Post by Darkie on May 9, 2009 16:12:41 GMT -5
[glow=purple,2,300]SootClan Traditions[/glow]
These are the traditions of SootClan, who live near the base of the volcano. They were not created until after the other three Fiery Clans arrived, and thus are scorned by some of the other pelts.
((The general customs were written by Eternal. No one else claims them.))
General Customs
If there is a cat with Flaming Eternal given powers, they must join BlazeClan.
The members of the fiery Clans are not called cats, but Pelts.
________________________________________
((All of these customs, except for “Becoming an Apprentice” and “Becoming an Elder” were written by Chance. No one else claims them.))
Rank Ceremonies
Becoming an Apprentice
To become an apprentice, the kit must first be four moons old. Then, the kit must train with a Pelt as their apprentice for five sunrises. If the Pelt deems the kit ready, the kit will become their apprentice. If the Pelt believes that the kit is not ready, the kit will have to wait another moon to repeat the process. The kit will get three chances; if they do not succeed, they must leave the Clan.
Becoming a Pelt
To become a Pelt, an apprentice must journey to the Old Camp alone, and stay throughout the night. It is said that this place is haunted by the wrathful ancestors of MeadowClan, and many apprentices never return from this trip.
Becoming the Ember Keeper
When a cat dies, the closest kin of the deceased becomes the Ember Keeper until the next death. This Pelt's highest duty is to keep the ember alive, and if they fail it is their charge to travel to the mouth of the volcano and fetch another from BlazeClan themselves- a most dreaded task.
Becoming the Young Healer
The Young Healer is always the firstborn she-cat of the Leader, and is trained by the former Healer. The Young Healer is allowed to speak to no one but her mentor until she completes her training, leading a very lonely life.
Becoming the Healer
The Young Healer always becomes the Healer the same time that the Firstborn becomes the Leader. The previous Healer is then expected to leave the Clan, and travel the slopes of the volcano in solitude until she dies alone with her ancestors in StarClan and the Flaming Eternal.
Becoming the Deputy
The Leader's mate serves as his second in command from the time she is chosen by the Leader until the time her son takes a mate for himself. She is the most honored she-cat in the Clan until then, the object of jealousy. However, when her Firstborn rises to the rank of Leader she is expected to leave the Clan with the previous Healer.
Becoming the Leader
In SootClan, the firstborn tom of the leader is trained by his father in the ways of leading the Clan. He then follows in his father's footsteps and leads the Clan after his father's death, progressing straight from the rank of Apprentice to Leader.
Because of this, the Leader of SootClan is always a direct descendant of Spottedfire.
Becoming an Elder
There is no place for elders in SootClan’s harsh lifestyle. If a cat becomes too old to care for themselves, they may leave the Clan, or they will die.
Other Traditions
The Place of She-Cats
She-cats are valued less than toms in SootClan, treated as inferiors though it is obvious that they have their uses. They are respected only because of their ability to give new life to SootClan. It is always a Queen's job to look after the kits, and the father rarely speaks with his offspring until they are deemed worthy of apprenticeship.
The Taking of Mates
When a tom has been a warrior for one moon, he is allowed to take a mate for himself. He may choose any available she-warrior, despite her feelings for him, and she is expected to honor him as her mate. Toms often choose she-cats based on their ability to bear strong kits, though it is not rare for a tom to treat his mate with affection as well.
The Importance of Hunting
Each cat is expected to hunt for themselves, from the time they become Apprentices until the time of their death. There is no obligation to share prey, except for the Queen that must provide for her Kits between the time of drinking milk and the time of their apprenticeship.
If you cannot hunt, you cannot eat.
The Danger of Illness
When a cat falls ill, the Healer decides if the cat is capable of recovery. If so, the Healer has the duty of nursing the cat back to health. But if the cat is judged incapable, it is shunned by the rest of the Clan until its death, with no one to care for it. Occasionally an unexpected cat will remain strong enough to nurse itself back to health, but this is rare...Upon this occurrence, the Healer is punished for her misjudgment.
Death
When a cat joins the Flaming Eternal, a pyre is built in the center of the camp and the cat's body is burned, its ashes becoming part of the desolate soil. The fire is started with an ember remaining from the last pyre, and when the pyre dies down another ember is taken and kept alive by the Ember Keeper for the time of the next death.
