Misty Mountain Cats

In the mountains surrounded by mist, two clans of cats reside. One lives a strict life under the watchful gaze of crows. The other is more relaxed and lets the rain roll right off their pelts. These two clans call the mountains their home, but that does not mean there is peace.

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Hello and welcome to my sideblog for my Warrior Cats world. This world features two completely original clans populated entirely by ocs. This AU also features new lore and worldbuilding. This post will act as a table of contents to all of the important lore dumps. Without further ado, here is the Misty Mountain Clans.

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General

The Mountains

The Clans

Hierarchy

Holidays and Seasons

The Warrior Code(s)

Religion

Terminology (OOC post)

Crowclan

Allegiances

Rainclan

General Structure

Since both clans started as one, they both have similar hierarchies. These are the roles they both share.

Leaders: The leader is the head of the clan. They have the final say in all decisions. It should be noted that Rainclan’s leader is more democratic while Crowclan’s leader is more monarchic.

Deputy: This cat is the second in command. They support the leader and take over for them once they are no longer able to lead. They usually handle smaller tasks so that the leader can focus on larger issues.

Seers: These are the cats that commune with Starclan. They are the bridge between the mortal and astral planes. Seers are often chosen by Starclan themselves in the form of dreams. There are never more than two Seers: The current Seer and their apprentice. They also often provide mental health support to the clan along with spiritual support.

Healers: These are the doctors. They care for sick and injured cats. Sometimes a healer can double as a seer, but it is a rare occurrence.

Warrior: The general cat of the clan.

Caretaker: These cats tend to clan camp and the kittens. In Crowclan, Caretakers are looked down upon for “choosing the lazy life”. In Rainclan, however, they are seen as important, foundational members of the clan. Afterall, they’re the ones who keep camp in order, and who make sure the kittens are alright when their parents are okay.

Apprentices: Cats above the age of 6 moons old who train to be one of the above roles. Depending on the role and how fast they learn, apprentices typically end training around when they reach one season old.

Kits: Cats under 6 moons old.

Elders: Retired cats. 

General

Both clans have made individual changes to the warrior code over the years, but these are the rules that both clans still follow.

Defend your clan, even with your very life. You may have friendships with your sister clan, but if the day comes where you meet them in battle, you must remain loyal to your own clan.

Rainclan has an addition to this rule saying that “You may have friendships with your sister clan and those outside of the clans [...]”

Do not hunt or trespass on your sister clan’s territory. Visitation is allowed if permission is given.

The old, expecting, sick or injured must be cared for alongside kittens first. They have first claim to food. Hunting patrols may only eat their catch if they need to, otherwise it needs to be brought back to camp first.

Prey is killed only to be eaten. Its life must be respected.

No cat under the age of six moons shall be made an apprentice. They may be taught lessons within the safety of camp, but they will not begin formal training.

Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name.

A cat can not be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice for a minimum of two moons. 

The deputy will become clan leader when the leader dies, retires, or is exiled. 

After the death, retirement, promotion, or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen by the next moonhigh.

The clans will gather every full moon under a truce. For as long as the moon’s light shines down on the clans, there will be no fighting between them.

Borders must be checked and marked daily.

Crowclan has an addition to this rule “Challenge all trespassers.”

No cat, regardless of clan or status, can neglect a kit in pain or danger.

Cats may only kill other cats if it is necessary or in self-defense.

Both clans have the right to independence. However, in times where something threatens them both, they must unite and defend each other.

If the clan believes the leader is unfit to rule, they may challenge them with a majority vote. If the cats vote against the leader, they must step down.

Cats may switch from one clan to the other. Be warned, however, that each clan may set their own conditions for accepting a new cat.

Crowclan’s Additions

The infamously strict Crowclan has added a few rules to their own personal warrior code. These are their additions.

The word of the clan leader is the warrior code. 

A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.

Any cat who wishes to join the clan must complete a challenge as agreed upon by the leader, regent and seer. Failure to complete the challenge will result in the cat being chased out. If the cat is from Rainclan, they may only try again after one full season. If a Rainclan cat fails the challenge three times, they are exiled from Crowclan permanently.

