5) Everything you need to know!

[Lilyfire~[♫]]

What's Included

Naming System
Roles of the Clans
The Warrior Code
The Clans – Thunder, Shadow, River and Wind
Fighting moves
Medicine – Herbs and the like

If you find something that you think should be included in this guide, don’t hesitate to message me.

Please note that these are just minor things, and often you don’t even need to know these things! Feel free to skim to see just what applies to you! Use Ctrl + F to find specific information.

Finally, just so I don't sound crazy while I talk, here's a translation of phrases and terms:

Phrases and Terms

General Terms
Crowfood – A dead prey animal that has begun to rot. Can also be used as an insult.
Cutter – a veterinarian, but specifically refers to one that spays or neuters cats.
Fresh-kill – A dead prey animal caught for the purpose of consumption. Fresh-kill is hunted by warriors, and given first to the elders, then the queens, and finally warriors and apprentices.
Gathering – The monthly meeting of the Clan held at places assigned as zones of truce when the moon is full. If the Clans begin to fight, StarClan shows
Greenleaf Twolegplace – A place only frequented by Twolegs during summer, such as a resort or camping spot.
Halfbridge – A boat dock.
Horseplace – A horse ranch or stables.
Kittypet – A house cat.
Loner – A cat that lives in one place by themself.
Rogue – A usually hostile cat who does not have a permanant home.
Monster – A vehicle operated by humans. Examples include cars, trucks, tractors, and ATVs.
Moonstone – The place in the Forest where medicine cats and leaders share tongues with StarClan.
Sharing Tongues – Cats of the same Clan grooming each other, while sharing the latest gossip. Also a term used when visiting StarClan.
Silverpelt – The large swath of stars in the sky (believed in ndom to be the Milky Way). These stars are a direct representation of StarClan.
Tree-eater – A bulldozer
Thunderpath – A road. Monsters use them to travel. Thunderpaths have an extremly acrid smell. One Thunderpath, called Windover Road by Twolegs, separates ThunderClan and ShadowClan.
Twoleg – A human.
Twoleg kit – A human child.
Twoleg nest – A human's house.
Twolegplace – A human-built town.

Time Terms
Newleaf - The season of spring.
Greenleaf - The season of summer.
Leaf-bare - The season of winter.
Leaf-ll - The season of autumn.
Moon - The time between one full moon and the next, spanning 28 days.
Moonhigh - The point during the night when the moon is highest in the sky; midnight.
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.

Distance Terms
Fox-length - About the length of a fox; approximately a yard.
Kittenstep - Less than an inch.
Tail-length - About the length of a cat's tail; approximately a foot.

Insults & Exclamations
Crowfood - A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to rotting prey animals.
Foxdung - A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to fox feces. Also used as an exclamation (i.e.: That's foxdung!).
Hedgehogs will fly - An exclamation style statement (i.e.: That will happen when hedgehogs fly.) used in many variations. Somewhat like Pigs might fly!
You fight like a kittypet! - a expression used to make fun of a way someone fights.
Mouse-brain - A (friendly-harsh) insult. Severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.
Mousedung - A (somewhat harsh) insult comparing the recipient to mouse feces. Also used as an exclamation (i.e.: Mousedung! That can't be right!). Somewhat like how we say "darn it!".
Fox-hearted - An insult meaning cruel, cold-hearted, or evil (i.e. fox-hearted Twolegs).
Sorry catches no prey - Means you can say sorry, but that will not undo what happened.
Bees in your brain - An exclamtion style statement meaning a confused or a cat not making sense (i.e Have bees swarmed in your brain?).
I don't give a mousetail - An exclamation meaning that the cat does not care.

Naming System

When a kit is born, it is given a name. There are two parts to this name:

The first part normally sticks with them throughout their life. It is a word that often describes the color of their pelt(Spotted, Fire, Tiger, Blue, etc) or is a noun,(Leaf, Squirrel, Sand, etc.) and occasionally a verb- if it is it’s often in present tense.(Running, Racing, Flowing, etc)

The second half of their name, which is lowercase and stuck on the end of the first part without a space, is normally a body part of a cat (ear, tail, claw, eyes, etc), or something a cat can own or have. (soul, heart, stripe, etc) Sometimes it’s just another noun (stream, cloud, wing, etc) or even a verb- sometimes in past tense. (flight, only one I can think of.) If a cat does not have a warrior name, the end part could be (kit, paw, or star.)

So, examples of names would be: (putting my pieces together in order) Spottedear, Firetail, Tigerclaw, Blueeyes, Leafsoul, Squirrelheart, Sandstripe, Runningstream, Squirrelcloud, Sandwing.

