#saslore

The cats of StoneClan are strong and swift, used to chasing their prey through the meadows that make up the bulk of their territory. StoneClan claims the wide meadows and the abandoned quarry on the east side of the river. The meadows stretch from above the eastern High Hill down to the abandoned farmstead, providing a wide range of territory to supply the Clan. Inside the quarry is a lake stocked with fish, and the StoneClan cats are skilled in fishing and swimming, drawing a significant amount of their Clan’s food from the lake.

Their camp is located in the caves within the quarry, tucked away above the waters of the lake. There is only one way in and out of the quarry, and the StoneClan cats give thanks for the added security of the sheer walls.

StoneClan cats are often thin and wiry, built for chasing rabbits and hares, but they are also excellent swimmers. They are also more visually diverse than BranchClan cats, as they are more open to letting rogues and kittypets from the nearby town join their Clan. Their open-minded attitude has earned them scorn from the more traditional BranchClan, but the StoneClan cats firmly believe that introducing new blood into their Clan will strengthen them in the future.

Despite that, they tend to be cautious and perhaps a little paranoid, jealously guarding their borders against invaders. Generations of StoneClan cats have learned to guard against attacks from the west, and they hold a great deal of animosity towards their ambitious neighbors. StoneClan warriors use their superior speed to outmaneuver their opponents, though they aren’t above beating a hasty retreat if things don’t look good.

The confident and cunning cats of BranchClan make their home among the twisting roots and moss-covered ground of the forest. They claim dominion over the forest on the west side of the river, as well as the eastern bank and the marshlands. An old stone bridge spans the river, providing the only safe point to cross (though fallen trees are often more convenient, and much more readily available).

Their camp is located deep within the woods, at the foot of a massive oak. It is protected by thick underbrush, and the BranchClan cats enjoy being difficult to find. Their camp has never been breached by outsiders of any species.

BranchClan cats are sleek and well-fed. They tend to be drab-colored and lithe, excellent climbers and stalkers of prey. They prefer birds, squirrels, and ground-dwelling rodents, often overlooking the river flowing through their territory in favor of the treetops. They tend to be confident and ambitious, but often bite off more than they can chew. They are very proud of their lineage, holding in high respect their ancestors who began their way of life.

BranchClan leaders often seek to expand their borders, disregarding the balance between the Clans. However, most BranchClan warriors are ill-suited to combat outside of the forest, as they prefer to use the thick ground cover to their advantage and attack with the element of surprise.

With a “traditional” naming scheme, the prefix of a character’s name describes their physical appearance in some way (excluding their eye color, since kittens don’t open their eyes until they’re about a week old, and all kittens have blue eyes that may or may not change color as they grow up). The suffix of a character’s name denotes some skill or aspect of their character. Examples include -claw for a cat that has a talent for fighting, -step or -foot for a character with a distinctive gait or an “average” cat with sock markings, -frost for an aloof and “cold” character, -pelt or -fur for a cat with pretty average characteristics, or -heart for a cat with a strong belief system! A safe bet is that if a name element appears in the first book series (The Prophecies Begin), it’s good to go!

BranchClan’s traditional home is the forest, from the western border of an old stone wall running through the trees to the forested eastern bank of the river. Deep within the forest is BranchClan’s camp, hidden well among the bracken that litters the forest floor. The eastern bank of the river is accessible by an old bridge built by twolegs as well as many dead trees which have fallen over the water. StoneClan often tries to retake the eastern bank, but BranchClan have held it for several moons and have no intention of ceding it.

The marsh is also technically part of BranchClan’s domain, but due to their perception that it’s rather useless territory, they hardly enforce the boundaries. Loners passing through the area can usually travel through the marsh without being disturbed. The only part of the marsh BranchClan deems useful is the abandoned twoleg farm which is slowly sinking into the muck. The stone building shelters herbs that have proven useful to many generations of medicine cats.