Crows are never to be killed. Their brothers, magpies and ravens, must also remain unharmed.

Healers and Seers may not take a mate or have kits, as this could impede their work.

Romantic relationships outside of the clan are strictly forbidden.

If a judge suspects someone of breaking the code, they must first gather evidence. Judges may do whatever is necessary to gather evidence, other than hurt innocents. Once they gather enough evidence, they hold a trial in front of the clan. The judges must have a majority agreement in if they think the accused is guilty, and what punishment they suggest to the leader. The leader, however, has the final say.

Rainclan’s Additions

Rainclan, despite being more relaxed on the code, has added a few rules themselves.

No cat younger than five moons may swim in the stream or near the falls. Kittens may practice swimming in the shallow pools, but nowhere else.

Every cat who swims must be under the supervision of a River Watcher or another cat who can swim.

Whenever a new leader comes to power, there must be a clan-wide vote to elect five cats to a council. There may not be more than two council-members of the same rank. 

The council will support the leader and advise them, but the final decision is ultimately up to the leader.

Treasure Keepers must not take items from Crowclan territory. Nor can they take items that already belong to someone else.

The fire must remain in the Hearth, and must be watched at all times.

[!!Content Warning!! This post is discussing the mechanics of this world's religion and beliefs. There is also a brief mention of kitten loss. Proceed with caution]

General

There are five deities that the cats of the Misty Mountains worship. These deities represent Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Life. When a cat dies, they are either sent to Star Clan, if they were good, or the Dark Forest, if they were not. If a cat accomplishes something significant in their life, they can become a patron.

Deities

The five deities of the mountains are as follows:

New Leaf - Representing Spring, Renewal, and Love

Green Leaf - Representing Summer, Growth, and Fun

Leaf Fall - Representing Fall, Harvest, and Trickery

Leaf Bare - Representing Winter, Loss, and Remembrance

Star Guide - Representing the cycle of Life and Death, the Sun and Moon, and the Afterlives

New Leaf is said to have branching, flowering antlers like a deer. They are the deity of spring. They represent new life and new love. Many mates get together in the early spring, or have kittens over the course of the season. The first day of spring is the beginning of the cat’s new year. On the spring equinox, the cats celebrate family and love of all kinds. Small gifts are often given to those who a cat cares about the most. It is common for young cats to confess their feelings to the one they love on this day, so much so that it is considered good luck to do so. Kittens born during the spring are considered lucky, as they will grow up with plenty of prey and will already be apprentices by the time the harsher seasons roll around.

Green Leaf is said to have fur as golden as the sun. They are the deity of summer. Many see them as a lazy deity, with most stories involving them napping in the sunlight. However, they simply want to have fun and relax. They represent enjoying life. On the longest day of summer, cats are encouraged to spend it having fun. Work is only done if absolutely necessary, and both clans are on a truce. Rain clan cats spend this day swimming to stay cool. Crow clan only loosely follow this holiday in the sense that their work loads are lightened and the leaders turn a blind eye to cats who spend the day lounging in the tree branches. Kittens born during summer are thought to have bright futures, as they were born when Star Guide’s light is the brightest. Any kittens born under this time are thought of as having blessings from the ancestors, or being blessings themselves.

Leaf Fall is said to be able to hide within the oranges of autumn leaves, and the darkness of shadows. They are the deity of autumn. Mothers soothe frightened kits by telling them that the bumps in the night and strange shadows are Leaf Fall playing tricks on them. Leaf Fall is not thought of as a malevolent being. They simply want to have fun and get others to have fun with them. On the day of the fall equinox, cats celebrate by playing tricks on each other. However, they only have until sunset to play their tricks. Cats who play tricks after midnight are said to be the real fools. Those who don’t like tricks instead celebrate by participating in a harvest of materials. When the night falls, each clan gathers in their clan for a feast. Kits born during fall are thought of as having a close spiritual connection, as this is the time of year when the ancestors are closest to the living.

