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i. main ii. rules iii. info iv. allegiances v. status vi. other
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Many generations ago, a small group of cats were abandoned to the wilderness along the northern pacific coast by their two-legs who no longer desired to care for them. never before had they experienced the unforgiving wilds; the unpredictability of nature or relentless predator which would not hesitate to kill, and there was little they could do to prepare. they lost many in the years that followed as they learned to adapt to this new hostile world and its dangers; cats succumbed to cold or hunger, were unable to prevail against injury or disease, got caught in fires and floods, fell from the cliffs or were dragged out to sea.. but ultimately, they refused to break.
although the core group was mainly comprised of once-abandoned kittypets, every now and then another would join their ramchackle colony. ferals or other abandoned cats, those who had wandered too far into the mountains and were unable to find their way homeβ all were offered refuge as more eyes and ears meant better chances for them all. among these were cats who introduced strange beliefs; claims that sounded more like the stories they were told as kits to keep them from trouble. they spoke of great, fearsome wild-cats who lived free among the wilderness and ruled the forests with their clans. while they may have once scoffed at such a concept the cats were desperate for the slivers of hope this invoked among them. sparking a new drive, this inspired the colony to slowly begin forming beliefs of their own. they sought out a place of power to connect with forgotten ancestors among the stars, instituted a code and established a hierarchy so that there would be a semblance of order. but with this, there was unavoidable dissent.
as they searched for a place to truly call their own the two most leaderlike among the disheveled group, while having at one time been quite close, had been driven apart by the stress and heaviness of weathered hardship and loss. one argued that their best chance to thrive would be among the sheltered woodland and rough mountain terrain, as it would be easier for them to evade and escape any monsters which prowled in the shadows. the other disagreed; they'd spent time out on the moors when they hunted, and had scouted the area thoroughly. large predators were less common on the hillside, and there had been a handful of locations which were still relatively hidden and out of the way. unable to come to an agreement, each cat rallied those who supported their ways and the colony, while having once been united in their mutual desire to overcome and survive, divided in two.
ever since that pivotal moment there had been an unresolved tension that hangs heavy between the two newly fledged clans. while the cats had once worked together for a better chance at survival, they now competed for shared resources and land. a feud that started with the falling out of two cats has been harbored and passed down in the countless generations that followed; and with each new generation, their roots and the reasons for the initial conflict among them has became more obscured, twisted, and forgotten.
present day; even now, as the two clans try to co-exist, they are still quick to lash out at the other given the opportunity. border skirmishes and territory disputes are common as each clan has grown and expanded, most recently of which being stoneclan encroaching on the coastal beaches within moorclan territory. many still harbor the age-old animosity that has been passed down to them, but there are those who have started to grow tired of the constant conflict. although they don't remember their true origin outside of the stories their elders have woven, they believe there has to be more to life than constantly being at each others throats. this generation could be a turning point for them all; perhaps stoneclan and moorclan will finally be able to settle their differences and live in relative peace.. or perhaps one of them may finally meet their end at the paws of the other.
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resilient β’ loyal β’ courageous
prideful β’ envious β’ aloof
stoneclan cats are known for their loyalty to their clan, their
ruthlessness in battle, and their blatant refusal to die. their
wills are as stalwart as the mountain which is where the motto
"unmoving as stone" lays its roots. some of the most courageous
cats on the whole coast call stoneclan home and would not have it
any other way. while others may see them as cold and uncaring
stoneclan is no more malicious than any other group of cats trying
to survive the harsh conditions of the wild. most cats in the clan
take immense pride in their accomplishments and their successes,
no matter how little they may be. they would do anything to ensure
the survival of those they hold dear, and have proven it on more
than one occasion. newly appointed warriors hold their silent vigil
outside the mouth of the cave they call home, and it is said that if
they catch a bat coming to the cave at dawn it is a good omen for
their future as a warrior. cats in stoneclan tend to be bulkier, with
strong muscles in their legs for climbing trees and hardened
pawpads for navigating the rough terrain on the mountainside. the
biggest threats to the cats in the forest are rattlesnakes, which
often lurk under logs and rock and will strike if provoked, and minks
which hunt along the rivers but would not hesitate to snatch a kit or
small apprentice if given the opportunity. they are specialized in
fishing and hunting feisty prey like weasels which aren't afraid to
fight back or go after a small cat.
