| “ | I was loyal to Brokenstar because he was the leader of my Clan, just as every ShadowClan warrior should have been. I am still a ShadowClan cat, whatever happens. | „ |
| ~ Blackfoot justifying his crimes to Tigerclaw and proving his allegiance to ShadowClan. |
Blackstar is a supporting anti-hero in Erin Hunter's Warriors book franchise.
He is a StarClan resident, formerly a ShadowClan leader, who refreshed the Clan's reputation after his two tyrannical predecessors. When he was an apprentice, he befriended Brokenkit, who was an outcast among his clanmates. After becoming warrior, he was chosen by Brokenstar as the new deputy of ShadowClan, unaware of the fact that his friend and leader usurped his position by killing the Clan's previous leader. He participated in many of Brokenstar's and later Tigerstar's schemes, most notably driving WindClan out of their territory, many attacks on ThunderClan (one of which resulted in him murdering an elder named Rosetail) and Stonefur's execution.
However, after becoming leader himself, Blackfoot, now under the name Blackstar, managed to keep ShadowClan's intimidating reputation without any tyrannical nor murderous acts done, becoming an honorable leader. He participated in the Great Journey to find a new home for the Clans, as well as in the Great Battle, despite his older age in the latter event. After the Great Battle, he died in the flood that struck the lake territories and ascended to StarClan.
Appearance[]
Blackstar is a large, muscular white tom with amber eyes, black-rimmed ears, and jet black paws, one of which has six toes. He has a scarred and patchy pelt prior to his death in Bramblestar's Storm. In StarClan, his pelt is sleek.
Personality[]
Throughout his life, Blackstar has always been cold, aloof and proud, traits typical of ShadowClan cats. However, Blackfoot was more like this in his warrior/deputy days. As deputy under Brokenstar and Tigerstar, Blackfoot was obedient to their authority, even when obeying meant breaking the warrior code. But after Tigerstar’s death and the battle with BloodClan, Blackfoot (being deputy) was next in line as leader. He regretted his actions and promised to atone when he became leader. Despite his cold demeanour even as leader, deep down he cared for his Clan, and even other Clans.
Biography[]
Yellowfang’s Secret[]
Blackkit was born to ShadowClan warrior Hollyflower alongside his siblings Flintkit and Fernkit. As a kit, he didn't know who his father was and he was made to believe that he was a kittypet. After becoming an apprentice under the name of Blackpaw, he discovered the truth that his father was Blizzardwing, a warrior from his own clan who had to hide his identity as Blackpaw's father since he was already mates with another she-cat, Stormfeather.
Blackpaw later befriended Brokenkit, feeling compassion for his loneliness and relating to his lack of a parental figure as Brokenkit was ignorant of Yellowfang being his mother. As a warrior, Blackfoot supported Brokentail as ShadowClan's new deputy, so much so that Brokenstar, having become leader, named him his deputy as a reward for his loyalty.
As ShadowClan's deputy and Brokenstar's right-hand cat, Blackfoot accomplished all of his plans, from the conquest and exile of WindClan to the kidnapping of ThunderClan's kits to train them as ShadowClan apprentices. During a raid on ThunderClan, he murders Rosetail, an elder who was defending the nursery, but Yellowfang drives him off without him taking away any of the kits. When Brokenstar is overthrown and banished by a coalition of ThunderClan warriors and ShadowClan elders, Blackfoot follows him into exile and becomes a rogue.
The Prophecies Begin[]
Blackfoot first appears at the Gathering, where he is seen talking in private with Brokenstar. Some time later, he is seen in attack on ThunderClan's camp, raiding the nursery in hopes of kidnapping the Clan's kits, killing Rosetail when she attempts to stop him. He gets defeated and chased away by Yellowfang. When ThunderClan's rescue patrol combined with ShadowClan's exiled elders attack ShadowClan to rescue Frostfur's kidnapped kits, Blackfoot gets bitten by Whitestorm, after which he flees along with the rest of Brokenstar's followers.
