Border

**Borders** are the boundaries separating the Clan territories (either separating two Clans, or a Clan and a neutral territory). They are usually defined along geographical features, such as rivers like the one between ForestClan and WaterClan or Thunderpaths such as the border between ForestClan and FireClan. Borders are normally checked and marked twice daily by patrols. Crossing a border into another Clan's territory without acknowledgement from the other Clan is considered breaking StarClan's Code, considering it that a cat could be spying or stealing prey.

## **CLAN BORDERS**

* FireClan shares borders with WaterClan, along the River, and shares the Wetlands with EarthClan.
* EarthClan shares the Wetlands with FireClan and shares borders with AirClan, along the Sharpgorge.
* WaterClan shares borders with AirClan, along the area where there are less and less trees, and shares borders with ForestClan, along the River.
* AirClan is on the opposite side of the Sharpgorge and shares a border with ForestClan, along the area where there are more and more trees.
* ForestClan is on the opposite side of the River that borders WaterClan and shares borders with AirClan, along the area where there are less and less trees.

## **PROTECTION**

Patrols check and mark the borders to ensure they haven't been crossed and make sure they are clear. Clans normally patrol their borders two times a day, at dawn and at sunset, unless more are needed due to danger or in some cases where there are other threats, such as Rogues or Kittypets.

### **Crossing The Border**

Unless a cat is allowed by another Clan to enter their territory, crossing the border is a sign of aggression that often leads to battle. The Clan finding intruders in its territory usually tries to attack them or chase them out, unless they have a purpose.

#### **Examples**

**Attacks/Invasions**

* Mapletrail, Wolfmuzzle, Spottedheart, Gorseflower, Patchpaw, Birdflight, Slatepaw and Swiftrain crossing through the AirClan border towards the WaterClan border to attack WaterClan in *Patchcloud's Path*.
* FireClan and AirClan crossing ForestClan's border to attack ForestClan for sheltering Deadear.

**Gathering Herbs**

* Houndspots crossing the FireClan border to look for marigold in the Wetlands in *Quickstar's Vow*.

**Needing Help**

* Souleyes and Blueleaf crossing the WaterClan border to give fresh-kill to WaterClan.
* Stormcloud crossing over the FireClan and ForestClan border because of her suspicions about Kestrelgaze and Shellskip.

**Other**

* Medicine Cats crossing various borders to visit the Starpond every half-moon.
* Souleyes and Blueleaf crossing the EarthClan border to go find EarthClan.
* Clawstar crossing the ForestClan border to feed a pack of dogs.

## **SCENT MARKINGS**

Scent markings are made by Clan cats and sometimes Loners and Rogues to show where their territory's border lies. Sometimes the cats will fight over their borders, mainly because the border markings are too faint to scent out or a cat crosses it when a patrol is near the area. Sometimes cats don't bother with marking their borders, due to the fact that they do not face threats from their neighbors, or they fail to follow the ways of Clan cats anymore.