(Warrior Code and ceremonies adapted for our use from http://warriors.wikia.com/wiki/. Warriors theme adapted from the Warriors book series written by Erin Hunter.
Disclaimer: Copying is the most sincere form of flattery... This theme is not our own idea, but we wanted to make a blog using it since we love Erin Hunter's books so much, and we wanted to let others get a feeling for what we think life as a Clan cat would be like! Thanks Erin Hunter for giving us such a great inspiration!)
The Warrior Code:
ReplyDelete1. 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 MoonClan 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.
Exceptions
Cats on their way to the Moonstone or Moonpool are allowed to cross other Clans' territories to get to their destination - WindClan grounds in on the moorland and ThunderClan grounds by the lake, in the forest.
At the lake, cats may travel on other Clans' grounds as long as they are within two fox-lengths of the lake; for instance, to go to a Gathering.
Cats may travel on other Clan territories if they have something to report (fox, badger).
Additional Rules
The following rules are not specifically stated in the warrior code, but are expected to be followed:
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 returning from a mission all four Clans agree on.
Warrior Ceremony
ReplyDeleteLeader: 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. (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 MoonClan, I give you your warrior name. (Apprentice), from this moment you will be known as (new warrior name). MoonClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full warrior of (Clan).
Apprentice Ceremony
ReplyDeleteLeader: (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.
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).
Elder Ceremony
ReplyDeleteLeader: (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 MoonClan to give you many moons of rest.
Name Changing Ceremony
ReplyDeleteLeader: Spirits of MoonClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what he/she is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on he/she will be known as (new name), for (description of the reason).
Medicine Cat Ceremony
ReplyDeleteMedicine 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: (Apprentice), 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 MoonClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. (Apprentice), from this moment you will be known as (new name). MoonClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of (Clan).
Leadership Ceremony (Performed at Star Cave)
ReplyDeleteThe new leader goes to Star Cave with the Clan's medicine cat. After touching the wall, 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 MoonClan come down from Silverpelt. Nine cats, normally ones who were significant during the new leader's life, 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.
Deputy Ceremony
ReplyDeleteLeader: I say these words before MoonClan, 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).
Medicine Cat Herbs
ReplyDeleteAlder Bark
Description:
Bark of the alder tree.
Location:
Grows mainly in Boggy, wet terrain.
Usage:
For tooth pain
Effect:
Eases toothaches
Beech Leaves
Description:
The distinguishing feature of the leaf is the serrated edges
Location:
Unknown
Usage:
By medicine cats for carrying other herbs.
Effect:
None
Blackberry Leaves
Description:
Leaves from the prickly blackberry bush.
Location:
Almost anywhere; they are very hardy plants.
Usage:
These leaves are chewed into a pulp.
Effect:
Eases the swelling of bee stings.
Borage Leaves
Description:
It is easily distinguished by its small blue or pink star-shaped flowers and hairy leaves.
Location:
Grows best in forests.
Usage:
It is chewed and eaten by nursing queens.
Effect:
It produces more and better milk. It also brings down fevers.
Burdock Root
Description:
Tall-stemmed thistle with a sharp smell and dark leaves.
Location:
Best in dry areas.
Usage:
The root is dug up, the soil is washed off, and then it is chewed into a pulp.
Effect:
Lessens and heals the pain of infected rat bites.
I know that sometimes, locations can be difficult to grasp. So, I have created a guide to locations on our blog.
ReplyDeleteFour Stones- Four Stones is on an small island in the middle of a small pond in the middle of all of the clans' territories.
FieldClan- In the meadows near the abandoned farm house.
ForestClan- In a large deciduous forest left of FieldClan.
IceClan- Near large mountains, above ForestClan.
ShadeClan- In the pine forest with large caves on their territory, right of IceClan and above FieldClan.
[IMG]http://i46.tinypic.com/33kvyw1.jpg[/IMG]
ReplyDeleteIntroduced...my Updated Map!!!
OK, so you just click the link and it will take you to the pic.
ReplyDelete