CoastClan

CoastClan are a group of cats whose territory spans along the coast and heathland, and a section of woodland.

This Clan is managed by Miami.

## Clan Code

* Loyalty to the Clan should be at the heart of all who live within it, and all must act in the Clan’s best interests above all else.
* Kits, Queens and Elders must be fed before all others.
* Elders are to be treated with the utmost of respect. They have survived long enough to become Elders, and their knowledge and experience cannot be overlooked.
	+ Disrespect will be punished.
	+ The Elders should be the Clan leader’s first stop when in need of advice or guidance.
* Only cats older than 24 moons can be in or near the sea without company. The sea is unpredictable, and must be treated with respect. Once they are allowed, they are often referred to as Sea Walkers.
* Fishing patrols must consist of 3 cats minimum.
* Kits must be 2 moons before being allowed to practice swimming in the rockpools; and must be 5 moons before becoming Apprentices.

## Territory and Camp

* CoastClan’s territory consists of a large stretch of sandy beach that backs onto heathland and woodland.
* The camp is situated in the rocky heathland just behind the sandy beach.
	+ It is surrounded by gorse and heather in order to protect it from the changeable coastal winds.
	+ The stone paths within are white and worn from use.
	+ The camp is only accessible from the beach, and so swimming is required at High Tide.
	+ The High Ledge is situated at the back of the camp and is where Clan meetings take place. A small, wind-hardened tree grows at the back of the ledge and overhangs where the Leader stands.
	+ There are several small rockpools just outside the camp where kits are allowed to practice swimming.
* The dens are a mixture of dips in the stone covered in protective branches and heathers and small carved out caves.
	+ The Leader’s den is carved beneath the High Ledge at the back of the camp. It goes down, and then curves around to the right. At the entrance tall grasses are allowed to grow, providing some privacy within. Roots of the tree above form the roof of the den.
	+ The Warriors den is situated much closer to the entrance in a deep scoop that backs into the camp wall. Heathers and brambles are used to create a covering for it.
	+ Apprentices sleep on the opposite side of the camp to the Warriors. Their den is similar to the Warrior’s but smaller, and built more into the camp wall.
	+ The Elders den isn’t far from the Leader’s den. Like the Warriors’ den and Apprentices’ den, it is a dip in the ground. Unlike the other dens, the entrance is decorated with shells, each one having been added by previous Elders.
	+ The Nursery is also near the Leader’s den, but further than the Elders den is. It is mostly carved into the rock, though where it is wider brambles and heathers are used to cover it.
	+ The Medicine Cat den is between the Apprentices’ den and the Nursery. It, too, is dug into the rock, though it appears more spacious as moss nests are only gathered on one side. Herbs are stored in nooks in the wall, and a very small trickle of fresh water pools in the corner, though this shrinks considerably in the summer months.

## Common Prey

* Fish (sea)
* Lobsters (sea)
* Oysters (and other similar shellfish - sea)
* Crabs (beach)
* Birds (beach, heathland & woodland)
	+ Gulls can be lured in by leaving dead crabs on the beach. Sometimes it is worth sacrificing the small prey in the hopes of catching the large bird...
* Mice (heathland & woodland)
* Squirrels (occasional - woodland)
* Rabbits (occasional - heathland & woodland)
* Lizards (occasional - heathland)

## Culture and Customs

* Respecting cats older than yourself plays a strong role in CoastClan life. Disrespect is not tolerated and will result in punishment, particularly if directed at Elders.
* While the sea is a hugely important resource to the Clan, going in alone is discouraged, even for the Sea Walkers.
* When a new litter of kits are born, rather than the whole Clan trying to greet them, it is customary to simply place a shell, shiny stone, feather, or other pretty object as a piece of decoration in the heather at the entrance of the Nursery. These don’t often need tidying up, as the kits usually pull them all out to play with at one point or another.
* On days where maintenance is carried out in the camp, the working cats often participate in singing shanties to keep them entertained and focused on the task at hand.

## Ceremonies

Ceremonies are primarily led by the Clan Leader, while the Elders stand and oversee the ceremonies at the foot of the High Ledge.

* *Apprentice Ceremony:* a kit becomes an Apprentice at 5 moons old. An Apprentice ceremony involves their closest care-giver (often their mother, but can be otherwise). The Leader asks the care-giver if they agree to commit their kits to the Clan. Upon the care-giver’s ascent, the Leader names the new Apprentices, and grants them their Mentor.
* *Warrior Ceremony:* this is one of the most important ceremonies. Similar to the Apprentice ceremony, their Mentor must commit their Apprentice to the Clan. The Leader then grants them their Warrior name, and the new Warrior is greeted first by the Elders, and then by the Leader. A new Warrior’s first task is to try and bring back enough prey on their own to feed all the Elders, though allowances are made depending on the season.
* *Sea Walker Ceremony:* a far less ostentatious ceremony. A Warrior is known as a Sea Walker at the age of 24 moons. This means that they are allowed to venture near the open water alone. For this ceremony the Leader presents the Warrior with a shell, which the Warrior must take and, under the supervision of a single Elder, swim out and release the shell into the water. On their return, the Elder greets them as a Sea Walker.
* *Elder Ceremony:* very similar to the Sea Walker ceremony. When a cat is old enough and ready to retire, they must retrieve a shell from the shore and present it to the Leader. Once the Leader accepts their retirement the new Elder must place their shell around the entrance to the Elders’ den.

* *Leader Selection:* should the Leader pass away, it is tradition for all cats to sit a vigil for them. The Elders, however, traditionally sleep beside their fallen leader’s body. While they sleep they can converse with their Leader’s spirit, and a sign is given as to who should take over as the new Leader of CoastClan. Traditionally, the Deputy is chosen, but it is not unheard of for another to be selected.