Official art depicting the forest territories from the reprinted editions

The Greatest Home by Owlkit

Owlkit takes a look at which group’s territory would be the best to live in.

Official art depicting the forest territories from the reprinted editions
Official art depicting the forest territories from the reprinted editions

Hello, clanmates, my first clan meeting here. I am Owlsight from the Oak. And today I have gathered you all to share some news with you.

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR…. THE NEW PROPHECY AND EVERYTHING AFTER THAT

PART I

Retelling

Many seasons ago, before even the great Thunderstar and Shadowstar and all the others were born there were cats, our ancestors. They lived beside a lake. Now the Softpaws, now known as apprentices, in order to become a Sharpclaw (Warrior) they had to venture into the tunnels of the underground. And if you managed to escape alone you would become a Sharpclaw. BUT, the time came when Jay Claw, a member of these cats (The Ancients) had a vision. He saw a mountain, prey running through the grass, plump and well. He saw a waterfall, a place to live in. And with a vote Jay Claw led his clan to the place among the rocks.

And thus began ‘The Great Venture’ (that’s what I call it anyway).

Many seasons later, when our heroes were born and grown they found themselves travelling AGAIN to another place that this time, nobody knew what it looked like. A journey down the mountain and through unknown territory UNTIL…. They found the forest beside twolegplace.

And thus began ‘The Clans’.

There was a LOT of war. War, war, war, these clans were split into 5 groups. Shadowclan, wily and proud, Thunderclan, fierce and brave, Windclan, swift and loyal, Riverclan, clever and strong and Skyclan, um, jumpy and speedy?
Anyway, another few seasons and Skyclan was not exiled, not banished, but forced out of their territory by the twolegs who took over the land and built there. Skyclan, now begging the clans, was inevitably walking away from their former clan ‘friends’. And every other clan forgot about them. Seasons later the clans found the twolegs were going to take ALL their territory for themselves. So the clans had to move,

And thus began ‘The Great-’ okay okay but seriously. ‘The Great Journey’ Now to be clawed down in history.

BUT, little did they know they would…
1. Meet their distant relatives from the mountains
2. Go back to where they came from
3. Leave the place that was supposed to be their home for well, forever.
I know, really weird.

PART II

Living

Okay, I will start the REAL point of this article. This is the first bit of discovering which is better to live in.
Obviously, these three places have their differences. And that’s what I’m going to discuss in this part. I will rate it at the end of each paragraph on biome, food, shelter and organisation, with 10 being the best. And I will also be including the lake when The Ancients were there.

The Mountains

Number 1 – Biome

The Tribe of Rushing Water lives on A MOUNTAIN. Like honestly, what kind of cat does that? You could fall down the side just walking out of camp. Well, not really but anyway.
The Tribe live on a mountain, in a cave behind a waterfall. Now, these mountains will have lots of rocks, and more mountains and more rocks. But if they live there there must be some trees and bushes. But this is also a place for EAGLES. I mean it’s easy when you know how to handle them but imagine if a clan cat was coming to the mountain to deliver a vital message or something and just got picked up by an eagle? I’m sure they had plenty of kits who decided to sneak out of the cave and got picked up by an eagle as well. But the good thing about living up there WAS that there was no rivalry with other clans UNTIL that other group of cats came along and made a home for themselves. But then there was that giant sharptooth and…… I can’t go over everything here and I think I’ve made my point multiple times.
But because the tribe is so high up they’ll get a lot more snow than the clans in leafbare. Oh yeah and all the avalanches that happen.
But at least badgers and foxes don’t live up there.

4/10

Number 2 – Food

Obviously, there is some of the normal prey that the clans catch, like birds and other stuff. EAGLES. Living on a mountain there would probably be more slope when you’re hunting but for them it’s just normal so it doesn’t really matter to them. But as in the last one, for the prey hunters in leafbare, the snow will be thicker, and harder to run through because they are built for running. And I think the way they eat their food is a nice way of sharing tongues.

5/10

Number 3 – Shelter

The Tribe live in a cave behind a waterfall, which I think is pretty smart. Seeing as the cave is very unlikely to collapse because of how sturdy the rock is and it sorta shields the cold. And it’s great so you don’t live outside where eagles can come and steal kits. Because I think we all know very well what that’s like…
But yes, I don’t think there are any flaws here, you’re safe from the dangerous outside, warm and oh.
Comfortable? They’ll have feather and moss and stuff but you’ll still feel the hard rock when you sleep. But they’re used to roughness so…..

7/10

Number 4 – Organisation

The Tribe of Rushing Water is very different compared to the clans, even though they have the same blood.
Prey Hunters hunt the prey and Cave guards well, they guard the cave. In my opinion it would be very smart for them to have a cat that is taught all about one thing and not multiple things because then instead of having a decent hunter, as well as being decent at fighting, you can have a strong, intimidating cat that is great at fighting. But then there is the leader, or The Teller Of Pointed Stones; Who not only leads the tribe but also takes care of the injured and unwell cats. Which for a leader, would be expected because they are the most experienced of most.
Then we have the to-bes which is equivalent to an apprentice. Who also have the aim of one thing in particular, whether it is cave guards or prey hunters. Also, the leader also doesn’t have to travel that far to listen to their ancestors unlike the clans who have to travel into nowhere. But also under organisation is prey eating, I know I’ve already said this but it’s a very generous way to have conversation and be nice. Everything else is just the same, elders, kits and kit-mothers.
Their names are very unique but why are they like that?