Although unnamed, he participates in Brokenstar's rogue group's attack on ThunderClan as a revenge for their previous defeat, but escapes when his leader gets captured and blinded. Later, he becomes one of Tigerclaw's followers, attacking ThunderClan yet again, before fleeing once more and when Tigerclaw becomes the new leader of ShadowClan, Blackfoot is brought back to his deputy position, this time under his new leader.
Some time later, he gets spotted by Sorrelkit while conspiring with Darkstripe about Tigerstar's recent plans. He is then seen on TigerClan's gathering on Bonehill, in RiverClan's camp. Blackfoot watches Darkstripe's failed attempt to kill Stonefur, during which he mocks the former for his incompetence, before being ordered by Tigerstar to finish the job, which he gladly does. After Tigerstar's death at the claws of Scourge, a shocked Blackfoot reluctantly agrees to completely disband TigerClan and join forces with LionClan, in hopes of defeating BloodClan. After the battle, he tells Firestar about him going to receive his new leader name, but not before getting warned by the ThunderClan leader, who reveals that he saw what the latter did on Bonehill, which Blackfoot silently acknowledges.
Exile from ShadowClan[]
Blackfoot is Brokenstar's deputy. He watches as Brokenstar exiles the elders from camp, and when the elder Nightpelt returns to request a medicine cat's presence, Blackfoot asks him what he wants before he lets him into ShadowClan camp.
Later, he and other ShadowClan cats successfully drive WindClan from their territory so that ShadowClan will have more prey to eat. He enjoys hunting on their land alongside Clawface, where they run into Nightpelt. Nightpelt argues that kicking out WindClan was wrong, and that Yellowfang, who was exiled for killing Brightflower's kits, is innocent, but Blackfoot and Clawface insist that RiverClan and ThunderClan are still threats, and that Yellowfang did kill the kits.
Ashfur (not Ashfur the later impostor, but rather a ShadowClan cat of the same name), Nightpelt, Dawncloud, and Yellowfang trick Blackfoot into letting them into ShadowClan camp by pretending that Yellowfang is a prisoner. A battle breaks out, and Blackfoot fights Dawncloud and Whitestorm (a ThunderClan reinforcement). When Brokenstar is defeated, Blackfoot flees from ShadowClan camp alongside Clawface and the rest of Brokenstar's allies.
Tigerclaw's Fury[]
Tigerclaw tracks down Blackfoot and the other rogues who fled the battle against ThunderClan and leads them into the outskirts of ShadowClan territory. When Blackfoot and Tangleburr vanish from their camp, Tigerclaw finds they have been checking up on their old Clanmates, who are sick with Carrionplace disease. With Tigerclaw's permission, Blackfoot helps his former Clanmates hunt. When Tigerclaw fights a whole ThunderClan patrol by himself, Blackfoot arrives with ShadowClan backup. After Nightstar dies and Runningnose announces Tigerclaw as the new leader, Tigerclaw decides to name Blackfoot his deputy.
Blackfoot's Reckoning[]
Following the Clans' victory against BloodClan, Blackfoot heads to the Moonstone to receive his nine lives. Blackfoot fears what StarClan will do to him knowing the atrocities he's committed under Brokenstar's and Tigerstar's reigns. However, StarClan grants him nine lives, with the catch that he relives memories of his past.
Blackfoot's father, Blizzardwing, gives him a life for acceptance as Blackfoot recalls learning the truth about Blizzardwing being their father, though the tom never acknowledged it. Raggedstar gives Blackfoot a life for trust, though both toms note that while they made a mistake trusting Brokentail, ShadowClan will only survive if they trust their leader. With Badgerfang's life, Blackfoot relives his nephew's death, and Badgerfang gives him a life for perspective. Gray Wing grants him unity as Blackfoot remembers driving out WindClan from their home, and Blackfoot struggles to explain that he had to obey his leader. Rosetail gives him a life for compassion as Blackfoot recalls killing her. With Bluestar's life of judgment, Blackfoot remembers how eager he was to follow Tigerclaw. After Stonefur's life of integrity and the memory of killing the half-Clan deputy without question, Blackfoot struggles to forgive himself for what he has done, and Nightstar encourages him that every leader has regrets but learns from them and gives Blackfoot a life for loyalty.
