Ranks | Simon's CA-Archive23

Kitten

A young cat between the ages of 0-6 moons. Kittens are not allowed outside of the camp without supervision and cannot be trained. They learn about clan life from their parents and elders, and often play with apprentices. Their goals are to develop their personalities, motor skills, and basic life skills. In rare cases, kittens will be held back from apprenticeship if they are notably cognitively or physically delayed, and will be apprenticed when their parents and the leader has determined them to be capable of the responsibility. Kittens can also be held back in cases of severe injury or illness, but will be apprenticed as soon as their healer has determined them fit for duty.

Apprentice

A young cat between the ages of 6-18 moons who has been assigned a mentor. The mentor is responsible for their apprentice's well-being, growth as a person, and training. Apprentices are assigned simple responsibilities like babysitting kits or helping the elders. Older apprentices are allowed on patrols with their mentor. Many go to Gatherings at least once. Most warrior apprentices and medicine cat apprentices graduate at 12 moon and 15 moons respectively, but some may be held back if their mentor does not feel they are ready for the responsibilities of adulthood.

Some apprentices choose to specialize as medicine cat or nursery assistants. Medicine cat assistants are field medics or herb-gatherers, and enable the medicine cats to focus more on their patients. Nursery assistants help foster and babysit kits to allow their parents to take a break or raise them if there are no parents. Although they are given special role names, assistants are counted under the general "warrior" umbrella.

Youth

A young, graduated cat between the ages of 12-20 moons who is on probation. Having just graduated, cats of this age (often referred to as "young warriors") are not permitted responsibilities such as having kits or getting an apprentice. Ideally, this allows them to mature some more and lets the leader see how they act without an official mentor to guide them.

Adult

A cat between the ages of 20-70 moons. By this point, cats (often referred to as "seasoned warriors" or "warriors") are presumed to understand what is expected of them and as such, are given more freedom and responsibilities. Many cats will take a mate and have kits, and leaders will typically choose a seasoned warrior as a mentor. Some may be given multiple apprentices if they perform particularly well, which, among other things, qualifies them for deputyhood.

Senior

A cat who is at least 70 moons. By this point, most cats (often referred to as "senior warriors") will have had kits and/or mentored at least one apprentice. These cats are considered wise for having been able to live so long and continue to function as warriors. Few deputies are chosen from this pool of cats, as they are typically too old to become effective leaders, but a good leader will consider a senior warrior's advice.

Elder

By 100 moons, most cats are ready to retire although some become elders earlier due to devastating injuries or illnesses. These cats are highly respected for having lived so long although "youthful elders" are also honored for having lived through whatever forced them into retirement. Elders of all ages and physical abilities will often participate in camp duties, occasionally with supervision to ensure their safety. Their primary duty is teaching the kits of the clan about the Codes and the culture.

Some elders decide to change their name to remember what forced them into retirement. Other elders are granted a suffix-change to -song if they turn out to be particularly good storytellers or historians.