Camp and Territory

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Camp

Camp Entrance

Highrock

art by bewilderbark + sharktaiis

Camp

CavernClan camp is a large, open, cenote-like cavern nestled into the wall of the largest mountains in their rocky territory, found by Brazenspine after the old Camp became muddy and unstable after the battle with Mousebelly. Tall, sturdy, rocky walls prevent the mountain winds from blowing into the camp's territory, and despite its exposed roof, the camp stays warm and comfortable. Gaps in the ceiling cast sunbeams down on the upper layer of camp, warming the stones and earthy ground. Layers of stone create steps down into the lower half of camp, a shadowy, dark layer away from the harsh bright light, where cats with more sensitive eyes go to rest. Water trickles into camp as waterfalls, collecting in a pool on the bottom layer of camp. These waters are shallow, and provide good romping grounds for kits and apprentices. Light bounces off the water, illuminating the dark portion of camp a dull, calm blue. Moss and lichens hang from the camp, and tall grasses and ferns coat the floor. Small flowers grow in clusters all along the moss and grass. Small trees with Sky Guppy colonies cling to the sides of the camp's walls. Fresh-kill is stored at the roots of the tree between the Highrock and the Healer's Den.

Camp Entrance

CavernClan camp has two entrances, one from the upper layer, which exits into the piece of territory known as the Boar's Mouth, and another in the lower layer, stationed between the Elder's Den and the Nursery. This lower exit feeds into the winding underground tunnel system, and is used most often by hunting patrols. A guard is stationed at this lower exit at all times, keeping kits and apprentices from trying to sneak out and into the dangerous tunnels without a guide. The main entrance is much less guarded, as CavernClan's split in day and night patrolling means there is never a time where a large majority of the clan is resting.

Highrock

The Highrock is a layered, tall stone that rests beneath the largest gap in CavernClan's roof, bathed in either warm sunlight or glittering star and moonlight during the Leader's announcements. From the Highrock, the Leader can see a majority of the camp. Gathered cats sit on the warm earth by the Apprentice's den, or on the steps leading to the lower portion of camp.

Leader's Den

The Leader's Den resides in the hollowed out Highrock, filled with moss, crystals, and down feathers. The current Leader decorates it to their liking. The den is on the upper layer of camp, and is not blocked by any lichens or moss so that any cat may easily speak with the current Leader.

Guardian's Den

The Guardian's Den is tucked away in the side of the camp, where two tall rocks slid and crashed against one another, creating a small alcove. When CavernClan first moved in, there was no den here. However, with the assistance of the Miners, a new den was quickly dug out. This den is composed of multiple smaller dens and nooks, where individual cats, or groups of cats, may rest and lounge together in privacy. For the cats who enjoy company, however, there is a central area of the den where many cats opt to curl up and sleep in together.

Apprentice's Den

Unlike the Guardian's Den, the Apprentice's Den already existed upon discovery of the camp, existing as a small nook before it, too, became dugout and expanded. Due to the temporary nature of Apprenticeship, private nooks are absent from this den, and Apprentices are instead encouraged to nest with their denmates and bond with the cats they'll be training alongside.

Healer's Den

The Healer's Den rests right beside the Leader's Den, stationed right next to the main entrance of camp to tend immediately to any injured or sick cat returning from a patrol. Its entrance is wide and open to allow easy passage in and out of the den. Much like the Guardian's Den, it was originally nothing but a wall, but was dug out to fit the needs of the Healers. The entrance opens into a large general area with a domed roof coated in bioluminescent algae from the old camp, padded and plush with moss and cave plants to keep the air fresh. A small stream trickles out from the roof where the streams above camp were accidentally dug into, which pools and drains out through loose gravel and soil to join the groundwater below. Shelves and holes are dug out on one of the walls for proper storage. Two side dens exist, one for the contagiously ill, and another for kittens and the immunocompromised, or any other cat susceptible to catching illnesses easily.

Nursery

One of the only two dens on the lower layer of camp, the Nursery is a wide, large den capable of fitting multiple litters and multiple visitors. Littered with toys and trinkets, the Nursery is a tripping hazard for any cat that isn't used to the tomfoolery that the youngest members of the Clan bring. Tied twine dangles from the ceiling for kits to chase and hang from, and a thick layer of plush moss and down feather provides a soft, squishy floor to prevent scrapes and injury. Its proximity to the waters provides the kits with fresh drinking water and shallows to play in. Occasionally, queens may bring in minnows to place in the water for their kits to practice fishing.