Leaf Bare is said to be as large as a lynx, with elk like antlers and ice for their claws and teeth. Leaf Bare is the deity of winter. They also represent loss and remembrance, as the winter not only literally takes lives, but is symbolic of the end of a life. On the longest night of winter, the clans take time to remember those they have lost over the years. Both clans, no matter if they are at peace or war, are on a truce that night, and share resources. Kits born during winter are thought to be strong and resilient, but only if they survive the season. Kits who are born during winter and don’t see the spring are referred to as snowflake kittens, as they were cherished for the short time they were here.

Star Guide is the being that helps guide the deceased to their proper afterlives. They also have the final say as to which afterlife they go to. Star Guide holds a lantern that has a light so bright that it can guide any lost soul home. As such, it is said that the sun and moon are representative of their lantern. The sun and moon are thus used in navigation along with the north star. It is said that no cat will ever be lost under Star Guide’s light. Important events will happen either under sunhigh or moonhigh so that the ancestors can see and give their approval through Star Guide’s light.

Patrons

Cats who accomplish great deeds in life may be made into patrons after their deaths. These patrons can represent anything. They have a little more power than the average spirit, but do not have as much power as the deities. Patrons are appointed by Starclan as a collective, and are approved by the deities. When cats need help in certain areas, they may call upon that patron for assistance.

Current Patrons Include

Dovenest- Patron of mothers

Downpour- Patron of rain: They are called upon during droughts to provide rain for the clans.

Waterfall- Patron of the River: On one particularly harsh winter, she famously invented the technique of breaking through the ice to fish. A more outlandish legend claims that she moved the river itself, but that it is seen by most to be fabricated.

CrowClan

“Let all cats old enough to bond with crows gather beneath the Great Nest for a Clan Meeting.”

These cats live in the dense pine forest on the mountain. They have a strong relationship with crows, often using them to find prey. Some disabled cats even use crows as service animals. There is a flock of crows that live in the largest tree in the middle of CrowClan camp. This is called the Great Nest. Cats over the generations have built the nest similar to their own dens. CrowClan takes the warrior code extremely seriously and are quick to punish code breakers. They even have a completely unique role just to enforce the code. They have a reputation as being strict fighters. RainClan

“Let all cats old enough to swim to the falls gather around for a Clan Meeting.”

CrowClan is one of the two Misty Mountain Clans. They are incredibly strict about the Warrior Code. Any codebreakers are shunned socially, regardless of punishment. And there is always a punishment.

These cats have a close bond with crows and other corvids. They believe the corvids are messengers from StarClan. Some cats even have specific birds that they have trained either as pets, hunting companions, or service animals.

Unique Roles

Along with the standard clan roles, CrowClan has also added two more.

Judges: Cats who enforce the code. There are never more than five judges at a time, and they only train cats who are already adults to take on the job. It's a brutal job, being a detective, sentry, and executioner all in one. However, these cats are just as respected as the leader, sometimes even moreso than the deputy. An important note is that judges have no StarClan connection. If a judge wants to consult StarClan on anything, they have to go to the seer.

Crow Keepers: These cats tend to the crows that other cats have bonded with. They make sure the crows are healthy, well fed, and that the Great Nest is stable and comfortable. Crow Keepers are viewed highly for their connection to the crows and other birds of the clan. If a cat can't talk to the seer, they will sometimes go to a crow keeper instead. However, these cats don't have the same level of spiritual connection that the seer does.

CrowClan doesn't have as many unique roles due to their resistance to change their ways.

((Author's Note: The medicine cat role is split into two in this AU. The healer and the seer. See the Hierarchy (Coming Soon) post to learn more.))

Additions to the Code

Each clan has made their own additions to the code that don't carry over to their sister clan. Here are the additional rules that CrowClan abides by.

The word of the clan leader is the warrior code.

A warrior rejects the soft life of a kitty pet.

Any cat who wishes to join the clan must complete a challenge as agreed upon by the leader, deputy and seer, and overseen by a judge. Failure to complete the challenge will result in the cat being chased out. If the cat is from RainClan, they may try again after one full season. If a RainClan cat fails the challenge three times, they are exiled from CrowClan permanently.

Crows are never to be killed, as they are StarClan's messengers. Their brothers, magpies and ravens, must also remain unharmed.

Healers and Seers may not take a mate or have kits, as this could impede their work.

Romantic relationships outside of the clan are strictly forbidden.