As you can see, those are some pretty weird names. I try to avoid things like Blueeyes, where there’s two of the same letters next to each other, because it looks odd to me, but if you must name a cat 'Blueeyes', use 'Blue-eyes' please ^^

Roles of the Clans

1. Kits.
Kits are kittens that age between 0 moons to 6 moons, generally. Kits are not allowed to leave camp. Kits become Apprentices when they are 6 moons old.

Their name ends in "-kit," to symbolize their kittenhood.

2. Apprentices.
Before a cat can become a warrior, he or she must be trained to fight and hunt and defend the Clan. At the age of 6 moons, kits leave the nursery and become apprentices. At this point they change the second half of their name from "-kit" to "-paw" to symbolize the path their paws are now on. The Clan leader assigns each apprentice a mentor - an older warrior to guide the apprentice on the path to being a warrior. Apprentices are responsible for chores around the camp, such as tending to the Elders, in addition to their training. If they work hard, listen to their mentors, and live by the warrior code, soon they will earn their warrior name, and hopefully, one day, the chance to be a mentor themselves. An apprentice becomes a warrior whenever their mentor believes they are ready.

Apprentices’ names, as mentioned, end in “-paw.”

3. Warriors.
Warriors are the lifeblood of the Clan. They patrol the borders, keep the fresh-kill pile supplied, and defend their Clanmates against attacks from enemy cats or predators. They fight to protect the Clan for as long as they are able and are often called upon to mentor apprenticed, passing on the skills they were taught. During the warrior naming ceremony, an apprentice gives up the "-paw" half of his or her name and earns a real Warrior name - Such as Tigerclaw, Bluefur, and Redtail. An apprentice who becomes a warrior must hold a silent vigil all night and keep guard.

*Note: As a general rule, the ending of a cat’s warrior name cannot be kit, paw, or star. The ending part of a cat’s name can be anything else. Normally special terms like moon and other special things held sacred to the clan are not given to a warrior.
~Ending parts of a name are often parts of a cat, such as a claw, tooth, tail, pelt, or stripe. They may also be things like heart or soul.

4. Queens
If a she-cat is having kits, she will be called a Queen. They generally stay in the Nursery, and once they have their kits and the kits become apprentices they are welcome to return to the warrior den. Some cats choose to stay as Queens and help out with the other kits, and it’s not odd to see a Warrior have kits and give them to another willing queen and return to their duties. Deputies, or cats who want to become deputies, normally avoid having kits. Leaders, even more so, rarely have kits. That is, she-cat deputies and leaders. Toms can have all the kits they want, lucky kitties.

A queen keeps her warrior name.

5. Deputies.
A clan's deputy is chosen by the leader, to assist in taking care of the clan. To qualify, a warrior must have had an apprentice and must be strong and brave, with the qualities needed to take on leadership of the clan is necessary. The deputy presides over clan meetings when the leader is absent, stands in for the leader at gatherings if the leader is ill, organizes daily patrols, and oversees the training of apprentices. According to the warrior code, when a deputy dies or steps down, the leader must announce a new deputy before Moonhigh.

Deputies stop being deputies if:
-The clan leader dies, leaving the deputy to take over as the leader.
- The deputy retires and becomes an elder.
- The deputy commits a crime against the warrior code and is demoted or driven from the clan.
- The deputy dies or is killed in battle.

Deputies keep their warrior names.

6. Elders.
The life of a warrior is difficult and dangerous, and many die young-- in battle, of disease, or from a natural disaster. Those cats lucky enough to live a long life may eventually retire from their warrior duties to become elders. These elderly cats are viewed with the deepest respect by the rest of the clan. Many moons of experience make them an invaluable source of advice for the clan leader, and they keep alive clan history by passing down the old stories.

Elders normally keep their warrior names.

7. Leaders.
Clan leaders are the heart of the clan; their personality affects how the clan operates, and how their warriors treat one another and the world around them. It is up to the clan leaders to set a good example and guide their clanmates along the path of the warrior code. They are responsible for calling clan meetings, appointing warriors, mentors, and apprentices, and deciding clan policy and strategy with the help of their deputy and any cats they choose to consult for advice (usually the medicine cat, the elders, or senior warriors).

When a cat becomes clan leader, he or she must travel to the Moonstone and share tongues with the warrior ancestors of StarClan. The clan's medicine cat accompanies them on the journey, but leaves them alone for the ceremony, in which the leader is granted eight extra lives and their Leader name. This process can be surprising and painful, but it is important for leaders to be able to fight fiercely for their Clan and live long enough to pass along their wisdom and prepare a new leader. During the ceremony, each life is given to the new leader by a cat whose life was significant to the new leader in some way.

