RainyHeart
Former Staff
Characters : Former: Pansyface ♀, Leopardstar ♂, Finchstream ♀, Ryeheart ♂, Laurelsong ♀, Nightstorm ♂, Fernpetal ♀, Magpiepaw ♂, Chirp ♀, Ashflight ♂, Orchidmask ♀ Basilbloom ♀ | Current: Featherpaw ♀, Tigerkit ♂
 
Number of posts : 3811
Gender : she/her
Age : 23
 | | Subject: Welcome to ThunderClan! Sat 20 Apr 2019 - 12:44 | |
| 【Welcome to ThunderClan】 This forest is alive. The untrained eye may not be able to see such subtle signs of life, such as the brief flash of fur between the brush, or the flick of an alert tail on the hunt, but I do assure you, they are there. The clan that lives beneath these gnarled boughs is as old as the trees themselves, but that doesn't mean they've been here since before they were planted. With each cleansing of the season or purge of fire or flood, the land is reborn, stronger and wiser than it once was. Each mark upon a trunk tells a story, fallen leaves dance and sing of the history they've witnessed from their star-drawn perches. The cats here are the same. Their nature-worn bodies display the consequences of violence and pain, brought about by simply living their chosen lives. Yet, within their feral eyes, resists a passion. A light, given to them at their birth, though that does not always mean their physical one. You can see it clearly if you're lucky enough to watch such simple interactions as a mentor passing on their knowledge to the young, or two lovers out for a quiet walk. I have to say though, that light shines the brightest on the battlefield. Oh, when claws draw lines in the sand and teeth gnash against those who might threaten that which they hold most dear, that peaceful glow consumes them in a raging fire. It's a sight to behold... For you see, just as their world has been reborn time and time again, thus have the hearts of those who reside within that rugged gorge. That light, my friend, can only be that special power they call love. With all the hair-raising intensity of a lightning strike and the cleansing feeling of rain washing through your fur, the way these cats live their lives is really something special to experience. Their name may bring the ignorant and unworthy visions of gloom and despair, but I know you can feel the truth.
They are ThunderClan: the cats of strength, loyalty, and love.
【Current Leadership】Acornstem ✪ TBA ✪ Fawnshine ✪ EchosongLeader (Honey Badger) - Deputy (TBA) - Medicine Cat (Arcana) - Medicine Cat (Kiikko)【ThunderClan Recent Events】• ThunderClan has returned to the forest and welcomed a few new members to their Clan - Stormsong, Sleepycloud, Vipershade and Auburnpaw.
• Tensions with SkyClan however came to an all-time high when ThunderClan joined RiverClan in a war for Beechfang's head - an event which ended with Mottlestar and Vipershade dead on ThunderClan's side.
• Acornstem has taken on the mantle of leader, thought is practically a shell of her former shell with the loss of Mottlestar and also her mate, Firefly.
• What the option on the other Clans are under Acornstem's leadership has yet to be seen...
【ThunderClan Politics】RiverClan - Alliance
There has been a rather large amount of respect between the leadership of RiverClan and ThunderClan in recent times. Perchstar has held a great respect for Minnowstar, and hopefully, that will continue with Mottlestar. She views RiverClan quite well, and there is a chance there will be an alliance in the near-future.
WindClan - Neutral
After former medicine cat Batsong's announcement about Mottlestar's relationship with Nightstar, relations with Windclan have felt a bit more tense than in the past. However, as moons have gone on and leadership has changed, this has settled back to neutrality.
ShadowClan - Neutral
ShadowClan and ThunderClan are by concept meant to be rivals, but in reality, there is only a layer of general suspicion and tension at worst. These neighboring clans don't often interact, and besides the occasional border skirmish going too far and causing minor tension, seem to not be too interested in each other.
SkyClan - Enemy
ThunderClan's neighbor to the south, in the distant past these two forest-dwelling clans helped each other out in times of crisis, such as after the fire many moons ago. Due to recent actions by a particular Skyclan warrior causing betrayal of alliance and murder of one of Mottlestar's lives, these relations have fizzled out into anger.【ThunderClan Inner Rules】Consequences for Rule-Breaking
In the event of any rule-breaking, Mottlestar expects her warriors to tell her. Once she is made aware, Mottlestar and her deputy will allow the cat who broke the rules or code to explain the situation. Any other cat who was involved or witnessed the rule-breaking, will be given a chance (separately) to recount the events to the deputy. Based on these conversations, Mottlestar will discuss a ruling with her deputy and sometimes medicine cat. When their decision is made - she announce it to the clan to keep them informed. Should it be a situation where she believes it is best to not share with the clan (which is rare), the matter will be dealt with privately. The severity of the circumstance will dictate the severity of the punishment. Sh believes no situation is alike, and therefore, does not adhere to any strict punishment policy. If a broken rule involves another clan, then she will discuss it with them. She is always willing to listen should the situation arise. Forbidden romances involving kits will always be discussed with the other leader, if applicable.
