ThicketClan

***Spoiler warning:** Plot and/or ending details follow.*

* Icon
* Current leader
* Territory

## Habitat

In the territories
Borders and camps

## Clan information

Founder: Eiríkr
Current leader: TBA
Rank succession
Births and deaths
List of all cats
Alliances

## Unique skills

Hunting
Fighting

**ThicketClan** is a group of cats that live deep within the rich forests. Reports of this Clan's founding are sketchy but most know that Eiríkr was the founding father and that it succeeded the fall of another group called Helheim. Eiríkr's nature is known to have caused ThicketClan's reputation of shady behaviour and merciless killings.

## Description

ThicketClan cats are loyal, proud and trained fighters from a young age. They differ from the other two Clans, and instead calls their warriors "soldiers", per the old ways of its founders. Cats are still apprenticed at six moons, but, are instead called trainees and will train until they have met the expectations of ThicketClan's leader. This can range from a standard six moons up until a very unorthodox two years. Their high ranks also differ from the usual ones seen in the other Clans. ThicketClan's leaders are always the firstborn kit from their parent's first leader. Eiríkr began this tradition and it still stands in modern times. Until they succeed their parent, the cat holds the rank of heir, but, is still expected to provide for the Clan and learn the ways of leadership from their parent. Deputies pass to and from the leaders, and these cats don't succeed the leader in rank when they pass away. Medicine cats are known as healers and the role remains the same as usual Clans.
ThicketClan's territory is predominately forest. The pine forest is home to some of the oldest trees of the forest, and some of the largest. The canopies are thick and let little very light through. Only during the coldest leaf-bares does the forest floor see the sunlight and even then, it's only sparingly. The northern edges of the territory lay on the base of a mountain. Around here the woods thin out, but, not many cats venture there as many twolegs are seen around the area with their stable tents and weapons. To survive under these conditions, ThicketClan cats have adapted to have large, heavy builds. Over the years, they have slowly lost the need for small thin builds as the forest is too thick to chase prey through. Dark colours such as solid black and brown tabbies are a common sight in ThicketClan, due to the camouflage these pelt colours offer.
### Culture

Over the years, ThicketClan has been known to have quite a few traditions and customs. Most of them are from the early days of their founders due to the way they were raised in their former group. However, Eiríkr and Hel, are more notably credited with the formation of these traditions. Listed below are ThicketClan's most notable traditions and customs.
* The oldest known tradition of ThicketClan is that a leader's successor is their first born child, regardless of gender. A leader must still name a deputy to help them keep the Clan running functionally, but, their deputy cannot succeed them. If a leader dies before they can produce an heir then the Clan must nominate the cat they believe should be the leader. This alone has not happened, but, it is assumed that it would be a messy affair.

* ThicketClan also uses a different rank system to the other Clans. They have what they call the obvious High ranks such as; the Leader, Deputy, the Heir, and the Healer. Below that are the Common ranks. These consist of soldiers, trainees, and queens. Soldiers and trainees are ThicketClan's equivalent of warriors and apprentices. Kittens become trainees at six moons and are made into Soldiers at fourteen or more moons, dependent on how well they've progressed in training.

* These cats are expected to serve as soldiers up until their deaths. ThicketClan has no retirement option for their senior soldiers, who don't get any special rank either. A soldier is a solider according to these cats. This custom has created a weird culture from these cats as their 'elders' don't get the respect they basically deserve until they die. Only then is a cat commended for their service to ThicketClan.

* An interesting tradition this Clan has adopted is that every few moons they will celebrate their ancestors and those lost to them. Though the exact celebration can depend from leader to leader, most have the entire Clan, save for the healer and one or two soldiers, hunt so that they may gather a feast. Said feast is held at moonhigh and the whole Clan remembers their former loved ones or simply the early ShadeClan cats who had given their lives so that the Clan can endure. It is described as a beautiful and emotional night for some and it remains to be their most intricate and spiritual traditions.

