The Warrior Code

[Hazel Swiftbrooke]

The Warrior Code is as follows...

1. 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.
   
   
2. Do not hunt or trespass on another Clan's territory.
   
   
3. Elders, queens, 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. If any warrior or apprentice is sick or injured, they may eat while the elders, queens, and kits are eating.
   
   
4. Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life.
   
   
5. A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice.
   
   
6. Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name.
   
   
7. A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.
   
   
8. The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies, retires or is exiled.
   
   
9. After the death or retirement of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.
   
   
10. A Gathering of all four 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.
    
    
11. Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats.
    
    
12. No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different Clan.
    
    
13. The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.
    
    
16. 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 the four. Each Clan must help the others so that no Clan will fall.

Exceptions to the code...

• Cats on their way to the Moonstone or Moonpool (sacred area to contact StarClan) are allowed to cross other Clans' territories to get to their destination.
• Cats may travel on other Clans' grounds as long as they are quickly traveling to attend a Gathering and not causing any disturbance. Keep in mind, you should stay close to the borders while traveling to the Gathering. Do not cut straight through their territory to get to where you want to go.
• Cats may travel on other Clan territories if they have something to report or to ask for help.
• The code is flexible about leadership challenges. Cats may challenge a weak or cruel leader if their Clan is in danger, and if their leadership threatens the Clan, the code expects a warrior to challenge their leader.

Additional Rules to keep in mind...
The following rules are not specifically stated in the warrior code, but are expected to be followed:

• Medicine cats may not have a mate or kits, as they must be able to heal all cats equally.
• Kits must stay in camp until they are apprenticed, and are not allowed to hunt.
• The safety of the Clan as a whole is more important than the safety of one cat.
• Clans must not unite together to drive out another Clan.
• Clans must not force another Clan to share territory.
• Enemy patrols must not attack cats if they are on a mission that all four Clans have agreed upon.
• Cats cannot eat when going to the Moonstone or Moonpool to speak with StarClan.