Post by .:Spiral:. on Nov 20, 2006 18:25:24 GMT -5
Three Tribes, four Clans. Though entirely unknown to one another, similarities and differences exist between the two. Leaders and medicine cats are Healers, warriors are camp-guards or prey-hunters, queens are kit-mothers, and apprentices are to-bes. The Tribes have their own Gatherings and their own traditions, theirs not carved in stone, but rooted deeply as an ancient tree.
Healer
A combination leader and medicine cat, these cats take on the name Moonteller, Leafteller, or Windteller depending on their Clan. They have the closest connection with the Tribe of Soaring- the Tribes' ancestors- and are forbidden to have kits.
Camp-guard
Usually the muscular, powerful cats of the Tribe, these fight to defend their Tribe from coyotes, other Tribes, or anything else that threatens them. The head camp-guard has almost as much power and the Healer, and equal that of the head prey-hunter.
Prey-hunter
Prey-hunters consist of the Tribe's lighter and swifter cats. Their job is to catch prey for the Tribe, and are also used as scouts when water is scarce and the surrounding territory must be searched.
Kit-mother
These are she-cats expecting or nursing kits. Tribe members can hold a permanent position as kit-mother, but most prefer to return to their duties as camp-guards or prey-hunters once their offspring become to-bes.
To-be
Kits become to-bes at one season (three months), but are trained longer than Clans' apprentices. Camp-guards or prey-hunters in training. There are no Healer to-bes; the Healer holds the position until death, after which the Tribe of Soaring sends a sign proclaiming the new Healer. Sometimes the sign takes seaons to arrive.
Note: Whether a Tribe cat will be a camp-guard or prey-hunter is decided at their birth.
Moon-Meet
On full moons the Healer and a handful of chosen cats of each Tribe gather for the Moon-Meet, the Tribes' equivalent of a Gathering. They meet at ThreeBoughs, an enormous tree of unknown species, and with only three great branches each pointing in the direction of a Tribe's territory.
Half-Meet
The Tribes' Healers meet every half-moon to meditate and speak to the Tribe of Soaring (though rarely to each other), at the Watching Hill, a steep rise that looks over all three Tribes.
Star-Meet
Every new moon young camp-guards and prey-hunters come together for the Star-Meet, where mates are chosen. It is a night of celebration, toms singing and sparring to impress the she-cats; she-cats preening and chatting and pretending they aren't interested. Below the party-like air, though, there is a ceremonious nature to the evening. Unlike the Clans, it is not forbidden to have kits with a cat of another Tribe, though it is not reccomended. After all, most fathers want to see their kits grow up.
Minor Things
Spring is called Season of New Soaring by the Tribes.
Summer is called Season of High Soaring by the Tribes.
Autumn is called Season of Far Soaring by the Tribes.
Winter is called Season of No Soaring by the Tribes.
Time is measured in seasons, not moons (months).
Healer
A combination leader and medicine cat, these cats take on the name Moonteller, Leafteller, or Windteller depending on their Clan. They have the closest connection with the Tribe of Soaring- the Tribes' ancestors- and are forbidden to have kits.
Camp-guard
Usually the muscular, powerful cats of the Tribe, these fight to defend their Tribe from coyotes, other Tribes, or anything else that threatens them. The head camp-guard has almost as much power and the Healer, and equal that of the head prey-hunter.
Prey-hunter
Prey-hunters consist of the Tribe's lighter and swifter cats. Their job is to catch prey for the Tribe, and are also used as scouts when water is scarce and the surrounding territory must be searched.
Kit-mother
These are she-cats expecting or nursing kits. Tribe members can hold a permanent position as kit-mother, but most prefer to return to their duties as camp-guards or prey-hunters once their offspring become to-bes.
To-be
Kits become to-bes at one season (three months), but are trained longer than Clans' apprentices. Camp-guards or prey-hunters in training. There are no Healer to-bes; the Healer holds the position until death, after which the Tribe of Soaring sends a sign proclaiming the new Healer. Sometimes the sign takes seaons to arrive.
Note: Whether a Tribe cat will be a camp-guard or prey-hunter is decided at their birth.
Moon-Meet
On full moons the Healer and a handful of chosen cats of each Tribe gather for the Moon-Meet, the Tribes' equivalent of a Gathering. They meet at ThreeBoughs, an enormous tree of unknown species, and with only three great branches each pointing in the direction of a Tribe's territory.
Half-Meet
The Tribes' Healers meet every half-moon to meditate and speak to the Tribe of Soaring (though rarely to each other), at the Watching Hill, a steep rise that looks over all three Tribes.
Star-Meet
Every new moon young camp-guards and prey-hunters come together for the Star-Meet, where mates are chosen. It is a night of celebration, toms singing and sparring to impress the she-cats; she-cats preening and chatting and pretending they aren't interested. Below the party-like air, though, there is a ceremonious nature to the evening. Unlike the Clans, it is not forbidden to have kits with a cat of another Tribe, though it is not reccomended. After all, most fathers want to see their kits grow up.
Minor Things
Spring is called Season of New Soaring by the Tribes.
Summer is called Season of High Soaring by the Tribes.
Autumn is called Season of Far Soaring by the Tribes.
Winter is called Season of No Soaring by the Tribes.
Time is measured in seasons, not moons (months).