Information:
Warrior Code: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, queens, 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. If any warrior or apprentice is sick or injured, they may eat while the elders, queens, and kits are eating.
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, retires or is exiled.
9. After the death or retirement of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.
10. A Gathering of all four 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 can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the 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/her battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or if it is necessary for self-defense.
15. A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.
Additional Rules: These are expected to be followed without being stated in the Warrior Code.
Medicine cats may not have a mate or kits.
Kits must stay in camp until they are apprenticed, and are not allowed to hunt.
The safety of the Clan is more important than the safety of one cat.
Clans must not unite together to drive out another Clan.
Clans must not force another Clan to share territory.
Enemy patrols must not attack cats if they are on a mission all four Clans agree on.
Ceremonies:Apprentice:The Clan Leader calls a Clan Meeting to appoint a new apprentice and assign a mentor to him/her. The following words are used, by tradition:
Leader: (Kit), you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as (new name, ending with "paw" ). Your mentor will be (name of warrior or medicine cat). I hope (name of warrior or medicine cat) will pass down all he/she knows on to you.
The leader calls up the warrior he/she has chosen as a mentor.
Leader: (Warrior), you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from (former mentor), and you have shown yourself to be (quality) and (quality). You will be the mentor of (apprentice), and I expect you to pass on all you know to (apprentice).
The mentor touches noses with the apprentice, and the Clan greets the new apprentice by calling out his/her name. After this, the apprentice will usually go greet their family, or go see to their mentor.
Medicine Cat Apprentice:The leader calls a Clan meeting, after the Clan's medicine cat announces that he or she wishes to mentor an apprentice. The following words are used, by tradition:
Medicine Cat: Cats of (Clan), as you know, I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown (virtues). Your next medicine cat will be (apprentice).
Leader: (Apprentice), do you accept the post of apprentice to (medicine cat)?
Apprentice: I do.
Medicine Cat: Then at the half-moon, you must travel to the Moonstone/Moonpool to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats.
Leader: The good wishes of all (Clan) will go with you.
The mentor touches noses with the apprentice, and the Clan greets the new apprentice.
At the Moonstone/Moonpool
At the next half moon, the medicine cat goes with the apprentice to the Clans' sacred place to present him or her to the warrior ancestors, where the apprentice confirms his or her wish to be a medicine cat. The following words are used, by tradition:
Medicine Cat: (Apprentice), is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?
Apprentice: It is.
Medicine Cat: Then come forward.
Medicine Cat: Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this apprentice. (He/she) has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant (him/her) your wisdom and insight so that (he/she) may understand your ways and heal (his/her) Clan in accordance with your will.
The medicine cat apprentice drinks from a pool in the Moon Cave. Then the medicine cat and the apprentice lay down and have a dream from StarClan.
Warrior:An apprenticeship usually lasts six moons or more. Once the mentor is satisfied with the apprentice's progress and skills, he or she recommends them to the leader of the Clan. Then, the apprentice must pass an assessment, when their abilities as a warrior are checked. In cases when the apprentice has just made an important contribution to the Clan, the leader may decide that there is no need for an assessment.
If the Clan Leader is satisfied, he or she calls a Clan Meeting and calls the apprentice. The following words are used, by tradition:
Leader: I, (Leader), leader of (Clan), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (He/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend (him/her) to you as a warrior in (his/her) turn.
Leader: (Apprentice), do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?
Apprentice: I do.
Leader: Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. (Apprentice), from this moment you will be known as (new warrior name). StarClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full warrior of (Clan).
The leader rests his or her muzzle on the apprentice's head, and he or she licks the leader's shoulder. The rest of the Clan then greets the new warrior by calling him or her by their new name. The warrior will sit a silent vigil guarding the camp that night, except if that is not possible.
Medicine Cat:Apprenticeship for medicine cats usually lasts much longer than those for warriors. The cat must learn about all available herbs and remedies, and the treatment of diseases and injuries.
Once the Clan's medicine cat is satisfied with the apprentice's knowledge, they go to the Clans' sacred place (The Moon Cave in our case). This is the only ceremony that is not performed by the Leader. The following words are used, by tradition:
Medicine Cat: I, (name), medicine cat of ___Clan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (He/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help (he/she) will serve (his/her) Clan for many moons.
