Task 12: Does the founder of your clan believe in Starclan, and if so, why? If not, what does your founder believe in instead.
The founders of the clan, Little Flower and White Feather, did not believe in starclan when the clan was made, but as a promise of the gift of the territory, they tried to. They forced themselves to believe in starclan and in the nine lives. However, no matter how hard they tried to make themselves believe in it, they were unable to. Instead, they believe that when they die, instead of going to a mythical place, their spirit will return to the earth. The believe that their ancestors are in the elements, watching over them and giving them strength when they need it. To contact the ancestors, they rely on the power of their elemental strength to contact those who they need to. This belief in the ancestors is enough for the leaders to receive their nine lives.
In present day Thornclan, Thistlestar still leads his clan on this original belief. Each cat finds an element that they resonate with the most during their apprenticeship and work to improve that as their time progresses, praying to the ancestors for the help in their skills and their fights. The clan believes that each ancestor gives them strength in an element based on what their own strength was in. The clan leaves food offerings to the ancestors to thank them for their help and their strength.
Those whose element is water are strong swimmers and find fishing to be an easier task. They are also more sensitive, perceptive of other cats’ emotions. The cats that are of the earth element are strong; they rely on their strength and speed. They are also the best trackers, finding it easier to hunt on the ground. Cats who rely on the wind element are swift and agile, very good at manoeuvring around difficult locations and climbing trees, especially when hunting birds and squirrels. They are often quick-witted and competitive. The cats that are of the fire element are the most fierce and loyal cats. They like to use their strength in fights to overpower their opponents and often are charismatic. They will prefer to hunt the easiest to catch prey like rabbits and voles but use that as their strength, catching many of them. The final element is spirit and the cats that resonate with the spirit element naturally are the medicine cats as it allows them to contact any ancestor. They are often the most intelligent and cunning cats, not liking to stay put long. However, the leader has the strength of the spirit element passed down to them when the previous leader gives up their title, giving him the strength of the past leaders to help in his decisions.
As the ancestors grow older, their strength weakens and they cannot give enough strength to cats, but the newer ancestors are the strongest because they are those who are remembered the most. The newer ancestors are still being honoured specifically by those alive, remembered for what they have done.
In present day Thornclan, Thistlestar still leads his clan on this original belief. Each cat finds an element that they resonate with the most during their apprenticeship and work to improve that as their time progresses, praying to the ancestors for the help in their skills and their fights. The clan believes that each ancestor gives them strength in an element based on what their own strength was in. The clan leaves food offerings to the ancestors to thank them for their help and their strength.
Those whose element is water are strong swimmers and find fishing to be an easier task. They are also more sensitive, perceptive of other cats’ emotions. The cats that are of the earth element are strong; they rely on their strength and speed. They are also the best trackers, finding it easier to hunt on the ground. Cats who rely on the wind element are swift and agile, very good at manoeuvring around difficult locations and climbing trees, especially when hunting birds and squirrels. They are often quick-witted and competitive. The cats that are of the fire element are the most fierce and loyal cats. They like to use their strength in fights to overpower their opponents and often are charismatic. They will prefer to hunt the easiest to catch prey like rabbits and voles but use that as their strength, catching many of them. The final element is spirit and the cats that resonate with the spirit element naturally are the medicine cats as it allows them to contact any ancestor. They are often the most intelligent and cunning cats, not liking to stay put long. However, the leader has the strength of the spirit element passed down to them when the previous leader gives up their title, giving him the strength of the past leaders to help in his decisions.
As the ancestors grow older, their strength weakens and they cannot give enough strength to cats, but the newer ancestors are the strongest because they are those who are remembered the most. The newer ancestors are still being honoured specifically by those alive, remembered for what they have done.