Finally, Shadowstar gives Blackfoot a life for leadership, but warns of potential troubles for the Clans depending on Blackfoot's choices. Blackfoot resolves to make the right ones, and Shadowstar hails him by his new name of Blackstar.
The New Prophecy[]
Now ShadowClan's leader, Blackstar is known for remaining neutral towards the other Clans, although he seems to enjoy watching other leaders disagree with each other. He rejects Firestar's attempts to help when the forest is getting destroyed by Twolegs, and also claims that every Clan should survive on its own. However, he finally decides to unite his Clan with the other Clans when the situation looks very grim and participates in the Great Journey. Upon arriving on the Lake territories, he is the first leader who starts acting competitively about the territory and later silences Mudclaw's and Onewhisker's quarrel about the leadership of WindClan, telling them to solve it in private. When during one of the Gatherings in the new territory WindClan cats begin to argue about the leadership in their clan, he and Leopardstar exchange amused looks. He quickly ends the Gathering after a pair of foxes attacked the place.
A few days later, when ShadowClan is having troubles with two hostile kittypets on their territory, Blackstar is offered by a ThunderClan patrol help in the matter, which he initially refuses, but eventually agrees after being persuaded by one of his warriors. After the patrol deals with the kittypets, he coolly thanks them, before dismissing them, although on the next Gathering, he invites Firestar to speak first.
On the next Gathering however, Blackstar justifies his attempt to change the border with ThunderClan by using Twolegs' activity on ShadowClan's territory as an excuse, an opinion which he shares with Leopardstar, given that both of them have had their territories increase in Twolegs' sightings. Their demands are met with heavy protests from the other two Clans and Blackstar halts, but promises that it's not over.
Power of Three[]
Blackstar and ShadowClan attempt to steal ThunderClan's territory, due to the encouragement from Firestar's gesture of handing over a part of poor hunting ground earlier on, but are defeated and retreat. On a Gathering he reports the birth of three new kits in his Clan; Flamekit, Dawnkit and Tigerkit, and on the next one he reports that ShadowClan is doing well.
Upon hearing of another border skirmish between Berrynose, Birchfall and his border patrol, Blackstar begins to doubt whether settling beside the lake was a mistake and admits it to Firestar. He is reluctant about letting Tawnypelt join Brambleclaw and Lionpaw in their journey to the Tribe, but after being reminded that it's Tawnypelt's decision he concedes.
As the time passes, Blackstar begins to lose his faith in StarClan, as well as in his own leadership, slowly giving up more of his duties and passing them onto his deputy, Russetfur. Once Sol enters his Clan's camp with Jaypaw, Hollypaw and Lionpaw, the ShadowClan leader confides in the rogue all of his recent worries and doubts, slowly allowing Sol to manipulate him and take control of his Clan. As a result, Blackstar returns to his warrior name; Blackfoot and breaks up with the Clan traditions, as well as stops attending the Gatherings and forbids his medicine cat speaking with StarClan. However, upon witnessing himself the spirits of Raggedstar and Runningnose come down to talk with him, he comes back to his senses, as well as his name; Blackstar and reclaims the leadership of ShadowClan, banishing Sol.
Upon learning of the news that Firestar is keeping Sol in his camp for questioning regarding the recent death of Ashfur, Blackstar demands that ThunderClan leader will drive the rogue out of the territories, having in mind the last troubles he caused. On the next Gathering he claims that he wants to hear what Hollyleaf has to say, having been intrigued by the latter's statement of having an important statement to make.
