#thedarkforest

[disaster-scribbles]

Back after over a year to furiously tell people about my Hawkfrost AU.

Think about it. AU where Hawkfrost fails to kill Firestar and Brambleclaw, but Brambleclaw ends up sparing his life as he can’t bring himself to kill him. I will go into this a lot more, but as a brief look at how the plot could be:

Hawkfrost is kicked from RiverClan after the truth comes out about his plan. However Brambleclaw doesn’t want him to become an outcast from the clans and, knowing that Tigerstar’s manipulation is at least partly to blame, believes that Hawkfrost can change. Hawkfrost doesn’t understand, therefore, when he is allowed to be a member of thunderclan.

Thunderclan is naturally hostile to him, but Firestar trusts Brambleclaw’s judgement. Brambleclaw informs him of the Dark Forest, and so Firestar warns thunderclan of the danger that could be in their dreams. Meanwhile, Hawkfrost hates being in thunderclan and being watched constantly, and so plans to leave.

However this doesn’t happen once he realises that Brambleclaw still cares for him a lot, volunteering to teach him how to hunt in thunderclan territory. His enthusiasm and daring attitude reminds him of tadpole. He eventually makes friends with some other clan mates through plot that I will write someday (this is a very rushed explanation, please understand my sped up pace here). This falls into him becoming a second judgement that challenges Brambleclaw/star’s choices.

Now, lots of the plot stays the same, only I fully believe Hawkfrost would help Leafpool and Squirrelflight in their plan after knowing what it feels like to be an outcast in his own clan due to him being the son of a loner. He has a habit of observing (*cough* spying *cough*) the cats in thunderclan and overhears about Leafpool being pregnant. Rather than tell anyone, he confronts her slyly and says he will aid them for a price - a price which he never follows up, but rather just a front of him wanting to help without saying so. He only asks who the father is, and keeps their secret as they leave.

the plot of the third series remains mostly the same, only Hawkfrost finds himself cornered by Ashfur, who says his plan outright. Hawkfrost never ratted on Ashfur as he didn’t care at the time it was relevant, then believed he would be able to spot if he was going to do something. Hawkfrost pretends to be in with the plan, but says privately to bramblestar to keep an eye on Ashfur. Though the secret of the kits still gets out, bramblestar is there to hear it as he takes hawkfrost’s advice. So he doesn’t get the news thrown at him at a gathering, which is a little nicer I suppose.

Hawkfrost manages to talk Hollyleaf out of trying to freaking murder Leafpool, talking about his own life and experiences. So hollyleaf never runs into the tunnel and gets crushed.

haven’t made up my mind too much from here, still in ramble mode, whoops. But Hawkfrost will 100% see through Sol’s shit, outright laughing at him for his stupid attempt because come on Hawkfrost has class, unlike this guy.

When the dark forest cats come to the living world, Hawkfrost ultimately kills tigerstar after he tries to persuade him to join their side, stating some big speech about how he was wrong whilst also insulting him I guess.

You can bet when Bramblestar tries to turn down helping the sisters Hawkfrost glared at him until he changes his mind, because his mother was in the same position as the sisters and he’d be damned if he turns them away.

I kinda want a role for Hawkfrost where he becomes an unofficial spy for the clans due to his skills in persuasion and manipulation, doing things like joining the kin - a way that makes him seem like he’s unchanged to many cats, but actually intends to silently protect the kits and apprentices from making the same choices he had, and feeling the way he had.

So yeah, sorry for this very underwhelming ramble, though it would be nice to see any expansion on the basic ideas I put out there. I always like to see what would happen if a single character in a story lived.

[snini9s-warrior-cats]

Ancient Roots: The Dark Forest

Credit where credit is due: This is heavily inspired/built based on what the lovely @bonefall has created! This is just my twist and continued brain rambling!

How do cats get sent to the Dark Forest in the first place???

