Tribe Law

**The Tribe Law** is a list of sixteen different rules that should be followed by all Tribe 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 Tribes follow the Law, no harm shall come to them.

## The Tribe Law

The original Tribe Law is as follows:

1. Defend your Tribe, even with your life. You may have friendships with cats from other Tribes, but your loyalty must remain to your Tribe, as one day you may meet them in battle.
2. All decisions must be approved by the Ancestors from the Teller's word before being implemented.
3. Do not hunt or trespass on another Tribe's territory.
4. Elders, kit-mothers, sick or injured cats, and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the elders.
5. Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to the Ancestors for its life.
6. A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice. (Exception; `Teller`)
7. Newly appointed warriors will sleep in the warrior's den and share tongues with The Ancestors after receiving their warrior name.
8. A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.
9. The deputy will become Tribe leader when the leader dies, retires, or is exiled.
10. After the death, retirement, promotion (to a leader status), or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.
11. A Telling of all four Tribes is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. There shall be no fighting among Tribes at this time.
12. Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats.
13. No cat can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different Tribe.
14. The word of the Tribe leader is the Tribe Law.
15. An honorable Tribe cat does not need to kill other cats to win their battles unless they are outside the Tribe Law or if it is necessary for self-defense.
16. A Tribe cat must serve its Tribe accordingly.

### Exceptions

* Cats on their way to the Starfall are allowed to cross other Tribe territories to get to their destination.
* Cats may travel to other Tribe 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 Tribe is in danger, and if their leadership threatens the Tribe, the Law expects a cat to challenge their leader.

## Breaking the Tribe Law

The Law is often broken, by all four Tribes. Most rules have been broken at least once.

* Coming Soon

### Punishment

#### General

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

Breaking the Law can also result in a cat being stripped of its duties.
#### Exile

In severe cases, the cat may be exiled from the Tribe. This has happened in the series multiple times, and some examples are:
* Coming Soon

#### 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 Otherworld upon their death.
Examples of these cats are:
* Coming Soon

## The Tellers' Code

The original Tellers' Code is as follows:

* Elders, kits, kit-mothers, and severely injured cats must be treated first.
* All Tellers must have at least 3 signs from the Ancestors per week to be respected.
* Tribe boundaries don't matter to Tellers.
* There must be at least 2 Tellers per Tribe.
* A to-be Teller must be at least 30 moons old to be a full Teller.
* The to-be Teller will become a full Teller if there isn't any Teller in the Tribe and their mentor died.
* If both the leader and deputy die at the same time, it is the Teller's duty to appoint a new leader.
* Every half-moon, all Tellers from the four Tribes will meet at Starfall to share tongues with their ancestors.
* Believing in StarClan rather than the Tribe of Endless Hunting is seen as a sign of bravery and they are highly respected in all Tribes.