RULES Kits are made an apprentice at 6 moons of age (6 months) and are given a mentor by the Clans leader. It doesn't matter at which age the apprentice becomes a warrior, as it is up to their mentor to decide. However, it is recommended that an apprentice becomes a warrior over the age of 12 moons Apprentices of all ages are not allowed to leave the Clan camp unless they ask for permission from a warrior, mentor, or the Clans leader, and are not allowed to eat until they bring the elders and queens a fresh piece of prey- but this can be broken if they have special permission. If they are to break a rule, they will have to suffer the consequences. The punishment can range from mild to severe depending on which rule they have broken. Some punishments consist of clearing dirty bedding and replacing it with fresh bedding, searching the elders pelts for ticks and dabbing a ball of moss with mouse bile on their pelt, and if severe enough they will not be allowed to visit the full moon Gathering. The apprentice will go out training whenever their mentor takes them. Most Clans have a specific place where the mentor can train their apprentice, such as a sandy hollow or mossy hollow. It isn’t recommended for kin to train other kin, as they will be soft on them. After the apprentice has been approved for their training, their mentor will have the leader give them their warrior name, and they will have to do a silent vigil all night. BEGINNER BASICS FIRST 2 MOONS OF TRAINING (6-8 MOONS OLD) REMINDER! Moons are MONTHS! So 2 moons = 2 months, 12 moons = 12 months (1 year), etc! Though cats aren't an adult until they reach 12 months of age, that doesn't mean that they aren't fully done growing! Usually a cat is done growing once they're 18 months (18 moons) old. 1. Get to know your apprentice. Engage in conversation and get them to trust you. Patience is key! Building a bond with your apprentice promises that they will have more confidence in themselves and become less nervous around you. 2. Border patrol. Take them on a tour of the Clan territory. This is a standard tradition that (most) Clans do. This will also allow the apprentice to study their surroundings and get used to them. This is also a good time to show them the best hunting areas for the most abundant amount of prey. 3. Instruct them on the Warriors code. Much like the medicine cat code, this is an essential part of every warriors life and must not be broken. 4. They have to take care of the elders, which mainly consist of removing their ticks and bringing them fresh-kill. Guide them through this process. 5. They must do apprentice responsibilities, such as helping the elders remove their ticks, bringing the elders and queens freshwater/fresh-kill, and clear dirty bedding from all dens in the Clan. They may only eat after they've done their chores 6. It is recommended for the medicine cat to educate them on basic herbs, as they may need to use them someday. Some basic herbs are catmint, cobweb, honey, horsetail, juniper, marigold, mouse bile, poppy seeds, and how to coach a Queen when she's giving birth. 7. Teach them how to pass on information about threats, danger, and what to do if they or the Clan is in a threatening situation. Teach them how to be observant of their surroundings if they aren’t already. 8. It is essential that every warrior stays fit and healthy. When the apprentice starts doing daily tasks and starts doing their training, their stamina will soon pick up and the apprentice will need to understand that warriors usually never get a break. Your apprentice will most likely be working from early dawn to late dusk. But remember, they're young! Don't overwork them. 9. Teach them tail signals. Tail signals are a must when on patrols, hunting, battling, and are just a normal day-to-day Clan thing. They probably already know the basic tail signals like Stop (Tail held erect) and Follow Me (Tail kinked over back), but they will need to know battle signals, some of which are: Enemy Detected (Tail bobbing) Danger (Tail hooked) Stay Behind Me (Tail held erect and waving from side to side) Attack (Tail tip facing other way) Get Down (Tail flattened) Leave, but be cautious (Tail flicking over back) Battle signals and hunting signals are important because you don't want the enemy or your prey to hear you if you need to communicate with your Clanmate!