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common β’ squirrels, mice, sparrows, songbirds, stoats
uncommon β’ martins, weasels & fishers, frogs, salamanders &
newts, shrews, voles, small-medium fish (young salmon & trout,
perch, papermouth, bluegill, etc) lizards (skinks, whiptails,
sagebush, etc)
rare β’ hares & rabbits, pheasants, quail, rats, bird eggs
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common β’ owls, foxes, rattlesnakes, minks
uncommon β’ coyotes, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, otters,
bobcats & lynx, badgers, elk, martins & weasels, porcupines,
wolverines, turkeys, deer
rare β’ moose, bears, wolves, mountain lions, hawks, falcons,
eagles, osprey, raccoons, large fish, two-legs
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ambitious β’ just β’ honorable
cautious β’ stubborn β’ grudging
moorclan cats are known for their unwavering honor, their
righteous hearts, and their unstoppable persistence in chasing
after their ambitions. once a moorclan cat has set their minds
on something there is little you can say or do to discourage
them from clawing their way toward their goals, no matter what
obstacles may lay in the way. the motto "quick as wind" refers to
both their agility and how quickly they can get what they want.
other cats may see them as stubborn and hard-headed but
moorclan is devoted to seeing their dreams come true, big or
small. because they care so deeply about being just and doing
what they believe is right, they are not quick to forget those
who have wronged them and often hold deep seeded grudges
that can outlast time. newly named warriors holding their silent
vigils either sit outside the camp or on top of the large stones
which make the outer walls, and it is said to be a good omen if
an apprentice catches a rabbit on their final hunting assessment.
the cats in moorclan are often lean and nimble, allowing them to
move more swiftly across open field and hillside to avoid any
threats which might be prowling the skies or lurking in the grass.
moorclan has to worry the most about birds of prey, as young cats
are easy meals and can be spotted quickly on the moorside. they
are specialized in catching swift prey like hares and pheasants, and
actively hunt seabirds along the coast.
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common β’ hares & rabbits, shrews, voles, mice, quail
uncommon β’ pheasants, shorebirds (plovers, killdeer, sandpipers),
lizards (skinks, whiptails, sagebush, etc), snakes, rats, sparrows
rare β’ seabirds (cormorants, shearwaters, gulls), stoats, martins &
weasels, corvids, small-medium fish (young salmon & trout, perch,
papermouth, bluegill, etc)
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common β’ hawks, falcons, eagles, foxes
uncommon β’ osprey, owls, rattlesnakes, deer, elk, pronghorn
antelope, badgers, coyotes
rare β’ wolverines, moose, bears, wolves, seals & sea lions, large
fish, minks, martins & weasels, mountain lions, bobcats & lynx,
two-legs
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ββββββββββββββββββthe territory that the clans know is situated along a stretch of the pacific northwestern coast, the surrounding mountains and rocky beaches making it fairly inhospitable and unappealing for most two-leg development. this fact has left the area considerably untouched and let nature flourish as it took its own course over the years. in the northern stretch where stoneclan makes their home you will find thick coniferous woodland that blankets steep mountainside, while to the south you'll come across a sprawling plateau of moors as the core mountain begins to taper off temporarily. south-southeast, nestled between the moors and the next mountain peak is a marsh, and the western border is lined by the pacific coastline. the main border marker between the two territories is a small river which runs off the coastal cliffs and into the ocean.
to commune with starclan, the cats travel to a secluded cave at the far northern end of the coast, under a spire of stone which arches out over the sea and hidden behind large moss and algae covered pillars. it is creatively named the 'sea cave'. deep inside the cave is a chamber open to the moon and the stars. medicine cats pass down the path to their apprentices, but leaders must find their own way to the moon chamber to receive their nine lives. gatherings between the two clans are held on neutral territory to the east at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by light forest and named two stones after the two, gigantic crossed stones that the leaders stand upon.
