#harborclan

Appearances and Names

Pure blooded Harborclanners tend to be stocky and sleek. With powerful legs and tails built for propelling them through water. Short and thick fur is also a common trait. Their pelt colors are commonly gray toned, with high white covering and darker pelt colors being common. However, within such an old clan there’s of course much variation.

Cats from Harborclan commonly have names relating to nature. This can include things not found in their current territory, passed down through the generations.

Occasionally they will allow outsiders in for genetic diversity.. Though said outsiders are usually watched with suspicion by most of the clan.

Territory

Harborclan holds the outskirts of the city. The beaches and the wilds. Their territory is rocky and contains many cliffs, the areas where plantlife can grow are usually thick and tangled. They have relatively free reign of the entire territory, with humans generally avoiding the area as it’s difficult to navigate and outsiders avoiding it for the same reason. But Harborclanners have, after many moons in this territory, figured out the ins and out, navigating through the tangled rocky growth with relative ease. Their camp sits within thickets in the territory. Tucked in amongst the stones with dens made out of rocks, plantlife, and indents in the cliffsides. It’s well hidden and well protected.

Territory tag!

Origin

The oldest of the three clans, Harborclan came from a territory far down the coastline. They had lived there for years, an old and thriving clan. But there was a shift in the waters. A shift in migratory paths that brought a new predator. Perhaps for a more landlocked clan this wouldn’t have been much of an issue. A simple solution of avoiding the beach and the deep, wide rivers that flow from it. But Harborclan’s life has always been entwined with the sea. They fish and hunt among tidepools, they swim and hunt and forage. And suddenly that had become dangerous. Far too dangerous. Cats were picked off by the new predators, and when the medicine cat was killed? It was taken as the final sign. They had to make a new home. So they traveled along the coastline. They traveled and traveled, searching for a sign, a place they could settle and call their own. Coming across territory near a human city, they were wary and weary. But they were forced to rest, cats far too tired to continue without a break. They took shelter in a cave. The moon peering through a hole in the roof. That night, the new medicine cat was visited by Starclan. The cave held a way for them to pierce the vale, and contact the clans. This was meant to be their new home. And so it was. They searched through the wild land, struggling through unfamiliar thick and difficult to navigate thicket. Until they found a small clearing, tucked away between cliffsides. And this is where they settled, this is where they stayed. They’ve faced hardship, they’ve split, and through the many moons, they’ve adapted and made it a home.

And they renamed themselves, to start anew. Their old name is lost to time, and now they are simply Harborclan.

Customs and Traditions

One custom unique to Harborclan doesn’t truly have a name among the cats of the clan. Near annually, sea turtles make their way to a part of Harborclan’s bay to lay their eggs. If they return that year and the majority of hatchlings make their way to the ocean, it’s seen as good omen. But if they are late or don’t show..Or the majority of the hatchlings are killed, it’s seen as an omen of bad things to come. Birds and other predators frequent the area while hatchlings are incubating or emerging, and the clan hunts them. This plentiful prey usually brings on celebrations within the clan. Nights of cheer and gathering amongst each other.

Harborclan has a special sub rank known as Divers. Though they do function as normal warriors, they also have a special role. The ocean is a dangerous place. And while almost all Harborclan cats have at least some knowledge of how to swim, most stay on the shore or in tidepools, avoiding venturing out into open waters unless they can help it. Divers however, are usually the most skilled swimmers in the clan. Venturing out into the more dangerous and more open waters to hunt. They bring back plentiful prey but tend to be at frequent risk.

Harborclan send their bodies out to sea. On still nights the ocean will reflect the stars in a near mirror. And they believe that setting them adrift in the starry ocean will allow them to return easily to their ancestors. To them, a cat not being put to rest in this way is cruel and akin to denying them entry to Starclan.

The Harborclan Code

• Defend your Clan, even with your life. You may have friendships with outsiders, but your loyalty must remain to your Clan, as one day you may meet them in battle.

• Do not hunt or trespass on another Clan’s territory.

• Elders, queens, and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the elders. If any warrior or apprentice is sick or injured, they may eat while the elders, queens, and kits are eating.

• Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life.

• A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice.

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

• A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.

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

• After the death, retirement, promotion (to a leader status), or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.

• A Gathering of all three Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. There shall be no fighting among Clans at this time.

• Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats.

• No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, no matter where they come from..

• The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code.

• An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win their battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or if it is necessary for self-defense.