THE ORIGINThe Clans on our site have a different origin and spiritual connection than the cats in the main series. While the Clans currently worship their ancestors in Starclan in practice, that is not necessarily the whole truth.
The Clans believe (or believed) in a pantheon of Gods that controlled the world and how everything worked, including creating each of the four mortal Clans, plus Starclan. These Gods rarely interact directly with the clans, preferring to leave Starclan up to the job of divine guidance, but it is not unheard of for Clan cats to worship them still. Druids in particular still commune with the ancient Gods. |
The PantheonAll energy had to come from something, somewhere. This something is an entity known as No-Face, a completely ageless, lifeless, shapeless being who created each of the other Gods, and in turn created everything in the known universe. They are usually shapeless but sometimes take the form of an odd-eyed white cat.
It is unknown how soon Michael was born, but the first God was spawned close to the creation of No-Face themself. They were the creation of chaos, turmoil, and strife. They embodied fire and destruction, and they often take the form of a lion. After many years of Michael's solitude, No-Face created a companion for them, a balance of peace, calm, and water. This became the white tiger Gabriel. |
No-Face's plan, however, backfired. Instead of becoming companions, Michael and Gabriel became bitter rivals, disagreeing wildly on how best to create and control the universe. Their arguments often turned deadly of the world they had been trying to build, and No-Face knew they needed to separate the two.
They created the twins Raphael and Uriel for this reason. Harmonious opposites that set the universe into a balance of the birth, life, death, and rebirth. Raphael was a leopard who embodied air and freedom. They served as a courier, carrying energies between Michael and Gabriel so they need not interact. Their twin, Uriel the black panther, was the embodiment of earth, stability, and structure. They collected energies carried by their twin, and created physical constructs with them. With all four of them working together, the Earth was born. |
the aether and PlanesAs the universe expanded and the Earth grew, No-Face (and occasionally the Gods themselves) experimented with their ability to build new concepts out of nothingness. As new Gods emerged, so did a strange, thick energy that tied each entity together like a chain. This was named the Aether, and amplified the abilities of all of the Gods, drawing power directly from each other instead of expending their individual energies. It is the invisible force that connects all living things, mortal or ageless.
Eventually, Planes, or alternate dimensions, began forming alongside the Earth. At first, they were created accidentally, by a disagreement between Gods or by an odd alteration of time and space. These became homes for the Gods and their children, personal playgrounds for them to build whatever they wanted. The Earth was the central hub to all of them. |
Spirit Children and AurasEvery time Gods interacted together, part of the Aether warped and fused together, breaking off to form a new entity. These souls became the first spirits, and upon settling down on Earth, became the first life. These odd beings were small, shapeless creatures who thrived in the environment created by the Gods. After many generations, eventually they even began to take the shape of the Gods. Cats.
Unlike the Gods, these mortal creatures were not born with a singular task. Instead, they has complete free will, to do whatever they wished. Each one was completely different from the rest, even having their own individual shroud of colour connecting them to the Aether (which would come to be known as an Aura). |
The ClansThese primordial felines, like the Gods that created them, often warred among themselves to survive. Squabbles over land, food, mates, and heritage were extremely common. Naturally, families and friends started to stick together, forming loose tribes of cats. This only made disputes worse. The tribes became entitled to their specific territories and their food. Death seized many in it's claws as the cats struggled for survival. There WERE tribes who only sought peace, though, and after many exhaustive fights, convinced some tribes to band together in order to survive.
The brave and outspoken descendants of Michael formed Thunderclan. The calm and calculated descendants of Gabriel formed Riverclan. The free-spirited and joyful descendants of Raphael formed Windclan. And the stoic and stubborn descendants of Uriel formed Shadowclan. |
the first Starclan and the dark forestCenturies and generations passed and No-Face became weak and tired from creating. They decided they needed their own place to rest, somewhere they could be surrounded by their children, and a place for the weary souls to rest.
However, No-Face had waited too long, and had not the energy to create this place himself. No other God held the power to create such a place on purpose, either. So instead, No-Face transferred the power to a mortal kitten named Samael. As the kitten grew, No-Face protected and guided him until he reached adulthood, when No-Face appeared to him and revealed the power they had given him. They instructed Samael on how to create the plane, and he did. |
There was a blinding flash of light, and suddenly Samael had created not one plane, but many. With his light, he'd made the planes visible, beacons to the weary souls who were welcome there. Starlight lit up the world, filling the dark sky and bringing joy to the mortal clans.
As the souls departed Earth with No-Face and the other Gods, however, Samael was left behind. He was only a mortal, and could not access the plane until his death. He was devastated. Given this power, used by the Gods for their own gain, and he could not even enjoy his own creation. Angry and betrayed, Samael withdrew from the world, depressed and alone. |
One God, however, was still watching him. Kokopelli, the God of mischief and cunning. An outcast among the Gods, he himself was often shunned and left out due to his behaviour and love for chaos. He was always looking for a way to get back at the Gods.
Kokopelli saw Samael's vulnerability and decided to strike a deal with him. He would help Samael reach the Starclan he had created, if Samael did something to get back at the Gods who abandoned him. In his blinding anger, Samael immediately agreed. He would've done anything to get revenge for his betrayal. The deal made, Kokopelli tore Samael's soul from his body and sent him directly to Starclan.
As soon as Samael's paws touched the ground, chaos ensued. Altering his creation powers, he turned them into powers of destruction, ripping holes in his own creation. The world opened up, swallowing spirits and Gods alike, spitting them back to Earth. The stars began to fall, crashing into Earth and the other planes, setting everything ablaze.
As quickly as they could, the Gods created a barrier, walling the destroyed Starclan off from Earth and the other planes. Again, Samael was left behind. Eventually the fires died, and he was alone. The Gods deemed that as his punishment, that he be trapped in his destroyed plane forever, but not alone. The souls of evil, destructive cats would join him in the Place of No Stars. Otherwise called The Dark Forest.
Kokopelli saw Samael's vulnerability and decided to strike a deal with him. He would help Samael reach the Starclan he had created, if Samael did something to get back at the Gods who abandoned him. In his blinding anger, Samael immediately agreed. He would've done anything to get revenge for his betrayal. The deal made, Kokopelli tore Samael's soul from his body and sent him directly to Starclan.
As soon as Samael's paws touched the ground, chaos ensued. Altering his creation powers, he turned them into powers of destruction, ripping holes in his own creation. The world opened up, swallowing spirits and Gods alike, spitting them back to Earth. The stars began to fall, crashing into Earth and the other planes, setting everything ablaze.
As quickly as they could, the Gods created a barrier, walling the destroyed Starclan off from Earth and the other planes. Again, Samael was left behind. Eventually the fires died, and he was alone. The Gods deemed that as his punishment, that he be trapped in his destroyed plane forever, but not alone. The souls of evil, destructive cats would join him in the Place of No Stars. Otherwise called The Dark Forest.