If a judge suspects someone of breaking the code, they must first gather evidence. Judges may do whatever is necessary to gather evidence, other than hurt innocents. Once they have the evidence, they must hold a trial in front of the whole clan. The judges must have a majority agreement in if they think the accused is guilty, and on what punishment they should suggest to the leader. The leader, however, has the final say.

Remember you are always being watched

((Author's Note: Read the Warrior Code(s) post to learn more about this AU's code.))

Birthdays

Regardless of what day they were actually born, every cat marks their birthday as the first day of whatever moon they were born in. (For example: Karmashade was born in February, so her birthday is celebrated on the first day of the last moon of winter.)

In CrowClan, birthdays are only celebrated when a cat turns one season (year) old, even then the ceremony is small and usually coincides with their training graduation. Cats over a season old are given nothing more than verbal congratulations on their birthday, and only ever bring it up to keep track of how old they are. Even then, some elders have lost count of how many seasons they've lived through. CrowClan finds RainClan's birthday celebrations to be frivolous and a waste of time. Those who are invited to a RainClan birthday party are pressured to not attend. After all, a CrowClan cat never wastes time on such things. Those who are discovered to have gone to RainClan parties are looked down upon.

The Great Nest

The Great Nest is a large tree in the middle of camp that houses all the birds the cats have bonded with, as well as various unbound birds. Only Crow Keepers, the Seer, and the Leader are allowed to go into the Great Nest unsupervised. Every other cat must be accompanied by one of them.

Crow Keepers often take kittens into the Great Nest to teach them about the birds and StarClan. It also helps the flock get used to the cats from an early age.

When a cat becomes an apprentice, they are tasked with going up into the Great Nest to gain the approval of the flock. (Which, in turn, is approval from StarClan.) Sometimes this results in a bird bonding with the cat, but it mostly just results in the cat being gifted a trinket. The trinket can be anything that the birds have collected, including their own feathers. The apprentice will often wear the gift as a symbol of honor.

A cat being rejected by the flock is unheard of.

These birds are seen as messengers from StarClan, and so harming them intentionally in any way is punishable by exile or death.

Just ask Spiderfang.

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CrowClan is the strictest of the clans. They chase out outsiders without hesitation, and only tolerate their sister clan. They value strength of every kind, making them a group you do not want to face in battle. CrowClan believes this is the only true way to live.

((Hello everyone, this is the author speaking. I figured I'd make a quick post clarifying some of the terminology used in this au.

For the most part, this au will use canon-accurate terms such as moons for months. However there are a handful of terms that I have switched in for the human ones.

These terms include human and the names of the seasons.

So, instead of saying "I haven't seen any two legs around here since last leaf bare", a cat in this au will say "I haven't seen any humans around here since last winter."

The canon-accurate terms for the seasons have instead become the names of the deities of those respective seasons (See the Religion (Coming Soon) post if you want to learn more.)

In addition, I have also included the term season to mean year. So instead of saying a cat is X years old, they would say a cat is X seasons old.

As I am still working on this AU, new terms may be added or changed.

RainClan is one of the two Misty Mountain Clans. They live at the bottom of a cliff where a waterfall feeds into a pond. They are the more easy going clan, valuing the ability to flow with the river and accepting change as a part of life.

Unique Roles

Along with the standard clan roles, RainClan have also added a few more of their own over the generations.

River Watchers: These cats keep guard by the streams, pond, and falls to make sure that no cat drowns. Only the best and strongest swimmers can make the cut for this role, and many cats 'flunk out' so to speak. River Watchers are admired by many young cats as "the bravest cats in all the clans".

Treasure Keepers: These cats find treasure (mostly old human litter) and collect them. They then find used for these objects, either for utility or just decoration. Treasure Keepers are seen as inquisitive and out of the box thinkers. It was these cats who discovered the next role.

Fire Guards: These cats make and tend to the Hearth. The Hearth is one big fire in the driest spot in camp. Many seasons ago, Treasure Keepers found a way to make fire using the things they found. The fire, once controlled, was found to be a good way to keep cats warm after swimming in the cold water. It was also discovered that leaving food by the fire for a little while made it tastier. With this discovery, the Fire Guards were formed. They diligently keep watch over the Hearth to make sure it never gets out of control, and to relight it if it ever goes out. Fire Guards are usually the ones to take an interest in cooking food, but that is not a requirement for the role. Any cat can cook. Healers often experiment with adding herbs to their food.