Omen of the Stars[]
During a drought, Blackstar agrees to send Toadfoot and Tigerheart as representatives from ShadowClan to go on a journey to find where the water has gone. He and Firestar clash when Firestar demands ThunderClan be given back territory they had granted ShadowClan years ago. When Blackstar refuses, ShadowClan and ThunderClan fight the battle of the border, during which his deputy, Russetfur, is killed. He appoints Rowanclaw as his new deputy, and confides in Littlecloud and Flametail when he has terrible dreams. During the battle against the Dark Forest, Blackstar loses a life, but recovers to kill Redwillow, a ShadowClan warrior who sided with the Dark Forest.
Dovewing's Silence[]
Blackstar, now very old and frail, asks the other Clans to meet ShadowClan at the Gathering island to discuss punishment for the Dark Forest trainees. He arrives first at the island, alongside Littlecloud, Tigerheart, and Ratscar, and waits for the other Clans to arrive. When they do, Mistystar and Onestar defend their warriors, but Blackstar insists that they broke the Warrior Code. He sorrowfully tells Ratscar and Tigerheart that they broke the Code, and cannot go unpunished.
Ivypool points out that the Dark Forest used personal desires to recruit the trainees, such as wanting to best serve their Clans. Blackstar says that she is well-spoken, but argues that he saw his warriors attack one another (referring to Redwillow), and asks how that is being loyal. Ivypool answers that they were given different ways to serve their Clan.
Onestar claims that he trusts Breezepelt, and Blackstar says that he can't agree, and that they all feel differently about their cats. Mistystar says that they should individually decide punishments for their own Clanmates, and Blackstar insists that it is only fair if they all decide a punishment together. Mothwing suggests that the former trainees swear an oath of loyalty, and Blackstar agrees. The meeting ends and all the Clans have their trainees do this.
Later on at a Gathering, Blackstar's pelt is noted to be so pale that he looks as if he is already a part of StarClan. He wheezes out his words so quietly that the cats must lean forward to hear them. During his speech, he claims that his Clan does not fear the coming Leafbare, though his wide eyes suggest otherwise. Afterwards, he sits down abruptly, flanks heaving with exhaustion from giving the speech. When the Gathering ends, he lowers himself down gently from the branches of the Great Oak rather than jumping down like the other leaders.
Crowfeather's Trial[]
At the Gathering, Blackstar lists off the names of the cats who passed in the Great Battle the previous season. When Onestar announces Nightcloud's death, Blackstar offers his sympathies.
A moon later at the Gathering after that, Blackstar once again lists the names of the fallen. When Bramblestar announces that ThunderClan chased a dog off of their territory, Blackstar complains that they chased it into ShadowClan's. When WindClan's troubles with the stoats are revealed, Blackstar, alongside Mistystar, agrees to help WindClan if needed.
At the next Gathering that takes place in the book, Blackstar once again lists the names of the fallen, and announces that ShadowClan's prey is running well, adding that they'd found some fox scent, but that it's become faded.
Bramblestar's Storm[]
Blackstar has become too frail to keep his Clan together after the battle with the Dark Forest. He begins each Gathering by reciting the names of those who had died in the battle, though the other Clans insist they should move on. Rowanclaw slowly takes over his leadership duties, and during the Great Storm, Blackstar loses his final life in a flood.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Blizzardwing (father)
- Hollyflower (mother)
- Flintfang (brother)
- Fernshade (sister)
- Dawncloud (half-sister)
- Mosspaw (half-brother)
- Volewhisper (half-brother)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Blackstar is currently one of only three cats in the series that is polydactyl, having six toes on one of his paws.
- Blackstar's eyes are mistakenly depicted as light blue on the cover of Code of the Clans.
- Due to him being named Blackkit, there was a theory/headcanon among some members of the fandom that he has vitiligo, a condition in which skin or fur starts out dark but gradually gets lighter. However, this theory was proven to be false, as according to Blackfoot's Reckoning, he had black paws since his birth.
- In his official artwork, he sometimes has yellow or blue eyes and either fully black or white ears.
External Links[]
- Blackstar on the Warriors Wiki
- Blackstar on the Heroes Wiki
