Field Colony

## Description

Field Colony cats are fast, resilient, and resourceful, being traditionalists that like things to be done efficiently and quickly. They tend to be smaller-framed and agile, with their battle tactics being tactical and focused on defense rather than offense. They are seen by the other Colonies to be stuck-up and cowardly. Captains of Field Colony tend to keep to themselves and play more protective roles in Colony politics. Their diets consist of larger prey like rabbits and birds; animals that can be generally found on their fields.

While cold to outsiders, Field Colony cats are extremely close to each other. Familial bonds are secondary to Colony bonds, and Field Colony cats work best as a unit rather than individually. When a member of Field Colony is sick or hurt, Field Colony cats will bring back heather, feathers, and bits of prey fur to give to the injured cat to remind them of their connection to the fields and each other.

Field Colony is particularly territorial towards outside predators and renegades, but open and welcoming to lost/found kittens. They have a history of taking in the kittens of renegade mothers but denying the mother the chance at a Sundown Challenge.

For the Sundown Challenge, cats participating for Field Colony could bring back herbs, bedding, and prey, demonstrating their understanding of becoming a “reborn” Field Colony cat.

Field Colony’s new-claw Base Training begins at 4 months, and Field Training at 7 months, making them “late bloomers” compared to the other Colonies. New-claws in Base Training learn basic medical skills from their herbalist. This is so rangers can help herbalists keep up their herb store by locating herbs on their patrols.

In Field Colony, herbalists are typically in the Council, with their opinions being on par with those of the elders. As a result of the influence of the herbalists on the Colony and its strict lifestyle, not many cats are deemed qualified for the position. While herbalists traditionally don’t have mates and/or kittens due to their more spiritual role, it can be done – though it is highly frowned upon, potentially causing herbalists to be gossiped about being “unfocused” and having “divided loyalties”, as well as their input being questioned more than a herbalist “more devoted” to their job.

## Territory

Field Colony lives in the Field Lands, a wide, lush field to the east of Alliance Lake. Their territory is open to the sky, with clusters of sheltered trees near their borders with Oak and River Colony. The Field Lands border the Oak Lands on a river that leads into the lake, while their border with the River Lands cuts through the trees and hills, from the Moonlight Island's bridge to the ocean. In the southeast corner of the Field Lands is the Outer Field Lands, which touches the oceanfront. Field Colony has a wide view of the other territories and lake to watch for intruders or threats from all directions. Their territory is the driest, meaning they often have to make treks to the lake during the summer for water.

The strong winds from the oceanfront can cause a problem for the Field Colony cats, who prefer to live in their centralized base - Field Colony Base - that is atop the hills and sits under the stars. Thus, during the fall and winter, Field Colony moves their base to the more sheltered forested areas near Oak or River Colony. Due to their large and unsheltered territory, it becomes harder to patrol and prey is more spread out - so moving bases helps Field Colony refrain from overhunting the areas near their main base. Their main base is a special "home" for the Field Colony cats - while at home, they can stargaze together, and many mothers plan to have their kittens in home as opposed to the other bases.

Because of overhead predators like hawks, and the larger prey they hunt, like rabbits and birds, rangers always travel in groups. In addition, kittens must stay in the tall grass tunnels that the keepers weave together until they are big enough. Kittens and new-claws sleep together under the woven heather. Dens are made in heather bushes and tall grass, though rangers sleep together under the stars.