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Post by Erose on Apr 21, 2022 12:35:04 GMT -6
| ridgeclan
RidgeClan is possibly the proudest of the Clans, with a rich history of noble hawk-hunters and a strong connection to their ancestors. They value family, spirituality, and ambition.
Many lifetimes ago, when RidgeClan was still settling in their territory, they were plagued by hawks. The birds would swoop down and snatch kits and young cats in their cruel talons, carrying them away forever. Terrified as they watched their Clanmates die one by one, the Clan prayed to StarClan, presenting offerings of prey when they were already skinny from competition with hawks in the harsh environment.
Finally, one cat decided he'd had enough. Brightpelt trekked out onto the highest ridges of his Clan's territory, snaring a rabbit and leaving it wounded as bait. He waited in hiding from moonset to sunrise before he finally saw a hawk's wing flash in the dawn. It swooped, and as its talons closed around the rabbit, Brightpelt sprung from his hiding spot, landing squarely on the hawk's back. It screeched and tried to fly away, but Brightpelt was too heavy. After a hard fight, the brave warrior was finally able to sink his teeth into the back of its neck, killing it—but not without sustaining injuries of his own.
Bleeding from a slash across his chest, Brightpelt braved the journey back to camp, dragging the carcass of his slain enemy all the way. When he dropped it in the center of camp, he leaned his head back to breathe the fresh morning air as the first light of dawn splashed across his face, his white pelt seeming to glow with divine radiance. StarClan had answered their prayers, and sent the first hawk-hunter to complete his task.
Now known as Brighthawk, he carried forward his legacy with pride, organizing the first bands of hawk-hunters to defend their territory.
Hawk-hunting is a tradition that continues to carry forward into each new generation, with the suffix of -hawk being earned by the most outstanding of warriors. It's considered a great honor to wield this name, and the bearer is expected to continue serving their Clan to the utmost.
While the story of Brighthawk inspires all, from the littlest kit to the most noble elder, it also touches on RidgeClan's early connection with StarClan. From the very beginning, this Clan took their devotion seriously, to the point of making offerings even to their own detriment.
The tradition of offerings continues to this day, though prey has fallen out of favor due to the probability of attracting scavengers. Nowadays, small and precious items such as riverstones, snail shells, and feathers are left instead. Hawk feathers are seen as a highly prestigious gift.
Offerings are typically made at the high points of their territory, often around burial sites, closest to StarClan.
As with the other Clans, RidgeClan has a warrior specialization. Guardians are cats who are trained to protect hunting parties that roam the high ridges and down by the river, as those are where birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, and osprey pose the most danger. Hunting parties in these areas typically consist of two guardians and three hunters, though the dense forests are safer for solo hunts or parties without guardians. A guardian or two will also often accompany the medicine cat during herb gathering or apprentice training sessions, where they can watch for danger while their Clanmates train.
RidgeClan also traditionally had a special high rank, the oracle, who helped provide spiritual guidance for the religious Clan. While often working closely with the medicine cat, the oracle focused little on physical injuries, instead helping their Clan with issues of faith and devotion. The oracle and the medicine cat have historically either been close comrades or bitter rivals that cannot agree on StarClan's messages. In recent history, the role has been dissolved, leaving a gap in the council of RidgeClan.
Cats of this Clan also have a tendency to collect trophies, especially feathers, which are traditionally kept in dug-out hollows near the collector's nest. Because of this practice, over time the dens—which are dug into the earth, usually under rock ledges—have acquired rudimentary sort of "shelves" in the walls.
This practice was also adopted by the medicine cats, who use these hollows instead to store herbs in the cool pockets of earth.
RidgeClan cats, due to the harsher environment of their territory, tend to be hardy. Long fur is very common, and even shorthair cats usually have a double coat to protect against the bitter mountain winds. Stereotypically, RidgeClan cats tend toward black, dark tabby, and tortoiseshell, though like with all of the Clans, there is plenty of variation.
The other Clans tend to see RidgeClan as uptight and suspicious of outsiders, while RidgeClan sees themselves as devout and dedicated.
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Post by Erose on Apr 27, 2022 13:43:46 GMT -6
| prairieclan
PrairieClan is both the most populated Clan and the most easy-going. Their relaxed nature often gives off an impression of weakness or indecision, but prairie cats are the quickest to band together in a common cause. They strongly value hard work, family, and freedom of expression.
