In the distant middle kingdom of Asia, there exists a mountainous region nearly untouched by humans for centuries. The cats here have formed their own clans and society, founded on the basis of family and clan loyalty.
(OC Universe based off of the Warrior Cats series. Feel free to send in asks!)
Clans | Roles | Allegiences
When kits are born, they are given the Xiao-/小-__ prefix (example: 小泥)
Kits aren’t given any formal duties until they reach six months (six moons), but are oftentimes seen running small errands around the clan or taking care of the elder cats. During this time period kits are responsible for learning the members, roles, and rules of the clan.
Kits are also given check-ins by the Deputy or by the Leader in order to gauge their development. If at any point the Deputy or Leader are unavailable, this role is performed by a senior Warrior.
At some point towards the end of this time period the leader will receive a dream in which a Starclan cat of either great importance to the clan or of personal importance to the leader will inform them of who the next medicine cat apprentice will be. Typically, the leader will inform the parents as well, but this is not required.
At six months, all cats undergo lessons on hunting, training, and medicine identification, regardless of what role will be assigned to them.
Any direct kin of the cat that is one-two generations or older will usually refer to the cat as A-___ (阿-___) instead of their name due to familial affection, regardless of status.
Deputies are chosen by the Leader. Most Deputies will already have mentored another cat, but there have been occasions where the Leader chooses someone that is not per the norm per their own whim.
All cats keep their full name once they obtain it, and they do not typically go through any drastic name changes afterwards, as it is considered disrespectful towards the cats who named them their birthname (prefix) and their Full Name.
When a cat becomes Leader, they keep their same name, but the suffix -xing/-星 is added on afterwards (ex. Nimao-xing/泥毛星)
The retired cats/Elders live in their own area of the Clan camp, and all the cats regardless of status help take care of them. To refuse a request from an Elder is seen as a “kit’s behavior” and is frowned upon. Though not required, it is common courtesy for the Leader and Deputy to discuss current issues, seek advice, and seek council from the Elders before making a big decision.
Warriors
At eight months, the kits are then deemed apprentices. Warrior apprentices receive the -mao/-猫 suffix. Almost all healers are chosen by Starclan before they are born, and the leader and medicine cats will receive a message from Starclan telling them who the kits will be before their first apprentice ceremony. Occasionally, some Warriors are known to switch their profession and become a Healer. This sort of exception is very rare, and must be first requested and cleared with Starclan via the current eldest Healer or the Leader.
Apprentices are each given a Warrior to mentor them. Who their mentor will be is oftentimes decided between the Leader and the Deputy based on who they believe will be good matches. Healer apprentices are mentored by all the Healers within a clan.
Just like in the books, an apprentice will graduate after performing an assessment made by the mentor. When an apprentice finally graduates from its training, the mentors are the one who give the Healers/Warriors a Full Name. Most Full Names use the birth name (prefix) but some show derivatives that relate to the birthname (ex. Huamao (花猫) -> Juri （菊日）)
After the naming ceremony, the new Warriors perform the same silent vigil as they do in the books.
Healers
Healers are what Medicine cats are referred to as here (in this AU/Universe).
Healers are chosen by Starclan at birth and are only revealed to the leader until the kit comes of age. Almost all healers are chosen by Starclan before they are born, and the leader and medicine cats will receive a message from Starclan telling them who the kits will be before their first apprentice ceremony. Occasionally, some Warriors are known to switch their profession and become a Healer. This sort of exception is very rare, and must be first requested and cleared with Starclan via the current eldest Healer or the Leader. Healer apprentices have the suffix -yao (药) to their name. (example: Liyao/栗药)
Their full name is given to them by their mentor Healer.
Just like in the original Warriors books, Healers are responsible for treating any sort of illness and injury. They also receive prophecies through their dreams or through spirits from Starclan visiting them and showing them a sign through the nature around them.
Most clans have around one to three Healers. Usually one kit per generation ends up being a Healer.
There have been instances where more than one kit is found to be a healer. These are usually regarded as bad luck as is oftentimes means that something bad will happen to the current leader.
If the clan has no available healer, one of the other clans must send over one of their extra Healers to teach the apprentices within a week of the news, or else they risk getting cursed by Starclan.
Healers are allowed to have mates, but they are not allowed to have kits (regardless of sex) unless there is another Healer who can take on the extra responsibility.
Each clan has a special pool-- most are really more like a bunch of ponds joined together by running water. The pools all consist of a small creek joining 4-5 very tiny pools of water.
The upper most level is considered the purest level, and the water there is used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. The water in this pool is not viable for consumption unless it is for medicinal or ceremonial purposes.
The Upper Middle pools are used to wash the herbs (if needed) and the Lower Middle pools are used to wash injuries.
The Lowest pool is not allowed to be touched by any living cat except for the Healers in rare occasions. It is considered to hold all the “bad water” that drains down from each of the pools.
This water is very dangerous and could possibly cause a cat’s spirit to get lost from its body if enters the body through any way (contact via blood, consumption, etc.). Only the leader may lay in this pool when they lose all their lives and finally pass away.
The Healer and the apprentice work and sleep in a den located next to or very close to this pool.
When Healer apprentices graduate into full Healers, they must drink form the water in the uppermost pool (which is considered the purest pool) in order to strengthen their bond with Starclan. Afterwards, the eldest Healer typically takes all the newly fledged Healers to the island in the middle of the River on the new Moon in order for them to receive Starclan’s blessing. It must be on a day when the moon not out and the sky is clear and shows all the stars. Medicine cats usually meet on the River island during times of plague or when all the Clans are in danger.
When clan leaders die, their body must be placed in the lowermost pool and bathed in the running water with a special mixture of herbs overnight to loosen the spiritual connection to their nine lives.
