Describe Clan Territory
Located in the hills, Pikaclan inhabits an old Pika colony. The Pika burrows have become sleeping quarters for much of the clan and can easily be extended with slight digging if the clan needs. The clan leader's den however is located in cave formed by the rocks in the hills. While it is not a very large cave, it does have enough space for the leader to adequately speak to clan members in private.
Just north of the main camp is the training grounds where there are variable terrains from hills, to slight forest all the way to mountains that the apprentices can work within. It is safe from the reach of Boneyardclan to the west and the twoleg place to the east as the only safe way through the mountain is the pass.
The hunting grounds are located south of the main camp but these are only the primary ones. Most cats will hunt within the hills and forests outside the camp. A few specialized hunters even like to hunt in the more mountainous region of the clan territory. While their activities range pretty far through their land, they tend to stay between the mountains, river and the clan meeting point, so as to not intrude on the other clans territory.
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Just north of the main camp is the training grounds where there are variable terrains from hills, to slight forest all the way to mountains that the apprentices can work within. It is safe from the reach of Boneyardclan to the west and the twoleg place to the east as the only safe way through the mountain is the pass.
The hunting grounds are located south of the main camp but these are only the primary ones. Most cats will hunt within the hills and forests outside the camp. A few specialized hunters even like to hunt in the more mountainous region of the clan territory. While their activities range pretty far through their land, they tend to stay between the mountains, river and the clan meeting point, so as to not intrude on the other clans territory.
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Level 1:
Describe your Clan
Pikaclan is composed of a handful of nimble cats which are peaceful to the most part. They dwell in the hills nestled between the mountain range. They are named after the small rodent like creature who used to inhabit the particular plot of land that they made their camp on and tend to be on the smaller side. This doesn't mean they are weak however, they just have wiry frames, built with muscle and fast due to their size. They live within crevices in the rocky landscape and even underground in shallow caves dug by the cats themselves. They are not great at swimming and are alright with climbing trees, their true strength comes with covering the hills at a fast speed that other cats just cannot quite compete with. Slopes and rocky terrain are nothing they cannot handle and are some of the more adept cats for climbing the mountains, but they don't often travel to the mountains as there isn't a need.
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Leader History
Martenstar was the lone kit of the clan's medicine cat and had no father according to the clan. Her mother never mentioned him and so she went on living as if he didn't exist. She was a quick learner and accompanied her mother in the healing den and scouts out through the territory, leaning everything she could. She rose through the ranks quickly, passing her time as an apprentice much faster than many of the other kits her age and caught the eye of the previous clan leader. When they realized they were sick, and had no deputy assigned, they immediately made it clear that Martenstar was the only option for the next clan leader. While there were arguments, particularly due to her young age and lack of experience, the clan leader dismissed all quarrels.
Becoming one of the youngest clan leaders Pikaclan had ever had, Martenstar had a lot of pressure to perform perfectly and she was eager to take care of the clan. With her quick thinking, she was able to avoid disaster during a terrible storm and even saved a handful of cats when there was a flood. These actions cemented her role as clan leader and now no one in the clan could view anyone else in the position.
She is well respected and seen as a source of knowledge for the clan, often spending time with the young kits and apprentices, answering all the questions they may have. While she is well loved by the clan, she has never found herself drawn to any other cats, and mostly avoids relationships of a romantic kind, following her mother's paw prints.
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Becoming one of the youngest clan leaders Pikaclan had ever had, Martenstar had a lot of pressure to perform perfectly and she was eager to take care of the clan. With her quick thinking, she was able to avoid disaster during a terrible storm and even saved a handful of cats when there was a flood. These actions cemented her role as clan leader and now no one in the clan could view anyone else in the position.
She is well respected and seen as a source of knowledge for the clan, often spending time with the young kits and apprentices, answering all the questions they may have. While she is well loved by the clan, she has never found herself drawn to any other cats, and mostly avoids relationships of a romantic kind, following her mother's paw prints.
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Meeting a New Member
Martenstar meeting Snowtrail:
Snowtrail walked through the clan when Elmstar approached him, "Snowtrail, today is the day the apprentices get assigned?"
