Camp

A **Camp** is a site where a Clan makes its permanent home. It is where the cats sleep, meet, bring fresh-kill, get treated for injuries or illness, receive orders, share tongues, make reports to the Clan leader or deputy, and have ceremonies. Some cats, such as queens, kits, and elders stay in the camp, while the warriors, apprentices, deputy, and leader patrol the territory and hunt. Each Clan has one camp. ForestClan has the **Verdant Glade**, FireClan has the **Pine Clearing**, EarthClan has the **Rough Hollow**, WaterClan has the **Willow Falls** and AirClan has the **Gusty Plains**.

## **LOCATION**

Each camp is situated on the Clan's own territory. The main criteria for choosing a site that is:

* Is difficult to attack, and easy to defend.
* Is at a safe distance from Twolegs, Twoleg facilities, and other dangers.
* Is large enough to accommodate all Clan cats.
* Has a source of water in the camp or nearby.
* Has places for a warrior den, apprentice den, nursery, medicine cat den, elders den, and leader's den.

## **STRUCTURE**

Most camps are surrounded by some means of natural protection (such as thickets, stone walls or water) that shelter them both from weather and enemy attacks. They usually have a single entrance, where only one cat can pass at a time (such as a tunnel under the thickets) along with one small entrance and exit to make dirt. In addition to the natural defense, warriors patrol and protect the camp day and night.

### **Main Clearing**

All camps contain a large, open area in their middle. Cats gather here to meet each other, sun themselves, share tongues and participate in Clan Meetings. The main clearing also contains the **fresh-kill pile**, a spot where hunters drop the prey they caught and brought to the camp and where cats get their food from. Sometimes, if it has rained, they will store their prey in the ground to keep it dry.

### **Dens**

**Dens** are sheltered locations (such as thickets or caves) used by a cat or a group of cats to rest, sleep and recover. Beddings of moss, bracken, wool, and ferns are used to rest on. The dens are usually cleaned and tidied by the Apprentices of the Clan. Most camps contain all (or several) of the following:

* **Nursery** **-** The den where Queens and their kits reside while the kits aren’t old enough to be apprenticed. Usually the safest and most protected.
* **Apprentice's Den -** The den shared between the Apprentices. Normally the biggest.
* **Warrior's Den -** The den shared between the Warriors. Senior warriors usually sleep towards the center, where it is warmer, while younger cats sleep near the edge, where it is colder. Normally the second biggest.
* **Medicine Den -** The den that belongs to the Medicine Cats and their Apprentices, who store their herbs and other supplies here as well. Cats with severe injuries and illness also rest here until they recover and are able to return to their own dens.
* **Elder's Den -** The den shared between the Elders, usually the second most protected.
* **Deputy's Den** - The Den where the current Deputy resides. Normally the smallest; Deputies can choose to spend the night with their mates.
* **Leader's Den -** The Den where the current Leader resides, usually the nicest den and always a structure solid enough for a cat to stand on it. Leaders usually spend most of the day here in seclusion and undisturbed; however, they can be visited by other cats, or choose to spend the night with their mate.

### **Outer Facilities**

The following can be encountered in the vicinity of the camp:

* **Burialplace** - A location where dead Clanmates are buried.
* **Dirtplace** - A location where the cats make dirt, and dump inedible food (bones, feathers, crowfood).