Possession

"I don't feel dead, thanks to this body!"

— Ashfur to Shadowsight about using Bramblestar's body in Darkness Within, page 134

Possession, in the Warriors series, is the act of taking control of another cat's body. The ability to do so appears to be a trait of specifically StarClan cats, with Cinderpelt, Ashfur, Spiresight, and Firestar being the only known individuals to do so.

Description

Firestar (in thought while possessing Rootspring's body): "That's right. You've seen these eyes before, haven't you?"

Darkstripe: "Firestar. What are you doing here? This is no place for a kittypet."

^{A Light in the Mist, page 154}

Ashfur, utilizing Bramblestar's body, describes his possession as feeling alive once more, remarking to Shadowsight that he doesn't feel dead while in his body. This is a sentiment shared by Firestar upon taking control of Rootspring's body. While in control, cats are still susceptible to feeling the pain of preexisting wounds or injuries. Ashfur, while using Bramblestar's corpse, still requires food and even feels pain after receiving injuries.

Intriguingly, despite inheriting the host body's eye color, the spirit possessing the body in question can have their true eyes revealed even if not willingly allowing it. Bristlefrost notices Ashfur's eyes, as the false Bramblestar, flash blue while addressing ThunderClan. Darkstripe also recognizes Firestar's eyes while the former leader uses Rootspring's body. Bramblestar's body also displays the natural yellow eyes of Spiresight after Ashfur forcefully makes the black tom take control of it. A similar event occurs with the spirit's voice, as while angry with Squirrelflight, Ashfur's true voice briefly comes out and is overheard by Bristlefrost. Ashfur is also able to utilize his own voice over that of Bramblestar's during his time imprisoned within ShadowClan, suggesting that spirits can use both at any time.

StarClan cats appear to need the consent of the cat they wish to possess, as seen with Firestar requiring Rootspring's acknowledgement of possession before doing so. In the case of Ashfur, the gray-flecked tom is able to force out Bramblestar's spirit after shutting off the connection with StarClan; thereby leaving Bramblestar's spirit stranded in the ghost afterlife and negating the need for consent on Bramblestar's part, as well as giving Ashfur full control over the dark brown tabby's body.

StarClan is also able to send Cinderpelt's spirit to inhabit Cinderheart's body after her untimely death, to give her a second chance to live the life she always wanted before her accident. She inhabits Cinderkit's body the second she dies as Cinderpelt. While still her own cat as Cinderheart, she demonstrates several of Cinderpelt's mannerisms, and is able to recall Cinderpelt's memories at times, though these remain hidden to her. When Jayfeather reveals the truth to Cinderheart, she suddenly recalls all of Cinderpelt's memories, and feels pressured to become a medicine cat since she has all of Cinderpelt's knowledge and skill as a healer. However, Cinderheart finds acceptance choosing her own destiny and lets Cinderpelt's spirit free.

Similar to Cinderpelt's memories affecting Cinderheart, Bramblestar, prior to his body's possession by Ashfur, is noted to be acting strangely, such as snapping at Squirrelflight, being overly harsh to ThunderClan, and overall foul-tempered before rapidly getting sick from an illness inflicted upon him by Ashfur. Rootspring, while in ThunderClan's camp as an apprentice, notices Ashfur's spirit (albeit being described as a shadow and not knowing Ashfur's identity) lingering around Bramblestar, Shadowsight, at a Gathering after being physically touched by Bramblestar, feels uneasy and describes it as "wrong", implying that Ashfur's influence had already taken hold of and affected Bramblestar prior to actually taking control of the leader's body, with Ashfur's own personality being displayed over Bramblestar's.

Cats known to have possessed a body

• Ashfur
• Cinderpelt
• Firestar
• Spiresight

Quotes

"As he spoke, [Bramblestar] gave Shadowpaw a friendly nudge. At the touch, a strange sensation shot through Shadowpaw, as if claws were gripping him inside, twisting his belly and chilling his spine like the icy leaf-bare wind. His breath caught in his throat as he looked up at Bramblestar. That felt so...wrong."

―Shadowpaw feeling uneasy around Bramblestar prior to Ashfur's takeover ^{Lost Stars, page 115}

"His amber gaze was warm and friendly, but a chill crept over Rootpaw as he returned the Clan leader’s gaze. He blinked, then blinked again. It was as though some kind of dark shadow was hanging over Bramblestar, yet no shadows lay in the clearing. Rootpaw glanced around swiftly at the other cats around him, but none of them seemed to notice anything odd."

―Rootpaw noticing Ashfur's presence around Bramblestar ^{Lost Stars, page 128}