Deputy/Leader
Each Clan has one Deputy and one Leader. Generally, a deputy is much like a mini leader, giving and relaying orders to and from the leader and cats. Although in human society, many times leaders never even see more than 1/24 of their people, in a Clan, this is not true. Clan leaders interact with every cat born, to the oldest Elder constantly, whether be it on a patrol, eating together, or greeting them when they are born. Because the leader is the highest on the Clan Hierarchy, they are responsible for keeping the Clan running smoothly. The Clan leader also changes their name’s suffix to -star. For example, Bluestar, Firestar, and Crookedstar. Unlike a leader who changes their name, a deputy keeps their old name and sleeps inside the Warriors den.
A Clan leader tasks include making important decisions, such as whether to battle another Clan, ensure that their Clan is argument free, and strategic planning. The deputy and leader typically plan patrols together for important events. The deputy then goes out in the morning to assign patrols for the day. In order to keep all the Warriors fresh, they are not expected to do more that one or two patrols every day, so deputies are careful to think about this. Each morning, deputies go outside and decide the patrols, dividing up the cats between the morning and afternoon, ensuring that at every moment of the day the fresh-kill pile is well stocked. Because they are also a Warriors, deputies sleep in the Warriors den, in contrast to the leader, who has their own den. Despite this, every member of the Clan besides the medicine cats, Queens, Kits, and Elders patrols together sometime. Clan leaders are also responsible for overseeing the mentors, and occasionally going on patrols with the Apprentices to ensure that everyone is at where they should be. This often considered a huge honor to patrol with the Clan leader if you are an Apprentice, since if they are old enough to this final patrol with a final assessment leads usually to a Warriors ceremony. Finally, leaders must call Clan meetings, address the Clan, and when necessary, perform ceremonies. Please note that not every cat becomes a leader or deputy, it is based solely on the current leader’s preference, and also on whether you live through the leader’s 9 lives granted by StarClan. Because of their position, in battles deputies are often killed when they sacrifice themselves; hence, most leaders have 2-5 deputies in their entire leadership period.
Ceremonies
For the Ceremonies, we will use Bluestar. Generally, Ceremonies start with a Leader’s speech, followed by the actual ceremony, and they end with the whole Clan cheering.
Kit-Apprentice Ceremony
Pinestar [leader at the time]: Bluekit and Snowkit. You have been with us for six moons. Today you will start your training. Your father has been loyal to ThunderClan and is a brave warrior. May you tread in his pay steps.
Pinestar: [Gestures for new mentor to come forward] Bluekit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be Bluepaw. Your mentor will be Stonepelt. [Bluepaw touches noses with Stonepelt]
Apprentice-Warrior Ceremony:
Pinestar: Bluepaw, from this moment you will be known as Bluefur. StarClan honors your bravery and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan. Serve your Clan well. [Leader pads forward and new warrior bows their head to lick the leader’s shoulder for respect].
Everyone: Bluefur! Bluefur!
Warrior-Deputy Ceremony:
Sunstar: Bluefur, you will be the ThunderClan deputy from this day forward. May StarClan grant you the courage to help your Clan face whatever lies in its path. And when the time comes for you to take my place, I pray you will shine at the head of our Clan.
Everyone: Bluefur! Bluefur!
For the Ceremonies, we will use Bluestar. Generally, Ceremonies start with a Leader’s speech, followed by the actual ceremony, and they end with the whole Clan cheering.
Kit-Apprentice Ceremony
Pinestar [leader at the time]: Bluekit and Snowkit. You have been with us for six moons. Today you will start your training. Your father has been loyal to ThunderClan and is a brave warrior. May you tread in his pay steps.
Pinestar: [Gestures for new mentor to come forward] Bluekit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be Bluepaw. Your mentor will be Stonepelt. [Bluepaw touches noses with Stonepelt]
Apprentice-Warrior Ceremony:
Pinestar: Bluepaw, from this moment you will be known as Bluefur. StarClan honors your bravery and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan. Serve your Clan well. [Leader pads forward and new warrior bows their head to lick the leader’s shoulder for respect].
Everyone: Bluefur! Bluefur!
Warrior-Deputy Ceremony:
Sunstar: Bluefur, you will be the ThunderClan deputy from this day forward. May StarClan grant you the courage to help your Clan face whatever lies in its path. And when the time comes for you to take my place, I pray you will shine at the head of our Clan.
Everyone: Bluefur! Bluefur!
Deputy-Leader Ceremony:
Please note that during a Leader ceremony, cats that the deputy once knew that have died, alongside other cats give the lives. They do this by first explaining what it is meant to do, and then touch their nose to the prospective leader, giving them a life. It is noted that lives like hope, strength and love can be painful whereas pride will have a warm feeling.
Narrator talking about Bluefur:
StarClan: Welcome, Bluefur.
Pinestar: With this life, I give you compassion. Judge as much with your heart as your mind.
Mumblefoot: With this life, I give you endurance. Use it to keep going, even though you feel as though all hope and strength have left you.
Endure it. Have faith in your own strength.
Larksong: With this life, I give you humor. Use it to lighten the burdens of your Clan and to lift the spirits of your Clanmates when despair threatens. You will know when to use humor to help you.
Sweetpaw: With this life, I give you hope. Even on the darkest night, it will be there, waiting for you.
Sunstar: With this life, I give you courage. You will know how to use it.
Goosefeather: With this life I give you patience, you will need it.