Medicine Cat: ___paw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?
Apprentice: I do.
Medicine Cat: Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. ___paw, from this moment you will be known as (new name). StarClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of (Clan).
The medicine cat rests his or her muzzle on the apprentice's head, and he or she licks the mentor's shoulder. The other medicine cats greet him or her by their new name.
Deputy:The leader calls a Clan Meeting, and performs the ceremony by announcing these words:
Leader: I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors (or former deputy name) may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of (Clan) is (warrior's name).
Elder:An aging warrior, queen, or medicine cat may retire as an elder due to own initiative, when they feel they cannot help the Clan efficiently any more. A cat may also retire if they are hindered from serving their Clan through old age, illness, or injury. They report this to the Clan Leader, who calls a Clan Meeting and addresses the warrior.
Leader: (Warrior), is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?
Warrior: It is.
Leader: Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest.
The Clan will call out the retired warrior's name and then he or she will go to the elder's den. An elder may receive a completely different name, with a different ceremony, than keeping their warrior name.
Usually, an elder ceremony is held only when a cat retires due to old age. If they are forced to retire because of a severe injury, there is no ceremony.
Leadership:The new leader goes to the Moon Cave with the Clan's medicine cat. After touching the stone (or drinking from the pool), the new leader cannot move for a short period of time, because their old life is being ripped away so they can receive nine new ones. Upon awakening, cats of StarClan come down from Silverpelt. Nine cats, normally ones who were significant during the new leader's life, although this is not always the case, give them their nine lives with these words:
Life-Giver: (Touches nose to the top of the new leader's head) With this life I give you (gift). Use it well (to, in, as, for, etc.) (use of gift).
When all of the lives have been given, the previous leader says these words:
Previous Leader: I hail you by your new name, _____star. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of ____Clan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity.
Just as the forest-cats would call a warrior by their new name, the StarClan cats acclaim the new leader. After the ceremony, the new leader is not allowed to tell any cat what happened during the ceremony.
Getting nine lives does not necessarily mean that a leader will live longer, but they can survive certain accidents or injuries that would claim the life of a cat. However, they cannot survive if they have major injuries. If a leader does not lose a life, they will die of old age nine times.
If a leader no longer wishes to be the leader, they must go to the Moon Cave to revoke all but one life, so their deputy may have their full nine lives.
Terminology: Crowfood or crow-food – A dead prey animal that has begun to rot; can also be used as an insult (see below).
Cutter – A veterinarian, specifically, though not always, referring to one that spays or neuters cats.
Dirt - Feces.
Fresh-kill – A recently killed prey animal caught for the purpose of consumption. Fresh-kill is hunted by warriors and apprentices, and placed on the fresh-kill pile or brought to the elders. Elders, kits, queens, and sick cats eat first, then warriors and apprentices. Extras stay in the fresh-kill pile.
Gathering – The monthly meeting of all the Clans when the moon is full. There is a truce on this night, and no fighting is allowed.
Greenleaf Twolegplace – A place frequented by Twolegs during summer, such as a resort or camping spot near the lake.
Halfbridge – A boat dock.
Horseplace – A place where horses are kept, such as ranches and stables.
Hunting Patrol – A group of cats hunting for fresh-kill to bring back for their Clan to eat. May fight if there are trespassers.
Kittypet – A domesticated pet cat.
Loner – A cat that lives by itself and doesn't defend its territory.
Making dirt - Defecating.
Monster – A vehicle operated by humans. Often described when cats are near Twolegs/the Thunderpath Motorboats are sometimes referred to as "water-monsters."
Rogue – A usually hostile cat who does not have a permanent home, roams around, and does not care about crossing Clan boundaries.
Sharing tongues – Cats grooming each other while sharing the latest gossip. A cat lies on the ground, talking, while the other grooms their fur, listening.
She-cat - A female cat.
She-kit - A female kit.
Silver boulder - A boulder that, when the silver disc is pulled off, holds Twoleg rubbish. To Twolegs, they are just trash cans/bins.
Silverpelt – The large swath of stars in the sky (believed to be the Milky Way). These stars are a direct representation of StarClan.
