Apprentices: roles of the Clans
BY THE EDITOR
As we’ve discussed previously, the Clans run on strict hierarchies, where every cat has specific duties to carry out based on their rank within the Clan. But what are these ranks, what are their associated duties, and how does a cat achieve any given rank? If you want a broader overview of the ranks and how a cat can go from one to another, you can find that in our visual Clan rank flowchart, but here we’ll be taking a more in-depth look at the specific Clan rank of apprentice.
When a kit reaches six moons of age, they are promoted to the rank of apprentice. Apprentices are cats who are in training to become either a warrior or a medicine cat. They are assigned a cat from the rank they are training for to act as their mentor and teach them all of the skills needed for their future rank – medicine cat apprentices are sometimes trained by all of the Clan’s current medicine cats and may thus have multiple mentors. Apprentices are promoted through a ceremony held in front of the Clan. The leader will call the kit before them and say the words, “From this day forward, until (he/she/they/etc.) has earned (his/her/their/etc.) warrior name, this apprentice will be called (their new name).” The new apprentice’s -kit suffix is replaced by the -paw suffix at this point of the ceremony, to symbolize their paws being set on the path to becoming a full member of the Clan. The Clan then cheers the name of the new apprentice. When the cheering is done, the leader will announce which cat will be mentoring the new apprentice – the words of this part of the ceremony can vary, with the leader usually listing some of the achievements or skills of the new mentor and how they expect them to pass their skills onto the new apprentice. The new mentor and apprentice then touch noses, and the ceremony is complete.
For medicine cat apprentices, an additional ceremony is held at their first half moon meeting at the Moonstone or Moonpool to introduce them to StarClan as a new medicine cat in training. Their mentor will ask them, “(Apprentice’s name), is it your wish to share the deepest knowledge of StarClan as a (their Clan) medicine cat?” When the apprentice answers, “It is”, their mentor continues “Warriors of StarClan, I present to you this cat. (He/she/they/etc.) has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant (him/her/them/etc.) your wisdom and insight so that (he/she/they/etc.) may understand your ways and heal (his/her/their/etc.) Clan in accordance with your will.” The apprentice then joins the rest of the medicine cats in touching their nose to the stone/water and sharing dreams with StarClan.
For warrior apprentices, their mentor will teach them hunting, fighting, how to follow the warrior code, and generally how to function as part of the Clan. For medicine cat apprentices, their mentor(s) will teach them what herbs to use to cure various ailments, how best to gather and store herbs, how to speak with StarClan and interpret their messages, and how to pass on their spiritual guidance to the Clan. The daily duties of a warrior apprentice include training with their mentor, hunting for the Clan, joining border patrols, and looking after the elders. Apprentices are tasked with hunting for the elders, bringing them prey, cleaning up their old bedding and replacing it with new bedding, and removing ticks and fleas from their pelts. Medicine cat apprentices are tasked with training with their mentor(s), assisting them in gathering herbs and healing cats, and attending the half moon meetings at the Moonstone or Moonpool. Newly-made apprentices are to be protected carefully if they find themselves in battle, but as they grow older and become more experienced, they are treated more like warriors, both in battle and in the responsibility and independence afforded to them.