Snowtrail nodded at the clan leader and looked at the cluster of kits playing together, "Yes, hopefully I can get one that will learn well."
Elmstar nodded, her eyes drawn to a little brown kit who was watching the others play instead of joining in. Snowtrail sat with the other warriors who were eligible for apprentices and Elmstar took her spot on her flattened rock. She waited for everyone to settle down and the kits all straightened up, sitting like they had been taught, the queens looking on proudly. Each kit sat there waiting for the apprentice name and mentor assignment, most shaking with excitement.
"Welcome everyone. Today, we are celebrating the age of these kits. They are now old enough to begin their warrior training. And who better to train them then these wonderful warriors? As I say each kit's name, please come up and I will give you your name and the mentor you will be working under," Elmstar spoke loudly and some of the other clan members paused to watch the simple ceremony.
Elmstar began to call the kits, one by one to give them their name and mentor before they were to go sit beside their mentor. Snowtrail watched each kit approach her and then sit besides his fellow warriors. It was getting to be the last few kits now and Snowtrail wondered if he would get an apprentice at all. He tried to remain optimistic but knew that chances were he may not get one since he was still one of the younger warriors here. Finally the last kit was called, "Martenkit."
The smallest of the kits got up and moved towards the leader. Martenkit was the same little brown kit who had been watching the other kits and had remained calm through the entire ceremony. She approached the leader and bowed her head in respect, something none of the other kits had thought to do, before sitting in front of the leader.
"Martenkit, from this day on until you become a full fledged warrior, you will be known as Martenpaw. You will be mentored by Snowtrail," Elmstar spoke and Snowtrail's head snapped up to look at this little kit and his leader. He nodded and the kit came to sit besides him.
She was an awfully small thing, and Snowtrail tried to remember who her mother and father was. He looked at the queens who sat nearby but none seemed to look anything like Martenpaw at all. He frowned a bit and then shook his head, he was supposed to be paying attention. Snowtrail resumed listening to the leader but all she had left was a well wishing and a dismissal to begin training.
Snowtrail stood and walked towards the edge of the clan clearing with the little kit, "So Martenpaw, you excited to explore outside today?"
The little kit looked up at her mentor and nodded, "Yessir. Will you teach me to hunt and climb and swim?"
Snowtrail chuckled a bit, "All in time little one. For today we will just explore the territory."
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Snowtrail walked through the clan when Elmstar approached him, "Snowtrail, today is the day the apprentices get assigned?"
Snowtrail nodded at the clan leader and looked at the cluster of kits playing together, "Yes, hopefully I can get one that will learn well."
Elmstar nodded, her eyes drawn to a little brown kit who was watching the others play instead of joining in. Snowtrail sat with the other warriors who were eligible for apprentices and Elmstar took her spot on her flattened rock. She waited for everyone to settle down and the kits all straightened up, sitting like they had been taught, the queens looking on proudly. Each kit sat there waiting for the apprentice name and mentor assignment, most shaking with excitement.
"Welcome everyone. Today, we are celebrating the age of these kits. They are now old enough to begin their warrior training. And who better to train them then these wonderful warriors? As I say each kit's name, please come up and I will give you your name and the mentor you will be working under," Elmstar spoke loudly and some of the other clan members paused to watch the simple ceremony.
Elmstar began to call the kits, one by one to give them their name and mentor before they were to go sit beside their mentor. Snowtrail watched each kit approach her and then sit besides his fellow warriors. It was getting to be the last few kits now and Snowtrail wondered if he would get an apprentice at all. He tried to remain optimistic but knew that chances were he may not get one since he was still one of the younger warriors here. Finally the last kit was called, "Martenkit."
The smallest of the kits got up and moved towards the leader. Martenkit was the same little brown kit who had been watching the other kits and had remained calm through the entire ceremony. She approached the leader and bowed her head in respect, something none of the other kits had thought to do, before sitting in front of the leader.
"Martenkit, from this day on until you become a full fledged warrior, you will be known as Martenpaw. You will be mentored by Snowtrail," Elmstar spoke and Snowtrail's head snapped up to look at this little kit and his leader. He nodded and the kit came to sit besides him.
