Addercloud AU Ranks
First of all, the three main differences:
Medicine cat -> Medic
Queen -> Nurturer
Kit -> Kitten
These were changed because of uncomfortable cultural implications, a lack of gender neutrality and just not liking the word respectively.
Any rank left blank is either the same as it is in the books, or the same as it is explained in an earlier paragraph.
Thunderclowder
Leader
Deputy
Medic
Knight - Similar to the senior warriors in canon, but with an official rank and ceremony. This rank is earned after a big accomplishment - such as saving another cat from death or gaining a huge scar - and proving that they have wisdom and experience. A cat doesn't have to be a Knight to be made deputy, but they almost always are.
Warrior
Apprentice - Apprenticeships start at 6 moons, with a few exceptions: unusually large kittens may be apprenticed early or weak, sick or injured kittens may be apprenticed late.
Nurturer - Very similar to the permanent queens in canon, but slightly different. These cats are trained in basic herbs as well as physiotherapy and counselling. Essentially, the medic recommends a treatment, the nurturers make sure it is seen through. They take care of the kittens, elders and anyone who is sick or injured.
Kitten
Elder - A quirk of Thunderclowder early on is that cats cannot just retire, they have to wait for the leader and deputy to deem that they have earned it. Thankfully, Bluestar and Redtail were very lenient about this, granting permission to all who asked, but previous leaders like Oakstar haven't been so kind.
Shadowclowder
Leader
Deputy
Medic
Warrior
Wrangler - Shadowclowder's territory is the most prone to beasts (we'll get there when we get there), so specific cats are trained in knowledge of the many kinds of creature and how to deal with them. Wranglers are well respected because their job is just as, if not more, dangerous than being a warrior.
Camp Guard - These cats are similar to warriors, but they stick close to the camp, keeping it safe from beasts and other clans. Some of these cats are also diurnal, unlike the rest of their clan who are nocturnal, and watch over the camp during the day. Despite the importance of their job, there is a stereotype that cats choose to become Camp Guards because they're too scared to fight in battles.
Apprentice - Apprenticeship age is not fixed, and instead being decided by if a kitten can complete a series of small challenges set by a few of the warriors. This usually resulted in apprentices being 5-8 moons when they are ready. Brokenstar encouraged his followers to declare kittens ready even if they didn't complete all the assessments, pushing the age lower. Apprentices typically graduate after 7 moons of training, so 12 to 15 moons.
Kitten
Elder
- You'll notice that there's no Nurturer rank, this is because all cats are expected to help take care of the kits and elders to equal lengths. However, there is a growing idea among the warriors that they shouldn't have to, which Brokenstar exploits.
Riverclowder
Leader
Deputy
Medic
Shore Warrior - Due to their close history with Windclowder, Riverclowder now shares the separated warrior roles. Shore Warriors live in the Shore Camp with the medic, younger apprentices, nurturers, kittens and elders. They specialise in hunting on land and defensive battle moves, protecting the weak in the clan. Most can swim, but being on dry land is what they prefer. Leopardstar was an unusual example of a Shore Warrior who preferred to attack instead of defend.
Tide Warrior - Tide Warriors live in the Island camp with the leader, deputy and older apprentices. They specialise in hunting in water and offensive battle moves, and are usually called on when Riverclowder attacks another clowder. They are fish-like swimmers, who sometimes even claim to prefer being in the water than on land.
Apprentice - Apprentices can start shore training at 4 moons old, but are forbidden from starting tide training until 6 moons old. When an apprentice is 8 moons old, they are given the choice of whether they want to finish training to be a Shore Warrior or a Tide Warrior. Apprentices typically graduate at 12 moons old.
Nurturer
Kitten
Elder
Windclowder
Guide - Windclan's religion is very important to them, so the job of being a spiritual guide has been separated from the medic. with their spiritual guide being even above the leader in power. This is one of the major weaknesses of the clowder, as a guide with malicious intentions can easily declare anything they want to be the words of the earth, making it law.
Leader
Council - Previously, Windclowder had the typical deputy system, but after Mudclaw's rebellion this was changed to the Council system. Instead of a single deputy, the leader and the guide have a group of cats they can turn to. This ensures that there is less bias in decisions and the clan always had a plan for if the leader dies.
Medic - Same as canon, but they are not required to have any sort of spiritual connection.
Tunneller
Moor Runner
Apprentice - Apprentices begin training at 6 Moons. This is a hard rule, with exceptions only being made to delay a severely injured kitten's apprenticeship only until they are healed. Apprentices decide whether they want to be a Moor Runner or a Tunneller at their apprentice ceremony and rarely switch afterwards. Apprentices are expected to train in all four seasons, making them late bloomers who typically graduate at 18 moons.
Kitten
Elder
Skyclowder
Leader
Deputy
Medic
Mediator
Knight - Modern era Skyclowder borrows the knight rank from Thunderclowder, since they're so closely linked. However, Skyclowder is much more lenient with who gets the position, going to any decently experienced warrior.
Warrior
Daylight Warrior
Apprentice - Apprenticeship age is not fixed, instead being decided primarily by the kitten's parents and secondarily by the clan as a whole. Apprentices do not have assigned mentors, instead the whole clan mentors them.
Daylight Apprentice
Nurturer
Kitten
Elder
