Clan Cultures

Clan Culture

Though they're fairly similar in structure, the Clans are all quite distinct; each has their own history, culture and tradition. Of course, there are a number of things shared between them.

Names
Clanborn cats begin their lives with the second name of kit. Upon apprenticeship, their second name becomes paw. On the day of their warrior or medicine cat ceremony, they receive their true name - their warrior name, or medicine cat name as the case may be. A leader, in essence, leaves behind their true name to take the second name of star, honoring the ancestors that gave them their nine lives.

Traditionally, though this practice isn't observed by everyone, the first name is a wish. Namely, it carries a wish to be granted. Dawn might be a wish to carry light with them always, even in the darkest times. Oak could be a wish for the strength of an ancient tree, or simply for strong roots.

Their second name may be acknowledgement of a skill or accomplishment, recognition of their personality, something that reflects who they are, or yet another wish. Flight, for one whose steps are swift and sure. Heart, for loyalty or kindness or bravery. Shine, for one who radiates light.

Rarely, a second name may connect to the first. Sunbeam, or Rainstorm, or Bumblebee.

Also rare is the Clan suffix. Dawnsky and Nightwind and Appleshadow are all perfectly acceptable warrior names, where names like Skyfeather and Windwhisper would be considered taboo, at least within the Clans themselves.

WindClan

Main Values
WindClan’s wide-open moor is perhaps the harshest territory of the forest Clans, entirely unprotected from the elements. Their prey is difficult to catch at the best of times, but WindClan is filled with skilled hunters, so while they rarely have more than enough it’s uncommon for them to go hungry.

WindClan’s reputation is one of being nosy - due to their close-knit community; secrets are uncommon and honesty is expected - as well as naivete, a belief that they are too kind and too trusting. This is in part due to their stance on outsiders: any cat is welcome in WindClan, so long as they can survive on the moor and contribute to the Clan in some way. They have a strong sense of community, and sleep together under the open sky. They value compassion and resourcefulness.

Coming Of Age Rituals
Before they receive their full names, WindClan’s apprentices must show their resourcefulness and creativity: they’re tasked with creating something with the materials provided by their Clanmates. Metals, stones and plants are commonly provided. Nothing other than the materials provided may be used.

Courtship Rituals
WindClan courtship centers on a gift exchange. A cat who takes interest in another presents them with a gift - flowers are traditional, but anything with personal significance is considered acceptable - and if the cat in question offers a gift in return, they’re considered mates. Dried flowers, very rarely seen, indicate star-crossed lovers; typically in the form of half-Clan relationships.

Naming Trends
WindClan cats are often named for flowers such as Poppy and Rose, or birds such as Robin and Lark, or moor-growing plants such as Heather and Bracken. Tree names are less common - names such as Oak or Pine or Alder would seem particularly out of place.

RiverClan

Main Values
Because they mostly eat fish, an incredibly abundant food source, prey is almost always plentiful in RiverClan territory. It’s rare that resources are ever scarce, and because of this RiverClan has perhaps the most time to devote to personal pleasures compared to ensuring their survival, leading to the other Clans’ perception of them.

Often coming across as shallow, lazy and somewhat flighty to other Clans, RiverClan cats tend value individualism, artistic expression, and the pursuit of pleasure. They’re natural-born collectors, with an eye for detail and a love of beauty. There is a sense of community among them, as in all Clans, but individual principles and relationships are highly valued among RiverClan cats, especially compared to the rest.

Coming Of Age Rituals
Before they’re formally recognized as a warrior or medicine cat, RiverClan apprentices are expected to show their creativity by creating a piece of artwork. They’re expected to handle every aspect of their creation - from the concept to the gathering of material to the building of it - on their own. Colorful stones, glittering fish scales, and shells are all commonly seen as parts of these projects.

Courtship Rituals
Traditionally, RiverClan courtship revolves around their love of beautiful and eye-catching things. If a cat takes interest in another, they present them with a gift; and if the gift is returned, the exchange continues until four gifts - one for each season - have been both given and received. After this, they’re formally considered mates; such relationships are traditionally referred to as tidal, a reference to staying together through the passage of time in the form of the changing tides.

Casual, less serious relationships are common as well, without the traditional gift exchange and the commitments attached to it. These relationships are often short-lived, and are typically referred to as misty; a term that refers to their lack of clear definitions and boundaries and the way they rarely last.

At present, RiverClan is also the only Clan with a dedicated term for close platonic relationships, referring to them as rapid; originally stemming from which cat another would want at their side in the rapids.

Naming Trends
RiverClan names tend to be softer and prettier than the other Clans, in part due to their love of all things beautiful. A mother wishing to give her kit a light-themed name is more likely to opt for Dawn or Ray or Shimmer than she is to choose Sun or Light. They also have a tendency toward names reminiscent of the water - names like Stream and Ripple and Reed are far more common.

