[Image ID: A sketch of a cat's hind leg. There is a bag on it, kept in place by two straps that connect at the heel. End ID]

While many cats prefer to keep their belongings on their torso, the back leg is an acceptable place to wear small bags. Items such as herbs or snacks are common to put in here.

Unfortunately, delicate items or valuables cannot be put here, as the movement of the leg can damage them, and the placement makes it easy to steal from. This makes the hind leg harder to use overall, opposed to other choices.

[Image ID: Another sketch, of a cat's body. There are two knife sheaths- one loops around the neck and stomach, while the other loops around the rear and the stomach End ID]

The shoulder area is the most common place to see bags and sheaths placed, as it allows the head quick access to the item while being extremely secure while climbing.

The rear is less common, more comfortable when walking, but less so when trying to climb, as the bag or sheath will bump the hind leg.

The shoulder is favored by hunters who need a larger range of movement, and the rear is favored by guards who tend to sit or walk more often than anything else.

[Image ID: A fullbody with two strings on it. One loops around the neck and around the back, and one over the face and under the muzzle. A small face shows a string looped around two holes in the ear, like a piercing. End ID]

For fashion or aesthetics, string clothes are favored due to their simplicity to make, the variety in materials and appearances available, and ease of wearing it.

Beads, feathers, bones, acorns, furs- what is attached to the string is entirely the wearer's choice. Shiny things tend to be preferred, such as metals or gems scavenged from tall ones, which the City Cats will happily trade away.

String clothes always have a singular 'anchor' loop places around the head, neck, torso, or the base of the tail. Other strings will then be attached to that string, relying on it as support. A single loop cannot be made on the back without an anchor, as it will simply fall off as the cat moves.

Some adventurous cats may also pierce their ears to place loops or metals within them, although within colony culture it is extremely looked down upon, with some considering it self-mutilation.

[Image ID: A fullbody, showing cloth draped over the back of a cat. The fabric is secured on by two straps, one around the neck, and one around the stomach. A second fullbody shows that the fabric can also be looped around the neck in one single piece, like a cloak, replacing the strap on the neck. End ID]

For full body clothing, all colonies use a similar design, featuring at least two straps- one on the neck, and one on the stomach- to secure a piece of fabric with. Some designs will opt for three straps, either an extra one on the stomach or one looping around the rear, in order to keep the clothes from slipping or moving.

While this kind of fashion was exclusive to the Colony of Fireflies, a few outside of the colony picked up on the practice, although were largely considered odd or weird for doing so. After the Final Light, clothing for aesthetics largely vanished, with thick clothes being used during winter and nothing more.

With the creation of the Colony of Clickers however, the surviving members of the Colony of Fireflies brought the tradition back. The fashion came back strong, a possible sign that things are starting to return to normal finally.

[Image ID: A final fullbody, showing a backpack with three straps- two around the stomach, and one around the neck. End ID]

The most popular way to store items, especially on long journeys, a bag on the back functions much like full body clothes. They are expensive to make, but provide plenty of storing space, and the straps can often have extra bags or sheaths sewn in as needed.

Bags almost universally have three straps, with two on the stomach and one on the neck. Designs with a third strap on the rear is rare, as having to take the bag off when taking 'breaks' is inconvenient at best.

After the commander has assigned the jobs and titles, the trainees are expected to get to know their teacher denning. Many teacher dennings will take the trainees out of the settlement to show them the territory, landmarks, how to get home, and answer any questions the trainees might have. Some colonies have specific traditions regarding a trainee's first days, such as the Colony of Mist visiting the Commander’s Maw, or the Colony of Storm visiting the Abandoned Mall.

During a trainee’s training, bonding between their denmates and their teacher denning is heavily encouraged, to the point where the colonies consider themselves to have three families- their biological family, their denmates, and their teachers. The trainee’s denmates will remain their denmates for life, barring unusual circumstances such as switching jobs, or (extremely rare) switching colonies.

When a trainee denning has completed their apprenticeship and the teachers have taught them everything they know, the oracle will then promote each trainee, with the teachers gifting a title to each trainee within the denning. The trainee will be considered an adult now, and the denning will receive their own lodgings and space to live in- whereas before, all trainees regardless of denning would share a single, cramped lodging. After promotion, they are considered full members of the colony, with a wide range of options now opening up to them. 

[Image ID: Call of Dreams, a tan and black molly, sits in the middle of the scene. Several black silhouettes surround her, all of their eyes watching her. A single star hangs above her head, attached by a string. Call of Dream's face is covered with a black bar. She is crying. End ID]

However, during one of these festivals, a cat from the Colony of Bones stepped forward. Her name was Call of Dreams, and she claimed that the gods had come to her. They warned her of monsters who would attack those who strayed into the light of the sun, and kittens cursed to live in darkness.

The colonies were quick to distrust Call of Dreams. The gods only delivered messages to specific cats, those who were chosen at birth, and even then they only ever communicated through the spirits of the deceased. Never before had a god spoken to a living cat directly. To see the Seasonal Deities in person would be an honour, one which a lawbreaker like Call of Dreams wasn't deserving of. Several months ago she was caught with a house cat, who she would confess to being her spouse. Her colony had lost all trust in her since for this break in the law.

The cats spoke openly of these thoughts, ridiculing her and driving her away from the celebration. Her colony apologized for the outburst, and the festival continued, many forgetting the incident entirely. The warning, however, was very real, and the next dawn the colonies were attacked.