Punishments will usually range from title demotions, additional duties, probationary periods, etc (mild cases). Situations where it is deemed a cat can no longer be loyal to the clan may result in exile (severe cases). If a cat proves to be a danger to others, in the clan, or outside of the clan - death may be considered as a punishment (severe cases). After seeing what happened with Dawnhawk and Starlingflare, she does not want to endanger lives, in or out of the clan.
Forbidden Romances
Mottlestar has somewhat more lax rules on Forbidden Romances than her predecessors. Upon learning of a forbidden romance, she will immediately enter in discussion with both cats in question, and the other leader. Her main course of action is to allow the other Clan's policies to take the lead, as she can be flexible upon the situation. However, if a Thunderclan cat chooses to leave for their lover's Clan, then they will never be accepted into Thunderclan again. It is a complete separation of allegiance, and they will be deemed permanent enemy to separate from Thunderclan.
Outsider Acceptance
Kits will always be accepted, but an attempt to find their parents and return them will be made first. Rogues will be accepted on a case-by-case basis, and will be expected to undergo a normal apprenticeship while being mentored by a senior warrior. Outside Clan cats may also be accepted, but it will require a conversation with the leader from the Clan they came from in order to ensure Thunderclan's safety. Kittypets are not allowed.【ThunderClan Camp】 The ThunderClan's well-defended camp is nestled at the bottom of a sandy ravine in the very heart of the forest, surrounded on all sides by thick clumps of reinforced thorn bushes. Despite being quite closed in, plenty of sunlight still finds it's way into their sanctuary while barring predators. Though the memory was from long ago, it's widely known in the clan that their home was once an extension of RiverClan's vast waterway, though it dried up ages before even the oldest ThunderClan cat was born.
To enter the camp, cats must climb down the somewhat steep walls and find a narrow tunnel of gorse, which is the only way in and out. Once inside, they are faced with a bright clearing with plenty of places to sunbathe and relax; the prey pile is located in the very center of this space.
At the far end of the camp directly across from the entrance stands a large, worn boulder known as the Highrock. This is where leaders have stood for moons to address ThunderClan and perform ceremonies. On the backside of the stone is an opening guarded by a curtain of hanging lichen; if you enter this space, you will find a small cave with a soft, sandy floor, and the current leader's (and possibly their mate's) nest. When the ravine was still a river, this stone laid amid the murk and a strong current carved out the cave over the course of many, many moons.
The warrior's den, located near the camp's entrance, is a large bush with lots of space underneath its canopy of branches. This den runs on a hierarchy; the more senior a warrior, the closer to the center of the bush they can place their nest, with the clan deputy at the top of this list. Unfortunately for the newest warriors, they'll have to wait their turn to claim the warmest spots.
The apprentice's den is compiled of a thick grove of ferns settled behind an old tree stump. Apprentices can place their nests anywhere there is space, but it's likely they might follow the same process as the warriors; oldest apprentices get the best spots. Their tree stump is often a favored spot to eat fresh-kill with friends, share tongues, and even play.
ThunderClan's nursery is the most heavily guarded and reinforced den, made up of several small bramble bushes with extra walls woven to connect them together. Inside, it is undeniably the coziest place in camp; the floor is covered with soft moss to make sure young kits don't hurt themselves while playing, and the nests for queens are large and luxurious, often formed with a mix of moss, feathers, and animal fur.
The second most comfortable den is the elder's den, nestled beside an ancient fallen tree. To enter this highly protected space, one must navigate through a short maze of tall grass, which funnels into a small bramble-ringed den, extra weaving connecting the bushes to the stray branches jutting out from the tree trunk. The cats which sleep below it look almost as battered as the old tree itself; having survived several fires, storms, and floods, it's littered with scorch marks and gashes, yet there's no doubt to its stability as a den.
Last, but by no means least, is the medicine cat's den. To find this place, one must pass through a dense tunnel of ferns, which empties out into a sunny clearing that contains a large rock split in two, leaving a good-sized space in between. In this place, herbs are stored on ledges and in small divots within the rock's walls; the medicine cat's nest is located near the back of the space, while several small, yet warm, nests are kept handy for any potential patients. In the event that the den becomes overcrowded due to an outbreak of sickness, the medicine cat will move their nest outside under the ferns. Once the medicine cat has taken an apprentice, the young trainee will make their nest underneath one of the larger ferns, so that their mentor can have privacy within their den, while also only being a step away from their patients.【ThunderClan Territory】 ThunderClan's vast territory is made up entirely of deciduous forest, containing mostly oak, maple, elm, aspen, birch, and beech trees. The undergrowth of brambles, ferns, berry bushes, and ivy is very dense and often borderline impossible to navigate for the inexperienced; ThunderClan cats, though, train since youth to find their way through this overgrown environment, and most know the easiest paths to take by heart. The many creatures that reside alongside them are either prey or predator. ThunderClan hunts mostly small rodents and birds, such as mice, shrews, voles, sparrows, finches, blackbirds, robins, thrushes, pigeons, doves, and magpies. Squirrels are also a coveted prey item, though much harder to catch than more basic prey; as well, the occasional rabbit or hare may find it's way into the forest, a hearty feast for any cat lucky or speedy enough to take one down. As for foes, ThunderClan shares their biome with foxes and badgers, which often are the most dangerous. Raccoons, though not nearly as fearsome as their bigger competition, can still pose a threat to younger cats and especially kits. Hawks that live in the high-up tree cover sometimes come into contact with the clan while hunting; the same for owls, but it's rare to see one in daylight. Dogs on the other paw are foreign wildcards, often entering with their Twolegs and leaving peacefully; others, when freed from their chains and straps, can kill a cat with a single bite. Though rare, Twolegs themselves can pose a threat as well, but thankfully they aren't often seen off their own trails.