stoneclan's territory is considerably rougher and harder to navigate, consisting of uneven forests rooted into the side of rocky mountain slopes and quick-moving rivers that have flowed down from the highest peaks for millennia, carving out deep veins and ravines where they still run today. although a number of them spot the mountainside the most notable of which is a river called snake bend; named after its wild, twisting path along the northwestern stretch of their territory. when the waters are flowing fast it is a dangerous river to fish or cross, but when it is calm it is one of the best fishing spots. if you go up-river you'll eventually come to the rocky waterfall, and just southeast of that is the camp. a favorite training spot for apprentices is the mossy place, as the creek that flows under the moss-covered stones is always calm and the rocks are good for practicing climbing. stoneclan does not have a lot of easy, direct access to any coastal beach outside of the cove, as most of the mountain has sheer, rocky drop offs directly into the ocean.
stoneclan's camp is at a medium elevation on the slopes, created in a cave that cuts through the side of the mountain. the entrance has a fairly large opening that is divided by a stone pillar and a short tunnel leads to the main camp. in this central area there are a few outcroppings and ledges, most being either inaccessible by being too high or at poor angles to gain good footing but some are climbable. to the left of the entrance there is a climbable ledge that takes you up to the leaders den, which overlooks most of the camp. further left is the medicine cat den entrance, although the den itself wraps around below the leaders ledge and small cracks in the rock allow you to see in from the outside. the cave turns slightly and in this nook is the elders den, a small slope up leading to a large space thats been dedicated for them. the warriors den and apprentices den are nestled across the cave in larger indentations on ground level, the warrior den closer to the right wall and the apprentice den a hop higher and to the left. the nursery is situated at the back of the cave furthest from the entrance, in a deep crack which slopes downward before bottoming out so it is considerably sheltered. along the right wall there is a large hole in the cliffside that provides sunlight into the cave, the drop off being too sheer to be a vulnerable point if they were attacked by other cats. although the leader could address the clan from the ledge by their den, they instead call meetings from an elevated outcropping under the rightside opening, named the sky rock.
moorclan's territory consists of the southern moorland, nestled in a valley-like plateau between stoneclan's mountain and another to the far southeast. the terrain is by no means flat or even outside of isolated patches of field and meadow, but its rocky hills do not compare to the northern woodland slopes as the mountain climbs higher toward the summit. their territory has noticeably more deciduous trees than the thick pine forests to the north, although they are scattered in small clusters or stand alone among the moors. one of the largest is known as great oak, an ancient oaktree in the central southwestern fields. moorclan does not have as much river access as stoneclan, but a small stream does flow nearby their camp and overlooking it is a tall rock from which they can scout their immediate territory. most of the western border is actual beach, though some of it is more rock than sand and is prone to tidepools at low tide. to get down to it moorclan cats have to climb down the rocky dropoff. to the northeast is an abandoned two-leg den that is rotting and decrepit, but can be host to many prey animals. past it is a weathered thunder-path but it seldom sees any use. in the southeast is a thick, open marsh that overlaps with a portion of their territory, but most cats tend to avoid it for its dangers.
moorclan's camp is dug out and reinforced among a cluster of large boulders and stones. the outside of the camp has been surrounded by a wall of thorns and brambles where there were gaps in the rocks as an extra layer of protection against invasion or predators. the entrance is under a natural arch created by two of the stones, which leads to the camp center. most of the camp is open directly to the sky and moorclan cat's are known to be more comfortable this way. there is a sizable rock in the center of the camp of which the leader's den is dug out under, and they host clan meetings from atop it. they named the rock the calling stone. the warrior, apprentice, and elders dens are all dug out under the stones on the left side of camp and reinforced with woven branches and bush. the medicine cat den is to the right, also dug out among the stones but hidden behind a curtain of hanging moss. the nursery is at the back of camp and is the only den that is more like a cave, sheltered completely by stone and hidden with brambles and moss. 
