake territories. It is a sacred place where medicine cats and leaders share tongues with StarClan. The Moonstone served the same purpose in the forest territories.

Description

«Leaving Sorreltail on the edge of the hollow, she stepped carefully down the path. The rock was dimpled with ancient paw prints, too many to count, and with each step she felt her paws slip into the marks left by cats many, many moons before. They were long gone, but Leafpaw's fur tingled just to know they once had been here.»

—Leafpaw's thoughts about approaching the Moonpool ^{Starlight, page 262}

The Moonpool is located upstream of the stream that marks the ThunderClan and WindClan border. It is situated at the bottom of steep stone hollow guarded by thorn bushes with moss-covered rocks. One side is a sheer cliff with moss and fern. Water bubbles from the cleft half-way up that feeds into a small pool below that glitters with starshine at night. The waterfall churns the water so it never stays still, and it sends spray across the rocks where it hits. The edge of the hollow and opposite of the waterfall is a narrow rocky path that spirals down to the pool and is lined with ancient paw prints of the Ancients. The top of the hollow is lined with bushes, and there is a hazel bush is rooted in the rock face near the waterfall. There is an underground stream leading out of the pool, which flows into the lake and the stream that borders WindClan and ThunderClan. The Moonpool is capable of freezing, though it has only once frozen completely through. Meltwater from the mountains can also slightly flood the Moonpool. When Twolegs began encroaching onto the lake territories, they left bright yellow smears on the ground, heaps of Twoleg debris, and carved steps down the hollow to the pool, destroying some of the ancient paw prints.

There is an entrance to the Moonpool from the Dark Forest that only spirits can enter. The entrance lies underneath a large tree alone in a clearing. Its branches touch rippling water instead of dark sky. The tree's scent is fresh unlike the stench of death like the rest of the afterlife. Cats must climb the tall tree and then swim through the Moonpool to reach the living world.

Significance

Spotfur: "Maybe we shouldn't be touching the Moonpool. I wouldn't want to upset any cat...dead or alive."

Stemleaf: "The medicine cats have always said the Moonpool is sacred. Should we believe that's changed, just because we're desperate to hear from StarClan?"

^{Lost Stars, page 190}

For sharing tongues with StarClan, the medicine cats lap up a few drops of water or they touch their noses to the water. The Ancients also used the Moonpool for unknown purposes. The Moonpool is restricted for only medicine cats to communicate with StarClan every half-moon and for leaders seeking to receive their nine lives. Cats who accompany medicine cats must wait outside the thorn bushes that line the hollow. Even ordinary warriors are hesitant to approach the sacred place. Most importantly, the Moonpool represents the Clans' connection with their ancestors. After Ashfur severed the Clans' connection with StarClan, the Moonpool froze over during a harsh leaf-bare, and the Moonpool remained useless even after it thawed until Ashfur was defeated.

Location history

"We no longer have the Moonstone—but we will have the Moonpool. This is the place where StarClan will share tongues with us. We've found it! This is where the Clans are meant to be."

―Leafpaw to Sorreltail ^{Starlight, page 267}

The Moonpool was used by the the Ancients and was known as the Pool of Stars. However, its significance is unknown, though its name implies a similar significance. The Ancients' pawprints line the hollow. StormClan was the first group of Clan cats to discover the Moonpool. While StormClan did not linger long, both its leaders and medicine cats noticed something spiritual and unique about the pool.

Guided by StarClan, Leafpool was the first to discover the Moonpool and her suffix -pool is named after her achievement

After the Clans are forced from their former home and arrive at the lake, many are left wondering if StarClan will give them a new place to communicate with them as Highstones is too far away. Spottedleaf, a former ThunderClan medicine cat, visits Leafpaw in her dreams, offering signs of where to communicate with her ancestors. In order to follow Spottedleaf's advice, Leafpaw and Sorreltail follow the stream out of ThunderClan and WindClan territory and discover a pool of starlit water. There, Leafpaw is greeted by her warrior ancestors and names the water the "Moonpool". Later, Leafpaw is given her full medicine cat name in honor of her discovery.

