Warrior Cats Refresher

This page is meant to be a refresher on warrior cats, or a guide for people who have never interacted with the series. You will see mentions of our AU roleplay Filipino Warriors, but the other information is generalized to canon.

The world of warrior cats is fairly beginner-friendly to learn, especially if you play an apprentice and are mentored in-game and out-of-game by a more experienced mentor character/roleplayer. In this guide, we will go over the basics of the universe, with some notes on any differences between the books' universe, fanon, and Filipino Warriors changes. You do not need to read the whole thing, in fact, I have marked somethings as optional. ⭐ = optional, ❗ = very important.

The premise of Warriors is that for several generations, four colonies of feral cats, known as “Clans”, have lived in a forest together. They consider the stars sacred, as they believe the Milky Way—or Silverpelt as they call it—is filled with the spirits of their dead ancestors.

These Clans follow a way of life based on the Warrior Code and Medicine Cat Code. See below for more information on these. These are super important to understand, though you do not need to memorize them! It can also become a plot point for a character to break them, either accidentally by not thinking or by doing it on purpose for some reason.

Warrior cat names are split into a prefix and a suffix. In Filipino Warriors, the prefix denotes appearance and the suffix denotes rank or trait. Warrior cat Clans are hierarchical with various ranks to distinguish cats' duties and role in the Clan.

Ranks ❗

This does not need to be memorized! Just try to get a feel for the ranks.

Leaders (1 per Clan)

Leaders are the directors of their Clan. They are in charge of most Clan ceremonies, represent their Clans at the monthly Gatherings, hold Clan meetings, create Clan policies, help with interpersonal issues, assign apprentices to mentors, and direct camp/den maintenance. Rarely, a leader may also help with warrior training. Leaders receive nine lives from StarClan to help them protect their Clan after their old one is ripped away in a special ceremony. Leaders have the suffix "-star".

A leader's nine lives can help them survive injuries or sickness that would normally kill them or permanently injure them. However, sometimes major injuries or sickness will claim multiple lives, sometimes leading to all being burned through.

Deputies (1 per Clan)

The second in command, the deputy is mainly in charge of hunting and border patrols, reporting on any findings to the leader, helping the leader resolve interpersonal issues, oversee warrior training, keep tabs on predators, and help with camp maintenance. To be eligible to become deputy, a cat must have mentored at least one apprentice and then be chosen by the leader.

Medicine cats (1 - 2 per Clan)

The spiritual guides of their Clans, medicine cats are the healers of the warriors world. They swear off having a mate or kits so that they can be focused on their work. They do their best to interpret omens and prophecies from StarClan, attend medicine cat meetings, train a medicine cat apprentice, gather and direct other cats to gather herbs and supplies, and help queens deliver their litter. Sometimes, a medicine cat does not believe in StarClan, but this is very rare as spirituality is one of their main skills.

Medicine cat apprentices (0 - 1 per Clan)

A medicine cat apprentice is a cat of six moons or older that has been chosen to train as a medicine cat, usually due to spiritual attunement, an omen from StarClan, and/or a knack for healing. Rarely, a disabled cat may be chosen to become a medicine cat if they can't become a warrior but are ready for medicine cat duties. Medicine cat apprentices mainly focus on training/learning, and gathering herbs/supplies. When they're ready to earn their medicine cat name, their mentor is the one to give it to them. These apprenticeships usually last much longer than for warrior apprentices.

Warrior & Senior Warrior (unlimited per Clan)

An adult cat who has been trained to fight, hunt, and protect their Clan. This is the most common rank. In Filipino Warriors, apprentices are only made warriors once they are at least twelve moons old. Warriors go on patrols to mark territory and/or hunt, and may mentor apprentices. Senior warriors isn't an "official" rank per se, but is terminology used to distinguish the more experienced warriors.

Apprentices (unlimited per Clan)

An apprentice is a kitten in training to become a warrior. They are minimum six moons old. Apprentices (including medicine cat apprentices) have the suffix "-paw" until becoming a warrior/medicine cat. Apprentices may not leave camp alone until given permission by their assigned mentor.

Queen (unlimited per Clan)

A queen is a cat that is nursing or expecting kits. In Filipino Warriors, this is considered a gender-neutral term. Some queens become permanent residents of the nursery after they have kits, and help raise other cats' kits.

