Folklore & Tradition

The Silver Serpent is a folk tale passed on primarily from Queens to Kits, telling tales of a silvery snake that appears in the night to eat away all the bad memories and nightmares lingering in the Clan. It is seen as a kind and gentle spirit, but Queens warn that cats that follow after its tail may never return the same, having gotten a glimpse into the otherness of the stars. Never again would they feel at home on the earthen ground. Cats may sometimes leave trinkets and mice out of hopes that the Silver Serpent may pay them a visit and prevent night terrors upon their slumber.

As the moons have gone by, the tale has begun to die off.

Opposite to the Silver Serpent, the Nightbringer is a malevolent beast that feeds off of the fear and terror that dreams can invoke. Word has it that a small, shadowy figure hunches over cats who are asleep, whispering into their ears in order to turn their dreams cold and terrifying. Nocat knows why the Nightbringer is as cruel as it is, but words and ideas bounce around, each different from the families that tell the tale. While Sky Guppies are used to ward off Wraiths, it is believed that they stave off the Nightbringer, too. 

Queens commonly scare their kittens by telling them that they'll invite the Nightbringer if their Kits do not settle down for bedtime.

The Rabbit in the Moon is largely based on the Aztec culture's tale of Quetzalcoatl and the Rabbit.

The legend goes that there was a god who breathed life into the world, creating the mountains like clay and creating life from his heart and blood. The magic and Divines from his spirit and kindness to bless the world with prosperity. He created the cats and other animals to wander his hillsides, and wept rivers and sighed the cold north winds. From his high point, he watched the world that he created fondly. 

Until one day, this god craved a taste of the life he'd made. He became a little animal, much like the cats, and took to wandering the world. He walked far and wide, relishing in his world, until the hardships of life sent him falling. Starving, parched, and hurt, the god collapsed as the sun crawled beneath the sky, laying amidst the foliage. As the blank moon rose, a rabbit emerged from the underbrush to eat the grass under the safety of night. The god watched, and asked the rabbit, "What is it that you are eating, little rabbit?"

The rabbit told him so, "Grass! Would you like some?" 

Despaired, the god shook his head, for he could not eat grass. "It must be my fate to starve here tonight, then" said the god, in acceptance of his death.

But the rabbit could not watch him suffer so. "Well then, if you cannot have grass, then you may eat me instead," the rabbit offered, "After all, I am just one little rabbit. Who will remember me?" 

Touched by the rabbit's bravery, the god's heart filled with spirit. He took the rabbit into his hands and reached up to hold her to the untouched moon. There, its shadow became stamped onto the moon's glowing surface. "You may only be a rabbit, but the world will see and remember you and your nobility for all of its days," he told it.

And so, the little rabbit was always remembered, and the god finished his journey alive. Rabbits are considered to be lucky animals to the Clans. It is said that the rabbit runs circles around the moon to pull it across the sky every night.

mees

Spirit's Night is a series of festivals and events held when Sprites are visible to the Clans in the end of the dry season. Sprites are incredibly sacred and precious to the clans, with many cats believing firmly that they are the returning spirits of their family coming to share parting memories with their loved ones, or that they are messengers of the Divines given time to themselves. Others wager that they are the souls of children coming to play amidst the wild fields. Some cats think they have no significance.

Nevertheless, the arrival of Sprites is always seen as a cause for celebration. Cats light up the territory with Sky Guppies and mingle amidst each other, setting up games, vigils, feasts, and decorating their loved one's gravesites or burial grounds for their return, often with food, water, belongings, and paints. It is considered bad taste to eat the food left on these sites. When the Sprites fade the following morning, the food is buried to prevent predators and insects from coming to eat it. New food and water is set out for the next night, and the cycle repeats until the Sprites do not return. Cats share stories of their loved ones through the night during these celebrations, and it is considered to be one of the most peaceful times of the year.

reserving dis for ivy :3

reserving dis for wild :3

At the beginning of time, the world was populated by monstrous megafauna, their pawprints and shoveling snouts forming hills and divots in the earth. Among them, a great, massive boar lived with a thorn in his heart and a pain for existence. He believed that he was born for destruction and destruction alone, tearing up the earth with his hooves and fierce tusks in its search for food. 

