| "Cats of RiverClan! Sunningrocks belongs to us once more! And in honor of our elders and their kin before them, who never stopped fighting to defend our borders, we will catch fish on our way home and feed it to the oldest and youngest cats of the Clan. This victory is for them!" |
| — Darkstar about honoring RiverClan's elders in Code of the Clans, page 37 |
The elders' den in ThunderClan's camp
An elder is a Clan cat that has served their Clan faithfully, but has now retired. They are wise and are held in high respect by the other cats; their counsel and knowledge is sought several times, even by Clan leaders,[1] though they are often described as grumpy.[2] They do not have to catch their own food, nor do hunting patrols or fight, except to defend if necessary.[3]
Description[]
They stay in their den most of the day, and most of them enjoy meeting new kits.[4] However, they may leave the camp if they wish to do so, such as to take a walk, to stretch their legs,[5][6] or to hunt.[7][8] Sometimes, they participate in Gatherings, usually to gossip with other elders.[9]
Elders are to be held with the utmost respect from cats of all Clans. They have served the Clan well in the past as apprentices and warriors. During their youth, they took care of the elders of their generation. Now, it is their turn to rest, and the youth of the Clan are to take care of them in honor of all they have done to serve the Clan.[10]
Elders are often susceptible to many diseases and injuries such as greencough and stiff joints. They are often treated by medicine cats and apprentices.[11] They also are more than often tick-ridden, and it is the duty of the apprentices to use mouse bile to remove the ticks.[12]
Tasks[]
Some tasks elders do are:
- Rub herbs on a cat's body when they have passed away to disguise the scent of death.[13]
- Help defend the Clan, especially kits, when necessary.[14]
- Take deceased cats out of camp to bury them.[15]
- Tell stories about Clan life as it was when they were growing up.[16]
- Pass down stories about significant events before and during their lifetime.[17]
Obtaining the rank[]
An elder is usually an elderly cat who wishes to rest and not do warrior duties anymore due to their old age. When a warrior, queen, deputy, or medicine cat wishes to retire, an elder ceremony is held.[18] Sometimes a cat must retire early for reasons beyond their control (for instance a wound, loss of sight, any other disability, etc).[19] In rare cases, the Clan leader may force a cat to retire, as in the case of Mothwing, who was temporarily forced to retire by Mistystar for not believing in StarClan as a medicine cat.[20] If they feel that they are no longer fit to lead, a Clan leader may choose to retire themselves, passing the leadership on to their deputy.[21] Sometimes, if circumstances force a cat into early retirement, they will receive a new name in order to better suit their current state.[22]
Outside of the Clans[]
BloodClan[]
- BloodClan, the so-called "Clan" from the Twolegplace, does not care for their elders, and makes them hunt and care for themselves.[23] They are not treated with the same respect as Clan elders.[24]
The Tribe of Rushing Water[]
- Coming Soon
The Kin[]
- The Kin, the band of rogues who drove out SkyClan, only let the strongest cats eat and do not care about their queens or elders.[25] Elders in the Kin are not treated with respect, and are expected to look after themselves and contribute, just like any other member of the rogue group.[26] They also participate in battles unlike Clan elders, and are sent in first as fodder.[27]
The wildcats[]
- The wildcats, a group of wildcats discovered on Ivypool's journey, hold a deep respect for their elders.[28] The elders are responsible for communicating with their ancestors, as they are the only members with the ability to do so by developing knowledge with age.[29] They use their wisdom to lead and make decisions for the wildcats[30] and to heal their Clanmates.[31]
See also[]
External links[]
- The ranks of the Clans on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Elders: roles of the Clans on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 100
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 74
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 49
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 21
- ↑ For instance, Sunningrocks was described as a favorite place for elders to relax.
- ↑ Revealed in Sunrise, page 209
- ↑ Revealed in The Sight, page 97
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 25
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 142
- ↑ Revealed in Code of the Clans, pages 36-37
- ↑ Revealed in Long Shadows, page 151
- ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 102
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 140
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 193
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 204
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 50
- ↑ Revealed in Wind, page 73
- ↑ Revealed in Starlight, page 220
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 142
- ↑ Revealed in Mistystar's Omen, chapter 6
- ↑ Revealed in Thunder, page 112
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 507
- ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 132
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, pages 247-248
- ↑ Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, pages 202-203
- ↑ Revealed in Shattered Sky, page 37
- ↑ Revealed in Shattered Sky, page 99
- ↑ Revealed in Ivypool's Heart, page 313
- ↑ Revealed in Ivypool's Heart, page 196
- ↑ Revealed in Ivypool's Heart, page 315
- ↑ Revealed in Ivypool's Heart, page 329