Die

A StarClan representative is sent to retrieve the soul, just like they would for a StarClan-bound cat

Judgement is held by the cats who have been in StarClan the longest. In this house StarClan is far removed from Clan life, more like TPB than ASC. In theory, the longest existing StarClan members are the ones who founded the clans and, hopefully, should be impartial to history and chaos of living clans

Things that will get a cat sent to the Dark Forest:

Disloyalty

attempted coups EXCEPT if a leader is being challenged for their position (which can only happen if they are harming kits and/or their clan members or are otherwise deemed a poor fit for the role. This is very rare). This also includes cats who turned away from their own clan to join a rogue or outside group (for example: Antpelt allying with the Dark Forest during the Great Battle or Darkstripe joining Tigerstar I)

Harm (abuse, poisoning, murder, etc.,) of cats, especially kits. Killing in battle does not usually result in a cat being sent to the Dark Forest unless the death was unnecessary or uncalled for, not an accident

"Splintering" (pulling an AVoS ShadowClan) of a clan to join a rogue group

Taking over another clan and/or their territory (cough cough Tigerstar I and II cough cough)

With this in mind, the following cats are going to be in the Dark Forest

Tom (abuse)

Bramblestar (abuse)

Frecklewish (harm to kits- indirect)

Hawkheart (murder)

One Eye (attempting to kill a kit)

Ashfur (Tyranny as the Imposter; abuse; attempted harm of cats)

Hollyleaf (Murder)

Darkstripe (Murder)

Mapleshade (Murder)

Thistleclaw (Abuse)

Snowtuft (Attempted coup)

Brokenstar (Murder; harm of kits)

Tigerstar I (Murder; attempted coup)

Redwillow (Disloyalty to one's clan)

Maggottail (unknown)

Stumpytail (Disloyalty to one's clan)

Rainflower (Abuse)

Clawface (Murder)

Juniperclaw (Disloyalty to one's clan; poisoning)

Houndleap (Unknown)

Antpelt (Disloyalty to one's clan)

Rushtooth (Unknown)

Hawkfrost (Murder; abuse)

Darktail (Murder; abuse)

Silverhawk (Coup; murder)

Shredtail (Unknown)

Sparrowfeather (Unknown)

Mudclaw (Attempted Coup)

Clear Sky/Skystar (Murder)

Raggedstar (Murder)

Nettle (Attempted harm of kits- indirect)

Sleekwhisker (Attempted/Threatened Harm of kits; Murder)

Tigerstar II (Takeover of another clan)

Bone (Murder)

Scourge (Murder)

Boulder (Disloyalty to one's clan)

Hoot/Snake (Attempted Murder; abuse; Murder)

Snag/Jaggedtooth (Disloyalty to one's clan)

Jumper/Ice (Abuse; Murder)

Lizardstripe (Abuse; Harm of a kit)

Quick Water (Attempted murder; murder- caused)

Nettle (Abuse)

Slash (Harm of a kit- threatened; Harm of a kit- attempted)

Raggedstar (Abuse)

Leopardstar (Abuse; Harm to kits; Disloyalty to one's own clan)

There will probably be more added to this list, but this is what I have so far! If anyone has any thoughts or ideas of cats to add/remove from this list, let me know! I'd love to hear other's opinions!

[mineofilms]

Non-Spoiler Review of Remembrance of Earth's Past

Remembrance of Earth's Past or known as (The Three-Body Trilogy) by Liu Cixin • Book 1: The Three-Body Problem • Book 2: The Dark Forest • Book 3: Death's End • Book 4: The Redemption of Time (written by Baoshu) (Optional)

The opinion by many out in the world is that the “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” is the greatest science fiction series every written. Written by Liu Cixin, a Chinese computer engineer and science fiction writer. Liu Cixin is a nine-time winner of China's Galaxy Award. In 2015 Liu Cixin won the Hugo Award for his novel “The Three-Body Problem” as well as the 2017 Locus Award for “Death's End.” Liu Cixin also won the Chinese Nebula Award. In English translations of his works, his name is given as Cixin Liu. He is a member of China Science Writers Association and the vice president of Shanxi Writers Association. He is sometimes called "Da Liu" (Big Liu) by his fellow science fiction writers in China.