With such a heavy heart, the great boar did not realize the life that he created, carving valleys in steep mountain ranges. His furs carrying the seeds to grow flowers, and his long tail carving out trails for the river. Onward, he wandered, until he grew too old and tired to persist while the mountainsides he carved only grew full of lush life.

The boar collapsed amidst the mountains, unable to continue in his marching. There, he asked his child if it was true. Was he only born to destroy? And the mountains, so full of life, spoke back. "Look at us," they said, "and the rivers and valleys made from your dragging snout and stomping hooves, and ask yourself where it came from. Do you think so? We do not." 

And so, when the boar died, the mountains immortalized him in their stony hillsides, full of love for their creator. His flesh poured life into the rainforest, sprouting tall trees and massive ferns and wildflowers that danced in the wind. Legend has it, on the darkest of nights, cats can see the old boar's starry silhouette wandering through the mountain valleys.

CavernClan funerals are much like the traditional funerals the other Clans hold, with some minor differences. When a cat dies, their body is returned to the camp to be embalmed by the current Healers, and reconstructed to look as life-like as possible. While most vigils last through the night, CavernClan's funerals are instead timed by the amount of time it takes for the fallen cat's gemstones to lose their glow. All cats attending must be silent during this time, huddled around the fallen as though they were merely sleeping. When their gemstones have finally lost their glow, the Elders take the fallen away to a burial plot on the surface of CavernClan's territory. Here, they are buried among their family. CavernClan believes strongly that they and their gemstones must be reunited with the earth that they were all born from. To allow a corpse to be eaten, maimed, or otherwise affected by the elements is a sin above all other, and that the cat's spirit will wander forever, never being reunited with the earth prior to Silverpelt's visit. 

For this reason, many CavernClanners keep a bit of their own gemstones broken off and in their private dens, so that if they may be slain by a predator or go missing, their family will be able to grant them safe passage to the afterlife.

When a cat has gone missing, originates from a differing Clan, has yet to grow gemstones, or has been found too late to have any lingering glow, they are instead painted with a weakened Sky Guppy paint. The Clan uses this glow to time the funeral instead, burying them the same as any other fallen. Cats are buried with all of their material possessions, as well as wet moss and food to strengthen them for the journey ahead.

Since the dawn of the Clans, CavernClan has been a renownedly musical clan. Singing songs while carrying out tasks or playing with drums in their free time is a part of CavernClan's culture. Naturally, this clan is one to celebrate with music. As the signs of Dry Season approach, CavernClanners will know that it is almost time for their annual concert. Wet Seasons are a bit tougher on CavernClanners than other clans due to the higher risk of flooded tunnels that can become dangerous or even deadly depending on their severity. To celebrate the end of Wet Season and to commemorate their work, they hold a concert. Typically, this concert will include acts in which clanmates can perform publicly on the Highrock in any musical fashion. Different types of instruments will be made to prepare for this event, ranging from drums, chimes, and "guitars" (logs with vine pulled over it). Sky Guppy paint is used to decorate the walls of the camp, color instruments, or be worn on the pelts of cats. Glittering ores will be hung up on stalactites as decor. 

The tradition of this concert ceased after Waspstar took reign. It began to become forgotten with time as new leaders passed through the ranks. Recently, Juniperbite (then senior guardian, now deputy), began holding the concerts once again after the conclusion of the Cavern-Verdure war.

Amulets are a traditional item given to graduating Apprentices along with their full name. It dates back to early VerdureClan, and was inspired by the Clan's celebrative nature and community. Created by Lambstar, Amulets tie together all cats of VerdureClan, originally made to welcome immigrating cats and allow them to feel as home in spite of their physical differences.

