ShadowClan
Russetstar
Leader
Canterburyberry
Deputy
Pipistrellepetal
Healer
Flame's Light
Healer
Vivid Skies
Healer
Polecat's Purr
Healer
Polluxprowl
Healer
Hope's Harvest / Autumn's Rising
Healer
Radiantjoy
Healer Apprentice
Culture
ShadowClan is a stealthy, secretive Clan of night hunters and marsh fishers... so say those without a view into colorful lives sheltered by the shade of the pines they creep beneath. At times, they’ve even been the target of stereotypes from the other three Clans, under the belief that they are dishonest or code-breakers who are too taciturn for their own good. Border frictions are no stranger to its members.
Their by contrast ostentatious attitudes at Gatherings and the like have only furthered ostracized the Clan. It's quite the contrast, how their lives and interests can vary so distinctly all due to the lives of their warriors diverging by day and night. Even their religious beliefs may differ as cats take up lone StarClan patrons or choose to pray to the entire pantheon. The arts pull the two together, as they play their plucking bells and hanging chimes together when the sun and moon meet, and as their campminders relay tales from ages past through dance, song, and grand plays. Masked masquerades, grand balls, a gathering thrown by a ShadowClan cat is always one to remember.
Those who were born to the marshes, or welcomed into its embrace after showing that their skill, wit, and want are strong enough to lead them through water-drenched thickets and winding dusk-lit paths, will find that they are far more defined by their desire to protect each other than anything else. The Clan is tight-knit, strongly valuing their kin and clan loyalty, often in more personal ways than the typical code-beholden sense. In fact, many would value their family and friendships above all else, which has led to some political friction in the current era. The new generation and the old generation have their differences, but find themselves bound together nonetheless by blood and by a love for ShadowClan as a whole.
Holidays
The Freeze
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Unlike the river, ShadowClan’s marshes freeze most of the way through in the winter. On the night that they’re confirmed to be safely frozen, warriors are freed for the afternoon and following evening to make the most of the turning season. Ice skating and ice dancing are popular (particularly among couples young and old), alongside games of icecone, wherein two teams attempt to score goals with a pinecone. Leafbare may be a time of scarcity and of uncertainty, but the clan's bond is celebrated beneath the snow speckled sky nonetheless.
The Thaw
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Capping off Leafbare comes the Thaw, a celebration of life returning to the marsh and of the Clan's survival once more. It's an exciting time, one of feasts and of games, as Russetstar herself often leads a patrol or two out to the Carrionplace for a trinket hunt. Cats search for the perfect twoleg-tossed item among the piles of junk and rubble, comparing to see who's found the coolest thing, and trading amongst themselves. Back in camp, some cats have also taken to holding a mud wrestling competition called the Dinge Derby.
The Longest Night
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In the deepest depths of Leafbare, underneath the darkest sky, comes the Longest Night. It's a celebration of the Leafbare solstice, but it's a much more somber event. While ShadowClan often finds faith to be more personal to a cat or to a family, all come together to memorialize and mourn those they've lost beneath a breath taking phenomenon. Ribbons of light will dance along the horizon, taken as a sign from StarClan that they are present and they are reaching out to those they've left down below. Cats gather in Stargazer Glade to watch the lights, hoping that a message from above may find its way to them.
The Longest Day
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In the midst of Greenleaf, when the days run so long night is hardly a hazy memory, the Longest Day (or Greenleaf solstice) is celebrated. In contrast to its Leafbare counterpart, the focus of this holiday is celebrating those who yet call the marsh home. Duties are cut short for the day as cats spend time with loved ones and join in on a myriad of games or activities. The most prestigious event is the one that keeps the freshkill pile stocked - the prey competition.
Russetstar's Decree
"The stars have been watching, Shadowclan. Let's see them home." — Russetstar
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StarClan & Faith
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Once having believed herself made their enemy, Russetstar's faith has been restored since battling the wolfdog pack, realizing they had never been abandoned. Their distance can be difficult, she recognizes, as is their reluctance to reveal whole truths, but she holds onto trust that Shadowclan has not been abandoned by their ancestors. Russetstar draws strength from this belief and a connection to those who granted her lives.
