The Warrior Code. {i}

[evelyn ?]

The Warrior Code.

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• Defend your Clan, even with your life. You may have friendships with cats from other Clans, but your loyalty must remain to your Clan.
  
  
• Do not trespass or hunt on another Clan's territory. If a patrol catches you, they then have permission to chase you off their land.
  
  
• Kits and elders should be fed first, and, unless they have special permission, apprentices cannot eat until the elders have all been fed.
  
  
• Prey is not killed for sport. You should not kill anything unless someone plans on eating it. You must also give StarClan thanks for its life.
  
  
• Kits must be six moons old in order to become an apprentice. This rule was famously broken by Brokenstar of ShadowClan, when he forced ShadowClan kits to become apprentices before they were ready. He also trained them too hard, and killed some of them. Some were made warriors before they were even six moons old.
  
  
• New warriors must sit a silent vigil, and watch over the camp while the others sleep. They cannot say a word, and must sit outside no matter what the weather is like, reflecting on warrior responsibilities.
  
  
• A Clan cat cannot become the deputy of their Clan without having mentored at least one apprentice. This rule was broken by Firestar when he named Brambleclaw his deputy, who had not yet recived his first apprentice.
  
  
• Should the leader of a Clan die or retire, the deputy shall replace the leader. If a deputy dies or retires, the leader must then choose a successor before moonhigh (midnight). Bluestar broke this rule when she named Fireheart her deputy.
  
  
• Once every full moon, the Clans must have a Gathering with each other. Also, there shall be no fighting among them during this time. And if they do fight, StarClan sends a cloud to cover the moon, showing they are angry, usually ending the Gathering.
  
  
• The Clan boundaries must be checked and marked by patrols daily. Also, if a patrol finds a trespassing cat, they must chase him off of their territory. This is one of the most commonly broken rules, with many Clans crossing boundaries to catch prey or apprentices not acknowledging the boundaries.
  
  
• No warrior can ever ignore a kit in pain or danger. This rule applies even if the kit is from a different Clan. Fireheart and Graystripe saved Mistyfoot's kits from the flood in Forest of Secrets. In Sunset, Russetfur and a ShadowClan patrol broke this law, watching Berrykit struggle with his tail caught in a fox trap, and making no move to help him.
  
  
• The word of a Clan leader is law.
  
  
• An honorable cat does not kill in battle, unless the opposing cats are outside the Warrior Code, or if they have to kill in self-defense.
  
  
• A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.
  
  

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