Chapter Text
The Suncross index.
—---------------------------------
Leader– Atlas (tom, 67 moons–14th leader of the Suncross, formerly named Helios)
[Andromeda's mate and adoptive father to Aiday and Wels]
A scrawny, thin white-furred tomcat. He has wide, piercing blue eyes. He has many large scars, most notable is the one that covers his ftleft eye, disfigured his muzzle and tattered his ear. – Replaced by Orion
Deputy– Orion (tom, 43 moons)
[No mate/kin]
A large, protective tomcat with a dark brown tabby coat. He has a large scar that covers half his muzzle. – Replaced by Chief
Herbalist– Andromeda (she-cat,
66 moons)
[Atlas¹⁴’s mate, adoptive mother to Aiday and Wels]
Andromeda is a puffy, brown spiral-coated she-cat with a pale underbelly and elegant smoke-like stripes. – replaced by Theia temporarily till Willow comes of age
The Voice Of Sun– Galileo (tom, 85 moons)
[No living kin, not allowed a mate]
Galileo is a broad-shouldered tomcat with smooth, golden tabby fur. He has light green eyes and a large scar dragging down his throat.
The Thriving:
Archer, tom, 42 moons – Hunter
[Sol's mate]
Archer is a thin, light-footed, short, grey tabby tomcat with yellow eyes. He has no scars.
Castor, tom, 24 moons – Defender
[Naolin's 2nd eldest]
Castor is a heavy-set, strong-framed tomcat with medium, dusty brown fur and green eyes. He has no scars.
Sol, she-cat, 45 moons – fighter
[Archer's mate]
A nimble and precise she-cat with short dark brown mackerel fur. She has a thick scar rippling down the side of her neck and shoulder.
Oriana, she-cat, 36 moons – hunter
[No kin, no mate]
Oriana is a cream-colored she-cat with thin fur and yellow eyes. She has a small scar over her muzzle.
Brone, tom, 15 moons – Novice hunter
[Naolin's idk which child but he's one of them]
Brone is a thick-pelted tomcat with grey fur and a tuxedo pattern. His eyes are sea green.
Aiday, she-cat(?), 8 moons – trainee
[Kin to Wels]
A heavy-furred feline with brown and pale tabby fur. Their green eyes are flecked with gold. They have no distinct scars. – After her betrayal and crime, she is not to be spoken of at any point. It is punishable by death.
Wels, tom(?), 8 moons – trainee
[Kin to Aiday]
Similar to Aiday, yet taller with a darker fur tone with no visible scars.
Naolin, tom, 52 moons – Senior defender
[Dust, Sprig, Sapling and Brone's father, mateless (passed on)]
A large, muscular tomcat with a longhaired Siamese coat pattern. He has blue eyes and no scars.
Dust, she-cat, 27 moons – Fighter
[Mateless, Naolin's eldest, Brone's half-sister]
A dusty grey brindled she-cat with yellow eyes. Her flank is scattered in small scars.
Sapling, tom, 12 moons – hunter trainee
[Naolin's second youngest, mentored by Oriana]
A long-legged tomcat whose dark brown fades darker down to his paws. His fur is dense but short. He has thin stripes along his forelegs. His eyes are dark blue.
Chief, tom, 84 moons – Senior fighter
[Vassal's father]
A large, quick tomcat with an imposing frame. He has black fur littered with deep scars. His eyes are a deep green.
Vassal, she-cat, 56 moons – Senior Hunter
[Chief's only daughter]
A black-coated she-cat with thin fur. She has a large scar scoring her underbelly. Her eyes are green.
Theia, she-cat, 96 moons – caretaker/mother
[Helios's mother and a fostering mother]
A delicate she-cat who is snow white with dull blue eyes. Mother of Atlas (Helios).
Sprig, tom, 5 moons – undetermined, kitten
[Naolin's youngest]
A small, bouncy tomcat with light brown patches of fur scattered on a white pelt. Sprig has yellow eyes. He has no scars. Spring has seven toes on each paw.
Willow, she-cat, 5 moons – undetermined, kitten
[Theia's adopted daughter]
A shy, quiet she-cat with ash-grey speckled fur. She has orange eyes and no deformities or scars.
Hierarchy
—--------------
Leader – Always given the name “Atlas” after killing the previous leader.
Deputy – Second Hand to the leader, set to replace them after death. Usually, after a challenge, having to kill the current Atlas to formally take his name. There has yet to be a female deputy or Atlas.
Herbalist – Often raised by the current herbalist, they are taught from a young age to complete healing and mending tasks for The Suncross. They are not forbidden from taking a mate and having kits.
Voice Of The Sun – Similar to Clan medicine cats, Voice Of The Sun is a role cats are taught to eventually take on by their mentor. They are taught to interpret shadow lengths, how high the sun is, how warm it is when touching the ground, and how bright the moon may be at night. They interpret these signs to convey messages of season changes, abundance of prey, and more. They are similar to a mediator and are to remain unbiased.
Hunters – Providers of food for the group
Becoming a Senior Hunter is to be exceptionally skilled in providing after moons of training and practice. They cannot be younger than 45 moons to receive this title.
Defenders – the ones patrolling, fighting, and securing the territory around The Suncross.
Becoming a Senior Defender is the same as becoming a Senior Hunter.
Fighters – The attackers of enemies, trained in quick, brutal attacks, often to kill their enemies.
Becoming a Senior Fighter is under the same requirements as Senior Hunters and Defenders.
Caretakers – Queens and kit-bearing cats. They often do not move from being a caretaker after the litter is born or moved into the caretaker's nests, though it is not prohibited that they return to their duties within The Suncross if they so choose.
Elders – the retired cats of The Suncross, often 120+ moons old at retirement unless injured severely.
Traditions
—--------------
The Birth Of Atlas - exchange of leadership. In a battle between leader and deputy, the survivor is named the winner. It is a mostly private and secluded ceremony and is considered an honor to view. If the current Atlas or Deputy refuses to kill their opponent, they are shamed for disrespecting tradition and will be stripped of their rank unless proven worthy once more. This ceremony is observed by four witnesses, two Thrivings, the Herbalist, and Voice Of The Sun.
The Naming of New Seasons - Naming of Senior rankings. An exchange between mentors and trainees, if the trainee has excelled in their skill as they aged, they will be awarded the role of Senior once they've aged to 45 moons or higher. If chosen so, the previous Senior will leave The Suncross altogether or retire to an elder for a peaceful rest of their life.
The Welcoming of Suns - birthday ceremonies, celebrate the survival of both the mother and her kits. If the mother does not survive, it will be a quiet ceremony. Openly celebrating the new lives while thanking the lost life for their service. This ceremony is also performed to welcome new members to The Suncross.
The Extinguishing Of Sunlight - burial ceremony. Cats are laid in the most open area during the highest point of the day so that their fur may feel the touch of warmth before their final goodbyes, the body is not moved till night. The deceased is surrounded by shining rocks, shells, and blooming flowers.
The Trials of Shadow - a coming-of-age ceremony for undetermined kits where they're tested for natural skill. If they do not show a prevalent skill, the ceremony will be repeated three moons later. If a cat fails their ceremony up to five times, they will be tutored specifically by Atlas to find their purpose in The Suncross.