**OLD** Valley Cats: Of Sky and Stone 1- Daughters and Darkness

Information

 I strongly suggest reading this part first! It is slightly different from Warrior Cats, and some parts won't make sense if you don't read at least some of the information below:

 This story was first drafted in early June 2022.

 ( Author's information: "Valley Cats" is a writing project based off of Warrior Cats. It's been a while since I've written anything to be published, so I'm creating a work based off of something before I publish a major original project.)

 I have uploaded a few speedpaints on my YouTube channel about ForestClan. Feel free to check it out!

 "Valley Cats" is set in southwestern Canada in around the year 2018-ish. I have drawn out a map of everything, and will display it below. 

There are nine Clans, each being different from one another, whether it be names or practices. In this story, StarClan is referred to as SpiritClan and the Dark Forest is very different, and is called the Misty Forest. (May change later) Instead of nine lives, leaders receive a gift from SpiritClan. Other than that and some changes between Clans, it works very similarly to Warrior Cats. (Which I do not own, now that I mention it).

As a little explanation-slash-history, the ancestors of these cats were a small group possibly from the Ancients. Many kittypets or rogues joined them as the Clans were born, so these cats know more twoleg words, like seasons or cardinal directions. 

 The Nine Clans:

MeadowClan:

 A group of cats that live in the open meadow between the two streams that feed into the lake. They are bordered by DeltaClan, CliffClan, and the farm. Their territory is the largest. The cats of MeadowClan are excellent at running through the thick grass. Part of their diet is made up of herbs and berries.

 MeadowClan is the only Clan known to grow herbs for general consumption. They are one of teh few Clans who partake in the feline equivalent of sports. Their rules are the most relaxed out of any Clan. A mentor is usually assigned multiple apprentices, and an apprentice is usually assigned multiple mentors.

DeltaClan:

 A well-fed community of fishers that live on the delta between the two streams. They mostly eat fish and are bordered by MeadowClan.

 They often collect shells and interesting rocks. When they die, these collections are usually buried with them. DeltaClan practices meditation, and they are one of the few Clans to make a version of tea that isn't just for healing purposes. For fun, they play games using items such as pebbles or bones.

 In DeltaClan, apprentices choose their warrior names.

MireClan:

  Cats who reside in the marsh. They are bordered by ConiferClan, GroveClan, and ForestClan.

 These cats live in very shallow water and mud. They usually have short fur and long legs, and are skilled at fishing. They are the only Clan to cut up their prey and sometimes wrap it in leaves, and the second Clan to use tea outside of healing purposes.

 In MireClan, they have unique mythology. They believe in various omens, such as the number of eggs in a bird's nest or the way leaves fall. 

ConiferClan:

 Powerful cats who reside in a small forest of conifer trees. They are bordered by MireClan and GroveClan.

 These cats are excellent at digging tunnels underground. They believe they are superior to other Clans. Their rules are the most strict. ConiferClan kits are only named after birds, and they have to be a full year old to become an apprentice. They do not do mentorship, but instead apprentices learn from every cat and at two years of age, they may take assessments. They are the only Clan with a retirement age- once a cat is ten years of age, they must become an elder.

 In ConiferClan, they choose their leader and deputy through democracy. They are the only Clan to vote on leadership choices.

GroveClan:

 A secretive cluster who live in a small forest of aspen and birch trees, GroveClan has the smallest territory and are bordered by ConiferClan, MireClan, and ForestClan.

 Warriors wear a feather behind their ears from their hunting assessment as an apprentice. They usually name their kits after birds or flowers. GroveClan ranks their members in an order of succession. Clan members can challenge each other for positions.

 Legends say that GroveClan was formed from a war between ConiferClan, MireClan, and possibly ForestClan over the group of aspen and birch trees. It is said that a few protesters of the conflict settled in the area to defend it from any Clan wanting to claim the unique land. Thus, GroveClan was born.

ForestClan:

 Excellent hunters who live in a thick woodland. They are bordered by GroveClan, MireClan, twoleg dens, and WoodClan. Their territory is the third-largest.

 Cats of ForestClan usually have short, dusky fur. Their rules change more frequently, as the leaders are given the final say in the laws the Clan follows. Customs may change from leader to leader, but the cats are usually very flexible and open. They are the only Clan in which the single leader outranks the healers.

 WoodClan: 

 Tree-climbing cats who live in a spacious forest of the tallest trees in the valley. Their territory is the second-largest, and they are bordered by ForestClan and RockClan.

 These cats are the only Clan to use a simple system of claw-marks to communicate. They were the first Clan to weave vines, and are one of the few Clans to have a feline version of a wedding and participate in the feline equivalent of sports. They are the only Clan in which the parents name their kits, instead of a healer.

 WoodClan is also the only Clan in which a single elder may outrank the leader. They are very superstitious, and believe that certain events bring bad luck (such as entering a den backwards, or dragging something on the ground).

RockClan:

 One of the two StoneClans who live on the mountain to the northwest of the lake. They live on the west side of the Moonstream, which creates the Moonpond that feeds into the lake. Their territory is made up of smooth rock and is relatively mild but very cold. Some say RockClan is the closest to SpiritClan, since they have the most access to the Moonpond.

 Their kits are often named after bugs or herbs.

 CliffClan: 

 The other of the two StoneClan, and the one on the east side of the Moonstream. Their terrain is much more harsh and rugged, and the cats have a reputation for being aggressive, especially to outsiders. They are bordered by RockClan and MeadowClan.

 It is rumored that there used to be another StoneClan who lived on the mountain, which is referred to as IceClan or MistClan. Some of the elders say that CliffClan destroyed them moons ago.

 These secretive cats live in caves underground, and are usually named after rocks and crystals. Not much is known about their rules or lifestyle, since their basic information is considered a closely guarded secret, and they are notorious for their hostility to other Clans. However, they mostly keep to themselves and don't cause problems unless provoked. However, they are very distant at times and sometimes don't show up to Gatherings.

 It is unknown how big the StoneClan territories are, since the borders may change and the terrain may shift.