She was an awfully small thing, and Snowtrail tried to remember who her mother and father was. He looked at the queens who sat nearby but none seemed to look anything like Martenpaw at all. He frowned a bit and then shook his head, he was supposed to be paying attention. Snowtrail resumed listening to the leader but all she had left was a well wishing and a dismissal to begin training.
Snowtrail stood and walked towards the edge of the clan clearing with the little kit, "So Martenpaw, you excited to explore outside today?"
The little kit looked up at her mentor and nodded, "Yessir. Will you teach me to hunt and climb and swim?"
Snowtrail chuckled a bit, "All in time little one. For today we will just explore the territory."
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Level 2:
Clan's Camp
The clan camp is fairly sparse in terms of vegetation. There are some small trees and patches of growth. Most of the center is filled with hills which have then dens within them. In the center of the camp is a tall rocky ledge in which the meetings occur around. The leader will stand on the ledge so the whole clan can see and hear them. For smaller meetings, the clan will sometimes meet at the leaders den instead. The leaders den is towards the mountain edge of the camp and is a series of rocks in which the den is situated. The deputy den is also towards the mountain edge of the camp but on the actual edge towards the pine edge.
There are sections of dens but in terms of the patrol and warrior dens, there is a mix of both in each section. The apprentice dens is the only one which is one large cavern instead of individual dens. The nursery is the most private of all the dens, with hemlock branches used as curtains upon request for the queens and their kits. The healer den is located near the leader den as they have always been close in terms of relationships. The current leader was a healer's kit after all.
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There are sections of dens but in terms of the patrol and warrior dens, there is a mix of both in each section. The apprentice dens is the only one which is one large cavern instead of individual dens. The nursery is the most private of all the dens, with hemlock branches used as curtains upon request for the queens and their kits. The healer den is located near the leader den as they have always been close in terms of relationships. The current leader was a healer's kit after all.
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Leader and Deputy Relationship
Snowtrail was surprised at how fast his little apprentice learned. She may have been the smallest of her group but she was excelling in everything and even comparing to the older group of apprentices. He watched her bound up a tree trunk in pursuit of a squirrel, faster than he had ever seen any other apprentice before. She seemed to know just where to dig her claws into the wood so she could launch herself higher.
Snowtrail watched her through the bouncing of the tree branches and chuckled a bit as she heard the squeaking of the squirrel she was in pursuit of. Finally, everything went quiet and Martenpaw carefully picked her way down the tree, the squirrel in her jaws. He smiled at her and licked her forehead in a congrats when he heard another cat approaching. He turned to see Elmstar.
"Oh, Elmstar, did you see how well Martenpaw did in catching that squirrel? The kids a natural!" Snowtrail grinned and Elmstar smiled in return.
"I did, I actually was coming to speak to you both about that. I was thinking Martenpaw could be transferred to be my apprentice as she seems to be a very gifted cat." Elmstar smiled at the pair and Snowtrail frowned for a moment, disappointing that he would be losing his apprentice. He had grown very close to the young cat but he knew she would benefit apprenticing under the leader more than a simple warrior.
He nodded, hiding the sadness in his eyes, "Of course Elmstar. She would learn so much more under your eye than my own."
He noticed Martenpaw frown a bit and she nuzzled his leg softly before going to join the leader. The pair strode off into the woods to begin training together and Snowtrail picked up the squirrel that Martenpaw had caught. He carefully carried it back to the clan.
Their Relationship:
Snowtrail sat in the section of the group with warriors without apprentices and watched as Martenpaw proudly stepped up to Elmstar. She was graduating to a warrior at the young age of only 10 moons, something unheard of in the clan, but she had proved herself worthy of the title. Elmstar beamed at her apprentice as she approached and then loudly announced her warrior name, "Martenpaw, you shall now be known as Martenpelt!"
Martenpelt nodded and then moved to sit with the new warriors, sitting straight she was still the smallest of the group. After the ceremony, she made a point of approaching her former mentor, Snowtrail. He smiled warmly at her, "Congratulations Martenpelt, I am so proud to see you doing so well. A warrior at just 10 moons. You should certainly be proud yourself."
She nodded and looked at the tom, "I am, thank you. And thank you for being an amazing mentor to me. I would have enjoyed studying under you for my entire apprenticeship but am glad I got the chance to work with Elmstar."