Large and violent creatures crashed through the colonies’ walls, attacking anything they could see. The colonies tried to stand their ground, dozens of cats united in a single battle for survival. But, even then, not a single monster was taken down, and no mercy was shown to the defenders. Survivors were few after the carnage, which would become known as the Dawn of the Final Light, and they ran in fear and terror.

They named these creatures the broken ones, after the tall ones they so closely resembled- creatures that stood on their hind legs, talked in odd voices, shaped and created by a spiteful god who was exiled for their hubris. Surely, the broken ones were another cursed creation, born from the anger of a cruel god?

[Image ID: Talon of Hawk, a tortoiseshell tom with brown eyes, is walking through a dark forest. There is a dead fish in his mouth. End ID]

Soon, the survivors began to rebuild. The broken ones were attracted to the scents and noise of life, but mercifully they slept during the night, allowing life to flourish under the moon. Cats spread across the territory, some simply looking to survive another day, while others sought to find a way to live under the sun once more.

A handful of factions, able to survive by wielding their knowledge of the broken ones to their advantage, rose to power in the absence of the once proud colonies. However, many turned their backs on the new faction’s promises of safety and security.

Relationships:

Talon of Hawk [ Deep respect and grief, thoroughly believes he died either in the rockslide, or soon after by broken ones. Would have made him advisor if he had stayed ]

Voice of Dove [ Trusted ally, Ash chose Dove as advisor because they were born after the Final Light, and Ash values that perspective ]

Background:

Born in the Colony of Mist, Ash had a normal childhood and adult life. As they grew older though, their peers took notice. Death by falling or during hunts was extremely common, making old age a rarity in the colony. By merely surviving, Ash slowly became a deeply respected member of their society.

Commander of Feather was young and naive, chosen as heir entirely because of blood- a controversial choice, especially because of their youth. Feather was smart though, and decided to announce Cloud of Ash as their advisor, intentionally choosing someone older than them. This soothed tensions and appeased the colony.

Feather, despite the public acknowledgement of their inexperience, enjoyed the power they had gained. This quickly grew into a god complex, as they began testing their limits and acting more and more recklessly. It all came to a sudden end when they tried hunting alone, and found themselves gored by a goat's horns.

Ash became commander after Feather's death, and completed his seasonal trials just before the festival of rulings. The other colonies welcomed him with warm smiles and grieved for Feather alongside him, encouraging Ash that he was fit to lead, no matter what he thought of himself. The festival was cut short as Call of Dreams interrupted, and began warning about monsters and darkness. She was quickly sent away, and the Colony of Bone apologized for the inconvenience. The festival went on.

Ash returned home, only to wake the next day to chaos. Guards woke him and said the colonies were under attack, and when Ash left to see for himself, their stomach sank. They watched as the Colony of Storm was torn to pieces, and felt the weight of the world on his shoulders as his colony asked him what to do. Would they run and abandon their home, or fight and die?

Ash refused to choose between the two, and a new idea came; Collapse the caves and live beneath the ground, imprisoned within the place they called home. It seemed like the only solution, and when he asked for volunteers, four cats volunteered. He felt extreme sorrow as Wing of Hawk and Eyes of Storm were two of these cats, but they would never stop them from protecting their home. With the plan made, Commander of Ash gathered everyone and told them of the news.

Reactions were mixed- some didn't believe there were monsters destroying the other colonies, while others blindly trusted their commander. Things just began to get violent, guards pinning down cats trying to run away and fights breaking out, as the entrance collapsed. For better or for worse, they were stuck now.

Cats grew hostile to Commander of Ash afterwards, but he led the colony to self-sufficiency. He assigned cats to learn how to breed and harvest food such as shellfish, bugs, and fish, while carefully managing their supplies. Soon, they had enough food to feed everyone without fear of going hungry later.

Unaware of the conflict, a cat known as Cain stumbled across a fragment of the artifact. The odd thing interested him, and he kept it. Then he found another. Then another. By chance, or by the will of the divine, Cain completed the Seasonal Trials and came face to face with the gods. The Seasonal Deities spoke to him and told him of their plans for him- he would be a judge, a guardian. Cain would protect a fragment of the artifact, and judge if a challenger was worthy of the fragment.

The outsider accepted this task, and while the colonies were untrusting of Cain, they trusted the judgement of their gods. Cain soon proved himself as worthy, going beyond his initial duty to help the colonies whenever they were in need. His kindness preceded him, and outsiders flocked to him for safety or help. Soon, a small group had formed around him.

Cain named this group the Followers of the Goat, in honor of the god of transitions. Challengers would stay a single night, a respite from the trials they had completed thus far, and were encouraged to interact with and get to know the members of his group. Come the next morning, Cain and his followers would vote on if the challenger was worthy. If they were, Cain would give their piece of the relic to them. If not, they would be denied their fragment. When Cain inevitably passed away, leadership was passed down to his kin, and continues to be passed down- although, now under the name 'Followers of the Lynx' after the Goat's exile- through his bloodline to this day.

Despite the collapse of the colonies during the Final Light, the Followers of the Lynx survived. Their leaders- one by blood and one by election- had listened to Call of Dreams' warnings and hid during the attack. They emerged into a new and violent world, and despite the danger, continued their duty of protecting the artifact.