8/10

And that will be all from the mountains. A decent place to live in because of all the risks.

The Forest

Number 1 – Biome

So NOW we have other clans that are constantly in war with you AS WELL as having all the dangers. And now I have to include ALL the clans.
This article is gonna be longer than I thought it would be.

ThunderClan

Very dangerous territory, well, if you don’t live there of course. The Great Sycomore, Snake Rocks… Yeah.
In ThunderClan it’s a forest, a normal one. So badgers and foxes come for a visit all the time. Just adding even more danger to the fact THAT YOU’RE GOING TO DIE. And the trees are blocking your view.

3/10 (I’m so sorry ThunderClan)

RiverClan

ThunderClan but with a river. Excluding The Great Sycomore and Snake Rocks. Plus more food, and a river surrounding their camp so it’s harder for intruders to enter.

6/10

ShadowClan

A pine forest, at least the branches don’t get in your way when you’re hunting. There is a thunderpath separating them from ThunderClan. But they know how to get around that.

6/10

WindClan

Easy prey, which counts as a lot in survival, but they live in the open, (for a point of time) so I don’t know. But there’s nothing in your face, your legs are just waiting to run across the moors.

8/10

Number 2 – Food

Again, I will flick through the reasons really quickly.

ThunderClan

Food would be a bit hard in all the tangles, but being ThunderClan, it’s too easy to catch it. Being able to climb trees to catch the birds. Voles, mice, birds are the main things this clan likes to eat.

6/10

RiverClan

Though they have an extra source of prey, it would certainly be of no use when leafbare comes. I have no idea whether they get voles and water voles or just water voles, and again I have no clue how long waiting for fish takes soooo, yeah. But probably not long because some of the time RiverClan is described as well fed and plump.

8/10

ShadowClan

As I said earlier, the trees don’t block some of your view. BUT since birds hang around in the tall pine trees you’ll get less food, I can’t think of anything apart from that (I think writing too much is getting at me).

5/10

WindClan

Rabbits, don’t they ever get tired of eating the same thing over and over again? Oh well, a good source of prey that they catch a lot without trouble. And with long legs built for striding across the moors well…

9/10

Number 3 – Shelter

Shelter is a very important thing about survival, if you’re out in the open you’re very vulnerable to predators, let’s continue.

ThunderClan

This clan lives in a pit, I have no idea how eagles manage to steal kits though. It sorta protects them from other animals and would be harder to fight in a limited area of space. Bit of a flaw for your opponent.

6/10

RiverClan

As I said earlier, a defensive boundary of water surrounding their camp is great. But, I have no idea what the RiverClan camp looks like. Sooooo, I’m so sorry I couldn’t review you properly RiverClan.

7/10

ShadowClan

I think they slept under the stars as well if I’m not mistaken? I can’t say much as we didn’t get much of a POV in The Forest. But the usual dens for specific cats.

5/10

WindClan

Camp would NOT be protected by a roof I’m telling you that. And the moors are practically calling for an eagle. Hmmmmm.

3/10

FINALLY. THAT WAS BORING, Now for the fun part (sorta).

Number 4 – Organisation.

The clan’s way of roles is completely different to that of the Tribes. Everybody has a role in everything, hunting, fighting, guarding. Which is also a good way to do things, you might specialise in something specific though.
Warriors are just the adults who have gone through their training and the apprentices are the ones who are still going through their training, I think you knew that though so there was no point in saying that.
Anyways, there is a dawn patrol that just goes out in the morning to check the borders. This is smart, because some enemies might take advantage of you being tired in the morning and approach you.
In prey eating the elders and kits are always fed first, showing just how much they care for their clan.
There are hunting patrols and border patrols, both looking after the safety of the clan (wow the erin hunter team really thought a lot about this, how am I gonna cover everything? gosh). Deputy becomes leader blah blah I should just write the whole warrior code shouldn’t I?

THE WARRIOR CODE

1. Defend your clan, even with your life. You may have friendships in other clans but your loyalty must remain to your clan as one day you may meet in battle.
2. Do not hunt or trespass on another clan’s territory.
3. Elders, queens, sick or injured cats or kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices must not eat until they have hunted for the elders.
4. Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for it’s life
5. A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice.
6. New appointed warriors will sit a silent vigil for one night after becoming a warrior.
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, retirement, or promotion (to a leader status) or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.
10. A Gathering of all (five) clans is held at a 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 honourable warrior does not need to kill cats to win their battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or if it is necessary for self-defence.
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 (five) clans. Each clan must help the others so that no clan will fall.

9/10

Done! Finally, now we can take a look at the clans at The Lake.

