We are the Tribe of Forgotten Waters, keepers of the mountains and the secrets passed down by our ancestors. We are small, far fewer than the infamous Clans that clutter the valley below, but we are strong. We are hardy. We are survivors.

The Tribe believes in ancestor worship, and our lives are built around this concept.

To honor our ancestors is to hunt and protect one another, to fulfill the duties given to us by the Skyteller, and to learn as much as we can while we are alive. When we die, and our bodies return to the earth, our spirits will join the others in the place beyond the stars, and our knowledge will join theirs. We become one with the past, and become guardians of the future.

Our elders are revered as much as the Skyteller. Long memories are to be honored, because life in these mountains is hard, and can be cut short at a moment's notice. Our elders eat before the others, and their passing is deeply mourned. Should - the ancestors forbid - Skyteller become infirm, the Elder Council forms to watch over us until they recover or a new one is chosen.

We do not keep 'territory' the way Clan cats do. We do not waste our time spraying trees and rubbing our pelts onto plants, when we could be out hunting or watching for danger. Instead, we mark our territory in a more tangible way. With heavy stones, we create the 'ring', and all To-Bes know better than to cross the stones. All Cave-Guard To-Bes, after their Rite of Passage, may contribute a stone onto the ring. This used to be unnecessary, but Clan cats have proven themselves untrustworthy and selfish; it is useless against predators, but it reminds our 'neighbors' that they do not own everything in the valley.

The Tribe is a deeply insular community, and exposure to different sexualities and lifestyles are extremely, extremely limited. With a heavy focus on 'the next generation', they largely frown upon same sex pairings or alternate sexual preferences, but can tolerate them so long as they are the minority. They are very encouraging of new members, as the Tribe is not a thing of bloodlines, but a lifestyle that can be embraced.

Tribe Law is dictated by the Skyteller, who gains knowledge of these unspoken rules from the Ancestors. Tribe Law typically deals with minor and major offenses. Punishments can range from a privilege revoked to complete and utter 'death', in which a Tribe cat becomes Nameless and is cast out of Tribe society for an undetermined, usually permanent time. Lead Cave-Guards and Lead Prey-Hunters are able to dole out Tribe Law over minor infractions as well. Banishment typically lasts for a season or two, and the banished Tribemate is allowed to keep their name throughout. If they survive and return humbled, they are allowed to rejoin Tribe society with a clean slate.

The passage of To-Be-hood into full Tribemate is called a “Rite”. The To-Be will be given a challenge, and they must overcome it or fail.

Prey-Hunter To-Bes are given a challenge in three parts. The Prey-Hunter’s role is to feed the Clan, and that means mastering all forms of territory to make the most of such a bountiful mountain home.

The Prey-Hunter To-Be must return with:
- One piece of prey from the sky
- One piece of prey from the earth
- One piece of prey from the water

They begin at sunrise, and have until the following sunrise to get it. They are accompanied by a single Cave-Guard, who cannot help them in their task. Prey-Hunter To-Bes may take their Rite together, but the requirements remain the same for each. Failure means that they will undergo another season of training, after which they will attempt the Rite again.

Cave-Guard To-Bes are tasked with protecting a nest, symbolizing their home and their Tribemates. The To-Bes are to ‘hold the line’, fending off predators (in the form of fellow Tribemates who try to get close to the nest) at sunrise, at sunhigh and at sunset. No more than two Cave-Guards/Prey-Hunters may play the role of predator at any one time.

Cave-Guard To-Bes may be tested one at a time, or they may be tested together, in which case they will have to fend off twice as many predators. Failure means that they will undergo another season of training, after which they will attempt the Rite again.

In the event that a To-Be fails their Rite more than twice, the To-Be must go before the Skyteller to have their destiny examined by the ancestors. If they deem it acceptable, the To-Be may be allowed to switch from one role to the other, as they may find it more suitable. (Cave-Guard to Prey-Hunter, or Prey-Hunter to Cave-Guard) This happens very, very rarely, and is sometimes a subject of controversy within the Tribe.

