Long before there were Clans, a colony of feral cats resided within the marshes. They were united under one leader, a tomcat named
Hare Whiskers who led his cats fairly and ensured the weak were protected and the hungry were fed. Hare Whiskers and his second-in-command, a she-cat named
Briar, reigned over the marshes in peace for many moons. After he passed, Briar stepped up to lead the cats in his stead.
About a year before his passing, a tomcat named
Rain led a colony of his own into the nearby pine forest. Rain himself had been a kittypet before his owners died and he’d learned to fend for himself. Rain took in those like himself — the lost, the desperate, the broken – and nurtured them, fostering loyalty through kindness. His cats began to share the hunting grounds Briar’s group had always had to themselves, and tensions began to spark between the two colonies.
The first attack came from a marsh group she-cat. Some of Rain’s cats had met their hunting patrol in the oak forest between their territories, and blood was shed over lost prey.
Rain was disturbed over what he saw as an unprovoked attack and entered the marsh to meet with Briar. No agreements were reached, and anger began to fan the flames on both sides.
After weeks of hurling insults and drawing blood,
Briar took things into her own paws and called her colony to war. Though there were those in the marsh group who balked at the idea of attacking the other cats, many were eager to rid themselves of Rain and his perceived ‘kittypet colony.’
Briar and her first wave of soldiers met cats from the pine forest while hunting and the battle began.
Rain and his cats marched to Fourtrees to fight for their homes and their right to live peacefully in the forest.
Cats died valiantly alongside their groupmates, and
blood was shed on both sides. It wasn't until a marsh group cat named
Distant Cicada killed Rain in the heat of battle that the fighting began to cease on both sides.
From the stiffening bodies of their fallen comrades, soundless spirits
began to rise. Cats cried out to them, but they remained quiet until Rain himself, on starry paws, delivered a prophecy to the cats:
“In order to keep the peace and survive, you must grow and spread like the leaves of the creeper vine.” He instructed all cats present to return on the evening of the full moon so they could decipher the prophecy together.
At Fourtrees on the night of the full moon, Cicada deciphered the prophecy: that two groups must become five in order to maintain peace and survive.
One by one, five cats rose to appoint themselves leaders of their favored territories. Soot of the marsh group declared herself leader of WindClan;
Distant Cicada of the marsh group staked his claim over RiverClan;
Ember of the pine group spoke for ThunderClan, and a former kittypet named
Blaise and
Briar herself decided to remain in the pine forest and the marshes respectively as SkyClan and ShadowClan.
The groups returned to their homes – but only to regroup and discover where their loyalties lay. From there, history is written as the Clans themselves are born.
NOTABLE EVENTS
— 7.22.2022 The -kit suffix is established by Sootstar. It is later shared with the other clans at the 8.15.2022 Gathering. Kits born prior to this would not have been born with the -kit suffix!
— 8.02.2022 Warrior names are established by Cicadastar. It is later shared with the other clans at the 8.15.2022 Gathering. Cats prior to this would not have had their warrior names yet!
— 8.10.2022 Deputies are established by Blazestar. It is later shared with the other clans at the 8.15.2022 Gathering.
— 8.13.2022 The -paw suffix and apprenticeships are established by Emberstar. It is later shared with the other clans at the 8.15.2022 Gathering Older cats prior to this would not have had the -paw suffix!
— 8.13.2022 Borders are established by Briarstar. It is later shared with the other clans at the 8.15.2022 Gathering.
— 12.15.2022 The warrior code is proposed by Emberstar, along with it's first law.
While you may have friendships with cats from other clans, your loyalty must remain to your clan. At the end of the day, you must be prepared to defend you clan with your life, and you must be prepared to meet another clan in battle.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW LONG DID THE MARSH GROUP EXIST FOR?
The marsh group had existed for roughly 4 years, including the time that Rain's group had resided in the forest!
HOW LONG DID THE PINE GROUP EXIST FOR?
Rain's group had moved into, and lived in the forest for around a year, about 3 years into the Marsh Group's existence. It's important to note, however, that Rain's group had existed within Twolegplace for longer!
WHEN WAS THE GREAT BATTLE?
The Great Battle took place
July 1st 2022!
WHAT ARE CAT'S CURRENT PERSPECTIVE ON STARCLAN?
Those present at The Great Battle saw Starclan cats
first-hand, they, and their close friends and family are likely to be strong believers. Cats who joined clans after the battle are left to draw their own conclusions, though many would have heard tales from pre-clan friends, or have had the opportunity to see their leader rise from the dead.
IS THE WARRIOR CODE ESTABLISHED YET?
Currently, as a universal code, the warrior code does
not exist yet, and will be developed icly by leaders. It's important to note, though, that certain leaders have their own respective policies that relate closely to the warrior code. (For example, many leaders already would not be fond of closs-clan relationships)
