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When they left their two-leg home, they renamed themself New, and New swore they would not stop running until they reached the end of the earth. They found a stream to follow, which eventually flowed into a rocky cascade, and emptied into a slow-moving river. It flowed past forests, fields, and two-leg towns alike. Still, New kept running.
As they traveled, they heard stories from other cats - stories about lions and tigers and stars, huge family groups that kept cats safe and healthy - nothing like New had ever heard living with their two-legs. New yearned for such comforts, but they had not yet reached the end.
Eventually, the slow river became a wide delta. Trees thinned out, scratchy wiregrass gave way to clumps of tall sea oats; and one afternoon, New crested the top of a sand dune and was greeted by an infinite stretch of blue. They scanned the long horizon. To the west, two-leg structures and the smell of delicious meat; to the east, the river delta, a grove of pines, and the sound of birdsong. To the north was New's past, and the shining ocean stretched out to the south, and all New could taste in the air was salt.
New found a hollow in the dunes where two-legs did not tread and made a nest for themself. Already their fur was coarse with sand and salt, but they didn't care. They gazed up at the darkening sky and saw one blazing star rise over the disappearing horizon.
"I am Newstar of Saltclan," they said to the star. "I have come to the end, and will begin again."
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The cats of Saltclan are feral domestic cats with all the diversity that implies. The cats that thrive here are usually shorthaired, but there can be longhaired cats as long as they don't mind extensive grooming, what with the sand and all. Lighter colored cats blend in with the sand, which is helpful when fishing or hunting for seagull nests; darker colored or mottled cats do well sneaking through the two-leg town (the Pier, the Crab Shack, etc) and hunting among the pine trees.
Saltclan's main camp is where the dunes meet the pine grove. The delta is nearby for fresh water, the trees shade the clan from the sun, and the dunes protect them from the wind and from two-legs. Saltclan's territory ranges from the far shore of the delta to the far side of the Pier and all the beach in between. Any two-leg structures on the beach side of the thunderpath are considered Saltclan territory.
Newstar has taken on the aspects of the clans they heard about in the other cats' stories. They found that, at low tide, a nearby sandbar creates a long, shallow pool of seawater that reflects the night sky like glass. When the tides are strong, this pool traps many small fish and sea creatures for easy hunting. When the tides are weak and the moon is hiding, when the water is clear and the stars are bright, Newstar visits the Starpool to commune with the First Star. They're not sure if their ancestors are up there, but maybe one day they themself will be up there, looking down on their clan.
Prey include frogs, rabbits, and squirrels that can be caught in the delta region; small vermin and table scraps from the town; and small fish and seagull eggs from the beach.
Predators include two-legs and their dogs, big fish in the ocean or delta, birds of prey in the forest, and angry seagulls (more of a sometime threat than a predator though). Any cats crossing the nearby thunderpath must content with heavy traffic. The Pier is a popular spot for loners and rogues, and conflicts may occur.
Saltclan currently has no allies nor enemies.