Once the Lead Cave-Guard/Lead Prey-Hunter and the Skyteller deem the To-Be's Rite a success, they are given the honor of placing their mark upon the Wall of Remembrance. The To-Be dips their paw into a special red pigment, and marks the wall with their pawprint, symbolizing their passage into full adulthood with the Tribe. They shed the rank of 'To-Be' and join their ranked group as an equal.

For Cave-Guards, they place their mark and also have the opportunity to add another stone to the Ring of Teeth at the base of the mountain.

Sometimes, nature is capable of great cruelty - but even that cruelty serves a purpose. There are two crimes of which banishment from the Tribe is certain: a murder of a Tribemate, and a rejection of Tribe ways. The Tribe is welcoming, and accepts cats of all backgrounds and creeds, however, the Tribe expects full commitment in those both born into their ways and those who find them later on in life.

To reject those ways are to reject the ancestors, and the punishment for this is to be stripped of one's name and place within the Tribe. These wretched few are called the Nameless. The Tribe then enacts an extreme form of ostracization, called the Shaming. No matter one's affiliation with the guilty cat, they are to act as though that cat is dead. Even if that cat were to stand in front of them, beseeching, Tribe Law dictates they are to behave as if the cat simply did not exist. Because, in the eyes of their ancestors, this is most certainly the case.

Maple with Red Leaves stood alone in a circle made up of cats she had known her entire life. Skyteller stood directly opposite her, and she felt her heart catch in her throat at the look of disappointment and gravity on his features. "Is it true, Maple?" demanded the Skyteller. "Did you take Frost's life?"

Maple's voice shook when she answered. "I-I don't regret what happened." The scene played again in her mind for what felt like the hundredth time. It was so fast... He was there at the edge and she just...

Maple frantically looked for Thorn, who had always been a source of comfort, of strength. The tom she loved looked at her as if he didn't know her. His expression aghast and wide-eyed. Maple's heart lurched. "No, Thorn--I did this for you, for us! Don't--!"

"A Tribemate's life was willingly taken, and Maple with Red Leaves has confessed to her crimes. The cost of such a crime is high, and now it must be paid. Maple of Red Leaves is no more. The cat you see before you is, by Tribe law, dead and forgotten." Skyteller signaled to the Lead Cave-Guard, who approached her side with the grim conviction of an executioner.

The cat formerly known as Maple trembled where she stood. "Please, Skyteller - where will I go? What's going to happen to me?" Skyteller's expression turned hard, and though his eyes were upon her, they were unwelcome. They held no answers.

Panic began to set in now as the Lead Cave-Guard began to nudge her towards the entrance. Maple's claws scratched against the cavern floor as she called out to two forms shrinking away. "Mother! Father! Don't let them do this! Mother!"

"All Nameless are forbidden from approaching our home or any members of the Tribe again. Tribemates who are caught interacting with one of the Nameless will be punished. Some may think this judgment harsh, but it is the will of our Ancestors. If we tolerate murder, if we tolerate disloyalty, it will become a sickness that will devour all that is good." Skyteller bowed his head, heart heavy as the stones at the base of their beloved mountain. "Tonight, we mourn the death of Maple with Red Leaves. Tomorrow, that name becomes dust, and none may speak of it for as long as the stars still burn."

Under new leadership, the Tribe attitude towards Clan cats is one of arrogance, flaunting their lack of true border disputes and petty rivalries. Perhaps it's all that mountain air, but this 'lofty view' of themselves seems to only strengthen in tough times, many believing that the force of their faith in the Tribe and their way of life are enough to sustain them even in the bitterest of winters.

Outsiders passing through are treated with warmth and curiosity. The Tribe is always eager to expand their numbers, and as long as someone devotes themselves to the Tribe wholeheartedly, they will be welcomed without the usual pureblooded snobbery sometimes found in the Clans.

