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.

## 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.[6]
* Has a source of water in the camp or nearby.[7]

* 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 usually 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.
* A **vantage point** from where the leader addresses the Clan during a meeting, such as a large rock or a branch of a tree.

## 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 shared between the queens and kits, usually the safest and most protected.
* **Apprentices' Den** - The den shared between the apprentices.
* **Warriors' Den** - The den shared between the warriors and the deputy. Senior warriors usually sleep towards the center, where it is warmer, while younger cats sleep near the edge, where it is colder.
* **Medicine Cat's Den** - The den that belongs to the medicine cat and their apprentice,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.

* **Elders' Den** - The den shared between the elders, usually the second most protected.
* **Leader's Den** - The den where the Clan leader lives, usually the nicest den. They 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:

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

## Life in the Camp

* At dawn, the deputy appoints the daily patrols.
* Border patrols leave at dawn and sunset.
* Several hunting patrols leave daily. Some Clans (like ShadowClan) prefer to hunt at night; the others generally hunt during daytime.
* Some warriors always remain in the camp to guard it in case of an attack.
* Mentors train their apprentices at a designated place (like the training hollow in ThunderClan), or take them on patrols.
* Apprentices do chores such as: tidying up dens, change used bedding, and tending to queens and elders. The elders usually tell them stories while they give them moss balls soaked in water, fresh kill, or get rid of their ticks and fleas. New medicine cat apprentices learn the different herbs while more experienced medicine cat apprentices help with minor sicknesses, kitting, and injuries.
* The medicine cat treats and tends to injured or ill cats, trains their apprentice if they have one, and leaves to gather herbs when supplies are running low.
* The leader oversees what happens in the Clan, consults with warriors, and calls a meeting if needed. (e.g. a kit becoming an apprentice).
* Cats who stay in the camp usually rest, sunbathe in the clearing, eat prey or share tongues. Cats are most active during the morning and late afternoon; they often rest during the night and at noon.
* At night, one or more warriors stay awake to guard the camp while the others sleep.