New Longstar AU - Decorations and accessories
Clan Decorations and Traditions behind them
The Clans are wild and colorful, and their traditional decorations and accessories are the one facet of Clan Culture that can usually identify a cat’s Clan from a distance. It can be worn as a personal statement, as a hunting aid, and as armor in some cases.
The first recorded cat to decorate their fur was Bumble, a molly who joined Proto-Thunderclan to escape her abusive mate. She wove flowers around her collar to mask it and muffle the jingle of the bell. Her friend Turtle Tail then put petals on her own fur in solidarity, and then Thunder himself wore petals on his tail, and it spiraled from there. With the passing moons, each clan began to tailor their accessories to their tastes, environment, and Roles. Bumble was also the first recorded Crafter of the Clans, and lived out the rest of her days in relative peace, teaching others how to weave and create.
The common placements of decorations are behind the ears, on the neck and shoulders, the back and flanks, and the tail. Feathers behind the ears are taboo, for reasons no one in the Clans can remember. Less common are the legs, face, and underbelly, as these would interfere with duties, the senses, and resting.
Moth Flight was the first Seer to decorate her fur, but the moth’s wing behind her ear never withered, and the heather was always in bloom. Ever since, Healers have had plants from their clan in their fur, that do not fade or fall. Each cat chooses their own decoration, but there are some general similarities from each Clan.
Thunderclan Healers generally choose leaves on their head and shoulders, Windclan wears an insect wing behind the ear and flower buds on the back, Riverclan has reeds and river weeds on their flanks and tail, and Shadowclan healers always have deathberries with whatever thorny vines or leaves they choose. (Ancient Skyclan chose white flowers and the leaves of the tallest tree in their territory. Modern Skyclan wear Leaf-fall leaves and collars of moss and berries)
The most common accessories for everyday wear are leaves, full flower blossoms, and petals. Berry paint is used specifically for Ceremonial purposes and Gatherings, to show the fertility and abundance of their territory. Tree bark is applied to fighters when they go to war, as an added layer of protection. Plucked fur is gathered as well, but only for Leaders and to line nests in Leafbare. About half of the clan uses everyday accessories.
With only a few cats currently feeling comfortable expressing themselves as Shadowclan cats after current events, this Clan has the fewest cats that decorate themselves. Most décor is for hunting and Gatherings. Formerly, dry leaves and mushrooms were the norm, with glowing mushrooms being prized. Mud is applied to Hunters, Trackers, and Brawlers before they leave the camp, and those headed to war will also paint themselves with berry juices to look more ferocious. Items left on the territory or on the borders by Twolegs can be worn as trophies at Gatherings, but currently this is not done. Blame Tiger”star” and Bloodclan for that.
The bounties of the river and the shore are used by Riverclan. Flowers found floating in the water, river weeds and cattail reeds, and rarely, shells and shining pebbles are worn woven into larger works. Reeds and river grasses are woven into fine decorations and armor for battle, and fish bones are attached to armor and Leader Gathering Garb only. As decorations easily get detached and float away, not many Riverclan cats wear everyday accessories.
A feather from the first catch is always worn by Windclan cats, for it is seen as lucky. Cats that do not hunt (support roles and Healers) are bequeathed a feather either by their Leader, a family member, or a mate. Woven grasses are common, both as everyday wear and armor. Tunnelers wore moss on their backs to shield themselves from falling rocks, but that practice has slowly died out, with Elders and a few cats continuing it. Nearly all cats in Windclan have everyday accessories.
Historical Records show that Skyclan wore feathers on their tails and flanks most commonly, with leaves and flowers around the neck. It is unclear from records if there was any significance to the placement or type of décor.
(Modern Skyclan keeps their collars, sometimes weaving mosses and flowers and berries into them to muffle them. More traditional clan accessories are folded in, and scavenged items are very common as well)
(all the new cats are unidentified cats from the first arc! thanks @moths-wc-aus!)