They are very personal items, the Leader picks each item out carefully, inspired by the cat's personality and growth. Oftentimes, these items have some type of symbolic meaning. Amulets are worn in the horns or tail of a cat- If a cat has no horns or a nubbed tail it can also be placed around the ankle. Amulets are a sacred thing to VerdureClan, and if a VerdureClanner were to leave the Clan it is required they bury their Amulet on VerdureClan land. During shedding season, Amulets tied up in antlers and horns are often taken down. These Amulets are worn around the tail or ankle until their horns regrow- when they are retied by another VerdureClanner, not themselves. It is considered disrespectful to retie ones own amulet. When a VerdureClanner dies, they are typically buried with their Amulet. If their Amulet somehow came undone before burial, an Elder or Leader must retie it.

For those who move to VerdureClan, it depends on the Leader when the new comer gains an amulet. Under Venomstar's leadership, they gain an Amulet after a moon of being in the Clan during a ceremony, as all VerdureClanners do. 

Amulets can be made up of various combination of items, but it usually falls in the category of 2-3 total items, with the number of each induvial item varying depending on its size. Healer amulets always contain an herb symbolizing themselves and their personality. Items that may come in multitudes are beads, flower petals, and any kind of small item such as shells or tiny flowers. The most commonly used items are plants, mushrooms, and animal sourced items, and tied together using Fairwing silk or twine.

Plant examples include: Flowers, flower petals, seeds, nuts, herbs, fruits, vegetables, berries, roots, and grains.

Animal sources include: Bones, teeth, wings, claws, beak, talons, feathers, antlers, tusks, wool, and fur

Alternative materials include: Beads, mushrooms, crystals, and rocks

While this list tries to be as exhaustive as possible, it can not cover every option or combination. When creating an Amulet, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this item in range?

• Is this item toxic?

• Is it item reasonably obtainable? 

When an Apprentice graduates, gaining their full name, a Vigil is held like in the books. However, VerdureClan's Vigils differ from the other Clans in a few ways. Instead of guarding the camp for the night, the new Guardians, or Gardeners, are tasked with going to VerdureClan's grave site, known as The Evermore Orchid. There, the new graduates work to clean up the site: picking weeds, pulling away any leaf litter and twigs, making sure burial markers are visible, the plants of the dead are maintained, and any general required up-keep. Alongside this, it is tradition for the graduated cats to bring an offering of sorts to the deceased. They are free to leave it upon any gravesite, or directly infront of the tree for all to share. Often these offerings are left to someone that was important to the character in some way, such as family, friends, Mentors, Captains, Healers, Elders, or admired figures. Offerings are anything that said cat wishes to offer, but also include: beads, shells, antlers, plants, fungi, seeds, herbs, crystals, feathers, fauna parts, crafted items such as jewelry and dolls. Food is also a common offering, with most cats bringing it alongside other items. Cats typically return within the day to bury edible offerings, so that the do not rot or attract unwanted creatures. 

Ideally, there are at least three or more graduating cats to complete as Vigil. If there are less, the graduating cat(s) are allowed to pick other fully named Clan members to accompany them. During the cleanup, cats are free to chatter with one another, typically telling stories or memories of the deceased. Cats often speak directly and give updates to the dead. Cats are encouraged to use this time to reflect on their past, as well as personal growth and future, seeing the history of all those who came before—their sacrifices, decisions, and love that brought VerdureClan's abundance of cats together despite their physical traits, uniting them all in the lush jungle they call home.

The Harvest Festival dates back to the age of Harveststar. After working with the Gardeners, he came up with the idea to start implementing more fruit and nut beating trees into the gardens, as many of them turned ripe around the start of the wet season—when other vegetation begins to wilt up from the lack of moisture. The festival is held during the final days of the first moon of the Wet Season. With the bountiful harvest, the Clan celebreated the changing of seasons. With the worry of their dying crops being quelled, the bonds between the hard workers of VerdureClan strengthen. During this, Mentors and Apprentices, both current and former pairs, are highlighted and appreciated. It is common for them to exchange gifts of gratitude.

