The Guide

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Seasons and Terms

~The Guide~

This is the guide. We expect everyone to read all of it so you can get a better understanding of the group, and how to enjoy it to the utmost!!

The current season is:

Spring!!!

(Graphic coming soon)

Prey is more abundant, and its getting warmer! It is also the time for KITS!! So be prepared for a busy nursery, med. cats! Ticks are starting to bother the clans, so naughty apprentices BEWARE!! As you may end up putting disgusting mouse bile on the grouchy elders backs instead of training, and having fun !

Terms
Stupid furball - usually a friendly teasing term between Clanmates and Clans.

Bossy furball- an insult; used to call a cat that is orders everyone about.

Mouse-brain - an insult; can also be used as a teasing insult between Clanmates.

Mousedung - an insult; more offensive than mouse-brain, but less offensive than foxdung.

Foxdung - an insult; more offensive than mousedung, less offensive than crowfood.

When Hedgehogs fly - a saying that means something is impossible.

Sharing tongues - term used to describe cats grooming each other and sharing news.

Leaf-bare - the season of winter.

Newleaf - the season of spring.

Greenleaf - the season of summer.

Leaf-fall - the season of autumn.

Moon - a 28-day period (one full moon to another)

Moonhigh - the point in time when the moon is highest in the sky; midnight.

Sunhigh - the point in time when the sun is highest in the sky; noon.

Fresh-kill - freshly caught prey.

Crowfood - rotting, dead prey; also used as an insult, more offensive than foxdung.

Gathering - a meeting that the Clans hold in peace in a certain place (Fourtrees, the island) when the moon is at its fullest.

(The) Moonstone, Moonpool - a place where medicine cats and leaders meet and share dreams with StarClan.

Silverpelt - the large swath of stars in the sky; StarClan is represented by Silverpelt.

Kittenstep -about an inch.

Pawstep - about six inches

Tail-length - about the length of a cat's tail (a foot) (as in: a tail-length away).

Fox-length - about the length of a fox; approximately a yard.

Thunderpath - a road used by twolegs.

Monster - a human vehicle (cars, trucks, and other wheeled transportation tools).

Halfbridge - a dock.

Twoleg - a human.

Twoleg kit - a human child.

Twoleg nest - a human house.

Twolegplace - a human town.

Carrionplace - a human trash dump.

Greenleaf Twolegplace - a place where humans visit only in the summer, like a campsite or recreational place.

Horseplace - a horse ranch or stable.

Cutter - a veterinarian, usually one specialized in spaying and neutering.

"Green-pelted things"- a camping tent that humans sleep in.

"Water-monster"-a motor-boat

As Foolish as Ducks-being mousebrained



Kittypet Terms
Housefolk - a human that owns a cat; used by the cats in the town near the old territory

Workfolk - a human that works on the roads, houses, etc; used by the cats in the town near the old territory

Upwalker - another name for a human; used by a cat named Purdy in a town near the sea

Nofur - another name for a human; used by the cats that live near horseplace

Wildcats - forest (Clan) cats



Tribe Terms
Caught-prey - freshly caught food; fresh-kill

Tribe of Endless Hunting - spirits of Tribe cats who have passed away; equivalent to StarClan

Cave of Pointed Stones - a place where the Tribe healer and the rest of the cats hear from the Tribe of Endless Hunting; equivalent to the Clans' Moonstone/Moonpool

Telling - a meeting held in the Cave of Pointed Stones in which the Healer hears the voice of the Tribe of Endless Hunting; equivalent to a Clan meeting, Gathering, and sharing dreams with StarClan

Frozen-water - winter; leaf-bare

Freed-water - spring; newleaf

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Ceremonies

Addresing the Clan-
All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the high (log, ledge, rock, tree) for a Clan meeting.

Deputy-

The time has come to appoint a new deputy. I say these words before StarClan so our warrior ancestors will hear and approve my choice. (Warrior name) will be the new deputy of ____Clan.

Medicine Cat-

Come forward. I, (medicine cat), medicine cat of ______Clan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He/she has trained hard to learn the ways of a medicine cat and with your help he/she will serve his/her Clan for many moons. ______paw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry from Clan to Clan, and protect all cats equaly, even at the cost of your life? (Apprentice says 'I do') Than by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. ______paw, from this moment on you will be known as (cat's new name). StarClan honors your courage and faith and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of _______Clan.



Warrior-


I, (leader's name), leader of _____Clan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He/she has trained hard to learn and understand the ways of your noble code and I commend him/her as a warrior in his/her turn. ______paw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect the Clan at the cost of your life? (Apprentice says 'I do') Than by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. ______paw, from this moment on you will be known as (warrior name). StarClan honors you loyalty and intelligence and we welcome you as a full warrior of ____Clan.

