MeadowClan

MeadowClan makes their home on rolling grasslands.

This Clan is managed by King.

## Clan Code

* The Clan should almost always come first.
* Clan secrets should remain just that, unless the information is necessary for survival.
* The actions of one cat do not reflect the actions of the Clan, but the actions of the Clan should be reflected in its cats.
* Half-Clan cats are not to be shunned for their parentage.
* Relationships from outside the Clan are welcome, and even encouraged.
* Elders and queens deserve the utmost respect. Queens raise the future of the Clan, and elders are well-known for their wisdom. Disrespect will not be tolerated.
* MeadowClan cats are like grass in the breeze: following the wind, but unchanging in their ways.

## Territory and Camp

* MeadowClan makes its home in the sweeping grasslands, and their borders extend from the river to the west of camp, north to the edge of the forest, and then follows the treeline back down and around the camp.
* Their camp sits in a group of abandoned rabbit dens, that have been repurposed for use by the cats. The camp’s entrance is marked by a pair of gooseberry bushes that line the path down into the camp itself.
	+ In the center of camp is a large stone that juts out at an angle. This is what is called the “center stone;” all Clan meetings take place around this stone
	+ Directly underneath the center stone is another spring, with a tunnel that leads straight down to it. This is MeadowClan’s main source of freshwater. Whenever it rains, the excess water causes the spring to overfill and flood the cavern.
	+ The fresh-kill pile also rests at the back of the camp, in a small burrow under one of the many bramble bushes that line the camp itself. This burrow was dug out by the MeadowClan cats when they arrived, and while very rough, serves its purpose well. The location is deliberate, to keep the fresh-kill out of as much direct sunlight as possible so it won’t rot as quickly.

* The den entrances are half-covered by grass and flowers woven together to create a sort of canopy. It helps to keep extra sunlight out of the dens, and also acts as a shield against rain and snow.
	+ The leader’s den is near the center of the camp, a few fox-lengths from the center stone. A single, narrow tunnel leads down into the den, which opens up into a wide cave-like area. A single nest rests against the back wall, and various flowers are woven into the hanging moss that lines the den.
	+ The warrior’s den is the closest to the camp’s entrance, and is made of two different tunnels that open into a large area. This den has had to be extended to accommodate for the amount of cats using it, and for those upcoming warriors as well. Heather and sunflowers are woven into the nests and the moss that lines the walls.
	+ The apprentice’s den is directly across camp from the warrior’s den, but isn’t quite as close to the camp entrance. It has a single, wide tunnel that opens into the den itself. Heather lines the walls in here.
	+ The nursery is next to the elder’s den, at the far side of the camp. Two wide tunnels lead down and open into an even larger den area. Lavender is woven into the nests and lines the walls, to keep the atmosphere as relaxing as possible for the kits.
	+ The elder’s den is at the far side of the camp, and is made to be as comfortable for the elders as possible. The tunnel is wide enough to accomodate for at least two cats shoulder-to-shoulder, and the floor is lined with soft grass and flowers to make it easier on their paws. Several well-scented flowers and plants are woven into their nests and along the walls.
	+ The medicine cat’s den is across the camp from the leader’s den, and is located next to the apprentice’s den. There are two separate parts to this den: the main area, where the medicine cat cares for the sick and injured, and a secondary area towards the back, where herbs are stored. There’s also a small spring located here, as well as the medicine cat’s nest.

## Culture and Customs

* MeadowClan cats incorporate various plants and flowers into their everyday life. Seeing as their territory is open, with very little cover, it’s not uncommon to see everyone, from the youngest kit to the oldest warrior, with flowers weaved into their pelts. It helps serve as camouflage to any birds of prey that could be circling overhead.
* MeadowClan cats also have a variety of flower crowns that they use for various occasions, but mostly for ceremonies. The flowers woven together depend on the position of the upcoming cat; apprentices, warriors, elders, deputy and leader all have different crowns for the appropriate ceremony.

* A deputy’s duty is to help lead the Clan, and train the new leader on how to run the Clan. They do not become leader themselves.
* Due to the open nature of their territory, there are certain herbs MeadowClan has that others don’t. This also means that they don’t have certain herbs that other Clans do. On the new moon, when the Clans meet up to trade, they offer excess herbs of their own in exchange for those they don’t have. They also teach the other Clans how to weave plants together in the best way, in order to help fortify their dens and camps better.

## Ceremonies

*Leaders*

Whereas some Clans have a “successor,” MeadowClan cats have a unique system of their own. The deputy does not become leader when the current leader steps down or loses their last life; instead, the eldest warriors in the clan hold a small gathering in the center of camp, on the night of the crescent moon, to choose their next leader. The leader can only be chosen from the senior warriors; those well-respected and well-known among their Clan and others. Poppy seeds are given to induce sleep, and the warrior ancestors will take the chosen cats through a series of tests. Once the tests are over, the ancestors choose the cat who performed said tasks the best, and they are to become the new leader of MeadowClan.