- Jul 6, 2022
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───── WindClan is the group of cats that live primarily on the moor in the northwest corner of the territories. They are the fasted cats out of all the clans - some say they can run as fast as the wind they were named for. They are known for their love of open spaces, and of all five clans, they are the least used to wet ground, preferring the dry, grassy terrain of the moorland.
Unlike the other clans, they do not like to sleep in the shelter of dens. Instead, they sleep beneath the stars, both because they love the fresh air and they believe they are closer to StarClan by doing so. They take great pride in being the closest clan to the Moonstone and for living in a territory with little trees or shrubs, believing their ancestors keep a close eye on them at all times due to this. They rival only SkyClan with their deep knowledge of twolegs from seeing them at the Horseplace that borders their land.
WindClan is unique in that they have two different roles for their warriors: moor-runner and tunneler. Moor-runners make up the bulk of the clan - they hunt and patrol above ground like the other clans’ warriors do. Tunnelers, however, are the clan’s small, elite team of warriors that patrol the underground, made up of the tiniest, skinniest cats of the clan. The tunnelers guide can be found below.
With their unmatched speed and relentless tactics, WindClan is an invaluable ally and a horrifying enemy. Although ThunderClan may consider themselves the clan of prophecy, WindClan will always be the clan with the closest position to StarClan. Friendly yet aloof at times, in a pinch, an ally can count on WindClan to have their back, if they’re not tearing into it. -
WindClan claims the northwestern part of the land, wedged between the thunderpath and the gorge, consisting of rolling moorland. The peaty, sandy fields are home to vegetation such as heather, gorse, cottongrass, bracken, mosses, and various grasses. A few thorn trees are scattered about here and there, along with a handful of low-growing shrubs and rocks. For the most part, however, the land is barren of much cover. Rabbit trails wind through the spiny vegetation, providing worn-down paths for WindClanners on patrols. A boundary of trees outlines the moors, separating them from the Horseplace and thunderpath that they border. Several small streams and creeks cut through the dry land.
☆ CAMP: WindClan’s camp is located in a shallow, sandy hollow, tucked into a natural dip in the moors. This makes the camp sheltered from wind, but easy to attack. However, the camp is very well hidden, surrounded by a tangled wall of gorse and heather.
Cats enter and leave through a heather tunnel. There are no proper dens for the majority of the clan. The leader, apprentices, and warriors usually prefer to sleep under the open sky, although in bad weather, they retreat to burrows made by rabbits, foxes, or badgers that are able to fit the whole clan. The nursery is under a thick gorse bush, dug out beneath the gorse wall. The elder’s den is dug out from under the gorse wall at the far end of the hollow and is surrounded by heather and moss. The medicine cat’s den is within a dark tunnel that opens up into a spacious den with a sandy floor and gorse along the walls.
A tall, dark granite boulder in the middle of the hollow, called the Tallrock, is used by the leader to call meetings in a shallow dip called the Meeting Hollow. The leader has a den behind the Tallrock, but it is up to them whether they sleep there or not. At times, the leader may use the Tallrock as a lookout post, as they are able to see past the gorse wall from the top of it.
The fresh-kill pile is located beneath a flat, jutting stone that protects the fresh-kill from the sun.
☆ GRAVEYARD: A flat expanse of land near the camp within the territory that is surrounded by cracked and scattered stones like a border. It is here where WindClan’s members are buried in the moorland soil and their graves marked by a dark stone placed by their kin. This stone is picked from among the many scattered at the Moonstone and is meant to convey that their loved one makes it to StarClan, cats who do not make the journey to fetch the stone are said to dishonor their deceased kin.
It is not uncommon to find the graves decorated with small stones, feathers and other bits and trinkets as an offering to the deceased, but you will be hard pressed to find a grave for any cat WindClan considers a traitor.
☆ ABANDONED BADGER SET: South of camp sits a tunnel once used by a badger. It is now a popular hunting spot and also provides shelter when needed.
☆ OUTLOOK ROCK: In between camp and Fourtrees is a large boulder. From here, everything can be seen across the moors. Cats are able to stand guard over the moorland from this perch. It is also a popular hangout spot.
☆ RABBIT'S RUN Winding through the moors are many paths and runs made by sprinting rabbits and hares. The longest and thus most well-known of these is the Rabbit Run. It stretches from the middle of the moors near Outlook Rock all the way to Fourtrees and is the most common route taken to Gatherings. This narrow path is made up of flattened grass surrounded by heather, gorse, and scrub. In some areas, the vegetation tangles above the path, creating tunnel-like structures where sunlight can filter through. This run is often used to train apprentices in speed and stamina when chasing prey, and many WindClanners use it as a “highway” through the heathery moors. In Leaf-bare, it becomes a snow tunnel as it’s so often used by prey that the rabbits and hares naturally clear it out for the WindClanners’ use.
☆ SUN-WARMED POOL: This small, hidden pool is surrounded by rushes just west of camp. The water in this pool is very shallow, only covering a grown cat’s paws. It sits on top of slate, which soaks up the sun’s heat during the day, and maintains that heat even through the night so the water is always warm. Cats come here to relax or clean their wounds.
☆ TUNNELS: The moors are almost hollow with tunnels, some made by animals, others by underground streams. Tunnelers are trained to use them to move through their territory without being seen.
☆ GORGE: A deep gorge cut by the river in the terrain that makes up WindClan’s southwestern border. Falling into it means certain death - if not from drowning, then certainly from the impact of going over the waterfall. This as well as the river that continues to flow past this makes up WindClan’s border with RiverClan.
