Post by Mysteryfaith on Dec 24, 2008 18:46:03 GMT
Taken from 'Warriors Field Guide: Secrets of the Clans
xx.The Warrior Code//
Follow these rules of the Clans, made by the infamous Thunderstar, Shadowstar, Riverstar and Windstar.
1.
Defend your Clan even with your life. You may have friendships with cats from other Clans, but your loyalty must remain to your Clan, as one day you might meet them in battle.
2.
Do not hunt or trespass on another Clan's territory.
3.
Elders and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the elders.
4.
Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life.
5.
A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice.
6.
Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after recieving their warrior name.
7.
A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.
8.
The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies or retires.
9.
After the death or retirement of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.
10.
After a gathering of all four Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. There shall be no fighting among the Clans at this time.
11.
Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats.
12.
No warrior may neglect a kit in pain or in danger, even if that kit is from a different Clan.
13.
The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code.
14.
An honourable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win his battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or it is necessary for self-defence.
15.
A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.
A Brief History of the Clans
Many moons ago, the forest had no boundaries for any feline. The cats of that time killed to survive amongst the rubble of ferocious creatures. In the north lay moors; in the south dense woodland. On the edge of the forest territory, a river flowed out of a dark ravine.
The cats were drawn by the prey and water in the forest. They were not warrior cats - they lived in small bands, not yet Clans. There were no borders to seperate the cats. It was a lawless forest, and cats died constantly in fear that the prey would leave their small territories.
One night, the moon was full, and all of the small bands agreed to meet in a chosen place, the future Fourtrees. They argued, and a battle followed. Many cats' blood was spilled.
Exhausted, the survivors of the many dead cats slept where they had fought. When they woke up moonlight was upon them. Surrounding them were the spirits of the cats they'd lost, not injured but shining like fallen stars. The survivors huddled on the ground, but the starry cats sent them terrible visions of the future. They knew the fighting had to end.
"Unite or die," said the spirits of the dead cats.
From the survivors, a black she-cat spoke up. She rose from her crouch to talk to the spirits. "My name is Shadow," she meowed. "How can we be peaceful if we have no one to lead us?I think I'm the most skilled here - let me lead the forest!"
"You would lead us into darkness," meowed a silvery grey tom with green eyes. "I am River. I think I am more skilled than you! It is I, not you, who should lead these cats!"
"The forest is more than rivers and shadows," growled a brown female. "I am Wind, and I think I'm better than the two of you. I should rule."
The largest survivor was called Thunder. He was a ginger tom with amber eyes and large white paws. "I am the best here, for I am Thunder!" he meowed. "If any cat shoud lead us, it should be me."
The yowling of the arguing cats was watched in silence by the starry cats. Dark clouds suddenly blew across the moon, and the survivors huddled in fear. On top of the high rock, they saw a tabby she-cat's spirit, her eyes flaring.
"You are all very foolish!" she meowed. "Can you stop being selfish for a moment? Think of your kits!" Shadow, River, Wind and Thunder looked at the spirit, but didn't speak.
"The forest is big enough to home all of you, and your families." the tabby continued. "You must find cats like you and settle borders around a home you choose in the forest."
A circle of spirits appeared around the clearing, and a white spirit stepped forward. "Do this, and we will reward you with eight more lives to lead your Clans with."
Then, a slender tortoiseshell spirit stepped forward. "We will watch over you from Silverpelt." she promised. "We will visit you in dreams and guide you."
"Once a month," mewed the white tom, "every full moon, you will gather together for a night of truce. You will know we are watching, and we will be angry if blood is spilled."
"You will be warriors!" the tortoiseshell yowled. The four main survivors bowed their heads. "From now on, you will live by a warrior code. Your hearts will be filled with courage and nobility, and if you must fight, it will be not for greed, but for honour and justice."
There was a long silence. Finally, Thunder nodded. "This is good advice. I believe this will work."
The other cats murmured their agreement. Then they returned to their homes and sought out cats like themselves, with similar strengths and abilities. River found cats willing to fish for food. Shadow gathered nighttime hunters with clever minds. Thunder found hunters who could track prey through the thickest undergrowth. To Wind came the fastest runners and cats who loved the open moorland. Then they divided the forest so each Clan could survive. At their first gathering, the four leaders gained eight more lives as the spirits had promised.
And so the age of the warrior Clans began.
