An elder ceremony is performed when a Clan cat feels as if they cannot serve their Clan anymore, whether it's through aging, illness, or injury.[1][2][3]
Process
An aging warrior,[1] queen,[4] or medicine cat[5] may retire as an elder due to own initiative,[4] when they feel they cannot help the Clan efficiently any more (such as Mousefur or Speckletail).[6] A cat may also retire if they are hindered from serving their Clan through old age (such as Poppydawn),[1] illness (Tawnyspots),[2] or injury (Stonepelt).[3] They report this to the Clan leader, who calls a Clan meeting and addresses the warrior.[1]
- Leader: (Warrior/queen/medicine cat), is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?
- Warrior/queen/medicine cat: It is.
- Leader: Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest.[1]
The Clan will call out the retired warrior's name and then they will go to the elder's den.[7] An elder may receive a completely different name, with a different ceremony, than keeping their warrior name; in ThunderClan, there were the elders Halftail and One-eye, who originally had different warrior names. This ceremony is also used for other reasons, such as changing Lostface's name to Brightheart.[8]
Usually, an elder ceremony is held only when a cat retires due to old age.[9] If they are forced to retire because of a severe injury (such as Longtail or Stonepelt), there is no ceremony.[3]
See also
References and Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 386
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 494
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 142
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 101
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 312
- ↑ Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 100
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, pages 387-388
- ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, pages 107-108
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 387
Hierarchy and positions in the Warriors world | |
---|---|
Clan hierarchy | Kits • Apprentices • Warriors • Deputies • Leaders • Queens • Elders • Medicine cats • Mediators |
Ceremonies | Vigil • Apprentice • Warrior • Deputy • Leader • Elder • Medicine cat • Name changing |
Tribe hierarchy | To-bes • Cave-guards • Prey hunters • Kit mothers • Healer/Stoneteller |
Miscellaneous | General Clan information • General Tribe information • Cat names |
Other groups | Loners • Rogues • Kittypets |