The Lake

Number 1 – Biome

I already covered most of the territory in the last one but now they just have slightly different territory.

ThunderClan

It’s just the old territory but different, it does have the abandoned twoleg den though. And they did use it for the sick cats.
And they also live in a pit here as well. Buuuut, there is a lake that cats can fall into, and have fallen into. So it’s pretty dangerous if you’re not careful. This goes for all the clans (except RiverClan).

6/10

RiverClan

Honestly, what is different about this? Apart from the lake? A river in a forest.

6/10

ShadowClan

I’m pretty sure they lived in a ravine for a while? But there is the twoleg den not far from their territory. With two cats that always fight them. And other than that it’s the same pine forest.

5/10

WindClan

About the same, rabbit moors with the moonpool not far.

7/10

SkyClan

All I remember is tall trees, if Tigerstar II gave them territory wouldn’t that mean they got some pine trees? And since they’re known for jumping along the trees well…..

7/10

Number 2 – Food

Food is about the same for all the clans so I’ll just have the same rating.

ThunderClan

6/10

RiverClan

8/10

ShadowClan

5/10

WindClan

9/10

SkyClan

They would get a little more food than ShadowClan because they would spend a bit more time in the trees catching birds.

7/10

Number 3 – Shelter

ThunderClan

Well, ThunderClan also lives in a pit here, dens are like, are they shaped into the wall or something else? Well, they would get less rain because some of the trees would be sheltering the pit. There is like a staircase (but not actually) leading up to the leader’s den. Reasonable reason. There are some, let’s call them… ‘back tunnels’. Which make for a clean escape in fires, trust me *winks*.

7/10

RiverClan

Dunno, but it’s definitely not a pit. I think it’s on the ground with dens and stuff.

5/10

ShadowClan

As I said earlier, a ravine, which is dangerous if you’re on it. But ShadowClan knows their territory well, so that’s a problem for trespassers.

6/10

WindClan

You’ll just get so cold if you’re gonna sleep outside, Without any sorta ‘pit’ to keep the warmth in.

4/10

SkyClan

Well, they live on the ground as well, but, since the trees are covering them, it’s not as cold as it would be on the open moors.

5/10

Number 4 – Organisation

The exact same. Almost nothing has changed.

9/10

Now, finally I don’t have to list the clans one by one, I can just write….

The Time of the Ancients

Number 1 – Biome

The Ancients lived in the same territory as ThunderClan did. Near the tunnels that led underground.

6/10

Number 2 – Food

Because The Ancients lived in one group, they would have far more prey than any clan. And so they shouldn’t usually go hungry. But, there weren’t too many cats in the group, but still, prey could last them quite a while.

10/10

Number 3 – Shelter

No idea where they lived, just somewhere in the ThunderClan forest, so they would be protected by flying animals.

6/10

Number 4 – Organisation

Things are obviously different. We have the softpaws who have the same rank as an apprentice, and the sharpclaws, the same as warriors. BUT, in order to become a sharpclaw, a softpaw must enter the tunnels and find their way out. I would say this is the most dangerous feat of any apprentice or to-be. Aswe discover that a cat named Fallen Leaves had spent his entire death roaming the tunnels, never allowed to be freed. Because he died in there……
Now the names are a tiny bit different. Instead of my name being Owlsight, my name would be: Owl Sight. Just slightly different.

4/10

WE ARE DONE!!!! Gladly, for both of us, that will be the longest ‘part’.

PART III

Death

This is where I’m going to talk about the risks of each land. Starting with….

The Mountains

I think we all know what’s so bad about this is LIONS, EAGLES. Are they sure they want to live there? If I’m a cat and I see a mountain lion prowling around, I’m not going to think twice about living somewhere else. We know what a horrible death Feathertail and Snowkit had. This most definitely wouldn’t be my first pick. Not to mention falling down the mountain or into that crack warriors have to cross every time they visit them. And the avalanches that happen, and great boulders you have to leap across just to get somewhere.

1/10

The Forest

The dangers here are some badgers and foxes, but what really is the danger is that of other clans. Constantly warring over borders and food, and refusing help even when they need it. This just proves how desperate they are to survive. Some cats are murdered, some kits are stolen, some herb stores are wrecked. The only danger is the cats themselves.

3/10

The Lake

This is basically the same, except the lake that drowns cats and causes floods, and the dogs that kill cats on the moor without care, all adding danger to the already deadly situation. They are doing it to themselves!

2/10

The Time of the Ancients

The only danger here is the TUNNEL OF DOOM.

4/10

PART IV

Our Conclusion

“After thinking for a while I have made my decision. I would live in The Forest, where there aren’t as many dangers as the other places. I would be a WindClan warrior, though this goes against about everything I said, I would rather die fighting for my home, as my ancestors once did for me.”

PART V

Thank you all for reading, this took a lot of time so I hope it was worth it. For my first article I didn’t think there would be that many words but gosh, 3360 is amazing. I really hope you enjoyed it, so write where you think you would want to live.

Bye!

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