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Warrior Code
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Russetstar was raised wholly as a warrior and takes pride in this tradition. Breaching the Code is an affront to their way of life and what holds the clans together, although she is harshest when such breach is the result of violence and cowardice. Accused of having acted as a code-breaker before with past warlike tendencies, she is particularly against such offense... but can she really turn her gaze from even the nonviolent, pursuits of forbidden affairs?
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Specialty Ranks
Nighthunters
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These are the warriors that ShadowClan got their namesake from. The Nighthunters rise when the sun sets, and sleep when the moon disappears from the sky. They are typically dependable and hardworking cats of the night, who rule during the long, gruelling nights of the Winter and the hot, short nights of the Summer. They can be counted on to put the needs of the Clan first. Unfortunately, they do not make many friends outside the Clan, as both neighbors are typically asleep during their working hours. Their role within the Clan has made them pragmatic and introverted, and often these warriors are lanky and slim.
Dayguards
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Although ShadowClan is infamously nocturnal, their lands are not left unguarded. For those within the Clan who wake with the sun and sleep when the moon rises, they fall under the rank of Dayguard. These warriors have been trained specifically to guard the land that they call home while the rest of the Clan sleeps, and usually have bulkier frames built for battle. Though not to be mistaken for warmongers, the Dayguard warriors are usually friendly with other Clans and have a laid-back attitude of leisure and indulgence.
High Ranks
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Typically, the cats who run the Clan are awake during the twilight and dawn hours to ensure that the needs of the Clan are met. This often results in a strange transitional period where they must get used to being awake for a few hours, napping, and then being awake again. It also lends a new perspective, as things can become divided between those who walk the day and those who stalk the night. The Deputy and Leader often try to have opposite schedules with few intersecting hours to ensure the most coverage, and the same happens when there are multiple Healers. It's easy to tell a ShadowClan Healer from their counterparts from the other three territories by virtue of their names. A majority have chosen to carry on a tradition from cycles past, taking a separated two-part name unlike the rest of the Clan. This was brought to the Clan by the remnants of a group called the Forgotten, one of which (now Pipistrellepetal, once Frozen Fern) remains on the Council.
Gloamwatchers
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Created by Warblercall, a Deputy once held in high regard and now thoroughly disgraced by controversial means, the Gloamwatchers' duties are... not privvy to the likes of Outsiders. While many in ShadowClan hold them in high regard, many more hold them in contempt, though the latter tend to hold those feelings closer to their chests. How strange.
Campminders​
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Campminders aren't trained to take on the role, instead doing so for a myriad of reasons; preferring pacifism to the potential of a border fight, enjoying the work of keeping camp up and running (both in the day-to-day and during more dire situations such as evacuations), and/or dedicating themselves to preserving Shadowclan's history in their theatre and artistry. Campminding is a respected position to take within the Clan no matter the reason. While these cats are allowed to join patrols as well as walk the borders just as any other, they are prevented from joining border patrols as well as battles, unless one were to occur within camp.
Monarchs​
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Monarchs are cats who wish to devote themselves to the raising and care of their clan’s young. Whether they have had a litter themselves and are temporarily monarchs, or have devoted the rest of their lives to this role. Perma monarchs often take on a familial role for cats who need advice/support in difficult times regardless of their age or rank. A cat must be at least old enough to have kits to become a permamonarch, and permamonarchs cannot be mentors.
Current State of Affairs
"It has truly been a season of change, and one to bring forth prosperity." — Russetstar
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WindClan
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Much has grown of Russetstar's opinion on Windclan and its leader since they came into conflict seasons before. She's come to respect their way of life, not so different in trials as those faced within Shadowclan, and Whisperstar, whose wisdoms have aided her in times of need. Tensions may remain, thus she understands forgiveness and understanding are both earned— preferably not with claws.
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RiverClan
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Russetstar has a relatively neutral opinion on Riverclan as they do not share a border, and their customs on individuality can sometimes strike as selfish to how interwoven Shadowclan can be, even in silence. Hedonism is not a trait she appreciates as one to dedicate herself entirely to duty, which she's attributed to Riverclan before.
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ThunderClan
- Having offered shelter when Shadowclan lost its territory to the wolfdog pack, Russetstar's wariness towards Thunderclan was replaced with appreciation for their hospitality. Working alongside Thunderclan's warriors has given her an amiable relationship, although she remains concerned that her clanmates recognize they remain separate now, wishing to ensure none get too friendly at their border.