Post by littlewing on Apr 29, 2020 20:24:18 GMT
A Guide For Medicine Cats
✪ What is a Medicine Cat? ✪
A medicine cat is the main healer of a clan. They heal their clanmates - and themselves - by learning how to use the many types of herbs and resources at their disposal. Along with healing, they are also responsible for receiving and interpreting Starclan's signs and omens, and are required to share tongues with their ancestors every half-moon. They are highly respected by all the clans and harming one will result in severe punishment. Once a medicine cat apprentice takes on their full name, they also take on full responsibilities, even with their mentor still alive, but a new medicine cat apprentice is not chosen until they are the sole healer.
The relationship between medicine cats from other clans is different from a warrior's, as they share something that no warrior of the clans would ever understand. Due to this, it's highly unusual to see them at odds with each other, and they often help their leaders negotiate the clans' differences for everyone's benefit, since they are required to be indifferent towards their clans rivalries. In most cases, they also keep their role until they die, though it isn't unheard of for them to step down or retire.
✪ How are Medicine Cats chosen? ✪
In special circumstances, Starclan themselves may send a sign that a particular cat must walk the path of a medicine cat, but usually, the current medicine cat decides based on whether they believe the hopeful has the right skills and is generally the right fit. A medicine cat can be of any age when they are chosen, but many prefer to have a young cat as their apprentice to ensure they live for a long time.
✪ Are their names different? ✪
Medicine cats receive their names in a slightly different way to how warriors do - instead of the clan leader choosing their name, it is chosen by their mentor and the ceremony is performed at the Star Cliffs with all the other medicine cats present, rather than their clanmates. Despite this, their names follow the same rules as a warrior. It isn't uncommon for a medicine cat to receive a suffix that represent their duties rather than a harsher warrior suffix.
✪ Do they follow a specific code? ✪
Yes, they do, and it's not odd for a medicine cat to prioritize their code over the warrior code. A medicine cat caught breaking the code is punished accordingly by the clan leader.
✪ The Medicine Cat Code ✪
• A medicine cat may not fall in love or take a mate.
• A medicine cat may not have kits.
• A medicine cat may only retire when their apprentice is ready to take their place.
• A medicine cat shares dreams with only StarClan.
• A medicine cat may only discuss dreams, prophecies, etc. with their leader or other medicine cats. Dreams of prophetic nature should not be disclosed to any outside parties, or any other cats in the Clan, unless they are directly involved.
✪ What are the tasks of a medicine cat? ✪
Though this isn't an exhaustive list, many of their tasks involve:
• Knowing all about herbs and keeping a supply of them
• Keep up to date on any new/upcoming herbal remedies
• Treating wounded and sick cats
• Assisting queens while they are pregnant with kits, giving birth, or nursing them
• Check up regularly on the health of Clan cats
• Visiting the Star Cliffs at every moon to seek guidance from StarClan
• Interpreting prophecies and omens and sharing them with the Clan leader
• Upon the death of the Clan leader, accompany the deputy to the Star Cliffs to be appointed as the new leader
• Training an apprentice as the Clan's next medicine cat
• Visiting their ancestors when in a crisis that requires direct communication with StarClan