Written by Erin Hunter, adapted by Mysteryfaith
xx.The Warrior Code//
Follow these rules of the Clans, made by the infamous Thunderstar, Shadowstar, Riverstar and Windstar.
1.
Defend your Clan even with your life. You may have friendships with cats from other Clans, but your loyalty must remain to your Clan, as one day you might meet them in battle.
2.
Do not hunt or trespass on another Clan's territory.
3.
Elders and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the elders.
4.
Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life.
5.
A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice.
6.
Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after recieving their warrior name.
7.
A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.
8.
The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies or retires.
9.
After the death or retirement of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.
10.
After a gathering of all four Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. There shall be no fighting among the Clans at this time.
11.
Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats.
12.
No warrior may neglect a kit in pain or in danger, even if that kit is from a different Clan.
13.
The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code.
14.
An honourable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win his battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or it is necessary for self-defence.
15.
A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.
A Brief History of the Clans
Many moons ago, the forest had no boundaries for any feline. The cats of that time killed to survive amongst the rubble of ferocious creatures. In the north lay moors; in the south dense woodland. On the edge of the forest territory, a river flowed out of a dark ravine.
The cats were drawn by the prey and water in the forest. They were not warrior cats - they lived in small bands, not yet Clans. There were no borders to seperate the cats. It was a lawless forest, and cats died constantly in fear that the prey would leave their small territories.
One night, the moon was full, and all of the small bands agreed to meet in a chosen place, the future Fourtrees. They argued, and a battle followed. Many cats' blood was spilled.
Exhausted, the survivors of the many dead cats slept where they had fought. When they woke up moonlight was upon them. Surrounding them were the spirits of the cats they'd lost, not injured but shining like fallen stars. The survivors huddled on the ground, but the starry cats sent them terrible visions of the future. They knew the fighting had to end.
"Unite or die," said the spirits of the dead cats.
From the survivors, a black she-cat spoke up. She rose from her crouch to talk to the spirits. "My name is Shadow," she meowed. "How can we be peaceful if we have no one to lead us?I think I'm the most skilled here - let me lead the forest!"
"You would lead us into darkness," meowed a silvery grey tom with green eyes. "I am River. I think I am more skilled than you! It is I, not you, who should lead these cats!"
"The forest is more than rivers and shadows," growled a brown female. "I am Wind, and I think I'm better than the two of you. I should rule."
The largest survivor was called Thunder. He was a ginger tom with amber eyes and large white paws. "I am the best here, for I am Thunder!" he meowed. "If any cat shoud lead us, it should be me."
The yowling of the arguing cats was watched in silence by the starry cats. Dark clouds suddenly blew across the moon, and the survivors huddled in fear. On top of the high rock, they saw a tabby she-cat's spirit, her eyes flaring.
"You are all very foolish!" she meowed. "Can you stop being selfish for a moment? Think of your kits!" Shadow, River, Wind and Thunder looked at the spirit, but didn't speak.
"The forest is big enough to home all of you, and your families." the tabby continued. "You must find cats like you and settle borders around a home you choose in the forest."
A circle of spirits appeared around the clearing, and a white spirit stepped forward. "Do this, and we will reward you with eight more lives to lead your Clans with."
Then, a slender tortoiseshell spirit stepped forward. "We will watch over you from Silverpelt." she promised. "We will visit you in dreams and guide you."
"Once a month," mewed the white tom, "every full moon, you will gather together for a night of truce. You will know we are watching, and we will be angry if blood is spilled."
"You will be warriors!" the tortoiseshell yowled. The four main survivors bowed their heads. "From now on, you will live by a warrior code. Your hearts will be filled with courage and nobility, and if you must fight, it will be not for greed, but for honour and justice."
There was a long silence. Finally, Thunder nodded. "This is good advice. I believe this will work."
The other cats murmured their agreement. Then they returned to their homes and sought out cats like themselves, with similar strengths and abilities. River found cats willing to fish for food. Shadow gathered nighttime hunters with clever minds. Thunder found hunters who could track prey through the thickest undergrowth. To Wind came the fastest runners and cats who loved the open moorland. Then they divided the forest so each Clan could survive. At their first gathering, the four leaders gained eight more lives as the spirits had promised.
And so the age of the warrior Clans began.
Written by Erin Hunter, adapted by Mysteryfaith