The “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” is the first Science Fiction series to hit the national spotlight in China’s history. It is so popular China holds the series in high regard as a National Treasure. The book series was published from 2006-2011 and translated into English by Ken Liu starting in 2014 to 2019. American audiences are only now discovering this masterpiece of Science Fiction and Existential Horror. Netflix has a show planned for 2024 for “The Three-Body Problem,” the first book. It is uncertain if all the books will be converted for the show or if they are only doing the first book. The main trilogy take place over a few hundred years starting in and around the aftermath of World War 2 and go up to the year 2400+ to another 18 million years into humanity’s future. The optional 4th book which isn’t officially part of the canon but has the permission from Liu Cixin. I personally count the fourth book as part of the canon, but it is also ignored by other readers of the series. It is totally optional and to me does not hurt the story, plot or characters. It just gives the series a proper end rather than the ambiguous ending left at the end of “Death’s End.”

This BLOG serves as a NON-Spoiler introduction to the series. Here we are just going to describe the basic plots of the four books and some thoughts about them. The hope is I grab your interest enough so that you all go and either read these books or listen to them on audiobook. The audiobooks were very well produced and have that radio/theater quality and style to them. Very few science fiction novels actually change how I think. This series absolutely did that with its concepts of first contact, the dark forest theory, game theory, nihilism, time, relativity, relativistic time, reality possibly being an infinitely long loop, love, death, infinity, multiple-dimensional realities, macro and micro quantum reality, religion not being real and existentialism.

The Three-Body Problem (Book 1):

“Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, the greatest scientists around the world start to commit suicide, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion.” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20518872-the-three-body-problem#?ref=nav_brws

The Dark Forest (Book 2):

“Earth is reeling from the revelation of a coming alien invasion — four centuries in the future. The aliens' human collaborators have been defeated, but the presence of the sophons, supercomputers printed on protons. These subatomic particles allow the Trisolarans instant access to all human information in real time. They have the ability to disrupt Earth’s ability to create technologies greater than the Trisolarans. This all means that Earth's defense plans are exposed to the enemy. Only the human mind remains a secret. This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a daring plan that grants four men enormous resources to design secret strategies hidden through deceit and misdirection from Earth and Trisolaris alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists but the fourth is a total unknown. Luo Ji, an unambitious Chinese astronomer and sociologist, is baffled by his new status. All he knows is that he's the one Wallfacer that Trisolaris wants dead.” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23168817-the-dark-forest

Death's End (Book 3):

“Half a century after the Doomsday Battle, the uneasy balance of Dark Forest Deterrence keeps the Trisolaran invaders at bay. Earth enjoys unprecedented prosperity due to the infusion of Trisolaran knowledge. With human science advancing daily and the Trisolarans adopting Earth culture, it seems that the two civilizations will soon be able to co-exist peacefully as equals without the terrible threat of mutually assured annihilation. But the peace has also made humanity complacent. Cheng Xin, an aerospace engineer from the early 21st century, awakens from hibernation in this new age. She brings with her knowledge of a long-forgotten program, “yhe Staircase Program,” dating from the beginning of the Trisolar Crisis, and her very presence may upset the delicate balance between two worlds. Will humanity reach for the stars or die in its cradle?” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25451264-death-s-end

The Redemption of Time (written by Baoshu, Book 4):