Kit (unlimited per Clan)

A kitten under six moons old. Their suffix is "-kit". Kits may not leave camp unless they are being escorted for some reason (such as to run from a raid). Kits are protected by all Clan cats regardless of allegiance.

Elders (unlimited per Clan)

Elders are cats who either retired from their previous rank or were always incapable of being a warrior or medicine cat. This could be due to age or some form of disability, such as a permanent injury or something they've had since birth. Elders do not go on patrols but do try to defend the camp if necessary as well as attend gatherings. Their tasks include providing counsil to the leader and/or deputy, rubbing herbs on a deceased cat's body to disguise the death scent, take deceased cats to the burial camps, and tell stories of the cat. Elders are taken care of mostly by the apprentices of the Clan and also often like to entertain the kits.

It should be noted that many roleplayers and fanfic authors for the warriors universe may have the majority of disabled cats still as warriors, even if they cannot do most traditional warrior duties. See this page.

Religion ❗

The Clans practice a form of ancestor veneration, as well as honoring life and death. This includes honoring their prey's lives.

StarClan is basically "cat heaven", and the Place of No Stars is basically "cat hell". StarClan and Place of No Stars (also known as the Dark Forest) cats can interact with the living cats to some degree. StarClan usually does this through omens, dreams, and prophecies, whereas the Dark Forest cats can only visit cats in dreams (and it is difficult for them).

Clan cats are almost always spiritual, especially medicine cats. In Filipino Warriors, it's more common for cats to disagree with StarClan, and perhaps form their own spiritual beliefs, then be atheist.

Warrior Code ❗

It is rarely expected for a roleplayer to memorize the code, in fact breaking the code (accidentally or intentionally) can lead to plot points. The code was developed over several generations of cats, and a new code may be added sometimes when agreed upon by all Clans.

Defend your Clan, even with your life. You may have friendships with cats from other Clans, but your loyalty must remain to your Clan, as one day you may meet them in battle.
Do not hunt or trespass on another Clan's territory.
Elders, queens, sick or injured cats and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the elders.
Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life.
A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice.
Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name.
A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.
The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies, retires, or is exiled.
After the death, retirement, promotion (to a leader status), or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.
A Gathering of all [the] Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. There shall be no fighting among Clans at this time.
Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats.
No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different Clan.
The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code.
An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win their battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or if it is necessary for self-defense.
A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.
Each Clan has the right to be proud and independent, but in times of trouble they must forget their boundaries and fight side by side to protect [each other]. Each Clan must help the others so that no Clan will fall.

Medicine Cat Code ❗

A medicine cat may not fall in love or take a mate.
A medicine cat may not have kits.
A medicine cat may only retire when their apprentice is ready to take their place.
A medicine cat only shares dreams with StarClan.
A medicine cat discusses omens and prophecies with other medicine cats an/or their leader before other cats.

Territories and Camps ❗

Each Clan has their own territory that they mark the borders of and patrol. Clans are very defensive of their territories and will generally scare off intruders. A Clan typically has named locations within their territory that serve different purposes, such as the burial place or places apprentices may do training.

Camps are where all the cats live. There is an open area, usually in the middle of camp, where cats can speak to eachother and share tongues, conduct Clan meetings, and sun themselves. There is a fresh-kill pile here (where cats store prey) and a high point where the leader can address the Clan. The Clan's prison is also somewhere in the camp.

Camps also have several dens, usually bushes, thickets, caves, etc., that different ranks use to sleep in nests. These nests are usually made of moss, bracken, and ferns, and are kept clean mostly by the apprentices. The nursery den is the warmest and safest den and houses queens and kits. There are also an elder's den and apprentice's den. The warriors' den is where warriors and the deputy sleep, and senior warriors typically get priority for the middle. The medicine cat's den is where herbs and supplies are stored, and where the medicine cat, their apprentice, and injured or sick cats may sleep. Lastly, there's the leader den, where the leader and sometimes their mate will sleep.

Terminology ⭐ (highly encouraged)

The following is mostly canon terminology. Canon term definitions taken from Warriors fandom Wikia. Any fanon or personally-coined terms are marked as such.