Snowtrail smiled and nodded, "It was a good opportunity for you. We can always work patrol together now."
She nodded and smiled wide at him, "Of course."
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"Snowtrail! Snowtrail! Guess what!" Martenpelt rushed through the woods, following the tom's scent.
"Matenpelt, praise starclan, what could be so important you had to frighten off the quail I was stalking?" The tom looked at the young warrior with a frown.
The she-cat was all smiles as she rushed up to Snowtrail and she was shaking excitedly, "I think Elmstar is going to name me deputy!"
Snowtrail looked at the little cat confused. Elmstar was sick and therefore trying to find a successor, but he never thought she would pick a cat as young as Martenpelt. She was barely 15 moons old, much younger than any deputy or leader ever heard of. He looked at the cat who had just been his apprentice a few moons ago and then smiled at her, "I am so proud of you Martenpelt. Congrats."
She bounced excitedly and then swatted at him playfully, "Here, let me help you track down that quail."
They laughed a bit as they moved to find the quail Snowtrail had lost.
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Snowtrail watched as Martenpelt was sworn in as deputy, setting off a few angry calls from cats in the clan. His fur bristled slightly but the sick leader quickly shot them down with a look.
"Martenpelt will succeed me, she has learned and achieved much even with her young age. Yes she has not yet apprenticed a kit but she was the youngest kit to ever graduate to warriors. She trained under me, or don't you remember? She has trained with her mother, the medicine cat, and she has learned faster than any others. She has much wisdom and care in her heart and believe she will be a strong leader once I pass." Elmstar hissed at the cats who called the announcement nonsense before she began to cough weakly. Martenpelt braced the leader and the ceremony was ended so Elmstar could return to the car of the medicine cat.
Snowtrail watched as some cats continued to argue about the decision but he knew Martenpelt could prove them wrong.
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Martenpelt sat alone in the clan, sitting vigil where Elmstar was laid to rest. She had been there for days now, mentally preparing herself for the trek to the Cave of Spirits to gain her lives. She sighed softly and then noticed a cat sitting near her just as quiet. She hadn't noticed him there but was comforted to see Snowtrail by her side. She finally stood and approached him, "Snowtrail. I wish you to be the one that accompanies me to the cave. You have been my closest friend and I still think of you as a mentor to me."
Snowtrail looked at her and then nodded, "of course Martenstar."
She shook her head, "I am not leader yet. I need to gain my lives."
He nodded again, "Very well. When shall we leave?"
She looked towards the sky, "As soon as we can."
Snowtrail watched her through the bouncing of the tree branches and chuckled a bit as she heard the squeaking of the squirrel she was in pursuit of. Finally, everything went quiet and Martenpaw carefully picked her way down the tree, the squirrel in her jaws. He smiled at her and licked her forehead in a congrats when he heard another cat approaching. He turned to see Elmstar.
"Oh, Elmstar, did you see how well Martenpaw did in catching that squirrel? The kids a natural!" Snowtrail grinned and Elmstar smiled in return.
"I did, I actually was coming to speak to you both about that. I was thinking Martenpaw could be transferred to be my apprentice as she seems to be a very gifted cat." Elmstar smiled at the pair and Snowtrail frowned for a moment, disappointing that he would be losing his apprentice. He had grown very close to the young cat but he knew she would benefit apprenticing under the leader more than a simple warrior.
He nodded, hiding the sadness in his eyes, "Of course Elmstar. She would learn so much more under your eye than my own."
He noticed Martenpaw frown a bit and she nuzzled his leg softly before going to join the leader. The pair strode off into the woods to begin training together and Snowtrail picked up the squirrel that Martenpaw had caught. He carefully carried it back to the clan.
Their Relationship:
Snowtrail sat in the section of the group with warriors without apprentices and watched as Martenpaw proudly stepped up to Elmstar. She was graduating to a warrior at the young age of only 10 moons, something unheard of in the clan, but she had proved herself worthy of the title. Elmstar beamed at her apprentice as she approached and then loudly announced her warrior name, "Martenpaw, you shall now be known as Martenpelt!"