During the time of the festival, the camp is adorned with gourds, squash, and root vegetables, as they are staples of the harvest. Decorations like paintings are typical, as cats of all ages paint the bark and roots of trees, rocks, and themselves with warm hues. The first event is always a Scavenger Hunt held inside of Camp. Although all cats of all ranks take part, it's a favorite amongst kits, as the Leader often puts them in charge of the groups. Afterwards, a Decoration Contest is held, where cats carve, paint, and decorate gourds or larger nuts such as baobabs. The Guardian Captains judge the submissions, basing them on creativity, originality, and skill. The Costume Contest runs after that, judged by cats from the council at the Leader's choosing. Although most cats only dress up with a little paint or jewelry, some cats try their paw at complex costumes, using pelts and branches to resemble the world's fauna or historical Clan cats. After this, cats relax and chatter amidst each other, eating in preparation of the next activity. 

The final activity involves Open Pit, where cats try to either pin one another down or knock eachother out of the sand pit the game is held in. As the night winds down, any invited guests begin to shuffle their way out. However, some may stay late as the Clan settles together beneath the light of Sky Guppies and tell stories to end the night.

Typical food and decoration of the festival includes, but isn't limited to: Speckled Swan, Gem Squash, Nigerian Fluted Pumpkin, Big Dipper Gourd, Ivy Gourd, Calabash, Yams, Ginger, Cassava, Turban Squash, Pumpkin, Beets, Taro, and Mongogo. 

The Festival of Colors is a newer festival, created by Venomtar after speaking with his friends Redpuddle and Vinebrook. Together they came up with the idea of a celebration under Balancestar's reign. The original idea never came to fruition as the world around them grew far too chaotic and dangerous. By the time things calmed, his friends had passed, and he had taken the reigns of Leadership. In honor of them, he crafted and brought the Festival of Colors to life. The festival is a celebration of uniqueness and selfhood, the very things that make VerdureClan as special as it was. Its diversity, and its long history of providing an open, accepting home to all cats of all Clans. This event his held during the second moon of the dry season. 

Cats are encouraged to make their own personal outfit that they feel represents them as their dresswear. This includes paint, flowers, plants, mushrooms, crystals, feathers, beads, and jewelry. At the start of the event, it is customary for cats to give each other one or more of these items. Crafted items are accepted as well, but it is typical to gather all the gifts together to reate necklaces, bracelets, or to be put in tests or work. During the event and afterwards, cats snack from a buffet-style range of food. Embolin scales are used to indulge, searing meats and warming other foods. To end the night off, a dance is held, and those who do not wish to dance make music from noisemakers, wooden drums, and rattles.

The Divines carved out the earth and clay to mold the world, each Divine dedicated a section where their magic would thrive and flourish. Water cut between each one, separating the mountains, plains, islands, and jungls. They granted but a fleck of their power to the cats who lived in each to connect them all to their homes, so that they could thrive in the terrain. Of course, many cats find homes elsewhere today, but long ago it was far less common— that is where this story takes place.

Crystalcreek was a hardworking CavernClan miner, but quite the ugly one. His pelt was muddled colors, his ears twisted and teeth jagged like an angry cliffisde. His fur couldn't be kept down, and his voice was shrill and his teeth more yellow than a lemon. He looked dastardly, and apprentices whispered about how he was actually a whip scorpion disguised as a cat. But in all truthfulness, Crystalcreek was shy, and he wasn't one to make decisions nor brave the wild alone. He  was timid and shy and kept away from most others, until one gathering night.

It was as plain a night as any, bustling crowds and chattering friends. Crystalcreek slunk towards the back, bumping into a cat on the way. 

