The Code of the Messengers

by Amasis Isis-Ra

This is the first field guide from The Chronicles of the Messengers. This story is to show how the six Warrior Clans came up with the Messenger Code that they must always follow.

30. Rules not Added to the Messenger's Code

Rules That Did Not Become Part of the Code: Tigerheart Speaks

Tigerheart: Not every rule that was suggested was accepted by all of the Clans – and it was always understood, without having to be part of the Code that every Clan had to agree.

Did you know it was once suggested that only cats of pure forest blood could be Clan members? HouseCats, Rogues, and Loners would be barred from Clanlife – and those already living in the Clans would be expected to leave. I can tell you assume it was a LightClan Leader that put this forward, but actually, it was Hollowstar of SunClan. After a hard winter, when only the swiftest Warriors could catch any of the fleet-footed prey on the moors, he blamed his Clan's hunger on those cats that hadn't been born with the ability to run rabbit-fast. He saw the other Clans struggling to catch enough fresh-kill and was convinced that only Clanborn cats can look after themselves and their Clanmates.

Loudstar of SkyClan argued most strongly against him – it was rumored afterward that he had HouseCats among his Ancestors, but he didn't. He just saw that all Clans would be weakened if they had to purge their members of non-forestborn cats. Loyalty to Clanmates has always lain at the center of the Messenger Code and what Hollowstar was posing would let Clanmates turn on one another and claim superiority for something they had no control over. As long as cats were loyal to their Clan, Loudstar insisted then they deserved to stay.

Not long after that, Berrystar's successor, Wavestar, put forward that Clans should eat the prey that they are most suited to hunting: fish for WaterfallClan, birds for SkyClan, rabbits for SunClan and LightClan, and so on. This was shouted down by all Clans. It was unlikely that all of the birds in SkyClan's hunting grounds would ever get sick and die, even during the coldest winter, but fish, rabbits, and squirrels had all been known to suffer from an illness that either spread to cats or significantly reduced the numbers of prey. Besides, every Clan welcomes a chance to taste a different kind of prey when it strays into their territory – though WaterfallClan are welcome to keep all of their slimy fish!

It was Blaststar of WaterfallClan who wanted to make it law that every Clancat had to acknowledge that HeavenClan controlled Clanlife; to deny the existence and power of the Warrior Ancestors would be to break the Code. Does it surprise you that this is not one of our laws?

Being a Clancat is not about being forced to believe something. We are allowed to think for ourselves, you know! It is not law that you have to stay in a Clan – cats may leave any time they wish is they no longer feel loyal to the Messenger Code or loyal to their Clanmates. As long as we believe in HeavenClan and the influence it has over our lives, accepting the Messenger Code is as easy as breathing. You cannot force a cat to be faithful. That would be far worse than letting them be honest enough to choose a different path through life.