Apprentice-

This moonhigh we gather to name (number) new apprentices. Come forward. From this moment on until he/she has earned his/her warrior name this apprentice will be known as _____paw.

Mentor-

(Warrior name) you are ready for your (number) apprentice. You are (good things). I expect you to share them with _____paw.



Change name-


Spirits of StarClan you known every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat before you as it no longer stand for what he/she is. By my authority as Clan leader and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on he/she will now be known as (cat's new name).

Elder-

"(Cat's name) is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and go to join the elders? (Cat becoming elder says 'It is') "Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given us. I call upon StarClan to give you many seasons of rest."

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Fighting Techniques

FIGHTING TECHNIQUES

One of the most important skills a mentor must teach an apprentice is how to fight. Warriors are often called upon to defend the borders or protect the Clan from attack, whether by enemy Clans or predators like badgers and foxes. Even medicine cats must learn enough fighting technique to be useful in battle.

Frontpaw strike
Frontal attack. Slice downward with your front paw at the body or face of your opponent. Claws unsheathed.

Frontal blow
Frontal attack. Bring your front paw down hard on your opponent's head. Claws sheathed.

Back-kick
Explosive surprise move to catch opponent from behind. Judge opponent's distance from you carefully, then lash out with your back legs, taking your weight on you front paws.

Belly rake
A fight-stopper. Slice with unsheathed claws across soft flesh of opponent's belly. If you're pinned down, the belly-rake quickly puts you back in control.

Upright lock
Final, crushing move on already weakened opponent. Rear up on back legs and bring full weight down on opponent. If opponent does same, wrestle and flip him under you. This move makes you vulnerable to the belly-rake, so requires great streangth and speed.

Leap-and-hold
Ideal for a small cat facing a large opponent. Spring onto opponent's back and grip with unsheathed claws. Now you are beyond the range of your opponent's paws, and in position to inflict sever body wounds. A group of apprentices can defeat a large and dangerous warrior in this way. It was deployed to great effect against Bloodclan's deputy Bone. Watch for the drop-and-roll counter move, and try to jump free before you get squashed.

Teeth grip
Target your opponent's extremities--the legs, tail, scruff, or ears--and sink in your teeth and hold. This move is similar to leap-and-hold, except your claws remain free to fight.

Scruff shake
Secure a strong teeth-grip in the scruff of your opponent's neck, then shake violently until they're too rattled to fight back. Most effective against rats, which are small enough to throw. A strong throw will stun or kill them.

Play dead
Effective in a tight situation, like when you are pinned. Stop struggling and go limp. When your opponent relaxes his grip, thinking you are defeated, push yourself up explosively. This will throw off an unwary opponent, and put you in attacking position.

Killing bite
A death blow to the back of the neck. Quick and silent, and sometimes considered dishonorable. Used only as a last resort.

Drop and Roll Counter
A useful move to counter leap and hold move. When an opponent leapes onto your back, you roll, squashing your opponent. Takes alot of strength, if your enemy is large.

Partner fighting
Warriors who have trained and fought together will often instinctively fall into a paired defensive position, each protecting the other's back while fending off an opponent on either side. Slashing, clawing, and leaping together, battle pairs can be a whirlwind of danger for attackers.

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Herbs

Herbs
Under no circumstance should you treat your cat with these herbs. Always take your cat to a veternarian.
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Poppy seeds- used to numb pain and make a cat very sleepy
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Cobwebs - used to stop bleeding
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Feverfew - used to cool feverish cats and treat head pain
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Borage leaves - used to treat fevers and helps nursing mothers with their milk supply
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Marigold - leaves used to treat infection and heal wounds and sores.
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Horsetail - used to treat infected wounds
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Burdock root - used to treat infections, especially rat bites
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Chervil (root) - used to treat infections
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Wild garlic - rolling in this can help to keep out infection
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Coltsfoot - used to treat kittencough
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Catnip (also called catmint) - used to treat whitecough and greencough; can help to relax a cat
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Chickweed - used to help treat greencough
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Tansy - used to treat coughs
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Thyme - used to calm a cat
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Chamomile - used to calm a cat
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Dandelion (leaves) - used to calm a cat
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Juniper berries - used to treat bellyache, and give strengh to recovering
cats
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Chervil - used to treat bellyache
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Watermint - used to treat bellyache
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Daisy leaves - used to treat aching joints
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Goldenrod - used in a poultice to treat aching joints and stiffness; can also be used for severe injuries.
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Ragwort leaves - used alongside juniper berries in a poultice to treat aching joints
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Comfrey - used to treat broken bones
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Nettle (leaves) - used to treat swelling
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Celandine - used to treat ailments of the eyes
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Snakeroot - used to counter poison
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Nettle (seeds) - used to counter poison
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Honey - used to treat sore throats
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Mouse bile - used to remove ticks from a cat's coat
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Yarrow - used to make a cat vomit and expel poisons from the body
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Other Plants
Dock leaves - used to make a cat's coat slippery; also can be used as a surface for vomiting.
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Deathberries (yew) - of no medicinal value; bright scarlet berries that can kill a cat if they are not expelled quickly enough; use yarrow (called night-seeds by the Tribe)
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Nightshade - of no medicinal value; is poisonous
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Holly (berries) - of no medicinal value; poisonous like deathberries

