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Post by jori on Aug 23, 2013 16:52:44 GMT -5
I. ABOUT BEACHCLAN BeachClan remains one of the most accepting clans of the forest - openly acknowledging their humble beginnings from the paws of a kittypet and allowing outsiders (from kittypets to rogues) to join their clan often - letting the jumble of different cats come together to create a mix of new experiences and ideas. BeachClan is one of the least xenophobic clans - shocking considering they are one of the first two clans to settle in Florida. Cats in BeachClan are usually playful and mischievous, often pulling pranks on each other and tricking them into silly situations. Practical jokes are common and apprentices who appear at Gatherings are usually shocked when a prank of their own creates outrage in another clan's warrior.
Because they have become so accustomed to the presence of twolegs, apprentices and younger warriors will team up with senior warriors, with one of them actively playing kittypet while the others run off with interesting trinkets and as much food as they can. After playing their part, the warrior playing kittypet will escape, usually away from camp, and then later creep back home to share their spoils with the rest of the clan. Afraid that they could be targeted as a kittypet clan (more than they already are) they keep this game a secret from the other clans - though the others do have their suspicions.
Like some of the clans Beachclan also has some traditions. When new kits are born, or new apprentices and warriors made, the cats of Beachclan celebrate by gathering on the beach and eating clams. They have mastered the skill of opening clams using their teeth and claws to pry the shells open and get to the muscle inside. Cats of Beachclan also give each other shells as a sign of affection.
II. CLAN HISTORY **THE CLANS BEGAN 200 MOONS AGO - THIS HISTORY TAKES PLACE AFTER THE CLANS HAVE JUST ESTABLISHED**
While the first summer of the clans was rough for PineClan, BeachClan was spared most of the difficulty; many of the cats in the clan had been vaccinated recently enough for the sickness not to affect them, but newborn kittens and warriors that were once loners were taken by the sickness, expressing a need for a medicine cat and their expertise. During the sickness that was sweeping through the clan, a small feline named Pigfoot expressed interest in her clanmates wellbeings - being former kittypet and having been spayed, she could not give birth and was vaccinated against the illness that was claiming her clanmates. When approached by Willowfoot, she gladly took on the study of herbs, and the clan began searching for a way to contact StarClan.
Their first contact with the other clan was established soon enough, when a patrol of BeachClan camps found a patrol of PineClan camps hunting within the forest they were searching for. After scaring off their prey, BeachClan hastily introduced themselves with an apology, and PineClan introduced themselves as well. After retrieving their leaders - the small yet bold Tinystar and the violent and proud Shrikestar - and the clans established their first official borders, promising to stick to the warrior the best they could, which included chasing out any trespassing warriors. The next moon Tinystar and Shrikestar agreed that they would begin meeting every moon at the Cypress Beach to strengthen their bonds. As a celebration to this development, a moon of peace between the two clans was suggested and approved. (170 MOONS AGO) Soon after, the Vanishing Cliff was discovered and medicine cats became educated on the area's herbs and illnesses by dead StarClan cats.
PineClan went through their own set of problems, but that is neither here nor there. BeachClan, however, became something akin to kittypet warriors, with even the former warrior of WindClan taking on a kittypet name and living in a house by night. True, they were still warriors by blood and by what they knew each other as - but only half of the clan resided in their original camp. A few cats were agitated, but most thought nothing of this. That is, until Tinystar disappeared.
Jaegarclaw, the current deputy of BeachClan, became agitated and began to rally warriors. This couldn't go on - they couldn't live off of pellets forever and they certainly couldn't live with the twolegs if they kidnapped warriors. The softer cats refused, loving their lives with a paw in each world. After a few moons, with no sign of Tinystar, Jaegarclaw took his warriors and left, allowing a new leader to step into the position. (146 MOONS AGO) A moon later Jaegarclaw introduced himself as Jaegarstar and proclaimed that he had received his nine lives as the leader of CliffClan. Three moons after that, SwampClan was likewise established.
It was only after they had cycled through 5 leaders that a hurricane rushed through the clans, destroying parts of the territory and a few twolegs homes - all of which warriors of BeachClan belonged to. The medicine cat declared it a sign, and the warriors found a new camp. The new leader began to become strict about nesting with twolegs - they could interact with them, but never go inside their homes, lest StarClan kill them off once more.
MORE ABOUT THE CLAN I. TERRITORY CAMP; a cave hidden in a rock formation. inside there are three small adjacent caves. one is used for the Leader, another for the nursery and the last for the medicine cat. the clan prefers to sleep outdoors in the sand. when the weather is bad they take shelter in the cave. when the leader has a meeting she climbs onto the highest point of the rock formation.
HIDDEN COVE; a sand dune hidden by shrubs and underbrush. here apprentices can watch the twolegs carefully as their mentors teach them about the special two cat method they use.