General

Crowfood/crow-food - a dead prey animal that has begun to rot (can also be used as an insult)
Dirt - feces
Fresh-kill - a recently killed prey animal caught for the purpose of consumption. Fresh-kill is generally placed on the fresh-kill pile, and elders, kits, queens, and sick cats eat first, then warriors and apprentices. Extras stay in the fresh-kill pile.
Hunting patrol - a group of cats hunting for fresh-kill. May fight trespassers.
Kittypet - a domesticated pet cat.
Loner - a cat that lives by itself and doesn't defend its territory.
Monster - a vehicle operated by twolegs.
Moonstone - the place in the territories where medicine cats and leaders share tongues with StarClan.
Rogue - a usually hostile cat who does not have a permanent home, roams around, and does not care about Clan boundaries.
Sharing tongues - cats grooming each other while sharing the latest gossips.
She-cat - a female cat
Silverpelt - the Milky Way. These stars are direct representation of StarClan.
Sun-drown-place - An ocean to the west of the Clans' territories.
Thunderpath - a paved road
Tom/tomcat - a male cat
Twoleg - a human. A twoleg kit is a human child.
Twoleg nest - a human's house.
Twolegplace - a human town, city, village, etc.

Time terms

Newleaf - the season of spring
Greenleaf - the season of summer
Leaf-fall - the season of fall
Leaf-bare - the season of winter
Moon - the time between two full moons. In Warriors roleplay, it is generally assumed to equal a month with 12 per year, even though there is generally 13 moons in a year.
Moonhigh - around midnight
Moonrise - when the moon rises
Half-moon - about two weeks
Quarter-moon - about a week
Sunhigh - when the sun is highest, around noon
Sunrise - used as a time marker (One sunrise ago)
Claw-moon - crescent moon
Sundown - dusk
Sunup - dawn (though dawn is often still used, such as "dawn patrol")

Distance terms

Claw-length
Fox-length
Frog-length
Kittenstep or kitstep
Rabbit hop or rabbit length
Reed-length
Mouse-length
Pawstep
Tail-length
Tree-length
Whisker-length

Coined terms and fanon terms (WIP, please contact me if you have terms to add!)

En-cat/en-kit - a nonbinary cat or kitten (coined by myself)

Gatherings, Ceremonies, & Medicine Cat Meetings ⭐

This section covers different ceremonies and meetings, both interclan and intraclan. You do not need to familiarize yourself with these, especially if you start as an apprentice. See the ceremonies page for the Filipino Warriors AU ceremonies.

Ceremonies & Clan Meetings

Clan meetings may be held to announce news or conduct ceremonies. All cats in the Clan are encouraged to attend. These are usually called by leaders, but sometimes another cat may do so. These ceremonies are pretty uniform in canon, but in roleplay (such as Filipino Warriors AU) you may see differences between Clans based on world-building.

Apprentice ceremony

Kits who reach 6 moons are appointed as apprentices, generally in a batch. Sometimes a kit will be deemed not ready for apprenticeship, in which case their ceremony may be delayed. Before the ceremony, leaders (sometimes with their deputy's counsel) will pick a mentor for each apprentice. During the ceremony, the leader will call forward the kit and then announce the apprentice's name with the new suffix of "-paw". They next announce the mentor and call them forward to talk about their qualities and what the leader hopes they'll pass down. The apprentice and mentor will then touch noses.

Warrior ceremony

Once an apprentice has been training for at least 6 moons or more, the mentor will do a final assessment of the apprentice's skills and will share the results with the leader. Sometimes an assessment is skipped if the apprentice did an important contribution to the Clan, such as fighting off a predator. The leader will call the apprentice forward and ask StarClan to look upon the apprentice before asking the apprentice if they are ready for their responsibilities. After the apprentice confirms yes, the leader will assign their new warrior name and explain what virtues StarClan honors. The leader will rest their head on the apprentice's while the new warrior licks the leader's shoulder. The new warrior will then hold a vigil (see below).

Deputy ceremony

When a deputy retires, dies, is promoted, or dies, a new one is appointed by the leader before moonhigh that day. This is usually done during a special ceremony at camp, but sometimes will be done elsewhere if emergencies call for it (such as if the deputy dies and the leader may die soon). Sometimes it will be delayed if the leader is unsure if the deputy is alive, or if they feel incapable of announcing one. However, this is often seen as a bad omen. The ceremony is simple: the leader announces the new deputy by name after praying that the previous deputy may approve of the choice.

Elder ceremony

Once a cat has decided they are ready to retire, they will tell their leader. The leader will call a clan meeting and ask again, and once this is confirmed, will ask StarClan to give the cat rest. Sometimes a cat may recieve a name-change ceremony.