Silverthorn - Barbed wire.
Smooth boulder-thing - Twoleg ball.
Snowmelt - A term used to describe slush or dirty, melted snow.
Soft boulder - A pillow or cushion.
Sun-drown-place - An ocean to the west of the Clans' territories.
Tree-eater – A bulldozer.
Thunderpath – A paved road with an extremely acrid smell that cars often go across.
Tom/tomcat - A male cat.
Twoleg – A human.
Twoleg kit – A human child.
Twoleg nest – A human's house.
Twolegplace – A town, city, or village where Twolegs live.
Time Terms
Newleaf - The season of spring.
Greenleaf - The season of summer.
Leaf-fall - The season of autumn or fall.
Leaf-bare - The season of winter.
Moon - The time between one full moon and the next, spanning about 29 days, a month.
Moonhigh - When the moon is the highest in the sky; about midnight.
Moonrise - The time when the moon rises.
Half-moon - About two weeks, half a month.
Quarter-moon - About a week.
Sunhigh - The point during the day when the sun is highest in the sky; noon.
Sunrise - One day in cat time (i.e. One sunrise ago).
Season - A quarter of a year in cat time. Four seasons equal a year.
Heartbeat - A split second.
Claw-moon - When the moon resembles the shape of an unsheathed claw, equivalent to crescent moon.
Sundown - Dusk.
Sunup - Dawn. However, Dawn is still used for example in the phrase "Dawn Patrol."
Distance Terms Fox-length - About the length of a fox; approximately a yard. (80 cm)
Kittenstep or kitstep - About the length of kit's step; approximately an inch or a half inch. (1.25-2.5 cm)
Tail-length - About the length of a cat's tail; approximately a foot. (30 cm)
Rabbit hop or rabbit length - About a foot and a half away. (45 cm)
Mouse-length - About two or three inches. (5-7.5 cm)
Pawstep - About the length of a grown cat's step, roughly six inches. (15 cm)
Tree-length - About the length of a tree; around 40 to 50 feet. (15 m)
Insults, Exclamations, & Phrases As easy as swallowing a minnow - A phrase used to indicate easiness of the task.
As much use as a dead fox - A (harsh) insult, meaning the recipient is useless.
Bees in your brain - An exclamation meaning confusion or a cat not making sense. (i.e., You've got bees in your brain!)
Crowfood - A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to rotting prey animals (as in I'll turn you into crowfood!), or suggesting that they eat it (as in crowfood-eater).
(You're) crazier than a fox in a fit! - An insult used when a cat (or cats) are acting crazy. Another variation uses "madder" instead of "crazier."
Doesn't matter a whisker/Doesn't catch so much as a whisker - An exclamation meaning the cat does not care, (i.e. it didn't matter a whisker that she didn't share their beliefs) similar to I don't give a mousetail. Or saying that a patrol didn't catch anything.
Dormouse - An expression or exclamation used against a cat who sleeps a lot.
Like LionClan/TigerClan - An expression stating that a cat does something very fiercely or well.
Flea-brain - A (friendly, yet harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.
Fox-dung - A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to fox feces. Also used as an exclamation. (as in That's fox-dung!)
Fox-hearted - An insult meaning cruel, cold-hearted, or evil (as in fox-hearted Twolegs).
Furball - A (friendly, yet harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.
Fuzz-brain - A (friendly, but harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.
Great StarClan! - An exclamation used to signify extreme surprise or anger. Similar to Oh my god! in usage and to the fact that they both have mention of a higher force.
Hare-dung - Used as an exclaimation, similar to "mouse-dung". Somewhat like "Darn it!" Used in The Sun Trail.
Hedgehogs will fly - An exclamation style statement that shows disbelief that a certain event will likely occur (as in That will happen when hedgehogs fly), used in many variations. Somewhat like the human phrase, When pigs fly!
How in Silverpelt? - An exclamation used meaning "How in the world?" Used in The Sight.
I don't give a mousetail/They wouldn't give a mousetail - An exclamation meaning that the cat does not care. Another variation is I would ____ for a couple of mousetails meaning that they are willing to do the inserted action for no real reward. Can also mean that a cat would be stingy enough not to share a mousetail.