In addition to these added roles, RainClan also has a Council. The Council is a group of cats, as voted on by the clan, that advise the leader in decision making. Any cat from any rank (other than apprentices and kits) can be a member of the Council. Though, no two cats from the same role will ever be on the Council at the same time.

RainClan has more roles than CrowClan due to them being open to change.

((Author's Note: The medicine cat role is split into two in this AU. The healer and the seer. See the Hierarchy (Coming Soon) post to learn more.))

Additions to the Code

Each clan has made their own additions to the code that don't carry over to their sister clan. Here are the additional rules that RainClan abides by.

No cat younger than six moons may swim in the stream or near the falls. Kittens may practice swimming in the shallow pools, but only when supervised by at least two adult cats who can swim.

Every cat who swims must be under the supervision of a River Watcher or another cat who can swim.

Whenever a new leader comes to power, there must be a clan-wide vote to elect five cars to the Council. There may not be more than two council members from the same rank.

The council will support the leader and advise them, but the final decision is ultimately up to the leader.

Treasure Keepers must not take items from CrowClan territory. Nor can they take items that already belong to someone else.

The fire must remain in the Hearth, and must be watched at all times. Should the fire in the Hearth get out of control, it must be extinguished immediately.

((Author's Note: RainClan does not have the rules about the leader's word being the warrior code, rejecting kitty pet life, or medicine cats not having mates or kits. See the Warrior Code(s) (Coming Soon) post to learn more.))

Names

Every cat in the clans has a two part name, a prefix and a suffix. The prefix is given to a cat when they are born, and they are given a suffix to match their rank. (Kits are given the -kit suffix and Apprentices are given the -paw suffix).

However, when a cat completes their training, they can either have their suffix changed to a unique one, or have their old name become their suffix and gain a new prefix. (For example: Karmapaw was named Karmashade while Patchpaw was named Foxpatch.)

In RainClan, cars choose their own names. During the ceremony to commemorate their graduation, the leader will tell them to "turn to the clan and tell them your true name". At that point, the car will turn to the clan and tell them "My name is ___, and I am a [rank] of RainClan."

The only exception is the Seer. Their name is always chosen by StarClan.

Birthdays

Regardless of what day they were actually born, every cat marks their birthday as the first day of whatever moon they were born in. (For example: Karmashade was born in February, so her birthday is celebrated on the first day of the last moon of winter.)

In RainClan, birthdays are celebrated every month. Each birthday cat is given accessories, small treasures and the first pick of prey. They are also painted with a mushed berry mixture to mark how old they are. The clan has a feast at moonhigh around the Hearth. The birthday card share stories from their past with others.

RainClan cats are often shocked upon learning that CrowClan never celebrates birthdays, and often try to improve their cross-clan friends over for their own celebrations. RainClan happily welcomes the visitors for the party, but CrowClan looks down on those who attend such "frivolous" events. As such, in the rare event that the invitation is accepted, it is usually kept a secret.

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The cats live on what they call the Misty Mountain. A long time ago, their ancestors migrated there as one clan, Stormbird Clan. However, there was a strong fight as to whether they would live in the forest or by the river. The leader, Crowstar, and the deputy, Raincollector, went to speak to Starclan to get their input. Starclan responded by giving Rainstar nine lives and declaring that Stormbird Clan would now be split into Rainclan and Crowclan.

In the early generations, the clans occasionally interacted with humans. This was due to the fact that a human hiking trail went through their territory. The humans didn’t cause too much trouble until what today’s cats know as The Snatching. Humans caught cats in large quantities and took them away. Those who managed to return came back with scars and were unable to have kits. This event almost destroyed both clans. Thankfully, Starclan intervened and caused a landslide. The landslide completely cut off humans from the clans. However, cats are still able to navigate to and from the nearest human settlement. No human has come into contact with the clans in generations, and the cats are grateful. This is the biggest act of intervention that Starclan has ever pulled. =================================================