Despite a troubling start to his leadership, Onestar is the first Clan leader to receive his nine lives from StarClan at the Moonpool. The medicine cats also begin their half-moon meetings once again to share tongues at the Moonpool with StarClan. Seasons later, Jaypaw visits the Moonpool in hopes of learning if his destiny is to become a warrior. However, he meets Tigerstar, Hawkfrost, and later Spottedleaf, and Jaypaw realizes that his destiny is above him and is to become a medicine cat instead. As Jaypaw continues his training, he becomes aware of the ancient cats and they knew of the Moonpool. He also finds similarities between the Moonpool and the Tribe's ancestors, the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Seasons later, Poppyfrost tries to reach her late sister, Honeyfern, for advice. Jayfeather follows her, but they are ambushed by Breezepelt who threatens Poppyfrost's life. Jayfeather attacks Breezepelt but the WindClan warrior is aided by Brokenstar. Honeyfern's spirit arrives to help Jayfeather and Poppyfrost. Several seasons later, the medicine cats visit the Moonpool and witness SkyClan's ancestors rejoining with the rest of SkyClan. Later, Twigpaw follows Leafpool and Alderheart to the Moonpool, and Yellowfang's spirit arrives with a vision of a fire to chase her away from trespassing on the sacred area.

During a particularly troubling leaf-bare, the medicine cats discover they are unable to contact their ancestors through the Moonpool which has completely frozen over. Bewildered, the cats assume the thick ice sheets covering the Moonpool are to blame, believing that the frozen water is what is preventing them from reaching StarClan. However, the medicine cats do not lose hope, meeting again on the half-moon to endeavor to appeal to StarClan. To their despair, they are still unable to speak to reach them. Shadowpaw, ShadowClan's medicine cat apprentice, feels called to visit the Moonpool on his own. While there, he receives a message from a mysterious tom warning him that codebreakers living among him pose a threat to the Clans. Shadowpaw is then struck by lightning.

A consensus is reached that the ice is the reason that StarClan is unable to be reached, and SkyClan, WindClan, RiverClan, and ThunderClan gather at the Moonpool to devise a strategy. They aim to crush the ice covering the Moonpool, but despite the four Clans working together to shove a large flat rock over the hollow, they are not powerful enough to destroy the impregnable ice sheets. The Moonpool begins to thaw once newleaf approaches, but the medicine cats are still unable to communicate with their ancestors. Ashfur, now possessing Bramblestar's body, manipulates the Clans into war and eventually drags Squirrelflight through the Moonpool and into the Dark Forest. In his dreams, Shadowsight visits the Moonpool and travels to the Dark Forest to temporarily free Bramblestar's trapped spirit. However, Bramblestar's spirit and numerous others are trapped in the Dark Forest by Ashfur, including Squirrelflight. The Clan leaders and their medicine cats arrive at the Moonpool to discuss entering the Dark Forest. Mistystar, Mothwing, and Willowshine attempt swimming through it to no avail.

The Clan cats decide they must dream through the Dark Forest, and Willowshine volunteers though it results in her death. Rootspring is later dragged into the Moonpool by Willowshine's spirit. After Rootspring rescues Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, the two ThunderClan cats emerge from the Moonpool. Shadowsight and Bristlefrost enter the Dark Forest from their dreams with the help of Snow from the Sisters to rescue Rootspring. Shadowsight later finds his way to the Moonpool from the Dark Forest by climbing a large tree. After Ashfur is defeated, Graystripe succumbs to his wounds and dies next to the Moonpool. Bristlefrost's body also disappears, her spirit killed in the Dark Forest. Afterwards, the medicine cats reconnect with StarClan at the Moonpool.

