#mal's wips

Territory & Camp:

FloeClan lives out on the ice floes of the Arctic Circle, where polar bears and orca whales reign supreme

Ice floes are usually barren, but enough snow drifts around to make a small, ragged camp

They don’t have a specific territory, since marking borders would lead predators right to their camp. Instead they travel far and wide to find food and resources

Out on the ice it is often foggy, making the territory all the more difficult to traverse

When they make camp, there are no separate dens for ranks. Warriors, apprentices, queens, elders, and even the high ranks of leader, deputy, and medicine cat all share one den to keep warm. This den is built out of tightly packed snow and lined with animal pelts for bedding

While the cats all sleep in the same den, they build a separate ‘day den’ for kits to spend the day in. This keeps them out of the main den and out from under the paws of elders and warriors trying to grab some shut eye, and doubles as a private meeting area for important business matters

Appearance:

FloeClan cats are thick-furred, heavyset cats with large, sharp eyes and narrow faces

Likely descended from escaped Maine Coon kittypets, they are massive in size and stature

Their fur is double-layered, with a dark, dense undercoat and a lighter topcoat that is waterproof

The undercoat colors range to different colors of black, gray, and brown. The undercoat is always darker than the topcoat

The topcoat has a wider range of colors, including cinnamon, light ginger, pale gray, silver, and white. Few cats are pure white, instead often being patched or tortoiseshell. This lighter topcoat helps them blend in with the ice

Their fur is thicker around their face, neck, and tail. This keeps wind and cold away from their eyes and other places where heat easily escapes

The pads of their paws are thick and tough, hardened from the ice, with long claws to grip it better

Their legs are often slightly shorter than the average cat, to keep them lower against the wind and to help with stalking

Weight is hard to gain out here, with all calories going straight into survival. Instead they have a lot of muscle from vigorous training

Even with extra muscle, these cats are still pretty thin. They are hardened from the cold, though, because of all the extra fur

Most everything about FloeClan cats is stumpy or short. For example, their ears are small and rounded to keep them safe from the wind. The only exception is their tails, which are long and fluffy, used for balance, swimming, and keeping warm, and their muzzles, which are long to prevent the wind from battering their faces

The more fur, the more attractive you’re considered. Lighter colored fur is also more desirable due to its ability to blend in with ice and snow. Dark fur is considered extremely unattractive, even in small amounts

Eye colors vary, though darker colors are more common

Frostbite is a real issue out on the ice, meaning it’s not uncommon for cats to be missing toes, ears, and tail-tips

Scars are also a very attractive feature for these cats. Having scars shows that you fought for your survival and won, and are a sign of great strength and perseverance

Skills:

FloeClan cats have different positions in the Clan based on their individual skill set. However, the traits everyone shares include:

Swimming. These cats are powerful swimmers, with waterproof fur, large paws, and long tails. Despite their shorter legs, they are able to keep up with their incredible stamina.

Stamina is also a skill they all possess. Cats can walk for days at a time without growing tired, and swim for hours on end. 

Keeping warm is super important out on the ice, and FloeClan cats excel at it. Thick fur, tough paws, they’ve got it all. They are also creative and resourceful, able to figure things out quickly to keep themselves alive.

FloeClan cats have a very good internal clock and compass. Living in overcast darkness for three quarters of the year will do that to you.

While guard cats are specially trained in fighting techniques, all FloeClan cats know basic moves to help them win against an opponent. Usually their threats are animals much larger than them, and they will work in tandem with their Clanmates to gain the upper paw in a battle

Positions & Roles:

Leader: The leader is the head of the Clan, who makes sure everything is running smoothly and orderly. They make all the big decisions, though usually with the help of the deputy and medicine cat

Deputy: The deputy is second-in-command, and typically holds almost as much power as the leader. They organize the Clan and help distribute resources. They also help handle minor disputes, while larger arguments sometimes have to go to the leader

Medicine Cat: These cats are very valuable out in the harsh conditions, with knowledge of how to help almost any ailment. They are usually adept at peacekeeping, and they bless mated pairs. Medicine cats are responsible for learning the Clan legends, and learning the hymns to tell the stories to younger generations. They are allowed to produce kits due to the limited gene pool, but are not allowed to take a mate. Any kits they have will not be theirs to raise, due to having to dedicate themselves to their Clanmates and ancestors