Elder's Den

The Elder's Den is the second of two dens on the lower layer of camp, tucked away in the shadows to protect the aging cats' sensitive eyesight. This den is no different from other dens, dug out of the rocky earth to provide a comfortable place to rest. A small herb store is kept in the Elder's den, to be quickly accessed by the Healers when providing care to the older members. Rather than just moss, most nests in the Elder's den are started with a layer of thick animal hide to make for quick cleanup or transportation out of the den. Moss grips line the walls of the den to create better support for getting up and down, and crystal chimes and Chimetail Shrew bells hang from the walls. Kits can often be found within the Elder's den, listening to their seniors share stories from the past.

Territory

CavernClan territory has two distinct layers- a winding, confusing, underground system of caverns and tunnels that sprawl across the entirety of the Great Valley, and a dense, aboveground jungle that grows sparse the higher up the mountainside one goes. These winding tunnels are marked with ancient, fossilized pawprints, left behind by years of traversing the tunnels. Moss runs along the walls, providing tactile feedback for CavernClan members. In locations where these caverns open wide, CavernClan trains their apprentices to fight. The aboveground territory is much more uncharted and risky to traverse, ripe with predators that CavernClan hasn't chased off. Faces of sedimentary rock break up the rainforest territory, which are prone to crumbling and collapsing during heavy rains. However, the most commonly traversed paths are illuminated with Sky Guppy colonies, and have logs set up to shield cats from the steep drop-off points these paths possess.

CavernClan territory is home to many types of flora and fauna, much like VerdureClan territory- creatures such as macaws, hummingbirds, butterflies, mice, and deer bound about the surface territory, while bats, cavefish, worms, olms, and more slink and flit through the underground territory. Fireflies buzz about the aboveground territory during the dark hours. Any animal that can be found within tropical rainforest and tropical cave systems can be found in CavernClan territory. Predators stalk through land and cave, such as the fierce Tunnel King or the buzzing Musidae.

While being underground, the dark caverns are still jam-packed and lush with life. Glowing algae can be found most anywhere, illuminating the dim caves with soft blue light. Glow worms also dangle from the ceiling, taking on the appearance of glittering stars. Moss, ferns, and grasses sprout higher up in the cave systems, where natural light can filter in through the cracks in the roof or walls of the caves. Mushrooms grow in dimly lit caverns year-round. Their aboveground most closely resembles VerdureClan territory- however, the steep cliff faces present attract mountain goats and other ungulates looking for salt and minerals to lick up.

The Rock Garden

One of the largest caverns in CavernClan territory, excluding their camp, is referred to as The Rock Garden. This hollow resides in the southern belly of CavernClan territory, just near the exit that leads out to the Gathering Island. Large rocks and crystals dot the ground, varying in shapes and sizes. Crystals grow from the walls and ceiling of the cavern, glittering in the dim light. Rather than hard ground, the floor of this cavern is coated in soft sand- a good fall-breaker. The Rock Garden is used to train apprentices, where they practice burrowing or building muscle by pushing and pulling the heavy rocks scattered through the cavern.

A dense maze of tunnels surrounds this area, however, none of these tunnels except the exit towards the Gathering Island, or the entrance point from the regular tunnel system, go anywhere but back to the Rock Garden. They are winding and confusing, however, with loops that feed back into each other. Many mentors use these to teach apprentices how to properly navigate dense structures.

Quartz Underpass

The Quartz Underpass is a series of crystal-lined tunnels and caverns that lead to a small crystal pool, formed by flowing streams merging together. Despite its name, multiple kinds of crystals can be found here, growing large enough for the cats to walk along and get lost within, similar to Mexico's Cave of the Crystals. Small gaps where the tunnels eat through into the surface cast small, strong sunbeams, which illuminate the crystals a bright white. All sorts of small prey seek refuge throughout the small gaps and tight squeezes formed by the crystals. The sound of trickling water fills these caverns.

At the end of these crystalline tunnels, a small, dark pool can be found- its waters entirely clear and pristine. On occasion, cave fish can be seen flitting about its depths. The walls of the pool are covered in growing quartz, illuminated by the visiting cats- resembling the Nettlebed Cave of New Zealand. Due to the sharp walls of the pool, it is very dangerous for clumsy cats to slip into the waters.

The Boar's Mouth

The Boar's Mouth is one of the only named aboveground locations in CavernClan territory, and it refers to the plot of land just outside of camp, where dense jungle trees grow tall and spring flowers sprout almost year-round. This piece of land is named after CavernClan's folk tale of the boar whom created the mountains, due to its shape resembling the snout of a hog.

Most of CavernClan's grown herbs are planted and sprouted here in this sunny plot of grass, where the healers come to collect and dry them out on the sun-warmed stones at the top of the rocky structures. Queens often bring their kits out to this piece of territory as well, as it's just outside of camp and presents plenty of bugs for the kits to chase after.

artwork by bewilderbark

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