General Clan Information

Within the *Warriors of Elements* universe, certain cats live in a structured society divided into Clans. There are five main Clans that are named FireClan, EarthClan, WaterClan, AirClan, and ForestClan. What sets the Clans apart from cats such as Kittypets, Loners and Rogues are their hierarchical society and differing religion. The Clans recognize two formal afterlives, StarClan and the Place Of No Stars.

## **THE CLANS**

### **FireClan**

**FireClan** is known for their ability to walk quietly and avoid detection, perfectly camouflaging in their surroundings. Likewise, most pure FireClan cats have dark pelts that blend in well with the environment, as well as often having slightly humid, pine-scented fur due to the wetness of their pine marsh territory. They are also known for their willingness to eat frogs, toads, lizards and rats- foods most Clan cats turn their noses up at. Their first Leader was Firestar. She was a Loner she-cat who had previously lived on an area of the nearby Twolegplace close to FireClan territory under the name of Spire. FireClan is currently led by Molestar, with Gullstorm as his Deputy.

### **EarthClan**

**EarthClan** cats are known for their ability to dig for prey. Their mountainous territory is also the cause for pure EarthClan cats to have rough paw-pads, which prevent them from becoming easily wounded by the rough terrain, and a dusty pelt. Their first Leader was Earthstar, who was the son of the first ForestClan Leader, Foreststar. He was born to Moon, at the time a member of Umbra's Group, in the mountainous territory that would come to be EarthClan, and spent his whole life there as a Rogue named Quake. Quake was Moon's only surviving kit. EarthClan is currently led by Spottedstar, with Timberdust as their Deputy.

### **WaterClan**

**WaterClan** is known for their skill at swimming and scooping fish from the river. Pure WaterClan cats usually have long, light-colored pelts, which are smooth and soft due to being often wet and carry the scent of the river with them. Their first leader was Waterstar, who was a Kittypet called Wave living in a Twoleg nest next to Breeze and ventured into the forest for an adventure. WaterClan is currently led by Stormstar, with Gravelpelt as her Deputy.

### **AirClan**

**AirClan** cats are not very well versed in Twoleg culture due to being the Clan that is farthest from the Twolegplace. They're known for their swift paws and muscled bodies fit for running, which lend ease to catching prey such as rabbits on the open moors of their territory. Pure AirClan cats tend to have short pelts and a greater resistance to sunlight than the other Clans due to living on an open moor. Their first leader was Airstar, who was a Kittypet called Breeze living in a Twoleg nest next to Wave and ventured into the forest to keep an eye on her, as she was his mate and he was very fond of her. He and Wave eventually joined the Early Settlers. AirClan is currently led by Kestrelstar, with Fogbreeze as his Deputy.

### **ForestClan**

**ForestClan** is known for their ability to hunt in trees and jump considerable heights, and pure ForestClan cats usually have dark pelts, sturdy claws and powerful back leg muscles to help them leap onto trees. Their first leader was Foreststar, a gentle Loner who lived in the heart of the dense forest that would become ForestClan. He eventually joined the Early Settlers with the promise to create a just and peaceful Clan. ForestClan is currently led by Yewstar, with Milkhaze as his Deputy.

### **MoonClan**

**MoonClan** is an unofficial Clan created by Boulderkit, who had found it unfair that kits and Apprentices had never gotten to grow up to be Warriors. It is part of StarClan, and its members are all kits and Apprentices from every Clan, sometimes even kits outside the Clans. They do not follow a code and instead are just content to play for the whole day. MoonClan is currently led by Finchstar, with Boulderheart as his Deputy.

## **CLAN HIERARCHY**

Each Clan (excluding StarClan) shares the same basic ranking system, consisting of nine distinct ranks.

### **Leader**

A **Clan Leader** is charged with the responsibility to watch over and manage an entire Clan, maintaining discipline, order, and protection. Leaders are normally granted nine lives and a new name ending in "-star" (e.g. Quickstar, Otterstar) in a ceremony where nine StarClan cats come to them in a dream at the Starpond. However, a Leader will not receive all nine lives if the previous Leader of their Clan is still alive; in this instance, a Leader will have a life taken off the original total of nine for every life the previous Leader still possesses (e.g. Silverstar, Quietstar). Sometimes StarClan will not accept a Leader (e.g. Bramblestar), which can cause the Clan to go into turmoil.

### **Deputy**

The **Deputy** is the second-in-command to the Leader, and may be considered an Apprentice to the art of leading the Clan. They serve in the Leader's place in situations where the leader is unable to fulfill their duties. They are in charge of organizing patrols, and they are often called on by the Leader for advice, but other than that, they retain the normal duties of a Warrior.