Wishcatcher, a beautiful VerdureClanner with a rainbow-furred pelt. Crystalcreek shrunk into himself as he apologized, but the plant-pelted tom gave a sweet laugh and assured the unsightly guardian that all was fine. He reached out a paw, and Crystalcreek hesitantly took it. He couldn't remember the last time someone touched him, and with such a gentle paw at that. The two began to talk, and slowly, but surely, Crystalcreek began to come out of their shell. Wishcatcher liked Crystalcreek the second it saw them. It was like that, however. It liked many things, having a list of hobbies tried and lovers lost. Temporary—  that's what most things he liked were, something to fill his bleeding heart. Until he met with Crystalcreek. There was something about them that drew him back again and again, until they started to meet at the Gathering Island alone. But they began to fear their clanmates discovering their love, and so, they devised a plan.

Their territory was divided at the time. They planned to dig and dig, dragon after dragonlength of tunnels beneath the divide for the two to slip into and visit with peace of mind. They enjoyed eachothers company and rested their souls together, bringing out the best in one another. They stayed up late with quiet night chatter and soft lullabies. Crystalcreek always soothed Wishcatcher with one of their sweet songs, and Wishcatcher always brought the sweetest snacks for sour days.

However, the honeymoon phase always ends. Their flaws slowly emerge, the rose-colored paint peeling away. Every cat has a side to them they don't like— the one who lashes out in fear, who explodes from confrontation. Things that can quickly turn into fights if they aren't taken care of. The worst part is leaving for the night to sleep alone, curling in an ever-chilling nest with sourness in their heart. It seemed the second their paws had reached their nests did the very ground rumble and shake. Trees swung and fell, the sky cracking across the lands. A falling branch nearly hit Wishcatcher's head: a stalagmite narrowly missing Crystalcreek's heart. 

They both ran, taking off quicker then a flash of lighting as they raced for their tunnel. Rain pelted them as Arcana itself groaned, throwing the power of the Divines all their way. The soil turned to mud, the downpour blinding the cats as thunder clapped loud enough to pop eardrums. 

Yet, they made it. Clashing into eachothers paws as they held on tight, tears of relief and heart-soaked apologies that never had the chance to grace one anothers ears. Upon their embrace, the Divined combined their power to strike the two down. It came with a rush of water, collapsing the tunnels and burying the lovers in them. The storm passed, and with it, small rainbows appeared across CavernClan and VerdureClan. Little Crystalcatchers, with the vibrant color of the jungle and the competitive nature of the mountains. They filled the forests with a newfound light. 

They say their bones are still under the river, fossilizd for eternity in eachother's arms. Some say the Crystalcatchers were a curse—an annoyance for the eyes an ears, while some say that they were a gift, the child of the two that brightened the lands with the same love that they held for each other. No cat truly agreed, but they all knew that the two lovers would never be alone again.

Before the Clans had ever arrived to the Great Valley, the land was torn apart by fierce and magical beasts squabbling over every bit of territory. Massive dragons once called the arid territory of CoveyClan home, one of the biggest being known as Xiomara, a great, fire-breathing dragon. Within CoveyClan's savannas she dug out her nest, sitting atop her eggs for the years that it took for them to hatch.

However, she was not alone in the territory. Xiomara and her clutch were being hunted by a great Cockatrice, eager to eat and destroy her nest and take her territory for itself. Xiomara fought with this Cockatrice many times, never once allowing it to turn her to stone. Over the years they continued to battle, her ferocity only growing the closer her eggs came to hatching. 

Eventually, her dragonets hatched, bringing the stakes even higher as they began to explore and wander. Not one of her children fell to the Cockatrice. In a final battle, Xiomara intercepted the Cockatrice as her dragonets escaped to the skies on rocky wings. There, she slayed it right as it finally met her eyes with its piercing gaze, turning her fierce form to stone. Her stony form is still a landmark in CoveyClan territory, overgrown with roots and moss but still recognizable as a dragon.

Legend has it her love and devotion has seeped into the ground, keeping her creek running on even the hottest of days. Her stone wings provide cool shade when the leaves in the trees wither from heat.