TRICKLING STREAM; a stream that runs through all of the territories. its fed by the waterfall at cliffclan and feeds into the swamps that make swampclan. its the source of freshwater for the clan.
TWOLEG BEACH; where the twolegs come to play like kits in the water. warriors come here to steal from the twolegs always in groups of two or more. cats can sometimes be found sunning themselves on the many rocks that surround the beach.
II. THOUGHTS ON ROGUES/LONERS/KITTYPETS leader say things here |
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Post by jori on Aug 23, 2013 16:53:02 GMT -5
I. ABOUT If raised properly, not just any PineClanner will give you respect. They have a haughty way of talking to those they don't know, and to them respect isn't something that they give away blindly, but something that is earned by their allies. And perhaps the way they vocalize that ideal is why they have so few allies. Born mainly from loners who had lived in the dark pine forest all their lives, PineClan cats are masters of performance - though they remain silent during the hunt, the average PineClanner is not afraid to play with their food or make a show of their catches, commanding attention from all who see them. PineClanners are not the type to willingly remain quiet, and often they only do so out of perceived necessity. Unlike the focused and stoic CliffClanners, PineClan is the type that vocalize their confidence, often to the point of being brazen. Much to the chagrin of the other clans, it is not uncommon for a PineClanner to tell another Clan's member what they are doing wrong and what they should do to fix it - often causing scuffles and fights during gathering.
Of all four clans, PineClan is the least religious - but, at a contrast, they are the loyal to the warrior code (not to a fault, of course). Though they have seen StarClan, even medicine cats and leaders admit that they would rather leave StarClan to their own devices and take their prophecies somewhere else, taking what they need from the starry warriors and then living life with their own twist to it.
II. CLAN HISTORY Unlike their BeachClan brethren, PineClan suffered the first few moons of their formation - and the summer was the harshest. Few kittypets dared to leave their safe twolegs nest for the harsh forest, and those that did often turned away early on to return to their previous lives. As a result, the majority of the clan was left vulnerable to the strange diseases that the wilderness seemed to promote themselves that summer. Cats upon cats fell to the sickness, and one lone she-cat seemed to be unaffected; Mouseflower. One of the few cats who had not fallen to the sickness, she had just recently defected from her twolegs and was considering going back. However, the dying warriors left her unable to choose between the two, and she watched over them with the care of a mother. After some passed and some recovered, she was appointed medicine cat of their clan.
The death that hit the clan most was the death of Blackpaw, one of the founders of the Clan - leaving Appleclaw alone to teach the struggling clan the ways of the warrior code. Though she struggled with the task, she endeavored through, wanting to see the clan - in her eyes, her clan - succeed. Even in this unfamiliar territory, amongst felines she barely knew, she was beginning to feel at home. And that was all that she could ask for.
When a patrol of BeachClan cats stumbled into their forest, they were more than surprised to see the other clan doing so well - while the PineClan cats had struggled to regain their strength and had become more muscular and toned as a result, BeachClan looked as good as new; not only did their fur shine, a sign of their constant diet of fish, but they looked well fed as well. Though hostile at first, they quickly calmed down, taking the group of felines to meet their leader. After meeting with Tinystar, BeachClan leader, Shrikestar proposed a gathering (he was in love with the old warriors tales, and Appleclaw's stories inspired him so). Together, the clans chose the Cypress Beach to meet.
Problems were already forming in the newly established PineClan. The stronger warriors began to stick with one another, and soon enough they had separated to the point that warriors within the clan would get into fights with one another, sometimes in the middle of a gathering, about the smallest thing like a piece of prey. And when CliffClan arrived at the gathering moons from then, the two groups within PineClan had enough of each other, and slowly they began to defect away, taking the most dangerous territory that none had dared to settle in before. And when Bonitoclaw, the daughter of Shrikestar and Appleclaw, introduced herself as Bonitostar, the clash between the two clans was huge. Even at the first gathering, it ended with a fight and they were dismissed early.
After the hurricane that tore apart BeachClan, PineClan vowed to strengthen their ranks; they didn't want to become like BeachClan, especially since their ranks had been depleted so much.
MORE ABOUT THE CLAN I. TERRITORY CAMP; The camp is comprised of a series of abandoned fox sets, the biggest of which the leader sleeps in. The nursery is hidden by thick underbrush, keeping the kittens in and hidden from any invading warriors. Apprentices and warriors sleep in the next biggest dens, with the elders' being the smallest.
TREE BRIDGE; The Tree Bridge is, in fact, a series of bridges that lead from place to place. Walking across the Tree Bridge can bring you to the Ellipse Pond. PineClan apprentices and warriors can be found playing around on the logs, and if you take the lower log to descend you can find yourself in a dried up river where many animals still live. Apprentices are trained here.
