HorizonClan

Bordered by OrchidClan to the left and OasisClan to the right, HorizonClan's stately pines and towering cliffs are nothing short of awe inspiring. The Clan has redefined its legacy numerous times, but the original ideas of family and loyalty have stayed true since its founding.

## Territory

### Camp

HorizonClan's camp is a maze of tunnels and caves, similar to MarshClan but naturally occurring. The ceilings are impossibly high, making the caves echo a lot. A cat raised in HorizonClan often develops a certain accent that is easier to understand with the echoing caves than normal speech is.

Leader's Den - A cave on a ledge, near the back of camp. Announcements are made from the ledge and the leader sleeps in the cave. It's big enough that often a leader's mate and kits could sleep with them if they chose to.

Medicine Den - The medicine den's entrance is partially blocked by two stalagmites, one of which leans diagonally against the other. The inside is very comfortable, with moss growing on one of the walls and small ledges stocked with herbs opposite that. The floor has plenty of pre-made nests, just waiting for someone to get sick or injured. Thundersight takes great care to keep her workspace tidy.

Mistrunner's Den - A small alcove near the camp entrance. Mistrunner prefers quiet when she sleeps, so she found herself a place away from the warriors den to stay at night. No one else is allowed there (except maybe Mudflame, depending on how successful he is)

Warriors Den - A twisting maze of tunnels and smaller caves. Similar to MarshClan in its lack of a singular warriors den, but significantly closer together and each cave can fit more than the 2-5 cats that fit in a MarshClan den. Generally senior warriors sleep deeper in the tunnels with newer warriors closer to the entrance so they don't get lost.

Apprentice Den -

Nursery -

Elders Den -

### Landmarks

Whispering Meadow - A clearing higher in the territory. Dotted with wildflowers in the warmer months; a popular training area for apprentices. It is near the outer border, so with the recent rogue troubles mentors are discouraged from taking their apprentices there.

### Common Flora & Fauna

Ravens - fairly common; HorizonClan cats tend to just like them; not usually used as prey due to the taste but Raven and other corvid names are common kit names

## Traditions & Clan-Specific Lore

HorizonClan warriors are often named after other cats. Family ties, both blood and found family, are highly regarded.

Every year in the wintertime, usually around January, HorizonClan hosts a group hike. It usually takes the whole day, so all interested parties must gather in camp before dawn. HorizonClan's leader will split everyone into small groups, typically about 3 to 6 cats each, and usually at random. The point is for the experience to be a bonding exercise, so part of the point is getting to know and learning to work with different cats. Cats are given supplies - a few meals’ worth of prey and maybe some moss to keep warm if they need it- and then all the groups spend the rest of that day trying to climb to the top of one of the territory’s highest mountains (the same mountain each year- it’s tradition). There is a comfy cave hollowed out in the top, and the first group to get there gets to scratch a little tally mark into the wall, which is already covered in them from years past. The winners get a little stone which, same as the OasisClan reward, has a little drawing done by the leader to commemorate that they won. Once everybody makes it to the top, they all just spend the night in the cave (which was already stocked up with beds and prey n such the night before) and it’s a great big slumber party and it’s fun. Everyone comes back down the next morning together in one giant group. The HorizonClan leader can also pick some other cats to help them oversee the whole thing and make sure nobody gets lost or hurt or anything. It is meant to be safe though so it might be postponed if there’s heavy snow. Anyone older that 6 moons is allowed to participate, but anyone younger than 9 moons or older than 90 must have two healthy adults with them. (Starling's idea)

HorizonClan cats like to craft, using things like sticks, rocks, pinecones and pine sap to create little toys and stuff. The most used application of this crafting skill is in the HorizonClan hike every year. Medals are made from rocks and roots each year for the winning team and can be worn around one's neck. Each HorizonClan leader has had their own "signature" that is carved onto these rocks, distinguishing them from previous medals. These are frequently passed down through the generations, offering a nifty way to track the history of HorizonClan. The tradition was started with Flintstar and every HorizonClan leader since him has had their own mark with the exception of Ebonystar. (Dragon + Starling's idea)

HorizonClan tends to have some darker elder's tales, kind of Brothers Grimm-esque. A lot of myths and fairy tale type stories passed down from generation to generation, the goal being to teach morals to kits. HorizonClan is hyper-vigilant against a repeat of Ebonystar or anything similar, so it's very important that kits are taught how to be good cats from a young age. The spooky nature of many of the stories just helps them stick in the kits' minds and are actually quite treasured in a Clan. It's become almost a rite of passage to hear certain stories, proving how brave you are. They’ve probably spread through to all of the Clans by now but it just seems like something that would originate in HC. You aren't having the full experience if it isn’t being told in a thick HC accent. (Starling's idea with some Warrior suggestions)