“Set in the universe of “Three-Body Problem trilogy,” “The Redemption of Time” continues the events from the end of “Death’s End.” This original story by Baoshu―published with Liu’s support―envisions the aftermath of the conflict between humanity and the extraterrestrial Trisolarans. In the midst of an interstellar war, Yun Tianming found himself on the front lines. Riddled with cancer, he chose to end his life by entering “the Staircase Program,” only to find himself flash frozen and launched into space where the Trisolaran First Fleet awaited. Captured and tortured beyond endurance for decades, Yun eventually succumbed to helping the aliens subjugate humanity in order to save Earth from complete destruction. Granted a healthy clone body by the Trisolarans, Yun has spent his very long life in exile as a traitor to the human race. Nearing the end of his existence at last, he suddenly receives another reprieve―and another regeneration. A consciousness calling itself “The Spirit,” later, “The Master,” has recruited him to wage war against an entity that threatens the existence of the entire universe, “the Lurker.” However, Yun refuses to be a pawn again and makes his own plans to save humanity’s future…” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36262251-the-redemption-of-time

My Opinion:

I will do a bigger BLOG-breakdown of the series with heavy spoilers at some point in the future. This BLOG is for people who have not read or listened to the series and have seen my posts using quotes from all four novels for the past three months. I tend to post quotes from the book I am listening to when I do my workouts, nature walks or treadmill atmospheres. This book series is nothing but brilliant. It’s no wonder China has been trying to adapt this to visual media. As of the writing of this BLOG there are five listings for this on IMDB.com for different kinds of visual media for this property. The only one I think I will have access to, that I can actually watch, will be the 2024 Netflix show on the “Three-Body Problem.” Depending on if you read the optional fourth book, “The Redemption of Time,” the meaning of these novels take on their own meaning.

• What Is Real? • Is Reality Real? • Do We Even Know The Difference If Any of “This” Is Real? • Does Anything At All Have Actual Meaning? • Does Anything Actually “Matter?”

The phrase "This has all happened before, and it will all happen again" is a line from the reimagined science fiction series "Battlestar Galactica." In the context of the show, it reflects the idea of cyclical history and the recurrence of events. The idea is that history repeats itself, and the same patterns and conflicts reoccur throughout time. This is a theme over the course of the four novels that is heavily explored.

This series is sometimes referred to as “existential horror.” This isn’t to imply horror in the traditional sense. Like, say, the existential horror of aliens invading Earth, like in, “Independence Day,” a monster on the ship “Alien,” or the everyday reality we live in not being real at all, “the Matrix.” It is more existentially terrifying from concepts it raises and how those concepts are dealt from the different perspective of these ideas coming from the different cultural perspective of a computer engineer in China rather than our standard Western way of telling a story, dealing with characters and the existential themes of the nature of our Universe. How this series deals with these questions in our everyday society. An example I will pull from, that really isn’t a spoiler, but how love between two people is dealt with here. China handles these things much differently, culturally and artistically, than say, how American writers tend to write about love in a fictional story. Once you get used to how the information is being displayed in the confines of the story and characters; the easier you get lost in the existential terror of the events as they unfold. To me, listening to these books was like how I saw “The Matrix” for the first time or “Alien” for the first time. That it was more than just a monster movie or insane visual action. You get lost in the concept of “what if” this could all be at play in some point in Humanity’s near or perhaps distant future. That “what if” this is all some sort of simulation or video game where the plot is so fixed that any choice you make has no impact, imprint or evidence on the outcome of the game. That no matter what you do in the game; you end up at the same boss fight at the end, with the same life, the same weapons, the same everything. It's these types of environments where the lack of realism is felt and where we eventually realize that something is not right with said reality. Human beings possess a kind of intuitive alarm in our minds. We hear a voice that isn’t a voice. It is a thought, but we describe to others as a voice. Others do not hear what you heard. They only know of it because you described it to them. However, they do not actually know for themselves. An example would be; we trust when we look up at the Moon that it is there, but you, I, most, have never been there to touch, see, step foot on it to know it if is actually there or not. Granted, we do know that it is there. We see it from Earth, we see its impact on the tides. We feel its gravity. Our mind alerts us when something doesn't feel real. That is usually how we know we are in a dream. Some things seem real, some seem normal and then you see a giant spider in the sky where the Sun should be. Eventually the brain will tell you what is real and what is not real. It is when our realities are flipped upside down and inside out, like a tesseract, that feelings on reality become existential horror. If we were in a simulation of reality and everything was so perfect that we’d began to perceive the artificiality of our surroundings.

