Hey! I couldn't remember if you'd answered a similar question before, but does the Territory have anything resembling Gatherings? Like a time when Clan cats are encouraged to convene at a certain place to socialize, swap news, and settle any debates. As always, thanks for taking the time to read and answer! Your worldbuilding gives me life.
Hello and thank you for that! I’m glad you enjoy this nonsense, haha.
There are actually several types of “gatherings” in this universe! They all consist of cats meeting together, obviously, but they each have different purposes:
Casual gatherings are just called “gatherings”. They’re relaxed, loose events mostly made for the fun of seeing friends from other places and chatting with your neighbors. These are barely ever organized beyond a simple invitation or word through the grapevine that cats might be hanging out in a big group on a certain day.
Gatherings with a capital G, called “The Gathering”, are several-day events where cats from all over come to meet and exchange news. The leaders or high deputies can be expected to be seen on at least one of these days. This is considered more official and serious than “gatherings”, and a lot more cats tend to show up.
Coterie gatherings, called “Coterie” for short, are gatherings hosted by the different minor groups in the Clan. Wares are hawked, stories are performed, history lessons are given, so on and so forth. The point is to showcase what each group specializes in and hopefully educate and entertain the masses enough that someone may ask to join one of the gangs. The Larrikins and Storm members, of course, are not invited.
There are other types of gatherings not specifically called such. There are “meetings”, which are meant to share important news and settle disputes; “assemblies”, which consist of naming apprentices and kits, retiring elders, and changing ranks and names as needed (these tend to happen in bulk and are planned in advance); and “councils”, of which cats of a specific rank all gather for a private talk for business too serious or undisclosed for a random warrior to walk in and listen. All of the ranks between leader and healer have their own type of council gathering, and the minor groups occasionally have councils as well (excluding the Larrikins and Storm Society, obviously).
Hopefully this answer was to your satisfaction!