The warrior code

**The warrior code** is a list of sixteen different rules that should be followed by all clan cats. It is taught from the first moons of kithood to when an elder is faced with death. It is said that as long as the clans follow the warrior code, no harm shall come to them.

## The warrior code

The original warrior code is as follows:

1. Defend your clan with your life. You may have relationships/friendships with cats from other clans, but stay loyal to your clan and clanmates.
2. Do not hunt in another clan's territory unless given permission by said clan.
3. Elders, queens & kits, and sick or injured cats must be fed before apprentices, warriors, leader, no matter the clan.
4. Elders, queens & kits, and sick or injured cats come first before any other cat, no matter the clan.
5. Prey is killed only to be eaten.
6. A kit must be seven moons old to become an apprentice.
7. A cat cannot be made deputy until they have been a warrior for four moons.
8. The deputy will become clan leader when the leader dies, retires, or is exiled.
9. After the death, retirement, promotion (to a leader status), or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before the second moon high.
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 the clans at this time.
11. Boundaries must be checked and marked every few days.
12. No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different clan.
13. An honorable warrior does not need to kill to win battles.
14. Border watch can only apprentice another warrior who is skilled and/or fits the skills of one.
15. Apprentices who are nine moons old are given the chance/choice to live and train in another clan.
16. Healers/Runners are not to be harmed and can pass borders freely to talk with other healers/runners.

### Exceptions

* Cats on their way to the Moonstone are allowed to cross other clans' territories to get to their destination.
* Runners may travel on other clan territories if they have something to report or to ask for help.
* The code is flexible about leadership challenges. Cats may challenge a weak or cruel leader if their clan is in danger, and if their leadership threatens the clan, the code expects a warrior to challenge their leader.

### Additional rules

The following rules are not specifically stated in the warrior code, but are expected to be followed:

* Kits must stay in camp until they are apprenticed, and are not allowed to hunt.
* The safety of the clan as a whole 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 on a mission that all four clans have agreed upon.

## Breaking the warrior code

The rules are often broken, by all five clans. Most rules have been broken at least once.

### Punishment

#### General

These can be a scolding, giving a warrior apprentice duties, or giving an apprentice an unpleasant task.
#### Losing their rank

Breaking the code can also result in a cat being stripped of their duties.
#### Exile

In severe cases, the cat may be exiled from the clan.

#### After-death punishments

Cats who would murder for no reason, or have caused pain to others for nothing other than their own enjoyment would also go to the Crimson forest upon their death.
Examples of these cats are:

## Trivia

* thinks
* She