Mosskit: With this life, I give you trust. Believe in your Clan and in yourself. Never doubt that you know the right path to take.
Bluestar: Mosskit. I... I'm so sorry.
Mosskit: I understand, but I miss you.
Moonflower: With this life, I give you love. Cherish your Clan as you cherished your kits, for now, they all are your kin.
Snowfur: You have sacrificed so much, and our Clan walks a safer path now. With this life I give you pride so that you may know your own worth and the worth of your Clan.
Thank you for raising Whitestorm. It was easier to leave him, knowing he had you. Use all your nine lives for your Clan. We will be with you at every step. If you need us, we will come. You were chosen long ago, and StarClan has never regretted its choice.
Warrior-Elder Ceremony:
Because Bluestar never retired, for this example, we will use Mousefur.
Firestar: Mousefur, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?
Mousefur: It is.
Firestar: Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given us. I call upon StarClan to give you many seasons of rest. [Lays his tail on her back and she bows her head and walks over to the Elders.
Mousefur: I don't need too much rest, Firestar. I'll still keep my claws sharp, and if trouble comes I'll be ready.
Everyone: Mousefur! Mousefur!
For the Ceremonies, we will use Bluestar. Generally, Ceremonies start with a Leader’s speech, followed by the actual ceremony, and they end with the whole Clan cheering.
Kit-Apprentice Ceremony
Pinestar [leader at the time]: Bluekit and Snowkit. You have been with us for six moons. Today you will start your training. Your father has been loyal to ThunderClan and is a brave warrior. May you tread in his pay steps.
Pinestar: [Gestures for new mentor to come forward] Bluekit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be Bluepaw. Your mentor will be Stonepelt. [Bluepaw touches noses with Stonepelt]
Apprentice-Warrior Ceremony:
Pinestar: Bluepaw, from this moment you will be known as Bluefur. StarClan honors your bravery and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan. Serve your Clan well. [Leader pads forward and new warrior bows their head to lick the leader’s shoulder for respect].
Everyone: Bluefur! Bluefur!
Warrior-Deputy Ceremony:
Sunstar: Bluefur, you will be the ThunderClan deputy from this day forward. May StarClan grant you the courage to help your Clan face whatever lies in its path. And when the time comes for you to take my place, I pray you will shine at the head of our Clan.
Everyone: Bluefur! Bluefur!
Deputy-Leader Ceremony:
Please note that during a Leader ceremony, cats that the deputy once knew that have died, alongside other cats give the lives. They do this by first explaining what it is meant to do, and then touch their nose to the prospective leader, giving them a life. It is noted that lives like hope, strength and love can be painful whereas pride will have a warm feeling.
Narrator talking about Bluefur:
StarClan: Welcome, Bluefur.
Pinestar: With this life, I give you compassion. Judge as much with your heart as your mind.
Mumblefoot: With this life, I give you endurance. Use it to keep going, even though you feel as though all hope and strength have left you.
Endure it. Have faith in your own strength.
Larksong: With this life, I give you humor. Use it to lighten the burdens of your Clan and to lift the spirits of your Clanmates when despair threatens. You will know when to use humor to help you.
Sweetpaw: With this life, I give you hope. Even on the darkest night, it will be there, waiting for you.
Sunstar: With this life, I give you courage. You will know how to use it.
Goosefeather: With this life I give you patience, you will need it.
Mosskit: With this life, I give you trust. Believe in your Clan and in yourself. Never doubt that you know the right path to take.
Bluestar: Mosskit. I... I'm so sorry.
Mosskit: I understand, but I miss you.
Moonflower: With this life, I give you love. Cherish your Clan as you cherished your kits, for now, they all are your kin.
Snowfur: You have sacrificed so much, and our Clan walks a safer path now. With this life I give you pride so that you may know your own worth and the worth of your Clan.
Thank you for raising Whitestorm. It was easier to leave him, knowing he had you. Use all your nine lives for your Clan. We will be with you at every step. If you need us, we will come. You were chosen long ago, and StarClan has never regretted its choice.
Warrior-Elder Ceremony:
Because Bluestar never retired, for this example, we will use Mousefur.
Firestar: Mousefur, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?
Mousefur: It is.
Firestar: Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given us. I call upon StarClan to give you many seasons of rest. [Lays his tail on her back and she bows her head and walks over to the Elders.
Mousefur: I don't need too much rest, Firestar. I'll still keep my claws sharp, and if trouble comes I'll be ready.
Everyone: Mousefur! Mousefur!
3. Ceremonies
For the Ceremonies, we will use Bluestar. Generally, Ceremonies start with a Leader’s speech, followed by the actual ceremony, and they end with the whole Clan cheering.
Kit-Apprentice Ceremony
Pinestar [leader at the time]: Bluekit and Snowkit. You have been with us for six moons. Today you will start your training. Your father has been loyal to ThunderClan and is a brave warrior. May you tread in his pay steps.
Pinestar: [Gestures for new mentor to come forward] Bluekit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be Bluepaw. Your mentor will be Stonepelt. [Bluepaw touches noses with Stonepelt]
Apprentice-Warrior Ceremony:
Pinestar: Bluepaw, from this moment you will be known as Bluefur. StarClan honors your bravery and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan. Serve your Clan well. [Leader pads forward and new warrior bows their head to lick the leader’s shoulder for respect].
Everyone: Bluefur! Bluefur!
11