If there is no body, or if it is irretrievable, then the healer must take their place while the apprentice initiates the ceremony.
Afterwards, on the following morning at dawn, the deputy must drink water from the uppermost pool in order to gain their nine lives and the title of clan leader.
There are four clans in this AU/universe: Mountainclan, Riverclan, Forestclan, and Fieldclan.
As per the books, every full moon there is a truce between all the clans and the cats meet up on an island in the middle of the river to discuss about any issues. While the river is large, the island is large enough so that the journey there is typically safe and easy to cross due both pathways established by the cats (using rocks and fallen trees) as well as taking advantage of the shallow parts of the river. Only cats with Full Names are allowed to participate in these meetings, however Apprentices are allowed to come in order to observe and shadow the Warriors and Healers and what they do at the meetings.
Mountainclan (MC)
Cats in this territory live in the rocky cliffs and the forested hills at the base of the mountains.
The food source found in this area are mainly small rodents. They have been known to feast on large birds such as hawks or pheasants as well.
Dens are typically within small caves or hollows found near the outer area, and some are dug-out as well.
Cats here are skilled jumpers and have a higher cold tolerance/lower heat tolerance than others.
Riverclan (RC)
Cats in this territory live on the grassy banks of the river and on an island surrounded by a shallow tributary.
The food source found in this area are mainly fish and small amphibians. Have been known to feast on snakes and ducks/geese as well.
Dens are typically in dug-outs on the field far from the river in order to avoid flooding.
Cats here are typically skilled at swimming and tolerate water better compared to others.
Forestclan (FtC)
Cats in this territory live in the dense forest and bamboo grove at the base of the mountain.
The food source found in this area are mainly birds, including large birds such as hawks or pheasants. They have also been seen eating eggs and other sorts of rabbits/rodents.
Dens are typically dug under trees.
Cats here are typically skilled at climbing and stealth compared to other cats.
Fieldclan (FdC)
Cats in this territory live in the open grassy fields with scattered forested areas.
The food source found in this area are mainly rabbits and small rodents. They have been seen eating snakes and lizards as well.
Dens are typically dug underground or beneath trees.
Cats here are significantly faster and have a higher heat tolerance/lower cold tolerance compared to other cats.
There have been times where smaller clans have formed from the original four clans and have had respective leaders, but in time most of these smaller clans have returned back and merged with the main ones. Rogue cats are also very common. Many cats are allowed to freely travel to and from clans for up to two days at a time, but the clan leader has the ultimate say as to when these leisurely visits are allowed and must announce it during the full moon gathering.
Starclan
Starclan is where all cats who live in Clans go to when they pass away. Cats in the living world often pray and seek advice from cats in Starclan when in distress and in trying times. However, cats in Starclan cannot interfere with events in the real world. Regardless of this fact, most clan cats still fear that doing wrong and breaking the warrior code will result in Starclan leading punishment against them through other indirect ways (such as plagues, drought, storms, floods, etc.).
Starclan cats that are determined to interfere with mortal matters are doomed to become ghosts, and cannot be let back into Starclan once they leave, and can only rejoin the afterlife after they fade from the memory of every cat that ever knew of their existence.
Each clan believes in Starclan, but each clan also has a special guardian cat who first helped establish the clans that they believe represent them and protect cats in their clans from within Starclan.
MC: Huling (虎呤) - During her assessment she was to sent to high mountain cliffs in order to scout for any sort of dangers. In the mountain, she found two kits whose ancestors were of tiger blood and their starving mother. Neither of them spoke the same tongue as she, but somehow, she was able to understand the mother’s pleas for her to rescue them. She risked frostbite and starvation in order to bring them down. When the leader of the clan found out about her bravery and selflessness, he immediately made her a warrior. She went on to raise the kits as her own and in time they both grew to be brave, caring, strong, and wise leaders of the clan. Although her name was not Hu___, the leader changed her name during her naming ceremony in order to honor her devotion.
RC: Yuge (鱼歌) - During his assessment Riverclan lived besides a smaller stream that was farther off from their current modern location. One year there was a huge drought which essentially dried up the stream and nearby pond and brought lots of cats towards the brink of death. Yuge’s assessment was to help find a source of water for the clan. On his journey, he met a singing fish (modern reading: dolphin) which he was able to understand. The fish guided him towards a large and plentiful source of water which was then where the new Riverclan camp was set up. His actions saved the lives of countless cats and his wisdom, loyalty, and duty to the clan was celebrated and was made a warrior as soon as the new camp was set up. Although his name was not originally Yu___, the leader changed his name during his naming ceremony in order to honor his talent.
FtC: Xionghua (熊话) - During his assessment he was tasked in helping stop mysterious deaths of warriors on patrol. On the last day of his scout, he encountered a large bear. Despite being terrified, he was somehow able to understand what the bear was saying to him. He helped the leader of the clan communicate with the bears and negotiate territory between Mountainclan and the bears’ territory so that the cats would be able to hunt in peace. His levelheadedness and bravery were able to allow Forestclan to live in peace without fear of death and after the negotiations went through, he was immediately made a warrior. Although his name was not originally Xiong___, the leader changed it during his naming ceremony in order to honor his talent.
FdC: Yabei (鸦呗) - During her assessment the clan was stranded on a large plain and many cats where starving to death. Her assessment was to bring back food for the clan. She received lots of criticism when she was found near the border of the forest listening to birdsongs instead of actively searching for prey and was heavily punished. While she was being punished, she was able to perfectly replicate the call of a hundred different wild birds. For days she did not stop mimicking the mating calls of all of them so that they would come to the clan and provide the clan with food to easily hunt. When the clans found out about her deeds she was immediately celebrated and made a warrior. Although her name was not originally Ya___, the leader changed it during her naming ceremony in order to honor her talent.
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