The Star Willow
The Star Willow is the largest tree within all the clan territories and is a sacred place where medicine cats and leaders share tongues with StarClan.
The Star Willow is located near the border of Swampclan and Tideclan’s territories, standing at the fork of one of the many rivers that flowed through Swampclan territory. It is the only tree that stands in this spot, with the other trees not even touching it, as if pushed away by some unknown force. This helps the Star Willow stand out amongst the trees around it in the swamp.
For sharing tongues with StarClan, the medicine cats press their muzzles to the Star Willow’s trunk, then lay at it’s roots The Star Willow is restricted for only medicine cats to communicate with StarClan every half-moon and for leaders seeking to receive guidance from the Ancestors. Any warriors who accompany their clan’s medicine cats must wait outside within the tree line, as they aren’t permitted to step beneath it’s branches. Many apprentices and young warriors whisper rumors about what lays beneath the Star Willow’s roots, and elders tell tales that leaves of it’s branches are stars weaved into the tree by the Ancestors.
Due to it’s location, early leaders of Swampclan and Tideclan argued about who the Star Willow truly belonged to. Patchstar, the third leader of Swampclan, declared war with Tideclan to claim the Star Willow for Swampclan use only, cutting off the other three clans from Starclan for three moons. It wasn’t until Marigoldbriar, Swampclan’s medicine cat at the time, intervened and convened with Starclan to strip her leader of his nine lives, that the other clans were finally able to access the Star Willow again. From that moment on, a new law was added to the Warrior Code: no clan can claim the Star Willow as territory.
However, Swampclan cats still hold a haughty attitude towards the Star Willow, a silent belief that because it’s on their territory, they are closer to Starclan. This belief has been passed down from generation to generation, woven within the clan’s culture.
Due to it’s location, other clans- specifically Forestclan and Hillclan- have to travel further to visit the Star Willow. It is the only time, other than for gatherings, that cats can cross clan borders.
