Post by Stella on May 10, 2011 16:52:01 GMT -5
Tribe Ranks
Healer
In the Tribe, the leader is called a healer. Not only does the healer lead the Tribe, he or she also uses healing herbs to cure wounds and sickness. They also interpret the signs of rock, leaf, and water to read messages from the Tribe of Endless Hunting{Starclan version}. The herbs used are similar to the ones in the Clans, but in the mountains there are different plants. When a cat becomes a healer, he or she is known as the Teller of the Pointed Stones or Stoneteller. The Teller of the Pointed Stones does not participate in fights to avoid getting killed.
Prey-Hunter
Cave-guards are thickset, strong, and big. They are the main fighting force of the Tribe and have the responsibility of defending the cave from predators. They also accompany the prey-hunters on hunting missions to watch out for large birds. These cats are chosen from birth for their physical build. They often coat themselves with mud to hide their scent and blend in with the rocky scenery.
Cave-Guard
Prey-hunters are light, slim, and fast. They are the hunters of the Tribe, using stealth and surprise along with camouflage to catch their food. They depend on speed, for there are not many places to hide in the almost-bare surroundings, like WindClan. A special technique of theirs is to spy on a small prey, like a mouse, until an eagle comes down to get it. They can then leap on the eagle and kill it, thus delivering two pieces of prey for the Tribe. Prey-hunters often coat themselves with mud; this disguises them, covers their scent, and protects against the wind. Prey-hunters are chosen from birth for their physical build.
To-Be
To-bes are young cats in training, much like the Clan apprentices. At their birth, it is foretold by the Tribe healer if they will be a prey-hunter, a cave-guard or the next Teller of the Pointed Stones. Kits that seem fast and lithe are prey-hunters; kits that look strong will be cave-guards. The Stoneteller will receive a message from The Tribe of Endless Hunting when it is time to choose his own to-be. Once this happens, they can become something else, but as noted by Brook in The Sight to Hollypaw, most do not.
Kit-mother
As their name suggests, Kit-mothers are she-cats who are about to have or recently had kits. When they have their kits, they remain kit-mothers for a time to nurse them. They are the equivalent of a Clan Queen.
Elders
Former Prey-Hunters and Cave-Guards, now retired. The same as a Clan elder.
Kits
Young cats that are not yet To-Bes; the same as clan kits.
Hunting Techniques
Tribe cats have their own special way of hunting. Prey-Hunters find some prey (i.e. a mouse), sit in a hiding place, and wait until they see an eagle (or other bird of prey) attack the prey. They then jump onto and kill the eagle, getting to keep both pieces of prey. The six questing Clan cats learned this technique to some extent, most notably Stormfur.
Naming Techniques
Kit-mothers name their kits after the first thing they see after the birth of their kits, for example, Brook Where Small Fish Swim, or Star That Shines On Water. In Cats of the Clans, Rock notes that he finds this method strange, as he perceives that this way of naming kits would cause many kits to be named things like "Wall of Cave", or "Floor of Cave". Unlike the cats of the Clans, Tribe cats shorten their names (e.g. Brook, Star).