Reality is never perfect in the concept of what we humans think of as perfection. In reality perfection and infinity are one-in-the-same. That; “on a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything. You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You are not a unique snowflake. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world...” ― Chuck Palahniuk, “FIGHT CLUB.” Granted this is not the Universe of “Fight Club.” However, it could be. Some of the quotes in Palahniuk’s “Fight Club” and “Choke” speak to me in a way that his characters tend to live in a reality-bubble where the main character is always questioning whether or not the reality they are in is a real one. “The ability to let that which does not matter truly slide. Self-improvement is masturbation. Maybe self-destruction is the answer.” ― Chuck Palahniuk, “FIGHT CLUB”

If reality seems too good to be true or too erratic to be natural it can lead to dissatisfaction and rejection of that reality. That is why I say if you do not want your reality shattered. If you do not want to think of humanity, you, us, everything, every moment, every lover, every taste, touch, smell, sight seen or idea in your mind as just another grain of sand on an infinite beach and that grain having no effect whatsoever, no impact, imprint or evidence on the outcome of the collective sand on that infinite beach. That no matter what you do as a grain of sand on the beach you end up with the same life, the same job, the same woes, the same loves, tastes, fixations, disappointments, depressions, disappointments; the same everything. Then do not read these books. If you believe in God. You might not anymore at the end of these books. If you believe all life is precious you also may not believe that anymore. That is how impactful this series can be. However, if you are just a science fiction junky, like myself, and want your mind blown by an amazing story, I implore you to read or listen to these.

The Three-Body Series explores the grandeur and mysteries of the universe. It underscores the contrast between human mythologies and the scientific understanding of the cosmos. The vastness of space, the insignificance of humanity in the face of cosmic forces, and the pursuit of knowledge and scientific truth. The series invites readers to contemplate the Universe's enormity and complexity, highlighting the importance of scientific exploration. Liu Cixin's work combines science, philosophy, and storytelling to convey a sense of wonder about the Universe, which forced me to question our place in the cosmos. This series will intersect with science, philosophy, and human existence, making it a compelling read for those who appreciate profound intellectual exploration in science fiction literature.This series not only offers a riveting science fiction story, but also encourages readers to contemplate the nature of knowledge, the mysteries of the universe, time, and the implications of our place within it. It's a compelling invitation to embrace the wonders of science and the unknown, making it a must-read for those who appreciate both intellectual depth and an engaging narrative.

“The creation myths of the various peoples and religions of the world pale when compared to the glory of the big bang.” Liu Cixin, “The Three-Body Problem”

Non-Spoiler Review of Remembrance of Earth's Past Also known as "The Three-Body Trilogy" by David-Angelo Mineo 10/25/2023 2,514 Words

[artinovo]

Have you noticed I’m in a fantasy creature mode 😉 #abstractart #artist #painting #acryliconwood #fantasy #artprints #original #yetti #creature #pixelism #atmospheric #thedarkforest #designer #landscape #abstractlandscape #creative #roamingfree #dreamscape #decor #homedecor #interiors #contemporaryart #pixels #digitalartist #ethereal #playtime #interiordecor #stylish #abstractart https://www.instagram.com/p/ClDzZ6hvEjH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[maademadeer]

hwakfrost

redbubble

[squirrelflightislife]

Flametail, baby boi

[tired-tumbleweed]

What happens to Cats who disappear from the afterlife completely?

People have asked this question multiple times, and I'm going to try my best to simplify my answer for them: When a cat fades from both The Dark Forest and StarClan, they are sent 'Beyond death.' I don't believe that anyone can really disapear forever, but I do believe that, for example, when Spottedleaf died for the second time in The Last Hope, she stopped existing in all three dimensions. Beyond Death is probably an endless void of nothingness, and perhaps they'll just continuesly fall for enternity.

