Guide to the Clans

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This is a guide that contains information necessary for Clan life. Much of the information was taken from Secrets of the Clans, and the rest came form the brains of the staff and members. If you think of something that should be added here, whether it be a herb we forgot or a whole new category that you think would be useful, message an Admin and we'll look at your suggestion.

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Alfalfa - To be chewed and eaten. Relieves toothache. Found in fields, primarily in WindClan.

Aloe Vera - Leaves are chewed and applied to burns. Can also be used to relieve itchy skin. Found almost everywhere, particularly in areas of low water. Does not grow as well in SnowClan.

Blessed Thistle - To be chewed and eaten. Strengthens heart, lungs and blood circulation. Found primarily in ThunderClan, RiverClan, and ForestClan, but will grow everywhere.

Borage Leaves - To be chewed and eaten. Given to nursing queens to increase their milk. Also helps to reduce fever. Found nearly everywhere, particularly in forest areas.

Rosemary Blossoms - To be chewed and applied as a poultice. Helps to heal eye infection and protect wounds of the eyes or eyelids. Found in twoleg gardens and areas open to sunlight in all of the Clans.

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The Warrior Code

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#1: Defend your Clan, even with your life. You may have friendships with cats from other Clans, but your loyalty must remain to your Clan, as one day you may meet them in battle.

#2: Do not hunt or trespass on another Clan's territory.

#3: Elders and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the elders.

#4: Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life.

#5: A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice.

#6: Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name.

#7: A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.

#8: The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies or retires.

#9: After the death or retirement of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.

#10 : A Gathering of all eight Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. There shall be no fighting among Clans at this time.

#11: Boundaries must be checked and marked daily.
Challenge all trespassing cats.

#12: No warrior may neglect a kit in pain or in danger, even if that kit is from a different Clan.

#13: The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code.

#14: An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win his battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or it is necessary for self-defense.

A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.

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Kits

- Will always stay near the nursery, until they are 6 moons old.
- May not leave the camp without a queen or a warrior.
- Take the name *name*kit.

Apprentices

- Will sleep in the Apprentices Den until they become a warrior.
- May only leave the camp with a warrior's or the leader's permission.
- Take the name *name*paw.

Medicine Cat Apprentice

A Medicine Cat Apprentice trains under the Medicine Cat to learn the art of healing. Medicine Cat Apprentices get their full names at the Skypool or Starpool when their mentors decide they are ready. He or she will stay an apprentice as long as the Medicine Cat is living, even after the apprentice has received his or her full name. They are usually taught in the medicine cat's den, or outside the camp when they gather herbs. They also learn how to interpret signs.

Warriors

- Will sleep in the Warriors Den until they become Elders.
- May leave the camp at any time, but is good to make sure the leader knows about it first.
- Will take the name the leader gives them.
- If you chose to make a cat that is already a warrior you may choose their entire name.

Queens
Queens move to the nursery about a moon before giving birth, surrendering their warrior duties. They have their food delivered to them by their Clanmates as they become less mobile. A she-cat's pregnancy is just over two moons, after which she gives birth to a litter of one to five kits.

While kits are weaned at two moons, the queens remain in the nursery until they are named apprentices to ensure proper care and education. Sometimes - although it is very rare - a queen leaves the nursery before her kit(s) become apprentices.

When a queen is unable to produce enough milk to feed her kits, another queen who has plenty of milk to spare will help her nurse until the kits are ready for fresh-kill. Queens will also feed kits from outside of the Clan; for example, when Cloudkit was brought to ThunderClan, Brindleface offered to feed him.

An older she-cat may request to stay in the nursery after her kits are apprenticed, instead of resuming warrior duties. These permanent queens are usually close to becoming elders and help younger queens with their kits.

Restrictions:
- A medicine cat is not allowed to take a mate and have kits.
- An apprentice cannot have kits.
- A female Leader or Deputy generally does not have kits, because looking after them would keep her away from her Leader or Deputy duties for six moons or more. Male Leaders and Deputies, however, frequently father kits.