When a leader loses a life, he or she blacks out for a short period of time, during which that cat visits StarClan and speaks with its warrior ancestors. On returning to consciousness, the leader must still recover from the injury or illness that felled him or her. Medicine cats can usually tell how many lives a leader has left, although the number is kept secret from rival clans.

When a cat becomes a Leader, the suffix of the cat’s name is changed to “-star.”
Note: Leaders never become Elders, unless under the most extreme circumstances. They rule until they are killed or die most of the time, and it would be an extremely rare event if it did happen.

8. Medicine Cats.
No clan could survive without a medicine cat's knowledge of healing herbs and compassion for the sick. In addition, these cats have a spiritual responsibility. Their unusually strong connection to StarClan allows them to receive and interpret visions that can guide the clan through dark times. The life of a medicine cat is not easy, but is very rewarding. Although medicine cats cannot have a mate or kits, they are beloved and respected by the whole clan. They devote their lives to protecting their clanmates in a way ordinary warriors cannot. And they know there is a special place waiting for them in StarClan.

A Medicine cat tends to get a good-natured name, such as Spottedleaf, rather than Tigerclaw.

9. Medicine Cat Apprentices.
Most medicine cats are born to their destiny. From a young age, these special kits are drawn to the medicine cats den. They are scinated by herbs and often have strange dreams of their own. A medicine cat can spot which kit would make a good apprentice. If the kit agrees, he or she is brought to the Moonstone and initiated into the ranks of medicine cats through a secret ceremony. They are taught like a normal apprentice starting from 6 moons, only in the ways of the Medicine cat. They are taught basic fighting moves incase they ever need it, but obviously outer strength doesn’t matter nearly as much to Medicine cats.

A Medicine cat apprentice’s name ends in “-paw” like a normal apprentice until they get their full name.

10. Loners.
Loners are cats who choose to live neither in clans nor with Twolegs. They live and hunt alone. Loners can be friendly and even helpful to the clans.

11. Rogues.
A rogue is a cat who has been banished for crimes against the warrior code. These cats are usually hostile and live as outlaws on clan territory or on the outskirts. A cat might also be called a rogue if they are hostile towards the clans.

12. Kittypets.
Cats that live with Twolegs are called Kittypets. They wear collars and are usually timid, soft, and scared of clan cats. They are fed by their Twolegs, and so have no need to hunt. They have only a vague sense of territory beyond their Twoleg's garden.

Fighting Moves

Note: This is what is normally taught to most apprentices, however, when roleplaying it’s probably more tasteful not to call it that, but you may anyway. Remember, in a battle, remember not to control the other player without permission, and never kill a cat without asking either. That’s completely unir and rude.

Front paw strike-
Frontal attack. Slice downward with your front paw at the body or ce of your opponent. Claws unsheathed.
Front paw blow-
Frontal attack. Bring your front paw down hard on your opponent's head. Claws sheathed.
Back-kick-
Explosive surprise move to catch opponent from behind. Judge opponent's distance from you carefully, and then lash out with your back legs, taking your weight on your front paws
Belly Rake-
A fight-stopper. Slice with unsheathed claws across soft flesh of opponent's belly. If you're pinned down, the belly-rake quickly puts you back in control.
Upright lock-
Final, crushing move on already weakened opponent. ear up on back legs and bring full weight down on opponent. If opponent does same, wrestle and flip him under you. This move makes you vulnerable to the belly-rake, so requires great strength and speed
Lead-and-hold-
Ideal for a small cat cing a large opponent. Spring onto opponent's back and grip with unsheathed claws. Now you are beyond the rand of your opponent’s paws, and in position to inflict severe body wounds. A group of apprentices can defeat a large and dangerous warrior in this way. It was deployed to great effects against BloodClan's deputy Bone. Watch for the drop-and-roll counter move, and try to jump free before you get squashed.
Teeth grip-
Target your opponent's extremities- the legs, tail, scruff, or ears- and sink in your teeth and hold. This move is similar to the leap-and-hold, except your claws remain free to fight.
Scruff shake-
Secure a strong teeth-grip in the scruff of your opponent's neck, then shake violently until they're too rattled to fight back. Most effective against rats, which are small enough to throw. A strong throw will stun or kill them.
Play dead-
Effective in a tight situation, like when you are pinned. Stop struggling and go limp. When your opponent relaxes his grip, thinking you are defeated, push yourself up explosively. This will throw off an unwary opponent, and put you in attacking position.
Killing bite-
A death blow to the back of the neck. Quick and silent, and sometimes considered dishonorable. Used only as a last resort.
Partner fighting-
Warriors who have trained and fought together will often instinctively ll into a paired defensive position, each protecting the other's back while fending off an opponent on either side. Slashing, clawing, and leaping together, battle pairs can be a whirlwind of danger for attackers.