[razmerry]

The “living” is from an AU MAP I hosted, in case you’re curious

Also I love she

[lilyarcheron]

One of my most cherished dreams finally came true! I feel so happy and grateful! I want to thank my family and friends who supported me on this journey, no matter how difficult it was! You are priceless! I believe the best is yet to come! I hope you all enjoy my book as much as I enjoyed writing it!

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Forest-Unearthly-Iliyana-Todorova/dp/1096636832/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1573749736&sr=8-1

[primitive-witchery]

New watercolor by me “Baba Yaga’s Domain” #primitivewitchery #watercolor #forest #babayaga #originalart #artistlorenmorris #flyagaric #mushrooms #skull #russianwitch #belladonna #artwork #thedarkforest #russianfolklore https://www.instagram.com/p/B0PnYVjH7P_/?igshid=kirurnqoj0wd

[coeur-d-artichaut]

{ Shout out to my brother @th3gorr3 for being the best and bringing these two awesome books from the @banq_officiel 😍 I can't wait to read them, I've heard only good reviews and I'm in such a sci-fi and fantasy mood. Have you read one of them? Or are they also in your TBR? Let me know💬 • • • #thedarkforest #theplotters #cixinliu #unsukim #torbooks #doubledaybooks #currentlyreading #bookaholic #bookstagram #libros #librosmiadiccion #currentlyreading #librosymaslibros #bookworm #booknerd #bookobsessed #bookish #booklove #bookaddict #bookishcanadians #bibliophile #cequejelis #livreaddict #livre #lecturedumoment #yalit #bookhaul #library #librarylove } (à Rimouski, Quebec) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwe44D7HO8H/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8tum1nsb9ujr

[schwarzmodul]

Once happening upon it, I wasn’t quite sure I would find my way out … ◼️🖤👣 … #thedarkforest https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdg5keAPnj6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamiesonwolf]

This morning, I asked the cards “How can I honour my spirit today?” I drew the 5 and 8 of Chalices and The Tamed Lion from The Spirit Keepers Tarot. ✨ When I look at these cards, I see the journey that I’ve been on. I’ve been so full of emotions that they have actually been doing me harm and have been driving me to harm myself. My emotions are a geyser with no control lately and the dark forest of depression has shown itself. However, in order to honour myself and my spirit, I need to walk away from the emotions that have been causing me so much harm. There is nothing I can do but walk away, knowing that I no longer need to hold on to those emotions. 🌟 What I need to do in order to honour my spirit is love myself again. It’s one of the hardest things for me to do and yet one of the most healing things I can give myself, that gift of self love. I’ve been through so much, seen and done so much. I know that my spirit, body and mind are ready to be loved completely. I have to be brave enough to love myself and let myself heal. ⭐ #tarot #tarotreadersofinstagram #tarottribe #spiritkeeperstarot #benebellwen #love #selflove #depression #thedarkforest #multiplesclerosis #journey #onestepatatime #emotions #letitgo #walkaway #lovemyself #bravery #bebraveenoughtolove #sparkleon #shinebright #likeadiamond #cardoftheday #spiritualaf https://www.instagram.com/p/CXqpXYrO6fT/?utm_medium=tumblr

[gizmew-blog]

This is a redraw of the art on the right. The only differences are that I decided to change the scenarios. The one on the right its just Maple meeting with her kids before the great battle. While the redraw is AFTER the battle and her and her fellow survivors were defeated and retreated back to the dark forest. She contemplates everything she's done and meets her kits at the borderline between Starclan and the dark forest. She misses them. Also I gave up trying to draw a background on the redraw too painful. ~

[squirrelflightislife]

Tigerclaw/star

So can’t decide between short hair or long hair. Plus bonus tigerpaw/kit 😻

[cyberprototype]

12:59

 this guy does nothing o my god what am i seeing i i i... what the fric am i doing am fly... INGGGG! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA