Joining or Changing a Clan

While most cats stay with their birth clan their whole life; there have been occasions where a warrior has chosen to move to a different clan. They could feel that the clan's lifestyle doesn't suit them or disagree with their leader's decisions. They may even have fallen in love with a cat from another clan and wish to go live with them. Likewise, sometimes a cat from outside the clans will ask to join one.
In these cases, the leader of the clan the cat wishes to join will meet with them and ask for their reasons for doing so. If the leader is convinced that the newcomer is sincere, then they will offer them a chance to prove themself.
Over the next three days, the newcomer will live with the clan and assist in duties around the camp. Every day, they must complete a task chosen by the senior warriors. These tasks will be designed to test if they possess the unique skills and traits that each clan values.
If they successfully complete all three tasks, they will be welcomed into their new clan as a full member. If they fail, they must leave. They could try their luck with another clan or ask to be taken back by their old one. Whether they are taken back or not is up to the leader.
A warrior may only change clans once. If they officially join another clan, they cannot go back to their old one. They have until the completion of the third task to change their mind and return to their original clan.

Cats Outside the Clans

Clan culture is considered an anomaly among most other cats, with its' structured hierarchy and emphasis on loyalty and social bonds.
The clans typically keep to themselves, but it is inevitable that they will occasionally make contact with outsiders. How these meetings go depends greatly on what kind of cat the outsider is.

Kittypets

'Kittypet' is the term given to cats who live with twolegs. They receive food and shelter from the twolegs, and reside in their dens with perhaps a small grassy territory to call their own.
They are very easy to identify; often being quite plump and wearing a collar around their necks that is believed to mark them as twoleg property.
They also have a distinct scent; particularly the toms; that indicates they have been to the 'cutter'. Cats that are taken to this strange place come back irrevocably changed. They seem to lose all interest in mating and often gain weight quite quickly.
Kittypets are generally looked down upon by the clans for giving up their dignity and independence in exchange for an easy life. Some warriors in the past took the rather extreme stance that they were no longer cats at all, and should be killed on sight to "purify" the species.
Fortunately, today that sort of thinking is considered barbaric, and kittypets are to be respected as fellow cats; however undesirable their lifestyle may be.

Loners

Loners are cats that do not live in a clan or with twolegs. They usually live alone or in small family groups. Their homes can consist of small territories in the wild or abandoned/unused twoleg dens.
They generally only want to be left alone and pose no threat to the clans. They will still defend their homes from intruders though, and questors have often had to negotiate passage through their territories.

Rogues

A rogue is a feral cat that is actively hostile to other cats. They typically travel in groups, invading other cats' territories and stealing their prey.
While they usually have a leader; often the strongest; these groups have no real structure and every cat has to take care of themself. Any cat too weak to keep up is abandoned and they will often fight or even kill each other over food.
Warriors that have been exiled from their clan are branded as rogues and will usually end up joining one of these groups.
If rogues are discovered on clan territory, they are to be driven off at all costs. Depending on the size of the group; the clans may form an alliance and fight them together.
Allowing rogues to establish a camp in one clan's territory will inevitably cause trouble for the others, as they have no respect for borders and their greed for prey and land is practically insatiable.

The Tribe of Rushing Water

During the Great Journey, the clans travelled through a mountainous region where they were attacked by giant birds called eagles. They were rescued by a group of cats calling themselves the Tribe of Rushing Water.
The Tribe graciously allowed the clans to rest in their camp which was situated in a cave behind a waterfall. The two groups traded stories about their customs and histories; and were both surprised to learn that the clan founders Tall Shadow and Clear Sky were once members of the Tribe, as was Gray Wing the Wise.
Just as the clans were getting ready to leave; there appeared a monstrous giant cat that the Tribe called Sharptooth the Mountain Lion.
He had been hunting in the mountains for years, but the Tribe had always managed to stay hidden from him. With horror, the clans realised that Sharptooth must have tracked them to the Tribe's camp.
Refusing to abandon the Tribe to this danger; the clans attacked the beast.
Despite their brave efforts, Sharptooth's size and strength were too much for the clans. They and the Tribe would likely have been wiped out were it not for the Riverclan warrior Feathertail.
She climbed up the wall of the cave and leaped onto a stalactite hanging from the ceiling. This dislodged the rock and brought it down on Sharptooth's head; killing him instantly. Sadly Feathertail herself did not survive the fall.
Grateful for her sacrifice, the Tribe allowed the clans to bury Feathertail on their land and promised to honour her in their stories.
Since then, there has been a bond of friendship between the clans and the Tribe; with each aiding the other many times over the years.
Many of the clans' customs were originally based on those of the Tribe, but while the clans have gone through numerous changes since their founding; the Tribe's ways have remained largely the same.
They have a single leader called the Teller of the Pointed Stones, or Stoneteller, who resides in a small cavern filled with pools and stalactites. There is an opening in the ceiling that allows rain and moonlight in. Stoneteller will often look for signs in the pools, shadows or sky that may be messages from their ancestors the Ancients.
Stoneteller does not have a deputy. Instead, they will wait for a sign from the Ancients that it is time to choose a successor and select one from the Tribe's kits. They will then spend the rest of their life preparing the young cat to take over from them when they die.
From the moment a cat becomes Stoneteller, they must remain in the Tribe's camp. This is to keep the Tribe's leader safe and ensure that no messages from the Ancients are missed.
The rest of the Tribe are divided into two groups based on their traits and talents. The smaller faster cats are preyhunters who are responsible for feeding the Tribe. The bigger stronger cats serve as caveguards who guard the camp and protect preyhunters from eagles.
A cat's role is chosen for them by Stoneteller when they are eight moons old. They then become a to-be. The to-bes are collectively trained in the roles they will play and join the preyhunters or caveguards after about four moons.
To many clan cats, the Tribe's lifestyle seems very restrictive with cats having little choice over their paths in life. The Tribe cats however find comfort in following their set roles; entrusting their fate to Stoneteller and the Ancients who have watched over them for countless generations.

Clan Cultures

While all clans follow the warrior code and share many customs, they each have their own values and lifestyles. This can cause some friction between them, but also gives each clan its' own identity and nurtures the unique skills they possess.

Thunderclan

The Thunderclan camp is found in a quarry surrounded by trees and thick undergrowth, forming a natural barrier against attackers.
Thunderclan cats are typically large with striped or dappled pelts, which help camouflage them when they hunt in the forest.
Their prey consists of forest dwelling rodents like mice, voles and shrews; with the occasional bird or squirrel that might wander into the undergrowth looking for nuts or berries.
They love the sun and do most of their hunting in the daylight hours. Their favourite napping spots are sunbaked rocks that can be found scattered around their territory. During the height of Greenleaf, they like to hold contests of strength and endurance among their warriors.
Thunderclan is the most battle oriented clan and it's warriors spend most of their free time practicing and developing new fighting techniques.
They are more likely to settle disputes through battle than diplomacy, which has earned them a reputation of being violent brutes.
But they also have a strong sense of honour and value courage in the face of danger. They are the clan least likely to employ "dirty" tactics; much preferring to rely on their strength and skill to win the day.
If a clan finds itself threatened by an outside force; forming an alliance with Thunderclan would be a wise investment.

Riverclan

Riverclan makes it's home on an island between two streams. Due to other cats' dislike of water, this keeps them safe from invaders. Not far from their camp is the river that flows out of the lake where they can often be seen catching fish.
Riverclan cats are recognisable by their thick sleek fur and wide flat paws, which help them swim through water with ease.
In battle their preferred tactic is to drive their opponents towards the lake or river, where their natural fear of water will cause them to panic; making them easier to take down.
Their diet consists almost entirely of fish, though they will hunt other animals found on riverbanks; such as water voles or turtles; if the opportunity arises.
Because the river provides them with a constant source of food, they are the most well fed of the clans and spend the least amount of time hunting.
The other clans often deride them as fat and lazy, but Riverclan cats make good use of their free time.
They value free thinking and intellectual growth; often engaging in philosophical debates. They even perform experiments with the surrounding environment seeking to learn nature's secrets and how they can be used to the clan's advantage.
At times when the clans faced problems that required a clever solution; it was almost always a Riverclan cat that came up with it.

Windclan

Windclan's camp is located in a shallow scoop in the ground surrounded by heather, which shields it from the sight of predators or intruders.
Windclan cats tend to have lean builds and long legs. This allows them to race across the moors and hunt even the fastest of prey.
They mainly eat rabbits and the occasional hare, though will also go after any bird that lands on the moor; using their speed to hopefully bring it down before it can return to the air.
Their culture is the most spiritual of the clans. They practice meditation and often hold prayer sessions, giving thanks to their ancestors in Starclan for watching over them.
Windclan cats value humility and acceptance in regards to unavoidable hardships; choosing to focus on what they can change, rather than bemoan what they can't.
They love having the open sky above their heads and prefer to nap in exposed nests; only using covered dens during the most severe weather.
In battle, they rely on speed more than strength; feinting and dodging to frustrate and wear out their enemies before going on the attack.
While stereotyped as cowardly and quick to flee, Windclan cats are arguably the most mentally resilient of the clans. They have utter faith in Starclan's protection and see any defeat as simply a lesson they needed to learn.
There have been times when the harshness of life in the wild has challenged the faith of even the bravest clan cats; but Windclan's trust in their ancestors has never faltered.
Shadowclan

Shadowclan resides in a dip in the ground covered by brambles, forming a natural protective barrier.
Shadowclan cats mostly have dark coloured fur and large shining eyes. They have the best night vision out of all the clans; being able to see clearly in almost total darkness, which is why they prefer to hunt at night.
The pine forest they make their home in is deathly silent and the scent of sap blocks out any smells from outside their territory.
Perhaps it is because of this sense of isolation that Shadowclan cats tend to be reserved around the other clans and slow to trust cats they don't know.
Their diet is the most varied of the clans; consisting of rodents, reptiles, birds and even crowfood if it's fresh enough. They also occasionally take food left behind by twolegs who often camp just outside their territory during Greenleaf.
They rely on stealth and ambush techniques to fight off intruders; appearing, striking and returning to the darkness before their foes can retaliate.
In their free time, they like to stargaze and have named several constellations after cats from their clan's history. They also enjoy playing games designed to help them practice their hiding and stalking like 'Catch the Tail' and 'The Darkstalker'.
Words like "stand-offish" and "creepy" have been used to describe Shadowclan; but those who have made the effort to get to know them have discovered an extremely close-knit community that values loyalty above all else and would fight all the other clans at once to protect one of their own.

Skyclan

The Skyclan camp is situated in a valley surrounded by birch trees. While it may lack the defences of the other camps, the trees give Skyclan's warriors the perfect vantage point to spot incoming enemies and serve as shelter in emergencies.
The most notable traits of Skyclan cats are their muscular limbs and long bushy tails which they use to nimbly traverse the treetops.
Their main prey are birds and squirrels, but they'll also hunt any ground dwelling prey they spot; stalking it from above until they're ready to pounce.
Skyclan cats take pride in their independence. They have never forgotten how the other clans abandoned them when their original home was destroyed. Even after rejoining their old neighbours around the lake, they still maintain a distance.
Any intruders who enter Skyclan's territory had better remember to look up. The tall birch trees could be hiding a whole host of Skyclan warriors; ready to drop on them.
Surprisingly, given their somewhat cold attitude towards the other clans; Skyclan cats are the most friendly to outsiders. They often socialise with loners, help lost kittypets find their way home; and are the most likely to accept non-clanborn cats that wish to join their ranks.
Many other clan cats see this as proof that Skyclan has lost it's way and is no longer a "real" clan. Skyclan however value their ability to change and adapt to different circumstances and see the other clans as stuck in their ways; believing they will only stagnate while Skyclan continues to grow like the trees they have conquered.