Warriors: FloeClan splits up its warriors into separate groups based on their skill sets. Each group has a different role and responsibility, though no one group is ever considered above the rest. The groups each have a Head, who is the leader of the specific group and is usually the eldest cat

Hunter: These cats make up the majority of the warriors of FloeClan. They are fast and good at stalking. They leave in large groups for days at a time, braving weather and predators, to find food for their Clan. These cats have to be tough and resourceful in order to find prey in the harsh environment. They also have to work well in a group

Guard: Guard cats are the biggest and strongest warriors of FloeClan. They are both the first and last lines of defense in the event of trouble, and their main purpose is to protect the Clan. When not guarding the camp, it is also their job to oversee repairs and construction, as the best defense out on the ice is a strong camp. These cats must be brave and selfless, and always on alert for danger

Scout: Another large part of FloeClan’s warriors are the scouts. These cats spend their days keeping the territory safe. They go around and sniff out threats, and in conjunction with the water watchers, warn the Clan of incoming storms. These cats are speedy and observant, never missing a single thing

Prey Gutter: These cats have an extremely important job: prey distribution. They take prey and remove the pelts to line nests with, and use the fat to feed hungry queens and kits. Some animals have blubber, which can be used to help cats stay afloat, or to insulate the den more. Some prey items are too large for one cat, so prey gutters split them into evenly-sized pieces. It is their job as well to monitor the food intake of the Clan, and make sure the cats who need it most get enough to eat. They are also responsible for removing bones and fur and burying them far away from camp. These cats are very good with coordination and precision

Water Watcher: Water watchers have a very important role in the Clan: predicting the weather. During the cold months, they function as scouts, observing the borders and watching for oncoming storms. But as the weather warms, they split off on their own to watch the ice. These cats pass down knowledge from generation to generation, techniques and skills older than most of the Clan cats. They function well as a team, and work alongside the leader, deputy, and medicine cat to decide when the Clan should leave the ice floes. When not performing duties outside of camp, they are in charge of the ceremonial hymns the Clan sings, and work on practicing them

Apprentice: Apprentices are cats between the ages of 6-12 moons. They are tested before their ceremony to determine which skill set best suits them. Rather than being taught by one mentor, apprentices are mentored by all warriors in their specific position, so they can learn skills and strengths from every cat. All apprentices are also taught the same basic skills of hunting, fighting, swimming, and survival techniques

Queen: Queens are she-cats who are expecting or nursing kits. This is not a permanent positon, as they only hold it for about six moons. Some queens even go back to their warrior duties at around three moons, when their kits are weaned

Kit: A kit is a cat who is less than six moons old. They are the Clan’s number one priority, and are looked after collectively. Young kits don’t do too much, but as they get older they are allowed (and sometimes expected) to help out with chores around camp. For the most part, though, a kit’s day will mostly consist of playing and early training techniques

Elder: These are cats who have done their duty to the Clan, and are now able to reap the benefits. Elders are treated with an incredible amount of respect for their service. Elders are not expected to contribute to the prey pile, instead their responsibilities lie in keeping the camp running and organized

Traditions & Customs:

FloeClan cats are very superstitious, and will often interpret everything as a sign from their ancestors. There isn’t a name for their collective ancestors, they are referred to as just that: ancestors, or warrior ancestors

Even during the warm months, FloeClan cats like to cuddle. On the ice, they sleep in a giant pile, keeping everyone warm throughout the night. Because of this, they often crave physical contact. Snuggling, nuzzling, and sharing tongues is done with every cat regardless of relationship

With their fur being so incredibly thick, proper fur care is a must. Cats spend lots of time combing through their fur to keep it tangle-free, and are always willing to help a Clanmate with a stubborn knot or a hard-to-reach area

FloeClan cats hate losing, and can be very competitive

The entire Clan is a very close-knit community who place a lot of emphasis on caring for one another. They have a 'no cat left behind' policy

The different working groups within the Clan function almost as their own family units. They are extremely close with each other, sometimes even over their biological kin