Frostpaw, RiverClan's medicine cat apprentice, journeys to the Moonpool to ask StarClan who should be their leader after Mistystar and Reedwhisker die. She doesn't get an answer but she does find a tiny white curled feather nearby. Frostpaw believes it to be a sign from StarClan that Curlfeather should be RiverClan's next leader. However, Curlfeather is killed by dogs while journeying to the Moonpool. StarClan later sends Frostpaw and Nightheart on their journey to the Cats of the Park from the Moonpool. Puddleshine and Frostpaw later witness Splashtail pretend to receive his nine lives at the Moonpool while scheming with Podlight. Riverstar appears to Frostpaw and Puddleshine, though Splashtail and Podlight cannot see him, signifying that they are not the true leader and medicine cat for RiverClan.

While scouting out the nearby Twoleg activity, Tawnypelt, Crowfeather, Owlnose, Bayshine, and Palesky examine the Twoleg presence at the Moonpool as mentioned by Leafstar. They discover that the Twolegs have left bright yellow marks on the ground, piled heaps of strange Twoleg debris, and carved steps down into the hollow. This worries Tawnypelt and Crowfeather, since the Moonpool is their connection to StarClan. Later, Moonpaw falls into the Moonpool after her reflection scares her, causing Frostdawn and Mothwing to rescue her.

Known deaths

This is a list of deaths, ordered chronologically, that took place at the Moonpool.

• Willowshine
• Bristlefrost (faded)
• Graystripe
• Curlfeather (during the journey there)

Book mentions

• StormClan's Folly
• Onestar's Confession
• Starlight (First appearance)
• Winds of Change
• Twilight
• Sunset
• The Sight
• Dark River
• Outcast
• Eclipse
• Long Shadows
• Sunrise
• The Fourth Apprentice
• Fading Echoes
• Night Whispers
• Sign of the Moon (Mentioned only)
• The Forgotten Warrior
• The Last Hope
• Dovewing's Silence
• Crowfeather's Trial
• Bramblestar's Storm (Mentioned only)
• The Apprentice's Quest
• Thunder and Shadow
• Shattered Sky
• Darkest Night
• Tigerheart's Shadow
• River of Fire
• Spotfur's Rebellion (Mentioned only)
• The Raging Storm
• Squirrelflight's Hope
• Lost Stars
• The Silent Thaw
• Veil of Shadows
• Darkness Within
• Graystripe's Vow (Now) (Mentioned only)
• The Place of No Stars
• A Light in the Mist
• River
• Sky
• Shadow (Mentioned only)
• Thunder
• Wind
• Ivypool's Heart (Mentioned only)
• Star
• The Elders' Quest
• Hidden Moon
• Secrets of the Clans
• Cats of the Clans
• The Ultimate Guide
• The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition

Gallery

Map art

The Moonpool on the original map

The Moonpool on the original Twoleg view map

The Moonpool on the reprinted map

The Moonpool on the reprinted Twoleg view map

The Moonpool on the Ivypool's Heart map

Official art

The Moonpool in Winds of Change

The Moonpool in Winds of Change

The Moonpool in Onestar's Confession

The Moonpool in Secrets of the Clans

The Moonpool in The Ultimate Guide

Trivia

Interesting facts

• The pawprints by the Moonpool are left by the Ancients.
• Other animals would not see StarClan if they drank from the Moonpool.
• Leafpool is named after her discovery of the Moonpool.

Continuity

The following information is from sources considered non-canon, retconned, or from adapted material.

• In Secrets of the Clans, a 2007 field guide, Rock speaks about when he and other healers of two other Tribes would meet at the Moonpool to communicate with their ancestors. He states he had seen the Clans coming and hopes that the Moonpool will bring them peace.

Quotes

"When I touched the water, I felt strange. Dizzy. Like I was falling and flying, all at once. It seemed as though the stars were rushing toward me, faster than thought."

―Goldenleaf about the strange pool ^{StormClan's Folly, page 182}

«She tried not to let her disappointment show. She had almost begun to believe that their quest was over, and that they really had found their new home. But there is more to this place than can be seen with our eyes, she thought. The pool felt important, in some way she couldn't name. But one thing she knew for certain—it did not belong to StormClan.»

—Galestar's thoughts about the Moonpool ^{StormClan's Folly, page}

External links

• Marvellous Maps on Warriors official website (backup link)

See also

• StarClan
• The lake territories