Life on the open prairie has led to a unique role in the Clan: tunnelers. Tunnelers are warriors that specialize in moving through, maintaining, and expanding the vast network of tunnels that run under the plains.
Tunneling gives PrairieClan a clear advantage on their territory, enabling them to move quickly and secretly, providing easier hunting in leafbare as well as escape or ambush routes. Because of all their time spent underground, however, tunnelers tend to have weaker day vision.
All apprentices are given tunneler training, though only a select few become specialized in their warriorhood. Because of this extra training, PrairieClan apprentices tend to receive their warrior name around fifteen moons of age instead of the typical twelve, though it's not unheard of for a name to be gained even later, especially if the apprentice is to continue their tunneler training.
PrairieClan's specialized high rank is their herbalist, a cat that works closely with the prairie's flora. They tend to be the most knowledgeable on the status, location, and health of the various plants of their territory, working closely with the medicine cat to assist with herb stocking and plant maintenance. They are crucial to making sure certain herbs aren't overharvested, and have been known to develop techniques to prune and relocate plants to maintain optimal growing conditions.
The rest of PrairieClan also has a particular affinity for plants, especially flowers. Nests are often lined with flowers, and buttercups are traditionally given to a cat's crush and believed to be good luck. Flowers also play a role in courtship.
Pregnant cats typically have their nest decorated by their mate, flowers of the cat's favorite color and type lovingly woven into the bedding. If no mate is present, this task is typically undertaken by family, close friends, or the other queens.
Because PrairieClan is so near to a farm, they commonly cross paths with barn cats or wandering loners. This tends to give them a more welcoming outlook on outsiders, and it's not unusual for them to welcome outsiders into the Clan or for Clan cats to have outside relationships. While PrairieClan believes there is strength in such diversity, the other Clans don't always agree and may look down on the inclusion of non-Clan bloodlines.
Stereotypically, PrairieClan cats are very diverse in fur length and coloring, though seem to favor brighter colorations such as calicos, white cats, and orange. Other Clans tend to see them as eccentric and irresponsible, while PrairieClan sees themselves as open and bright-spirited.
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Post by Erose on Apr 27, 2022 13:47:41 GMT -6
| mistclan
While MistClan tends to be more secretive than the other Clans, this is more because of their inclination for quiet observation. When you really get to know a MistClanner, you'll find that their Clan contains a rich culture of storytelling and a unique view of the world around them. Their highest values are creativity, patience, and wisdom.
MistClan's camp is located around an ancient oak called the Sky Tree. The leader's nest is located in the boughs of the tree, with the medicine den in a hollowed out den below its roots. Clan meetings are called from one of its lower branches. The nursery is in an earthen den that was once a badger set, and the warriors and apprentices have their nests up in the branches of nearby trees.
The Sky Tree is revered in MistClan as an extension of StarClan's power, and the clan is rather animist in its belief that StarClan is present not just in the sky, but the earth around them. This belief often leads to tension with RidgeClan, who tend to find it heretical.
Because of their affinity for trees, a unique role has arisen in MistClan. Weavers are cats who specialize in fortifying nests and camp barriers by weaving and tying branches, dried grasses, and bracken as well as training live plants and trees to grow in ways that are beneficial to the Clan. They also help to maintain the health of trees, removing diseased growth and clearing foliage that blocks too much sun and prevents new growth. Under their care, MistClan's forest has been lush and healthy for many generations.
MistClan's specialized high rank is their historian, a role that has developed out of the Clan's respect for the past and love for historical retellings. The historian memorizes Clan life, from the stories of their elders in addition to new knowledge from Gatherings and events. Wise leaders are careful not to misspeak when MistClan's historian is present. The historian also utilizes rudimentary writing to mark history for future generations, using symbols scratched into the Stonemark to communicate the past and current happenings of the Clan.
MistClan's love for creativity has blossomed in a myriad of ways, including painting and storytelling. Cats will often have their fur painted for ceremonies, with plant-made dyes applied in markings and colors representative of the cat's family, skills, and individuality.
While storytelling can take place at any time, it's traditional to tell stories after ceremonies, focusing on the cat or cats' accomplishments, funny stories from their lives, and even the cat's own favorite stories.
Stereotypically, MistClan cats are small, nimble, and long-legged, with gray fur, though of course there are plenty of variations in all Clans. Other Clans tend to see them as withdrawn and a bit strange, though MistClanners think of themselves as thoughtful, wise, and adaptable.
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