ELLIPSE POND; The "watering hole" of the clan, apprentices hop from stone to stone and try to push each other into the water. In the center of the pond is a small island made of mossy stones. The braver warriors may try to fish here, but the freshwater pool is primarily used as a way to get hydration. During the summer, warriors spend their time here, trying to get out of the heat. But watch out, an apprentice off guard can easily be caught by a more predatory animal.
ABANDONED TWOLEGS MINE; Long since abandoned, this area is somewhat of a historical place - it is one of the first places Appleclaw and Blackpaw rested, and where they met Shrikestar. Nowadays, the twolegs mine is usually left alone, but is occasionally traversed by cats wishing to prove themselves to their clanmates, or those who wish to catch nocturnal, night-sighted animals such as bats.
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Post by jori on Aug 23, 2013 22:24:40 GMT -5
I. ABOUT Unlike the other clans, CliffClanners lives depend on being focused. And for their young, focus is a life or death matter - when you're out on the rocks, one wrong step is the difference between life and death. This fact is rarely questioned by their young; instead of mice and moonlight faerie tales, queens warn their children about divine punishment and falling from the rocks. Don't get them wrong - they know how to have fun, but they also know the time and place. CliffClanners are rarely the type to make absurdist jokes, and they know about the severity of life and the consequences better than any other.
A member of CliffClan knows very well that their Clan is the best, and anyone who says otherwise isn't a true CliffClanner. Only their clan could fare so well on the cliffs, and a combined belief in StarClan and in each other creates a sense of unity that feels tangible even to those outside of their clan. And though others may envy them and attempt to join their clan, CliffClan is the most xenophobic of the clans, and are completely closed off to loners. In their minds, a cat that doesn't have CliffClan blood is not worthy to be in CliffClan - nor do they have what it takes to traverse the cliffs themselves.
II. CLAN HISTORY "Unlike BeachClan, CliffClan will never succumb to the influence of twolegs. We will never be kittypets - we will be more than warriors. We will touch the hearts of everyone in StarClan!" With all the charisma and strength of a true leader, Jaegerstar was a powerful deputy of BeachClan and always knew how to convince cats to believe in him and his views. Thus, it was no surprise that Jaegerclaw eventually gave up on running the weak clan when Tinystar had been missing for three moons. He had ideas that other cats had never dreamed of - and when he confided in his future deputy, Manateefang, that he was eyeing the mountains, she followed his pawsteps as an infamous duo, and promised that she would remain by his side. And it was no surprise that he eventually led a numerable amount of cats from BeachClan into the mountains, taking a few moons to establish before proudly showing his face at the gathering as the leader of the new CliffClan.
Jaegerstar was a firm believer in StarClan, and cats always said that he chose the den closest to the point of the cliff because he wanted to be closer to his warrior ancestors. He was always working, always inspired, and always helping his clan - but he was very strict as well, and despite his passion he was always focused on what he wanted and what others did as well. If cats complained to him, he would always either help them or tell them to go back to the accommodating paws of BeachClan.
During those first few moons, life was rough; cats died, and a lot left. But those who stayed on the cliffs quickly gathered their own and became adjusted to the cliffs. Slowly, the cats who fell from the cliffs into the waters below trickled to almost none, and all of those became young apprentices too foolish to know otherwise. As natural selection had it, CliffClan slowly became more focused and stoic as time went on, becoming known for their sturdy paws and their strong faith that they wouldn't fall due to their belief in StarClan.
MORE ABOUT THE CLAN I. TERRITORY Camp . The leader's den sits at the very peak of the cliff (once used to symbolize closeness to StarClan). Queens and kittens are the next prioritized, living in a small underground den, and several make-shift dens have been made for the rest of the warriors.
Feather Stones . CliffClan's primary source of food, but the most dangerous for young apprentices. Many birds visit the cliffs, especially during nesting season, and thus become a good target. CliffClanners traverse the Feather Stones through very small footholds. In order to hunt from the Feather Stones, precision and focus are two very important things needed. Apprentices are advised to stay away from here until they have graduated to warrior.
Crumbling Tunnels . Forcing birds and other prey underground is a good method for hunting, and a CliffClanner never fails to take on that challenge. Many small animals also nest here, allowing warriors to hit the jackpot after so long of leaving them alone. Apprentice are trained here; these tunnels are notorious for having random footholds crumble and collapse, so apprentices learn early on how to jump from place to place and practice precise pawsteps.
Dewing Falls . A small stream trickles through CliffClan territory, dropping off into the Dewing Falls. The rapids are increasingly fast along the way, but it is a vital source of water. Those more connected to their BeachClan roots can fish here, but many are more cautious of the rapids; unlike the cliffs, many can never gather themselves after falling into the waters.