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Ranks

Ranks
Leader - the cat who leads the Clan; their names always end with -star; new leaders take a trip to the Moonstone or Moonpool. There, they receive their nine lives and name from StarClan. Blackstar, Firestar, Leopardstar, and Onestar are a few examples.

Deputy - the cat who is second-in-command to the Clan leader; the deputy is in charge of organizing patrols and hunting parties, and succeeds the leader after he/she loses all nine lives from battle, age, or sickness; in the case that the deputy dies, the leader must appoint a new deputy before moonhigh, or midnight. Ashfoot, Brambleclaw, Russetfur, and Mistyfoot are examples of deputies.

Medicine cat - a cat who is trained specifically in the ways of healing (but that does not mean they can't fight); receives messages from StarClan and interprets them; medicine cats stand outside of the rivalries between the Clans; each clan has either one or two; medicine cats are not allowed to take a mate or have kits; sometimes, fully trained warriors can become an apprentice to a medicine cat. Barkface, Littlecloud, Mothwing, Leafpool, and Spottedleaf are examples of medicine cats.

Warrior - a cat (tom or she-cat without kits) trained in the ways of combat; warriors defend, hunt, and fight for their Clan; they also are in charge of training apprentices to become warriors; a warrior may only have one apprentice at a time, although they may supervise the training of apprentices lacking mentors. Webfoot, Blackclaw, Rowanclaw, and Squirrelflight are examples of warriors.

Queen - a she-cat expecting or nursing kits; they stay in the nursery until their kits become apprentices, then return to their warrior duties. Tallpoppy, Brindleface, Goldenflower, Sorreltail, and Frostfur are examples of queens.

Apprentice - a cat who, at six moons old, begins training to become a warrior or medicine cat; they train daily to practice battle and hunting skills, and also care for the elders; their names always end with -paw; they become warriors when their mentor and leader feel that they are ready. Birchpaw and Whitepaw are examples of apprentices.

Kit - a kitten, not yet old enough to be an apprentice (six moons old); they are not allowed to hunt or leave the camp alone; very young kits do not normally leave the nursery, however, older kits are allowed to do so; their names always end with -kit. Mousekit, Hazelkit, Berrykit, and Poppykit are examples of kits.

Elder - a retired warrior, deputy, or medicine cat; elders are usually cared for by apprentices. Mousefur, Dappletail, Halftail, and Heavystep are examples of elders.



Other Ranks (outside of the immediate Clan ranks)
Loner - a cat that lives neither with a Clan or with humans, normally used for a friendly rogue. Some examples of loners are Barley and Purdy.

Rogue - another term for loner, but more offensive; a cat, usually more hostile than a loner, who is part of no Clan, or a cat who was exiled from his original Clan; rogues will sometimes live with other rogues, but they generally travel alone or with their mate. An example of a rogue is Sasha.

Kittypet - a cat that lives with humans, usually do not go into the forest. Firestar was a kittypet named Rusty before he wandered out into the forest one day. Another example would be Smudge, Firestar's friend while he was a kittypet.

Tribe Positions

Healer - the cat who leads the Tribe and cares for the sick cats; also the one to speak with the Tribe of Endless Hunting; the healer is both the leader and medicine cat of the Tribe, and they are given nine lives by the Tribe of Endless Hunting

Prey-hunter - a cat that hunts for the Tribe; a warrior trained specifically in hunting

Cave-guard - a cat who guards the Tribe's camp and territory; also watches the sky for predators while prey-hunters hunt; a warrior trained specifically in fighting

To-be - a cat in training to be either a prey-hunter or a cave-guard; an apprentice

Kit-mother - a she-cat nursing or expecting kits; a queen