The Great Sycamore is one of the largest trees in the forest, located to the east of ThunderClan's camp, next to Snakerocks. For even an apprentice, the tree would be a fun climb, strong, thick branches making it easy to scale; thus, mentors often use this spot to teach their apprentices how to climb, though this skill is not valued in ThunderClan as much as it is in SkyClan. More often, it is a good place to find prey, either feeding on fallen seeds or nestled within the roots and bushes nearby.
Snakerocks is a clearing with many stones scattered around, both large and small, located to the east of the Great Sycamore. This place is a nesting ground for adders, extremely venomous snakes that can kill a cat with one bite; thus ThunderClan tries to avoid this spot as much as they can. In the most desperate of times though, the warm rocks can often attract prey as well as snakes, so it can be an extremely treacherous hunting option. In this area is also an old, very large badger set, which can serve as a den for many creatures, but is usually favored by predators. One cannot see far into its dark tunnels, so it is advised not to peek in too far if you value your life.
The Sandy Hollow is a shallow dip in the forest floor filled with soft sand; it was likely a small pool in the days when the ravine was a river. This popular training ground is located directly southwest of ThunderClan's camp and is usually where mentors take their apprentices to learn new battle tactics. Thanks to the comfortable ground, there is little risk of a cat being injured by falling or being pinned.
The Owl Tree is a very old oak tree which is rumored to be home to a large tawny owl. It is located directly west of ThunderClan's camp, and though it isn't a very valuable hunting spot due to the presence of such a predator, it has become the stuff of dares amoung ThunderClan's youth. Apprentices often challenge each other to climb the tree's vast trunk. Elder's tales tell of an ancient ThunderClan leader named Owlstar, who learned how to hunt with the same incredible stealth and speed from the very owl that still lives in the tree today. Of course, that's just a story… or is it?
The Stony Hollow is located directly north of the Owl Tree, near the Thunderpath. This strange anomaly of the environment can only be described by ThunderClan as a cracked stone log in the ground; if one were to enter, they would find a dark tunnel that extends farther than the eye can see in both directions. This place is very smelly and dirty but after times of heavy rain or snowfall, it can also become extremely deadly. If a cat is caught in the flow, the rush of water can quickly seize them and drag them away, leaving them to either drown or hit their heads against the walls. This place is widely avoided by ThunderClan, and apprentices are instructed to stay away, especially during or after a rainstorm. Apparently, Twolegs would call this place a storm drain pipe in need of repair.
Fourtrees is the monthly gathering place of all five clans and serves as ThunderClan's border with WindClan. These two clans rarely come into contact with each other, since they do not patrol beyond their own territory; though if one were to venture into the sacred grove, it's possible they might come across another curious soul if the time is right. It is located to the north of the Owl Tree.
Sunningrocks is a place haunted by tension and bloodshed, located next to the River to the southwest of ThunderClan's camp. This field of large, flat river rocks serves as the contested border between ThunderClan and RiverClan, and the two have fought many battles over this valuable piece of territory. Many moons ago, the river was once wider, and Sunningrocks was an island stranded in the middle of the waterway, only accessible to those willing to swim to it. When the river's banks receded though, the place suddenly now lay on ThunderClan's side of the bank, and ever since then, an endless game of tug-of-war was held for its control. To be used both as a spot for hunting or relaxing, RiverClan currently holds the hunting rights to the rocks, but both clans can enjoy the stone's warm surfaces.
The Fallen Oak is located directly south of ThunderClan's camp and serves as a physical marker along the scent border of SkyClan. This very old fallen tree is overgrown with moss and lichen, and prey can often be found nearby. Be careful though; if one were to chase their quarry over the scent line, a SkyClan patrol wouldn't hesitate to give you a piece of their minds.
The Thunderpath is one of the most infamous landmarks of the territory, it's strange aura and destructive reputation told as stories to kits at an early age. This wide black Twoleg creation is stalked by fast-moving shiny monsters, whizzing by at speeds that could easily crush a cat beneath their odd circular paws; this knowledge though is not hypothetical. Many cats have lost their lives trying to cross, and every apprentice is told the first time they see the place to always proceed with caution. Bordered by a stretch of flattened, oily grass, this area is not a good spot for living prey, but sometimes dead animals who have fallen to the monsters can be found along the outskirts. ThunderClan is not in the habit of eating carrion, but if worst comes to worst, the option is there. This place also serves as ThunderClan's border with ShadowClan, who live in the marshes beyond the black path's domain.[/font] |
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