But Tribe respect and acceptance is conditional. Their home can sometimes be used as a place of rest, a waypoint for weary travelers, but those looking to join must fully commit. The Tribe does not accept weak-willed, noncommittal cats within their ranks, and the consequences for abusing their kindness are severe.

Tribe cats are typically polyamorous. It is quite unusual to see a Tribe cat who is unwilling to have more than one mate. They generally believe that love can be shared with more than one individual, whether they be in committed relationships or are simply brief flings in which two cats decide to bring kittens into the Tribe together. The Tribe is accepting of all types of relationships, but they frown upon cats in a relationship deciding not to have kittens.

They feel it is a duty of all Tribe members, regardless of their sexuality, to help expand the Tribe and bring new members into their ranks. The responsibility of caring for kittens is shared by all kit-mothers currently nursing. It is common for nursing cats to even share their milk with kittens that are not their own, raising little ones as a community. Adoption of orphaned or abandoned loner kittens is also extremely frequent.

Their sense of unity, of wholeness, is their greatest strength. A small insular group, they pay special attention nurturing the bonds that tie them all together, and do not concern themselves with the behaviors of their neighbors.

The surface of the oasis pool reflected the faces and forms of the gathered cats, summoned by Skyteller's beckoning voice. "My Tribe, each day brings us new challenges and upsets. But don't let it take from you your sense of self."

First, he turned to the Cave-Guards, stocky and proud.
"You have taken your oath. You have become the claws of the Tribe, and it is through you that we are protected, defended from outside threats."

Then to the Prey-Hunters, lithe and quick.
"You are our teeth. You kill only because it is necessary, and bring back that which keeps us alive. Your Lead gives direction to those deadly fangs of yours."

Skyteller locked eyes with every youngster in the group.
"To-Bes, you are the whiskers of the Tribe. It is your job to focus and listen, to pay attention to even the smallest vibration. You are our future."

"What about the rest of us?" squeaked one of the kits, peeking from behind their mother's legs.

Skyteller smiled, looking with warmth and pride upon his Tribemates. "You are the belly that always hungers, and the heart that knows love, and loss, and every breath of life. You are the Tribe. I am your conscience. It is my role to guide you, to heal you, and to nurture in you all that you are destined to be. Just like our ancestors, we are a force made of many. Yet we are one."

* Cracked - To call someone crazy, ‘cracked like an egg’. Are you cracked, or something?
* Beetle-brain - A friendly, teasing insult.
* Caught-prey - Another term for fresh-kill. Typically just referred to as 'food'.
* Guidance - The period of time a To-Be spends learning their rank, overseen by a Guide.
* Giving of close comfort - Grooming and sharing conversation.
* Prey-Hunter - Tribe hunter, providing food for the Tribe.
* Cave-Guard - Tribe protector, guarding the hunters and the main cave.
* To-Be - The Tribe equivalent of an apprentice.
* Skyteller - The spiritual leader of the Tribe, known as the Teller of the Reflected Sky.
* Skypool - A special place in the back of Skyteller's den, a pool that reflects the sky through a hole in the den's roof.
* Tribe Law - The laws of Tribe society that cannot be broken without consequence.
* Ring of Teeth - A boundary marking separating Tribe land from the Valley Clans.
* Nameless - Former Tribe cats who are considered 'dead', and are forbidden to be interacted with.
* The Shaming - The ritual of banishment for those who have committed a murder or rejected Tribe ways.
* Rite of Passage - A challenge of readiness To-Bes must pass to graduate into Prey-Hunters/Cave-Guards.
* Time of Freed Water - The two warmer seasons of spring and summer, considered one season by the Tribe.
* Time of Frozen Water - The season of winter, when the harsher moons arrive.
* Tribe of Endless Hunting - The afterlife where honourable Tribe cats return to upon death and become as one spirit and one voice.