Clan Traditions
Naming
►Ridgeclan cat's are almost always named at birth. Their names are based on their pelt coloration or size, ie. small grey tabby would be named Pebblekit due to their size and their grey pelt. Naming is strictly done by the respective parents. If the parents are not available, ie. mother has passed during kitting and no father, the honor is passed on to their to the closest relative. If they have none, the honor is passed onto the leader. After being named, the clan is informed and at Moonhigh, the Healer presents them to the clan and Starclan to receive their blessing for a long life and happy future.
Rank Feathers
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Newcomers
►When a loner/rogue comes seeking to join Ridgeclan, they're almost always welcomed. As Ridgeclan was formed from wandering cats, they know what it's like to be looking for a new home, so they in turn welcome those looking for a new start. While they'll welcome any cat looking for a new start, any newcomer is put through a trial period. No matter their age, all new cats are assigned a mentor, unless they are below 6 moons, then they are given to a nursing mother to be cared for until they reach 6 moons. After the newcomer agrees to the trial period, The leader renames them, giving them a new name ending in -paw, it signifies a new beginning and a new life.
The trial period lasts two moons if the cat is already grown, if not then it lasts until the newcomer is ready to pass their warrior assessment. Their mentor's teach them about the clan and their territory. They teach them about their duties and what's expected of them. Mentor's are responsible for telling them how the clan was formed and the stories behind it, all the while training them to hunt and fight.
After the trial period is up, and the mentor and leader agree, the newcomer undergoes their warrior assessment. Should they fail, they keep training for another two moons util they can try again. Should they pass, at sunset the leader calls a clan meeting and preforms a warrior ceremony for them, fully welcoming them into the clan and naming them by their new warrior name.
Preparing for Leafbare
►Dealing with the cold is in Ridgeclan's cats blood. They're born and bred in the cold mountains that make up their territory, because of that more often than not clan cats have thicker and longer fur. But they're found ways to combat the cold if a clanmate has shorter or thinner fur, one of those way is to line their nests with plucked down feathers of the birds they hunt. They also use the down fur of the rabbits they catch to cover themselves up at night when the temperature drops even lower. Cats are also required to take breaks to keep them from freezing and getting sick.
Medicine Cat Specific
While following the clans overall traditions, they also have a few of their own.
►A Medicine cat apprentice is almost always chosen from birth. None in the clan but the leader and the Medicine cat know at that time but from that point on, the kit is watched over by the Medicine cat. Not much is known about how the kit is chosen, only that it's the will of Starclan and that is enough for the cats of Ridgeclan.
►A medicine cat and a medicine cat apprentice will always be identified by the plant of their choice woven into their fur, usually behind their ears, into their tail or into their neck fur. The plant chosen is always one that is used to heal, not harm, as is in their oaths when they accept the roles of becoming a medicine cat.
►Ridgeclan cat's are almost always named at birth. Their names are based on their pelt coloration or size, ie. small grey tabby would be named Pebblekit due to their size and their grey pelt. Naming is strictly done by the respective parents. If the parents are not available, ie. mother has passed during kitting and no father, the honor is passed on to their to the closest relative. If they have none, the honor is passed onto the leader. After being named, the clan is informed and at Moonhigh, the Healer presents them to the clan and Starclan to receive their blessing for a long life and happy future.
Rank Feathers
►
Newcomers
►When a loner/rogue comes seeking to join Ridgeclan, they're almost always welcomed. As Ridgeclan was formed from wandering cats, they know what it's like to be looking for a new home, so they in turn welcome those looking for a new start. While they'll welcome any cat looking for a new start, any newcomer is put through a trial period. No matter their age, all new cats are assigned a mentor, unless they are below 6 moons, then they are given to a nursing mother to be cared for until they reach 6 moons. After the newcomer agrees to the trial period, The leader renames them, giving them a new name ending in -paw, it signifies a new beginning and a new life.
The trial period lasts two moons if the cat is already grown, if not then it lasts until the newcomer is ready to pass their warrior assessment. Their mentor's teach them about the clan and their territory. They teach them about their duties and what's expected of them. Mentor's are responsible for telling them how the clan was formed and the stories behind it, all the while training them to hunt and fight.
After the trial period is up, and the mentor and leader agree, the newcomer undergoes their warrior assessment. Should they fail, they keep training for another two moons util they can try again. Should they pass, at sunset the leader calls a clan meeting and preforms a warrior ceremony for them, fully welcoming them into the clan and naming them by their new warrior name.
Preparing for Leafbare
►Dealing with the cold is in Ridgeclan's cats blood. They're born and bred in the cold mountains that make up their territory, because of that more often than not clan cats have thicker and longer fur. But they're found ways to combat the cold if a clanmate has shorter or thinner fur, one of those way is to line their nests with plucked down feathers of the birds they hunt. They also use the down fur of the rabbits they catch to cover themselves up at night when the temperature drops even lower. Cats are also required to take breaks to keep them from freezing and getting sick.
Medicine Cat Specific
While following the clans overall traditions, they also have a few of their own.
►A Medicine cat apprentice is almost always chosen from birth. None in the clan but the leader and the Medicine cat know at that time but from that point on, the kit is watched over by the Medicine cat. Not much is known about how the kit is chosen, only that it's the will of Starclan and that is enough for the cats of Ridgeclan.
►A medicine cat and a medicine cat apprentice will always be identified by the plant of their choice woven into their fur, usually behind their ears, into their tail or into their neck fur. The plant chosen is always one that is used to heal, not harm, as is in their oaths when they accept the roles of becoming a medicine cat.