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Post by jori on Aug 23, 2013 22:24:58 GMT -5
I. ABOUT
Even though they are among the youngest of the four clans, SwampClan remains the most traditional. They were inspired by the legends of old - the stories of ShadowClan and ThunderClan and all those in between; the stories of cats braving the tunnels and travelling great lengths to prove themselves worthy of becoming warriors. And once the clan seceded from their sister clan, they wasted little time before adding in things from tests of courage to old traditions they had heard of in the original four clans. Deep within their new territory, they began testing apprentices by making them race through a thicket of mangroves; a test that would put all four senses on trial - assuring that only the best of the best became warriors, and only when the apprentices themselves were ready to take on such a task. Like the old clans, warriors would leave the morning after their vigil to speak to their warrior ancestors at the Vanishing Cliff - a long lost tradition reinstated by the clan.
SwampClanners make it their mission to prove themselves better than the other four Clans - in particular CliffClan and PineClan, both of which they constantly feel pressured by due to their similar tactics and styles. SwampClan makes sure to train their apprentices hard and their warriors even harder; they fight to win and they live to fight. Despite their militaristic regiment, their clan is very close and tight knit; a bond between mentor and apprentice can feel stronger than one between siblings or between mother and child. And despite their harsh viewpoint on life, warriors in SwampClan agree that their goal in life is to make the clan happy.
II. CLAN HISTORY It was no wonder that Bonitostar had taken little time to establish her new clan - the daughter of Shrikestar and Appleclaw, she had been raised on the stories of warriors in the old clans and on the tales of ThunderClan's conquests. She had grown to the song of idealism and power, and was quick to climb the ranks even within PineClan, and she was potentially looking at next-in-line for deputy in PineClan. But she was one of the few that was lost by the weaker PineClanners, her own mentor being unsure and more jumpy than the rest. And Bonitostar couldn't handle that.
Being the daughter of the leader, she commanded the attention of her clanmates and was the first to defect from the clan, taking her friends with her and becoming the vocal and confident first leader of SwampClan, settling within the swamp and next to the mangroves that no other clan had dared to live by. Taking risks that PineClan or BeachClan had never heard of and even SwampClan were hesitant to try, the overconfident leader became the first to implement traditions that she had only heard of as kitten tales in her childhood.
To prove to her clan she knew what she was doing, she began devising traditions from what she had heard as a child - the first being an assessment to become a warrior. More difficult than what she had heard of, but after going through the mangroves herself she knew her clan was capable of it. The Mangroves, she declared, would put an apprentices abilities to the test - unlike how PineClan was structured, an apprentice of SwampClan would only pass their assessment if they could make it through the mangroves. Unlike a hunting assessment, which utilized stealth and scent, an exploration through the mangroves utilized all five of a cat's senses to get out, and no apprentice would become a warrior without that test. Soon after, she instated the traditions of old - a visit to the Vanishing Cliff after their vigil night to connect with their warrior ancestors and strengthen the bond between the dead and the living. And, likewise, the bond began to strengthen within SwampClan itself. More about the clan
I. TERRITORY CAMP; Within the deepest part of their territory lies their camp. Surrounded by brambles and many other thorny plants, only those who know the area can make it around the almost identical-looking walls to find the entrance to the small clearing. Many nests are built at the bottom of trees, but there are also several places in trees where apprentices will dare one another to climb to and sleep in for a night. The leader's den is built at the base of the largest tree, with the medicine cat's den linked to it for the two to confer often.
PEATY MEADOW; One of the less dangerous areas on SwampClan territory, this is usually a good place for apprentices to begin training, though mentors are encouraged to train apprentices everywhere at least once and more often at night than morning. The Peaty Meadow has a variety of prey, all of which have adapted to their environment. Though the ground is, well, Peaty, SwampClanners soon learn how to move without the peat impeding their hunting skills; when they hunt on normal ground after being trained here, they have honed their skills enough for it to be easier than they've imagined.
MANGROVE MAZE; One of the most rigorous tests of apprenticeship, an apprentice must race through here within a day to graduate. If they fail, they must stay an apprentice for at least another moon to train more. Inside the Mangrove Maze, they have to use all their senses to come out of the other side. Senior warriors know their way through the maze well enough, and often tail the apprentice. If they seem lost or scared, the warrior will lead them to the front of the maze. Younger apprentices who attempt to traverse the maze can be lost for days before a warrior goes in to rescue them. Kittens who escape from camp are all but considered dead.
QUICKSAND POND; Even older warriors have difficulty traversing the quicksand pond, and many senior warriors hold sessions teaching warriors how to get out of the quicksand. Very close to their clan's main water supply, warriors are advised to go in pairs and apprentices to go as a group - that way, apprentices or warriors who get stuck in the quicksand can run back to camp for help. SwampClan as a whole is very cautious of the Quicksand, and they have situated their clan so that any invaders will more than likely stumble through the quicksand on the way to their camp. |
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