I'd have shredded you into mousedust! - to gravely injure, rip to shreds. Similar to mousemeat.
Make dirt - to use the bathroom.
May StarClan light your path/Banish all the fleas from your nest - A friendly term used to tell others they wish them well.
Mouse-brain - A (friendly yet harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone
Mouse-dung - A (somewhat harsh) insult comparing the recipient to mouse feces. Also used as an exclamation (as in Mousedung! That can't be right!). Somewhat like "Darn it!"
Mouse-hearted - An insult that describes one who is cowardly.
Mousefodder - An insult describing that the cat is worthless or a kittypet.
Once a kittypet, always a kittypet! - A harsh phrase used to describe a cat with kittypet roots.
(Only) StarClan knows (what) - Sometimes used to answer a question that is impossible to answer. Similar to "Only God knows what," "Only God knows," and "God knows."
Pain in the tail - An insult meaning a cat is irritating or lazy.
Scaredy-mouse! - A similar expression to scaredy-cat, but in cat terms.
Scaredy-sparrow - An expression also similar to scaredy-cat, in cat terms.
Sorry catches no prey or Sorry fills no bellies - Means cats can be sorry, but that will not undo what happened.
StarClan's kits! – An exclamation of surprise or disbelief. Sometimes used as an exclamation if a cat is hurt.
Tabbies don't change their stripes - means that a cat doesn't change their nature. Equivalent to "a leopard can't change his spots."
What in StarClan's name?- A exclamation similar to "What on earth?" or "What in the world?"
That's a load of badger droppings - A harsh exclamation saying that something is nonsense.
Thistles and thorns - Used to describe bad luck (as in: Thistles and thorns! I blew it!); similar to "Darn it" or "mouse-dung."
You fight/hunt like a kittypet! - An expression used to insult or tease a cat who fights/hunts poorly.
Who made dirt in his/her fresh kill?- A phrase to describe a cranky or suddenly moody cat.
Would've made mousemeat out of you! - To badly injure, rip to shreds. Similar to mousedust.
Living Spaces Camp - The place where a Clan makes their permanent home.
Leader's den - The den in camp that belongs to the Clan leader.
Medicine cat's den - The den in camp that belongs to the Clan's medicine cat and his or her apprentice. Sometimes referred to as the medicine den.
Warriors' den - The den in camp that is shared between the warriors and the deputy of that Clan.
Apprentices' den - The den in camp that is shared between the apprentices of that Clan.
Elders' den - The den in camp that is shared between the elders of that Clan.
Nursery - The den in camp that is shared by the queens and kits of that Clan.
Dirtplace – The place near the camp where cats go to urinate or excrete.
Fresh-kill pile – The place, usually in the center of the camp, where the warriors drop the prey they caught while hunting, so it is easily accessible to all the cats in the Clan.
Clan Ranks Kit - A kitten younger than six moons.
Apprentice - A cat at least six moons old, and training to be a warrior (or a Medicine cat.)
Warrior - A mature cat who has completed his or her warrior training. A she-cat is considered a warrior when she is not currently expecting or nursing a tom's kits.
Mentor - A cat who is currently training an apprentice.
Queen - A she-cat with kits to take care of or who is pregnant with kits, or stays in the nursery helping other queens even though they have no kits
Elder - Cats who cannot hunt or fight anymore, sometimes due to injury, loss of sight, sickness, or are just too old to do their warrior duties. They are treated with great respect in the Clan. The apprentices in the Clan take fresh kill to them, pick out their fleas, and change their bedding.
Medicine cat - A cat who heals injuries and/or illnesses, who is skilled with herbs, leaves and natural cures and sometimes receives special signs or prophecies from StarClan.
Deputy - A warrior who is second in command to the leader, helping the leader in their tasks and replacing them after their death or resignment. They organize patrols and make reports to the leader, and are known to be frequently given apprentices.
Leader - A cat who controls the entire Clan. A leader is granted nine lives by StarClan so they "can be first in every battle and last to take a piece of fresh-kill" basically giving them extra time to serve and lead their Clan.
Medicine/Herbs:Use this link Medicine Cats:
Herbs