Name changing ceremony

A name change ceremony is usually done consensually, but sometimes a leader may make the choice to force it upon a cat. This is generally looked down upon. Name changes may be done due to injury or the at disliking their current name. In canon however, it is generally looked down upon for a warrior to ask for a name change due to disliking it, but sometimes a leader may make exceptions. The leader will announce the cat's new name and desecribe the reason. See this page for inclusive ways of world-building around disability.

Vigils

There are two types of vigils: new warrior's vigils and vigils for fallen clanmates.

New warriors take a silent vigil and stay up all night. They may not eat, but they can drink, and if there is an emergency may wake up the leader to speak. They are meant to do instrospection about their new duties and how the Clan needs them. The former mentor will relieve them of their vigil at dawn at which point the new warrior gets a nice rest.

After a clanmate has died, the body is taken to the center of camp. Family members, close friends, and the cat's apprentice will sit until dawn when the burial is done, whereas other clanmates may only stand vigil for a short period of time. They may speak with eachother and share tongues with the deceased. Sometimes vigils may be done without a body, such as if a clanmate disappeared.

Gatherings

Gatherings are peaceful meetings of all Clans that occur on the night of the full moon (or sometimes after an emergency gathering is called for). If the moon is covered by clouds, the Gathering is skipped. To fight here means to break the warrior code as a truce clause is written into it, and Gatherings are always held on neutral territory. The entire Clans do not intend. Instead, the leader chooses which of their clanmates may go to the Gathering.

Leaders, deputies, medicine cats and their apprentice all always attend, unless ill or injured. Deputies can speak for their leaders in their absence. The leader will also choose several warriors, apprentices, elders who are fit to make the trek, and queens who can afford to leave their kits for the night. Leaders will sit up high somewhere together, and deputies will do the same somewhere lower. Unless invited, no other cat may speak from up high. A leader will start the meeting and announce or discuss topics, such as the following:

new apprentices
new warriors
new deputy
deaths or births
retirements
dangers (such as predators or humans) that may affect all the Clans
new customs for all Clans to follow or warrior code changes

After the leaders are finished there is usually some socializing between the different Clan cats before leaving. Many cats will try to use this as an opportunity to gather intel about the other Clans, such as strengths or weaknesses.

Medicine Cat Meetings

Medicine cats and their apprentices meet in peace twice every moon, taking place on the night of the half-moon. The cats meet at a sacred location to StarClan, typically a location that has something(s) to reflect the moonlight. In the original series, this is called the Moonstone, and in the later series is called the Moonpool. In Filipino Warriors, the Moonstone is on top of a lower mountain peak.

Medicine cat apprentice ceremony

The medicine cat takes their prospective apprentice to the Moonstone/equivalent at the half-moon and asks them if they're ready and want to be a medicine cat apprentice. The medicine cat will present them to StarClan and then the apprentice and other attendees will touch noses to the Moonstone/equivalent and dream with StarClan.

Medicine cat ceremony

Once ready to be accepted as a full medicine cat, the apprentice goes through a ceremony during the half-moon. The medicine cat mentor will ask them if they are committed to StarClan and serving as a medicine cat outside of Clan rivarly. Once the apprentice accepts, the mentor announces their new name and virtues. They rest their muzzle on the former apprentice as they lick their mentor's shoulder. All attendees repeat the name and greet the new medicine cat as one of them.

Leadership ceremony

The leadership ceremony takes place when a deputy is ready to receive nine lives from StarClan and earn the suffix of "-star". The leader will go to the Moonstone/equivelent with the medicine cat and sometimes a small group of warriors who will hang back once near the Moonstone/equivelent. They will touch noses to the Moonstone/equivelent and become paralyzed for a short period of time. Their current life is ripped away, and then they awake as nine StarClan cats come down from Silverpelt. Each will give them a new life, and usually they are cats who were either present in the leader's life or their Clan's history.

Each life giver will touch nose to the top of the new leader's head and will explain their gift and what to use it for. These can be things the gift of love or humility. These lives are usually painful to receive, but sometimes may cause a very positive feeling. Sometimes a life may have two or three virtues instead of one. At the end of the ceremony, the StarClan cats will announce the leader's new name. Leaders may not speak to anyone about the ceremony except the medicine cat.

If a leader is to retire, they are supposed to give up all but one life at the Moonstone/equivelent, otherwise the next leader will not receive the full nine.