Elders

An elder is usually an elderly cat who cannot attend warrior duties any more due to old age. When a Warrior, Queen, Deputy, Leader, or Medicine Cat wishes to retire, an Elder Ceremony is held. Elders share a den all to themselves and are taken care of by apprentices and warriors who bring them food, water and fresh bedding.

Sometimes a cat must retire early for reasons beyond their control (a crippling wound, loss of sight, etc). Usually if circumstances force a cat into early retirement, he or she will receive a new name in order to better suit his or her current state.

Although elders spend most of their time in their den, they may leave the camp if they wish to do so. Sometimes, they participate in Gatherings.

Medicine Cats

Medicine Cats are Clan cats who treat diseases and injuries, and who receive directions and guidance from the Warrior Anscestors. They have their own den in the Clan camp, where they sleep, store herbs, and treat wounded or sick cats. Medicine Cats are not allowed to take mates or have kits, and usually stand outside Clan rivalries. They are deeply respected by their Clanmates and cats rarely argue with them.

Some of a Medicine Cat's duties are:
- Knowing herbs and their uses and keeping them stocked in his or her den.
- Treating wounded and sick cats.
- Assisting queens giving birth to kits.
- Checking up regularly on the health of Clan cats.
- Visiting the Clans' sacred place at every half moon to seek guidance from StarClan or SkyClan.
- Interpreting prophecies and omens and sharing them with the Clan Leader.
- Upon the death of the Clan Leader, accompanying the Deputy to the Starpool or Skypool to be appointed as the new Leader
- Training an apprentice as the Clan's next Medicine Cat.
- Bearing some knowledge of battle training in case of emergencies.

Deputy

When the Leader dies or retires, the current Deputy will become the new Leader. A cat may not become deputy unless he or she has mentored at least one apprentice.

A Deputy can resign from the position if he or she wishes to do so. Depending on age, a Deputy can choose to retire as an elder. They can also be replaced by the Leader if considered unfit for the position. In either of the cases, a new Deputy will be named before moonhigh.

Duties of the Deputy include:
- Assigning border patrols, listening to their reports and assigning hunting patrols
- Making reports to the Clan Leader
- Substitute for the Clan Leader in Gatherings and in battles if the Leader are unavailable.
- As a deputy is also a warrior, he or she is expected to carry out warrior tasks as well.

Leader

In order to become Leader, a cat must meet these qualifications:
- Trained at least one apprentice
- Selected by the previous Leader to become Deputy
- The previous Leader must be deceased, retired, or banished
- The warrior must have been Deputy at the time of the Leader's death, retirement, or banishment

The Leader is in charge of everything that goes on in a Clan. Leaders will drop their old suffix and take on "star" at the end of their names. As per the warrior code, a Leader is to be obeyed at all times.

A Leader begins with nine lives after the Leader Ceremony.

Kittypets

Kittypets are looked after and pampered by Twolegs. They are plump and well-fed; Twolegs feed them several times daily with dry, tasteless pellets that look like rabbit droppings. They are soft-muscled and know very little about the arts of fighting and hunting (with notable exceptions). At a certain age, they are taken to be neutered or sprayed; the veterinarian doing this is named the Cutter by the Clan cats. After this visit, they usually become lazy and have no desire to do much.

Kittypets have a one part name that is always Twoleg-ish (i.e Duchess, Princess, Lucky). Kittypets may have kits if they were not taken to the Cutter, but the kits will almost always be taken away by the owners. To have a litter that's "saved" message the admins.

Loners

Loners often stake a claim on an area around Clan territory. These places are often near Twolegs, such as on farms, abandoned homes or any sheltered area. They tend to keep to themselves and stay off Clan territories, and are more known for their independence and friendliness.

Some Clan members find them untrustworthy but others befriend loners on the off chance that they might be useful allies in the future.

If a Loner once belonged to a Clan, he or she will sometimes keep their Clan name. If not, a Loner will have a one-pat name.

Rogues

Rogues are usually aggressive and do not respect the warrior code, unlike loners. They sometimes trespass on Clan territories to steal from them; if they are caught by a patrol, they are chased out.

Rogues are almost always considered trouble.

Rogues will sometimes keep a Clan name if exiled from a Clan, but will otherwise have a one-part name.