Mates

Mate is the terminology used to describe a romantic partnership between cats.
==Taking a mate==
Two cats are usually considered mates after some kind of confession of love, or asking them if they would like to be mates. Usually when cats are apprentices or warriors, they will show some sort of affection toward a certain cat. Clan cats usually take a mate from the same Clan, although there are examples of pairings from different Clans or groups. However, sometimes cats from different Clans will mate secretly despite it being against the warrior code. Examples are Honeyfur and Crowtuft, Leafstep and Smallcloud, or Razorbite and Dawnpelt. It is not unusual for a cat to have more than one mate. After a while, if they stop showing affection, or if their mate dies, they will usually take on a new mate.
==Breaking up==
In the Fractured Visions universe, breaking up is fairly rare, but can happen. Some examples of mates who broke up:
*Crowtuft and Honeyfur. 
*Lemonleap and Hawkflight.
*Hollypelt and Tigershade.
*Galaxystar and Halfsun
*Cinderfoot and Clawstar.
*Lilly and Clawblaze.
*Nightfur and Blackstar.
*Stoneclaw and Adderheart
*Lionstar and Frecklerose
*Sandtuft and Shadowcreek
*Owldawn and Shadowcreek
*Dappledrose and Thistlemask
*Stoneclaw and Grassfeather
*Smallcloud and Hollowsight
*Stagstep and Lemonleap
*Hazelbranch and Duskpelt
*Crowtuft and Mapleleaf.
*Dawnpelt and Sedgewhisker
*Whitestorm and Adderpelt
*Roseheart and Wildstripe
*Twistedstar and Ravenwhisper
===Reasons===
Mates may break up mainly for the following reasons:
*Things did not work out between themCrowtuft and Mapleleaf in Shattered Star, or have feelings for another.Dawnpelt and Sedgewhisker in Mist of Shadows
*Ending a relationship of forbidden love by mutual agreement, recognizing that loyalty to their Clan is more important than their love.Honeyfur and Crowtuft and Twistedstar and Ravenwhisper.
*One or both get blamed for a tragedy.Sandtuft and Shadowcreek, Whitestorm and Adderpelt
*Disagreements, mistrust, or misunderstanding.Nightfur and Blackstar
*Disappointment in their mate's actions or behavior.Roseheart and Savage, Tigershade and Hollypelt
*One of the cats leave the Clan.Ravenwhisper and Twistedstar
*One of the cats dies.
==Restrictions==
*Taking a cat from another Clan (or a non-Clan cat) as mate is implicitly forbidden by the first rule of the warrior code, as such pairings are considered a sign of disloyalty. Kits born from such relations are named half-clan, and they are usually discriminated and not trusted.
**This rule was overturned in Lasting Sky with additions being made to the warrior code.
*Medicine cats, either male or female, are not allowed to take mates, in order to be fully dedicated to their medicine cat duties, though this rule has been broken before (ie. Razorbite and Dawnpelt, Leafstep and Smallcloud).
==Unofficial romances==
There are a variant relationships with similar aspects to mates, either in mutual affection, mutual displays of affection, and/or breaking the warrior code to meet with another Clan cat at night. However, these couples are never considered official mates for varying reasons and never resulted in kits. Main examples of these include:
*Goldenstorm and Crystalfur
*Wildstripe and Lakefrost
*Butterflydawn and Forest
*Razorpaw and Frostedpaw
*Twistedstreak and Sedgewhisker
*Leaf Branch and Ravenclaw.
*Fawnfur and Hawkflight
*Fawnfur and Ravenclaw
*Brackenfang and Nightstar
*Cherryfeather and Dapplestar
*Hollydawn and Ratburrow
*Sparrowstep and Jaymask
*Patchstar and Treefur
*Fluffpelt and Treefur
*Honeyfur and Hawkflight
*Blackstar and Jessie
*Thistlebranch and Ratbite
*Loonfeather and Sunbite
*Stoneclaw and Clawstar
*Cookie and Ravenwhisper
*Blindfall and Cinderfoot
*Leafpaw and Goldenpaw
===Reasons===
Common reasons why these aren't true mates are the following:
*It was forbidden by the warrior code and one or both would refuse to break it:
**Blindfall and Cinderfoot
**Cherryfeather and Dapplestar
**Fluffpelt and Treefur.
**Loonfeather and Sunbite.
*They were never officially stated as mates.
**Clawstar and Stoneclaw
**Cookie and Ravenwhisper
**Ratbite and Thistlebranch.
*One died before they could officially become mates.
**Crystalfur and Goldenstorm.
*One was not interested in the other.
**Lakefrost and Wildstripe.
**Leaf Branch and Ravenclaw.
**Honeyfur and Hawkflight.
**Fawnfur and Hawkflight.
**Nightstar and Brackenfang.
**Treefur and Patchstar.
**Butterflydawn and Forest.
**Razorpaw and Frostedpaw.
**Goldenpaw and Leafpaw.
==List of mates ==
===ThunderClan===
===WindClan===
===RiverClan===
===ShadowClan===
===SkyClan===
===Half-Clan===
===Clanless cats===
===Tribe of Rushing Water cats===
==Notes and references==
Category:Clan life