These are the traditions of SootClan, who live near the base of the volcano. They were not created until after the other three Fiery Clans arrived, and thus are scorned by some of the other pelts.
((The general customs were written by Eternal. No one else claims them.))
General Customs
If there is a cat with Flaming Eternal given powers, they must join BlazeClan.
The members of the fiery Clans are not called cats, but Pelts.
________________________________________
((All of these customs, except for “Becoming an Apprentice” and “Becoming an Elder” were written by Chance. No one else claims them.))
Rank Ceremonies
Becoming an Apprentice
To become an apprentice, the kit must first be four moons old. Then, the kit must train with a Pelt as their apprentice for five sunrises. If the Pelt deems the kit ready, the kit will become their apprentice. If the Pelt believes that the kit is not ready, the kit will have to wait another moon to repeat the process. The kit will get three chances; if they do not succeed, they must leave the Clan.
Becoming a Pelt
To become a Pelt, an apprentice must journey to the Old Camp alone, and stay throughout the night. It is said that this place is haunted by the wrathful ancestors of MeadowClan, and many apprentices never return from this trip.
Becoming the Ember Keeper
When a cat dies, the closest kin of the deceased becomes the Ember Keeper until the next death. This Pelt's highest duty is to keep the ember alive, and if they fail it is their charge to travel to the mouth of the volcano and fetch another from BlazeClan themselves- a most dreaded task.
Becoming the Young Healer
The Young Healer is always the firstborn she-cat of the Leader, and is trained by the former Healer. The Young Healer is allowed to speak to no one but her mentor until she completes her training, leading a very lonely life.
Becoming the Healer
The Young Healer always becomes the Healer the same time that the Firstborn becomes the Leader. The previous Healer is then expected to leave the Clan, and travel the slopes of the volcano in solitude until she dies alone with her ancestors in StarClan and the Flaming Eternal.
Becoming the Deputy
The Leader's mate serves as his second in command from the time she is chosen by the Leader until the time her son takes a mate for himself. She is the most honored she-cat in the Clan until then, the object of jealousy. However, when her Firstborn rises to the rank of Leader she is expected to leave the Clan with the previous Healer.
Becoming the Leader
In SootClan, the firstborn tom of the leader is trained by his father in the ways of leading the Clan. He then follows in his father's footsteps and leads the Clan after his father's death, progressing straight from the rank of Apprentice to Leader.
Because of this, the Leader of SootClan is always a direct descendant of Spottedfire.
Becoming an Elder
There is no place for elders in SootClan’s harsh lifestyle. If a cat becomes too old to care for themselves, they may leave the Clan, or they will die.
Other Traditions
The Place of She-Cats
She-cats are valued less than toms in SootClan, treated as inferiors though it is obvious that they have their uses. They are respected only because of their ability to give new life to SootClan. It is always a Queen's job to look after the kits, and the father rarely speaks with his offspring until they are deemed worthy of apprenticeship.
The Taking of Mates
When a tom has been a warrior for one moon, he is allowed to take a mate for himself. He may choose any available she-warrior, despite her feelings for him, and she is expected to honor him as her mate. Toms often choose she-cats based on their ability to bear strong kits, though it is not rare for a tom to treat his mate with affection as well.
The Importance of Hunting
Each cat is expected to hunt for themselves, from the time they become Apprentices until the time of their death. There is no obligation to share prey, except for the Queen that must provide for her Kits between the time of drinking milk and the time of their apprenticeship.
If you cannot hunt, you cannot eat.
The Danger of Illness
When a cat falls ill, the Healer decides if the cat is capable of recovery. If so, the Healer has the duty of nursing the cat back to health. But if the cat is judged incapable, it is shunned by the rest of the Clan until its death, with no one to care for it. Occasionally an unexpected cat will remain strong enough to nurse itself back to health, but this is rare...Upon this occurrence, the Healer is punished for her misjudgment.
Death
When a cat joins the Flaming Eternal, a pyre is built in the center of the camp and the cat's body is burned, its ashes becoming part of the desolate soil. The fire is started with an ember remaining from the last pyre, and when the pyre dies down another ember is taken and kept alive by the Ember Keeper for the time of the next death.
