Duskflame recounts the Warrior Code and how it changed.
The Warrior Code
The original warrior code is as follows, prior to changes made in A Light in the Mist.
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 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 .
Each Clan must help the others so that no Clan will fall.
Revised warrior code
After Ashfur’s manipulation, the warrior code was reordered to prioritize the most important rules first.
Defend all the Clans, even with your life. Your first loyalty is to your Clan, but all cats who follow the warrior code are your allies. Each Clan must ensure that no other Clan falls.
Nevertheless, each Clan is proud and independent, with traditions that must always be respected.
An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win their battles, unless they are outside the code, or it is necessary for self-defense.
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.
A Gathering of all Clans (forest: 4/5 lake; 4/5) is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night.
No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different Clan.
A kit must be at least six moons old to become an 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.
If a Clan member believes that their leader is no longer leading with honor and integrity, they can challenge them. Three-quarters of the Clan members, including their medicine cats, must agree. Their objections will then be presented to the leaders of the other Clans. If the other leaders agree, all medicine cats will request that StarClan remove the leader’s remaining lives and give them to the deputy. These objections cannot be raised by the deputy.
A warrior or medicine cat may switch their allegiance from one Clan to another but must meet a set of conditions. The cat wishing to change Clans must perform a task of their intended Clan’s choosing. If they succeed, it will be deemed StarClan’s will that they change Clans, and their request will be granted.
Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life.
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.
A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet. (formerly Rule 15)
Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats unless they are in need—but a warrior must always remember that all cats follow the warrior code.
Exceptions
Cats on their way to the Moonstone or Moonpool are allowed to cross other Clans’ territories to get to their destination—WindClan grounds on the moorland in the forest, and ThunderClan grounds by the lake.
At the lake, cats may travel on other Clans’ grounds as long as they are within three fox-lengths of the lake to go to a Gathering.
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
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.
Rejected codes
Throughout history, several other rules were proposed for introduction into the Warrior Code, however, they were turned down. These rules were:
Only cats of pure forest blood can be Clan members
Each Clan may only eat the prey they are most suited for
All Clan cats must acknowledge that StarClan controlled Clan life, and to deny their existence would be to violate the warrior code .
Well that’s the end hope you enjoyed it bye for now!
Great article!
Great article! This was a really good explanation of the warrior code 😀
Great article!
I always wanted a list of the Warrior Code! Thanks for this.
Awesome article! I’m only on Darkness Within but this new code is much better!
Thank you for I learned the warrior code!