Roles of the Clans
1. Kits.Kits are kittens that age between 0 moons to 6 moons, generally. Kits are not allowed to leave camp. Kits become Apprentices when they are 6 moons old.
Their name ends in "-kit," to symbolize their kittenhood.
2. Apprentices.Before a cat can become a warrior, he or she must be trained to fight and hunt and defend the Clan. At the age of 6 moons, kits leave the nursery and become apprentices. At this point they change the second half of their name from "-kit" to "-paw" to symbolize the path their paws are now on. The Clan leader assigns each apprentice a mentor - an older warrior to guide the apprentice on the path to being a warrior. Apprentices are responsible for chores around the camp, such as tending to the Elders, in addition to their training. If they work hard, listen to their mentors, and live by the warrior code, soon they will earn their warrior name, and hopefully, one day, the chance to be a mentor themselves. An apprentice becomes a warrior whenever their mentor believes they are ready.
Apprentices’ names, as mentioned, end in “-paw.”
3. Warriors.Warriors are the lifeblood of the Clan. They patrol the borders, keep the fresh-kill pile supplied, and defend their Clanmates against attacks from enemy cats or predators. They fight to protect the Clan for as long as they are able and are often called upon to mentor apprenticed, passing on the skills they were taught. During the warrior naming ceremony, an apprentice gives up the "-paw" half of his or her name and earns a real Warrior name - Such as Tigerclaw, Bluefur, and Redtail. An apprentice who becomes a warrior must hold a silent vigil all night and keep guard.
*Note: As a general rule, the ending of a cat’s warrior name cannot be kit, paw, or star. The ending part of a cat’s name can be anything else. Normally special terms like moon and other special things held sacred to the clan are not given to a warrior.
~Ending parts of a name are often parts of a cat, such as a claw, tooth, tail, pelt, or stripe. They may also be things like heart or soul.
4. QueensIf a she-cat is having kits, she will be called a Queen. They generally stay in the Nursery, and once they have their kits and the kits become apprentices they are welcome to return to the warrior den. Some cats choose to stay as Queens and help out with the other kits, and it’s not odd to see a Warrior have kits and give them to another willing queen and return to their duties. Deputies, or cats who want to become deputies, normally avoid having kits. Leaders, even more so, rarely have kits. That is, she-cat deputies and leaders. Toms can have all the kits they want, lucky kitties.
A queen keeps her warrior name.
5. Deputies.A clan's deputy is chosen by the leader, to assist in taking care of the clan. To qualify, a warrior must have had an apprentice and must be strong and brave, with the qualities needed to take on leadership of the clan is necessary. The deputy presides over clan meetings when the leader is absent, stands in for the leader at gatherings if the leader is ill, organizes daily patrols, and oversees the training of apprentices. According to the warrior code, when a deputy dies or steps down, the leader must announce a new deputy before Moonhigh.
Deputies stop being deputies if:
-The clan leader dies, leaving the deputy to take over as the leader.
- The deputy retires and becomes an elder.
- The deputy commits a crime against the warrior code and is demoted or driven from the clan.
- The deputy dies or is killed in battle.
Deputies keep their warrior names.
6. Elders.The life of a warrior is difficult and dangerous, and many die young-- in battle, of disease, or from a natural disaster. Those cats lucky enough to live a long life may eventually retire from their warrior duties to become elders. These elderly cats are viewed with the deepest respect by the rest of the clan. Many moons of experience make them an invaluable source of advice for the clan leader, and they keep alive clan history by passing down the old stories.
Elders normally keep their warrior names.
7. Leaders.Clan leaders are the heart of the clan; their personality affects how the clan operates, and how their warriors treat one another and the world around them. It is up to the clan leaders to set a good example and guide their clanmates along the path of the warrior code. They are responsible for calling clan meetings, appointing warriors, mentors, and apprentices, and deciding clan policy and strategy with the help of their deputy and any cats they choose to consult for advice (usually the medicine cat, the elders, or senior warriors).
When a cat becomes clan leader, he or she must travel to the Moonstone and share tongues with the warrior ancestors of StarClan. The clan's medicine cat accompanies them on the journey, but leaves them alone for the ceremony, in which the leader is granted eight extra lives and their Leader name. This process can be surprising and painful, but it is important for leaders to be able to fight fiercely for their Clan and live long enough to pass along their wisdom and prepare a new leader. During the ceremony, each life is given to the new leader by a cat whose life was significant to the new leader in some way.
When a leader loses a life, he or she blacks out for a short period of time, during which that cat visits StarClan and speaks with its warrior ancestors. On returning to consciousness, the leader must still recover from the injury or illness that felled him or her. Medicine cats can usually tell how many lives a leader has left, although the number is kept secret from rival clans.
When a cat becomes a Leader, the suffix of the cat’s name is changed to “-star.”
Note: Leaders never become Elders, unless under the most extreme circumstances. They rule until they are killed or die most of the time, and it would be an extremely rare event if it did happen.
8. Medicine Cats.No clan could survive without a medicine cat's knowledge of healing herbs and compassion for the sick. In addition, these cats have a spiritual responsibility. Their unusually strong connection to StarClan allows them to receive and interpret visions that can guide the clan through dark times. The life of a medicine cat is not easy, but is very rewarding. Although medicine cats cannot have a mate or kits, they are beloved and respected by the whole clan. They devote their lives to protecting their clanmates in a way ordinary warriors cannot. And they know there is a special place waiting for them in StarClan.
A Medicine cat tends to get a good-natured name, such as Spottedleaf, rather than Tigerclaw.
9. Medicine Cat Apprentices.Most medicine cats are born to their destiny. From a young age, these special kits are drawn to the medicine cats den. They are fascinated by herbs and often have strange dreams of their own. A medicine cat can spot which kit would make a good apprentice. If the kit agrees, he or she is brought to the Moonstone and initiated into the ranks of medicine cats through a secret ceremony. They are taught like a normal apprentice starting from 6 moons, only in the ways of the Medicine cat. They are taught basic fighting moves incase they ever need it, but obviously outer strength doesn’t matter nearly as much to Medicine cats.
A Medicine cat apprentice’s name ends in “-paw” like a normal apprentice until they get their full name.
10. Loners.Loners are cats who choose to live neither in clans nor with Twolegs. They live and hunt alone. Loners can be friendly and even helpful to the clans.
11. Rogues.A rouge is a cat who has been banished for crimes against the warrior code. These cats are usually hostile and live as outlaws on clan territory or on the outskirts. A cat might also be called a rouge if they are hostile towards the clans.
12. Kittypets. Cats that live with Twolegs are called Kittypets. They wear collars and are usually timid, soft, and scared of clan cats. They are fed by their Twolegs, and so have no need to hunt. They have only a vague sense of territory beyond their Twoleg's garden.
Thanks to Supergrunt for helping Sandfire get some of this information from SOTC when I had mine at someone else’s house!
Written by Sandfire. Copyright to Erin Hunter.