Martenpelt nodded and then moved to sit with the new warriors, sitting straight she was still the smallest of the group. After the ceremony, she made a point of approaching her former mentor, Snowtrail. He smiled warmly at her, "Congratulations Martenpelt, I am so proud to see you doing so well. A warrior at just 10 moons. You should certainly be proud yourself."
She nodded and looked at the tom, "I am, thank you. And thank you for being an amazing mentor to me. I would have enjoyed studying under you for my entire apprenticeship but am glad I got the chance to work with Elmstar."
Snowtrail smiled and nodded, "It was a good opportunity for you. We can always work patrol together now."
She nodded and smiled wide at him, "Of course."
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"Snowtrail! Snowtrail! Guess what!" Martenpelt rushed through the woods, following the tom's scent.
"Matenpelt, praise starclan, what could be so important you had to frighten off the quail I was stalking?" The tom looked at the young warrior with a frown.
The she-cat was all smiles as she rushed up to Snowtrail and she was shaking excitedly, "I think Elmstar is going to name me deputy!"
Snowtrail looked at the little cat confused. Elmstar was sick and therefore trying to find a successor, but he never thought she would pick a cat as young as Martenpelt. She was barely 15 moons old, much younger than any deputy or leader ever heard of. He looked at the cat who had just been his apprentice a few moons ago and then smiled at her, "I am so proud of you Martenpelt. Congrats."
She bounced excitedly and then swatted at him playfully, "Here, let me help you track down that quail."
They laughed a bit as they moved to find the quail Snowtrail had lost.
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Snowtrail watched as Martenpelt was sworn in as deputy, setting off a few angry calls from cats in the clan. His fur bristled slightly but the sick leader quickly shot them down with a look.
"Martenpelt will succeed me, she has learned and achieved much even with her young age. Yes she has not yet apprenticed a kit but she was the youngest kit to ever graduate to warriors. She trained under me, or don't you remember? She has trained with her mother, the medicine cat, and she has learned faster than any others. She has much wisdom and care in her heart and believe she will be a strong leader once I pass." Elmstar hissed at the cats who called the announcement nonsense before she began to cough weakly. Martenpelt braced the leader and the ceremony was ended so Elmstar could return to the car of the medicine cat.
Snowtrail watched as some cats continued to argue about the decision but he knew Martenpelt could prove them wrong.
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Martenpelt sat alone in the clan, sitting vigil where Elmstar was laid to rest. She had been there for days now, mentally preparing herself for the trek to the Cave of Spirits to gain her lives. She sighed softly and then noticed a cat sitting near her just as quiet. She hadn't noticed him there but was comforted to see Snowtrail by her side. She finally stood and approached him, "Snowtrail. I wish you to be the one that accompanies me to the cave. You have been my closest friend and I still think of you as a mentor to me."
Snowtrail looked at her and then nodded, "of course Martenstar."
She shook her head, "I am not leader yet. I need to gain my lives."
He nodded again, "Very well. When shall we leave?"
She looked towards the sky, "As soon as we can."
Clan's Reputation
Pikaclan is known for being a fair and reasonable clan. Often times they are the ones that resolve conflicts within other clans and are seen as the peacekeepers. They are also known as a safe haven for all types of cats from rogues, kitty pets and other clan cats. They have gotten many of their members from the ruthless Boneyardclan as they are a more welcoming clan.
While they are reasonable and not as agressive as their mountain neighbors, they are still good fighters. Since many of their members from Boneyardclan, they are specially trained for fighting in mountainous and hilly terrain such as that around Pikaclan. Most disputes occur between Pikaclan and Boneyardclan as Templeclan keeps to themselves mostly. They have been known to defend cats outside of their clan, believing that no cat should be attacked or bullied if Pikaclan can handle it.
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While they are reasonable and not as agressive as their mountain neighbors, they are still good fighters. Since many of their members from Boneyardclan, they are specially trained for fighting in mountainous and hilly terrain such as that around Pikaclan. Most disputes occur between Pikaclan and Boneyardclan as Templeclan keeps to themselves mostly. They have been known to defend cats outside of their clan, believing that no cat should be attacked or bullied if Pikaclan can handle it.
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