To become a deputy, a cat must have trained at least one Apprentice. However, there have been instances where Warriors become Deputies without apprenticing a cat (e.g. Yewfoot).

Upon the Leader's death, they become the Leader and go to the Starpond so StarClan can grant them nine lives. Deputies may also retire and give up their place as Deputy if they wish (like Sunblaze), or step down and continue as a normal Warrior (like Owltalon).

### **Medicine Cat**

A **Medicine Cat** serves the Clan as both their spiritual leader and healer, making them akin to the idea of a "medicine man" in a tribal society. In addition to their responsibilities to their Clan, they have responsibility to one another and StarClan. They carry out their responsibilities to StarClan once every half-moon, meeting together to discuss matters privately and share dreams with StarClan. Clan Leaders often rely on them to carry messages from StarClan, as Medicine Cats have a link no other cat has to their ancestors.

As a healer, they gather herbs and dispense them as an apothecary would. They handle diagnosis and treatment of both illness and injury for all the cats in the Clan.

In their role as spiritual leader, they interpret omens and prophecies and generally serve the Clan as a conduit between cats and their ghostly counterparts. Medicine Cats also exist outside of typical Clan rivalries in order to treat all cats fairly.

### **Warrior**

A **Warrior** is a cat trained in the arts of fighting and hunting. Warriors make up the bulk of a Clan, and provide that Clan with the protection and food supply that keeps it safe and well-fed. Typically, a cat is made a Warrior at or over the age of twelve moons. In their oath to become a Warrior, they promise to "uphold StarClan's Code and protect and defend their Clan, even at the cost of their life".

### **Apprentice**

An **Apprentice** is a cat in training to become a Warrior. Their names end in the word "-paw" (e.g. Patchpaw, Twigpaw, Tigerpaw, etc.) to signify the "path their paws are now on". Exceptions to this are outsiders who opted to keep their Kittypet, Rogue or Loner names upon joining the Clan, like Pearl and Violet. Most usually are at or over the age of six moons. They have a Mentor appointed to them at their ceremony and most days are taken out battle training or hunting. They are also given the task of cleaning out bedding and removing Elders' ticks and fleas.

### **Medicine Cat Apprentice**

A **Medicine Cat Apprentice** is a cat that is being trained to follow in the pawsteps of a Medicine Cat. They learn healing and spiritual lore from the Medicine Cat. Medicine Cat Apprentices also accompany their Mentors in their visit to the Starpond every half-moon to receive dreams from StarClan.

Frequently, a Medicine Cat Apprentice who has full training will be given a warrior name ("-paw" replaced with another ending). When the apprentice becomes a full Medicine Cat, they can then have an apprentice of their own.

### **Queen**

A Queen is a she-cat nursing or expecting kits. Their primary task during this time is the raising of their kits.

Some Queens stay in the Nursery after they have kits (e.g. Graytail and Molefoot) or become permanent Queens due to a love for raising kits, even if they don't have any kits (e.g. Aspenbreeze). They are thought to do this because they enjoy helping the nursing Queens. They most often help other Queens when no milk is available, or when the mother is ill or deceased (e.g. Brightflame to Spottedbark).

Kits are protected from attacks and the Nursery is often situated at the back of the Camp, away from the entrance.

### **Kit**

A kit is a cat who has not been made an Apprentice yet. Their names always end in "-kit" (e.g. Wolfkit, Maplekit, Houndkit). Most often, they are under the age of six moons, though sometimes they are held back from being an apprentice for a certain amount of time, sometimes due to injury or misbehaving (e.g. Hawkkit).

They stay in the camp and are forbidden to leave it, unless accompanied by an older cat, such as a Warrior or a Medicine Cat.

### **Elder**

An Elder is a retired Warrior, Deputy, Queen, Medicine Cat, or Leader who is too old or not in suitable shape to continue with their duties. Elders are taken care of by the whole Clan, and are given respect for the time they have served as part of the Clan. They are responsible for taking the body of a dead cat out to be buried.

Some cats don't become an Elder only because of old age; if there is ever a condition which prevents the cat from fulfilling their duties to their Clan, it usually leads to the cat's decision of retiring (e.g. Tinystep, Nettlefur).

## **SEE ALSO**

*For more details on the Clans, see:*

* Clan Terminology
* StarClan's Code

*For more details on the individual territories and cats, see:*

* FireClan
* EarthClan
* WaterClan
* AirClan
* ForestClan
* MoonClan

*For more details on the religious beliefs of Clan cats, see:*

* StarClan
* Place Of No Stars