River Territories

Map of the River Territories

The '*River Territories* are the three territories that are home to LynxClan, WeaselClan, and FishClan. The territories were given their name due to the Great River, a large river that connects all three territories to each other. They are the main setting of the Dark Hearts series, as well as Smewstar's Guilt and Ottergaze's Despiration.

# Geography

The territories are mostly forest with a mix of deciduous trees like oaks, maples, and dogwoods, and conifers like pines and firs. Near the southeast of the territories is where the forest thins out and opens up into a series of smaller rivers and marshland. The ground near the mountains in the north and parts of the southwest is uneven and filled with sharp rocks.

Swerving throughout the territories it the Great River, which flows down from the mountains up north. The river is the main source of water for the three Clans, and is a beautiful place for twolegs to take pictures.

# History

Originally the River Territories were occupied by twolegs who enjoyed the sights of the region. However, due to constant bad weather and the threat of nearby predators growing stronger and stronger each season, twolegs stopped coming, leaving most of their buildings abandoned. During one of these trips, a young cat by the name of Lynx was abandoned in one of the cabins. He fell in love with the region and settled down, making the place his home.

More cats arrived, either abandoned by their twolegs in a panic over the nearby predators, or traveled there after word spread about the place. Cats who could swim the vast river quickly made the land their own, their leader a small molly named Fish. Across from Fish's territory, settled a slightly larger molly named Weasel. Boundaries were placed, and small skirmishes began to grow into large fights as predators made prey more scarce.

All three groups met at the Whispering Cavern, unknowingly walking into what would become their gathering place. Originally the groups came to fight, to finally settle who was the best, and who deserved to be banished. Suddenly, the crystals in the cavern lit up, and left the cats in awe. Beings of great power and strength called to the leaders, who then received nine lives. The beings told the cats that if they continued to fight, the nearby predators would take them out, and their groups would be no more. Their leaders were blessed with nine lives to help protect their groups. That night the groups decided to work together, and drove out a majority of the predators that once threatened them. The age of the Clans began.

During the reign of Deerstar the territories became a bloodbath once more. FishClan began making moves on WeaselClan and LynxClan shores, able to drive away any cats that dared to look them in the eyes. The Clan grew larger and larger while the other two Clans lost more and more cats. Finally, at the Battle of the River, Deerstar, along with the other Clan leaders, were slain. A new era of peace was enacted, but at a heavy cost.

# Territories

### LynxClan

LynxClan territory is a mixed forest made mostly of conifer trees, though there are some deciduous trees mixed in along when them. There are multiple jagged cliffs and large stones due to the territory being closest to the mountains. The terrain is uneven, which allowed for large dirt cliffs to be formed. One of the small 'ravines' the terrain made became LynxClan's home, the sheer drops giving the Clan protection from other cats and predators.

**Landmarks:**

* Nearby the camp is the **Mossy Hollow** where a majority of moss for the Clan is gathered from.
* A bit further from the camp is the **Training Dip** where apprentices are trained.
* **Copperhead Hill** is north of the camp and is home to many copperhead snakes
* Closer to the river are the **Cloud Pines**, which are pines shredded by a lightning strike moons ago
* At the south end of the territory are the **Abandoned Twoleg Nests**, which are rather dangerous to travel through due to broken glass and raccoons

### WeaselClan

WeaselClan is a damp deciduous forest with thick trees and tangled undergrowth that makes navigation rather tricky at time. Large ponds and pools dot the forest, giving the Clan plenty of choices for water. They have a few scattered patches of conifers near the edges of their territory. WeaselClan camp is a multi-level clearing with multiple paths that twist and turn around dens.

**Landmarks:**

* The only way for WeaselClan to access LynxClan is via the **Stepping Stones**, large stones that stick out of the Great River
* Nearby the Stepping Stones is the entrance to the **Weeping Tunnels**, which are a collection of ancient tunnels filled with the pawprints of deceased and lost cats
* Downstream is the **Stoat-tail Stream**, a stream shaped like a stoat's tail
* Bordering FishClan is the **Muddy Pawprint**, a large muddy clearing that had multiple ponds in the shape of a cat paw
* Near the edge of WeaselClan territory is the **Conifer Clearing**, where apprentices are trained.

### FishClan

FishClan territory consists mostly of water with scattered islands providing them a place to longue and dry off. Their camp is in the center of a bend in the river, surrounded completely by water, inaccessible to the other Clans. The territory has few trees, with most of the land being tall grass, flowers, and different types of reeds and sedge.

**Landmarks:**

* Across from camp in a small lake are the **Sunning Islands**, a group of small islands that FishClan cats enjoy sunning on
* South of the camp are the **Fishing Stones** , where apprentices learn how to fish
* Even further south of the camp is the **Fog Marsh**, a large marshy area that frequently is covered in fog; twoleg kits love to mess around there
* West of the camp is where twolegs like to stay at the **Greenleaf Twoleg Nests**. A majority of the twoleg visitors are young kits who like looking at frogs.
* Next to the Greenleaf twoleg nests is the **Reedbeach**, a small sandy island consisting of large stones and a ground of reeds. If spotted by twolegs, cats will run to hide at the Reedbeach.
* West of the twoleg nests is the **Scale Stone**, a large stone that juts out of the ground, having the appearance of a fish scale

# Neutral Territory

### Whispering Cavern

The Whispering Cavern is a massive cavern filled with waterfalls of water and glistening crystals left mostly untouched (a few have been mined or shattered). The cavern is where the Clans hold their gatherings, due to its size and beauty. Medicine cats will also meet at the Whispering Cavern to communicate with StarClan.

### Pointed Stones

The Pointed Stones are mini-mountains made of rock and fallen conifer logs that cats from all Clans like having a go at climbing. Injury is usually limited to a broken leg or a few scrapes, so it's not uncommon for apprentices to try and scale them before or after a gathering.

### The Mountains

The mountains are massive monuments of both fear and bewilderment. Cats who venture into the mountains rarely come out alive due to the frequent sightings of pumas there. If a cat can travel to and from the mountains without facing death, they are seen as heroes.

# Trivia

### Author Statements

* In the original map of the territories (made around 3-4 years ago) there was a dedicated rogue territory, and a place known as the "Deadgrass Land". Of course, these places were removed because why did they exist in the first place.
* FishClan camp was originally in a pile of stones