These cats are incredibly proud and suspicious. Outsiders are very rarely welcomed, and must prove themselves before they can stay

It is acceptable to have kits with outsiders, but it is generally frowned upon for outsiders to join the Clan. it is believed they won’t be able to handle the harsh lifestyle and will instead be a burden, so cats that don’t belong to the Clan are usually avoided unless it is for the express purpose of having kittens- and even then the cats are often very choosey with their outsider mates, only wanting cats who they think will create the best possible future warriors

FloeClan cats are musically inclined. They have hymns they sing as a way to pass time and tell their legends. They celebrate the solstices and the equinoxes and have special songs for each. For celebration and ceremonial hymns water watchers are the singers while the rest of the cats keep the rhythm, and for legends medicine cats are the singers. There is a song for basically every occasion

There are many prayers FloeClan cats say to their ancestors, and it is part of their training that apprentices learn all the most important ones. A typical prayer for good luck hunting is “Ancestors keep my claws sharp, my legs strong, my nose keen, and my eyes clear”

Every spring, FloeClan participates in a tradition called the Great Swim. When the ice melts too much for them to stay, they must swim to shore, and live there until the ice reforms in the winter. The journey is incredibly dangerous, because not only are there strong, cold ocean currents, there are also predators lurking all around. Blubber and fat is rubbed on the fur of kits, queens, elders, and apprentices, to keep them warm and buoyant along the way

The Clan lives on the mainland for the spring and summer, which are both fairly short. They use this time to fatten up and collect lots of herbs to take back to the ice

While large storms are difficult, FloeClan excels at making light of them. They all gather in the den with plenty of prey to wait out the days telling stories, singing hymns, and snuggling until the storm dies down

Cats in this Clan hate to be idle. Even elders who are retired from warrior duties still contribute and work within the camp to the best of their abilities. It isn’t uncommon for parents to return to warrior duties when their kits are weaned

FloeClan uses something called the covenant system. Two cats entering a covenant is basically getting ‘married’. During a ceremony initiated by the medicine cat they each draw blood from one another, symbolizing they are now as close as if they were blood. Cats in a covenant are loyal to each other above all others, save for the Clan as a whole

Typically a covenant is romantic, but they can be arranged as well. If a cat gets to a certain age without entering one, the medicine cats may have them enter one with another single cat in order to have kits. It’s seen as a duty to the Clan to have and raise kits, and so arranged pairs to produce kits is not considered weird for them. For arranged covenants, after kits are apprenticed there is an option to annul it if the cats are truly not compatible, but for the most part a covenant is for life

It is seen as irresponsible to have kits outside of a covenant, as the covenant is a promise both cats make to stick together, and without one the cats have no obligation to stay together and raise the kits. Due to their superstitious nature, it is also often believed kits born outside of a covenant will be cursed

To prevent unwanted kits, medicine cats will create an herb mixture to render the warriors infertile for a short period of time. While having kits is important and it is seen as a responsibility to your Clan to reproduce, proper planning is just as important, especially with the harsh seasons

All types of relationships are accepted, but cats who chose a same-sex partner may be frowned upon, as raising kits is incredibly important. Same-sex partners may still produce kits with another cat 

When kits are born, big litters are very common. More uncommon however is an entire litter making it to apprenticeship. Life on the ice is unforgiving

Legacy naming is a fairly common practice in FloeClan. It is typical to see at least one kit per litter be named after a lost loved one in their memory

Kits’ names are kept private until their eyes are open and they can walk, where they will have a ceremony and be introduced to the Clan by their parents

When a cat becomes pregnant, both parents step down from warrior duties to raise the kits together. Raising kits takes a lot of time and effort, and the queens get as much help as they need

A rather unsavory part of FloeClan life is when a cat’s life is at its end. Elders who no longer wish to continue with the harsh life may join their ancestors earlier than they were intended to by ranging out onto the ice until weather or a predator claims them. This is an acceptable tradition, as the Clan cannot care for cats who can’t pull their weight in some way, and FloeClan cats hate to feel idle and useless. The cat leaving will be sent off with a hymn of honor for their sacrifice so their Clan may continue in their stead