☆ HORSEPLACE: The northwest border of the territory is marked by a farm. Chickens, cows, sheep, and horses make their home here. A wooden fence separates the farm animals from the cats on the moorland.
The barn is large, supporting an area full of haylofts and an undercover area where the animals are kept. To the side of the barn is a twoleg nest, where a pair of elderly twolegs live and often leave food for cats that live within their barn. However, most cats that call the barn home enjoy hunting the plentiful mice that also live there.
There is a small pond here which some herbs grow around if the medicine cat is willing to venture there.
☆ FOURTREES: Fourtrees is a group of four large oak trees in a hollow in the center of the forest territories. In the middle, there is a steep-sided clearing and in the center is a large rock with jagged edges called the Great Rock. The clan leaders use it to look down on the clans and share their news during Gatherings. They are also referred to as the Great Oaks. This is a sacred location under constant truce, where no blood can be shed.
COMMON THREATS
☆ Fox
☆ Badger
☆ Dog
☆ Owl
☆ Hawk
☆ Harrier
☆ Adder
☆ Twoleg
COMMON PREY
☆ Hare
☆ Rabbit
☆ Mouse
☆ Lark
☆ Thrush
☆ Ouzel
☆ Blackbird
☆ Plover eggs
☆ Lizard -
WindClanners are the smallest cats of all five clans. Their builds are skinny and wiry, and their fur is often short to prevent it from snagging when chasing rabbits.
The pelts of WindClan favor shades of gray and brown as a natural outgrowth of the camouflage those colors provide in the open fields, but other colors exist in the clan as well.
A typical WindClanner is fiercely loyal and tough, with the resilience to endure moons of hardship if needed. However, due to the lack of cover on the moor, these cats also tend to be nervous and will be quicker to flee than fight.
They are devout in their worship of StarClan, believing themselves to have the strongest connection to them. They are known for being the most quick-witted of all the clans. However, other clans take advantage of the fact that they’re the easiest clan to offend yet are the least likely to start battles with the other clans, giving them the stereotype of being pushovers. -
UNIQUE BATTLE SKILLS
WindClanners utilize speed and agility in battle. These strategies are unique to them:
Approach from Above Your Enemy
☆ Gain high ground.
↳ Wait for the leader of the patrol to give the Attack Tail Signal.
↳ Charge down your high ground; your enemy will be weakened by having to fight uphill.
Use the Light from the Sun
☆ Attack your enemy with the sun behind you, which should dazzle the enemy and block their view.
Know Where the Wind is Coming From
☆ If there is a strong wind, it should blow from behind you; that should hold them back and blur their vision with dust. However, if stalking, make sure the wind is blowing toward you, as it could give away your scent if blowing toward your enemy.
Conceal the Size of Your Force
☆ Have your attackers in sight from a distance.
↳ There are two options: either you can group your warriors together tightly, making you seem like a small attacking force. Your enemy may become overconfident, which is likely to lead to them making poor strategic decisions. Or, if your warriors spread out single-file, it will seem impossible to pass to advancing enemy warriors and may intimidate them.
↳ Attack the enemy.
Attack Both Ends of the Enemy Line First
☆ Attack both ends of your enemy's line, leaving the middle cats to fend on two fronts; this will leave them outflanked, vulnerable, and in disarray.
↳ Attack the rest of the enemies until they run.
Keep Fresh Warriors in Reserve
☆ Always keep strong, fit warriors to replace injured ones.
Feigned Retreat and Ambush
☆ A group of strong cats screech and attack the enemy line.
↳ The group of fit cats retreat; repeat this until the enemy line breaks.
↳ Other warriors, usually tunnelers, jump out of rabbit holes and dips in the ground on the other side of the attackers.
↳ Attack from both fronts until the enemy surrenders.
HUNTING TECHNIQUES
WindClan cats can dive into rabbit burrows to drive out or hunt rabbits. WindClan cats are swift, so they can chase most prey down. This is the same for birds, so they can get to the bird fast enough to leap and deliver the killing bite on some occasions without needing to stalk. -
UPDATED 10.21.2024
ALL notes listed here are expected to be followed. Scorchstar is VERY strict about obeying rules, so disobeying laws will result in harsh IC punishment.
☆ The warrior code is to be followed in its entirety. Though Scorchstar will handle code breakers at her own discretion, it is something that she will take seriously.
☆ Kits will be apprenticed at 6 moons.
☆ Moor Runners become warriors at 12 moons. Tunnelers become warriors at 16 moons.
☆ Apprentices may only leave camp alone with their mentor’s permission to accomplish chores and day-to-day apprentice tasks.
☆ WindClan's borders are closed, even to kits. It will be rare to allow any cats into their clan, and those few are OOC limited to plot characters or long-term characters from other places with extensive plotting.
☆ Twoleg items are not allowed to be worn. Certain twoleg items are allowed to be collected (shiny baubles, trinkets, etc.), but collars/bandanas/etc. are not allowed to be kept.
☆ All cats in WindClan are required to take clan names. In the case of joiners, they are immediately given a clan name upon entry by the clan leader.
☆ It is the norm in WindClan to train with claws unsheathed. No major harm is to be done to an undeserving clan-mate and any cruelty with claws will be cause for a stern lecture from Scorchstar, but she believes that using claws in practice is the best way to learn to use them in battle.
☆ Cross-clan romance is NOT allowed, and any characters that are found to have developed these relationships will be distrusted at best (or exiled at worst), even after the romance is cut off.
census ☆ discord server
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