The warrior code

The Warrior Code is a list of fifteen different rules that should be followed by all Clan cats. It is taught from the first means of kithood to when an elder is faced with death. It is said that, as long as the Clans follow the warrior code, no harm shall come to them.

History
There is a disagreement about the origins of the Warrior Code. On one hand, Secrets of the Clans states that the rules were invented when the Clans were founded, made up by the leaders Thunder, Shadow, Wind and River. On the other hand, Code of the Clans states that the rules were developed during a very long timespan, each one invented by different cats after a significant event.

The Warrior Code

 * 1) Defend your Clan, even with your life. You may have friendships with cats from other Clans, but your loyalty must remain to your Clan
 * 2) Do not hunt or trespass on another Clans' territory
 * 3) Elders and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the Elders
 * 4) Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life
 * 5) A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice
 * 6) Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name
 * 7) A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice
 * 8) The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies or retires
 * 9) After the death or retirement of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh
 * 10) A Gathering of all four Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. There shall be no fighting among Clans at this time
 * 11) Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats
 * 12) No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different Clan
 * 13) The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code
 * 14) An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win his battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or it is necessary for self-defense
 * 15) A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet

Exceptions

 * Cats on their way to the Moonstone or Moonpool are allowed to cross other Clans' territories to get to their destination (WindClan grounds in the forest and ThunderClan grounds by the lake).


 * At the lake, cats may travel on other Clans' grounds as long as they are within one fox-length of the lake (for example, to go to a Gathering)

Additional Rule
The following rule is not part of the Warrior Code, but is always followed:
 * Medicine cats may not have a mate or kits

Breaking the Warrior Code
The rules is often being broken, mostly by ThunderClan and ShadowClan. In severe cases, the cats who break it are punished, for it is not supposed to be tested or pushed.

Cats who broke the Code severely and repeatedly go to the Place of No Stars after their death, instead of reaching StarClan.

Examples of breaking the Warrior Code

 * Rule 1 was broken by Graystripe when he was torn between his loyalties to ThunderClan and RiverClan, and refused to fight
 * Rule 2 is one of the most frequently broken, with many Clans crossing boundaries to catch prey or apprentices not acknowledging the boundaries.
 * Rule 3 was broken by Firepaw when catching prey for Yellowfang after she was exiled from ShadowClan. It was also broken by Longtail and Darkstripe, eating prey on a hunting patrol instead of bringing back to the elders and kits
 * Rule 4 was broken by Tigerstar and his followers when he killed prey only to raise a hill of bones
 * Rule 5 was infamously broken by Brokenstar of ShadowClan, when he forced kits to become apprentices before they were ready. He also trained them too hard, killing some of them. Some were made warriors before they were even six moons old
 * Rule 7 was broken by Firestar when he named Brambleclaw deputy
 * Rule 8 was broken when Tallstar made Onestar leader instead of Mudclaw as he was dying
 * Rule 9 was broken by Bluestar when she waited for too long to name a new deputy
 * Rule 12 was broken by Russetfur and her patrol, watching Berrykit struggle with his tail caught in a fox trap, and making no move to help him
 * Rule 14 was broken for instance by Brokentail, Tigerstar, Blackfoot, Hollyleaf and Clawface
 * Rule 15 was broken by Pinestar when he retired to live as a kittypet, and by Cloudpaw when he accepted Twoleg food
 * The rule about medicine cats being forbidden to have kits was broken by Yellowfang and Leafpool