ThunderClan

Main Values
Prey is plentiful throughout ThunderClan’s forest territory in the warm seasons, but scarce in leaf-bare. While several cats have tried to find ways to preserve their food sources through the cold season, none have yet succeeded. ThunderClan cats are the most likely to eat things outside of fresh-kill in the form of plants and berries, mostly during leaf-bare but also throughout the year.

ThunderClan have a reputation for courage that borders on recklessness, and are often viewed as kind of self-righteous thanks to their history of lending a helping paw - whether or not it’s needed, or sometimes wanted. They’re a very close-knit community, the entire Clan often acting as a large family (more so than the other Clans), something newcomers often struggle to adjust to. They value courage and compassion above all else.

Coming Of Age Rituals
ThunderClan’s coming of age ceremony takes one of two forms: a cat must either prove their courage (and often their loyalty, particularly in the case of non-Clan cats), or pass their mentor’s assessment. These assessments usually center on their hunting or tracking skills, though testing other skills isn't entirely unheard of. Most apprentices, though, hope to prove themselves on the battlefield.

Courtship Rituals
ThunderClan courtship is simple in nature; cats that take interest in one another spend more time together. They go on hunts and patrols and late night walks by themselves, and eventually - once enough time has passed, at least a season - one of them will ask if they want to be together. If the other party accepts, they're officially considered mates.

Naming Trends
ThunderClan names tend toward being strong. Tree names, such as Oak and Alder and Pine, are fairly common thanks to the shared association of strength and deep roots. Softer and flashier names are somewhat less common - Glimmer and Bumble would be rare to see. Animal and plant names have historically been popular choices, such as Wolf or Ivy.

ShadowClan

Main Values
The marshes are dangerous, but ShadowClan warriors are masters of navigating their territory. There’s a certain grace to their movements, which they attribute to having learned to follow very precise paths both quickly and silently. When prey grows scarce, their best-kept secret for survival lies in scavenging.

ShadowClan cats value pragmatism and adaptability, which has earned them a reputation among the other Clans for being ruthless. Despite this, they have a strong sense of honor and integrity. They’re very spiritual, often to the point of superstition, feeling that their association with the night gives them a special connection to their ancestors. Even ordinary warriors often learn to interpret omens to some extent (simple things, like predicting the weather or telling fortunes in the clouds); and leaders and medicine cats are especially respected.

Coming Of Age Rituals
ShadowClan cats are said to come of age when they first speak with StarClan; though their full name isn’t received until their mentors decide they’ve earned it. Their final rite of passage is an odd one: they’re expected to recite the stories of their history - not all of them, that would be too much to ask of any cat, but three of their choice. Every warrior is expected to know the history and legends well.

Courtship Rituals
ShadowClan courtship rituals are one of their oldest traditions: one cat asks another to be their mate (traditionally under a clear sky on a starry night), and they work together to form a symbol of their bond. Shapes and piles of stones are commonly used for this, though anything that’s meant to last is considered acceptable.

Naming Trends
As the most superstitious of the Clans, ShadowClan tends toward legacy naming, honoring their ancestors with the names of their kits. They also lean heavily into the tradition of names as wishes, believing that a kit's name in some way sets the course of their life. Names that honor the night or the stars or even StarClan itself are common, said to give blessings to their bearers - Shining and Evening and Whisper are all fairly traditional ShadowClan names of this style. Names such as Morning or Moth are also fairly popular, while names such as Blood or Sharp would be considered bad omens.

SkyClan

Main Values
SkyClan warriors navigate the treetops with ease, spending much of their apprenticeships learning to tell at a glance which branches can support their weight. When the birds they hunt fly away for leaf-bare they’ve learned where the squirrels and the mice make their nests.

SkyClan has a reputation for being proud and arrogant. They value confidence and capability; believing that even the most impressive words are worth nothing without talent to support them. They have a strong sense of individuality even within the Clan, just another way they differentiate themselves from ThunderClan.

Coming Of Age Rituals
In addition to knowing how to skillfully and safely navigate the trees, SkyClan cats are expected to somehow distinguish themselves from their peers before they receive a full name, typically by showcasing their talents. Older apprentices will often hold competitions amongst themselves in hopes of catching the attention of their Clanmates.

Courtship Rituals
SkyClan courtship revolves around feathers; a SkyClan cat that takes interest in another is expected to gather three of the most beautiful feathers they can find - one from a predator, one from prey, and one from the forest floor - and present them as a gift. If the other cat accepts, they’re considered mates. It’s customary, though not as common now as it once was, for a cat who accepts to offer a single feather in return.

Naming Trends
Their focus on individuality means SkyClan names tend to be unique. After all, unusual names and combinations are an easy way to stand out. They tend toward flashier names - something like Hopskip wouldn't seem out of place at all to them, while it might sound a bit odd to the others.