* A queen usually only has one litter. Maybe two if the first litter dies (or if only one kitten survives). After that, a repeat queen is seen as lazy and looking for attention. She is only perceived as lazy due to the notion that she may just be wanting to lay around and nurse cats all day instead of helping the Clan more directly. Even those more maternal cats know that they are expected to have one or maybe two litters in their lifetimes. Having too many children can again result in muddy blood for the Clan.

* It's considered poor taste to name a kitten after someone. The main reason is that, as said above, a prefix is meant to give a cat their own identity as well as describe their colour. To name your kitten Snake- after your mother, for example, is seen as putting unfair expectations on them and bogging them down with someone else’s memories before they even have a chance to make some of their own.

## History

### Eiríkr's reign

Eiríkr was raised in a group called Helheim that he disbanded by force. While the legend got lost to time, some vaguely recall him defeating the group's leader after they murdered his mother for revealing herself to him, thus breaking traditions of the time. As a result, he slaughted the group's high ranks and essentially took leadership for himself. After a few moons, peace befell the former Helheim cats and they moved away from the mountains and further into the forest. There, they were able to begin a new life - in theory.
It was easier said then done, with Eiríkr as one of the leaders. He also appointed his mate, Myrkr and sister, Hel, as co-leaders to aid in setting new laws for cats to follow. Hel passed away quite early onto into the stint as leaders, having suffered an injury that didn't heal properly. That left Eiríkr and Myrkr to lead alone. The pair had issues between themselves regardless, and leading became a central focus of many fights. After Myrkr had Eiríkr's kits, Agnar and Brynja, she was cast out for being a traitor. However, many believe Eiríkr simply wanted to punish her for the sake of now having his own heirs and thus better working partners. Unknown to many, but Eiríkr sought out the banished Myrkr and killed her, to ensure she wouldn't interfere with his plans.
From that moment onwards, Eiríkr was feared as his reputation started to spread.
### Agnar's fate

As Eiríkr's brood grew up, he saw that his son had a mind much like his father and suggested the idea of a deputy too. Eiríkr saw the wits in his son's idea and allowed the younger tom to pick his deputy. Agnar chose his half-sister, Brynja, as the two were quite close despite their different maternal heritage. So with these new ranks, a new era was brought into ShadeClan and these ranks remain the same in the modern Clan.
Agnar succeeded his father following the founder's death. Agnar had a successful rule and was able to father his own children. Some say the tom's leadership would've been completely different without the help of his sister's deputyship. Flash forward a year or so and life had progressed well for the young tom. He had started courting one of the younger commoners, Sigrid, who had caught his eye. The two fell for each other hard and other moons of back forth between themselves, they eventually declared themselves as a couple. Quite quickly, Agnar had found himself to be a father-to-be for Sigfrid became pregnant not long after their statement to ThicketClan. Around this time too, Eiríkr's health had started to fail and Agnar was doing much more of the leader tasks that normally his father would conduct.
As per the tradition his father had told him about, the leader named Gunnar his heir. His sons grew quick and Agnar could tell that his son was progressing well in his role as heir. However, this is where Agnar's story takes a turn for the worst.
Both his son, Gunnar, and his sister, Brynja had been caught by an enemy patrol and essentially slaughtered in cold blood. Around this time too his mate was expecting her second litter to strengthen their brood. Agnar had the worst luck to discover her disembowelled in the depths of ThicketClan territory. He lost almost his entire family with whom he was close within a manner of days. His entire life was shaken up. The tom was forced to name his other son, Vidar, as his heir and named Unnr as his sister's replacement. It was around this time he changed and many ThicketClan's noticed and feared for their leader's health.
It was like his brain was overwhelmed with the sadness of losing all of his close companions. While he still had Vidar, he just couldn't help remember everyone else. Agnar began making no sense with his thoughts and commands and eventually, he became a shell of the brave and thoughtful cat he was known to be. Fortunately for him and his surviving son, Agnar passed away a few months after. Succumbing to the strain his mysterious illness put on his body and mental health. Vidar became leader following the burial and remembrance of his father.