Warriors ~ The Forest
So, I've seen so many examples of the Lake map being redone, retextured, refurnished, but I never see any decent maps of the original forest map, whereas I preferred it a hell of a lot better; especially if it goes according to book canon.
Here's my research hashed out, hopefully I opt someone to do this, as will please a hipster freak like me - "The original is better, darn it!"
You can decide whether you want to make the five Clan or the four Clan version! Personally I enjoy the rejected Clan arc, but everything is up to the map maker. Below I'll hash out the Forest from the original arc.
Fourtrees: Fourtrees is a clearing with four tall oak trees in the middle, used by Clans for Gatherings. It is a neutral territory, unclaimed by any Clan. All Clans have a direct access to it; they do not have to travel through other Clans' grounds to reach it.
Thunderpath: A thick grey road splitting from one end of the forest to the other, this seems to keep a border between ThunderClan territory and ShadowClan territory. There is also a turning, which separates WindClan territory and ShadowClan territory. A small car park, connected to the road, in the carrionplace where Twolegs will go to dump their waste.
Twolegplace: In the southeastern part, known as The Twolegplace to the cats. It was built on the former SkyClan grounds. It was home to BloodClan, a ferocious group of rogues, led by a cat named Scourge.
SkyClan: SkyClan lived in a woodland area in the far southeastern part of the region. Their camp was in a hollow, and a Twoleg Nest was built on it. Their territory lay downriver from ThunderClan. It consists of mainly oaks. Their territory was destroyed a long time ago, and little is known about it. Their camp was in a hollow, and a Twoleg Nest was built on it, where now the kittypet Smudge lives. Surrounded by deep banks of fern and bramble, the entrance is through a gap in the brambles. The warriors den is under a bramble bush and the elders den lies in gap in the ferns. The vantage point for the leader was a branch on a thorn tree, and the fresh-kill pile was under an elderflower bush. The apprentice's den was under some ferns, and the nursery lies under a holly bush.
Treecut place: East of Twolegplace is Tallpines, a controlled pine forest, grown for the purpose of wood for Twolegs, named Chelford Forest by them. In its middle, there is the Treecut Place, a logging camp. (SkyClan's territory would also spread to where Treecut place would be, the path between ThunderClan and SkyClan would be their border.
ThunderClan Territory: The southeastern part of the region, their territory consisting of deciduous woodland. (Landmarks: A small stream runs through the territory, close to the camp. Near the camp is The Sandy Hollow, an area where apprentices do their battle training. West of the camp is The Owl Tree, a tree that was always home to owls. East of the camp is Snakerocks, a clearing where prey and plants are abundant, but adders represent a danger. Next to the clearing is The Great Sycamore, a tall tree where apprentices learn to climb. (Tallpines and Treecut Place, Pines near Twolegplace. Usually filled with Twoleg tree-eaters, the ground there rumbles and leaves deep gullies filled with muddy water. The Great Sycamore, One of the largest trees with strong and thick branches. The Owl Tree, A tree that serves home to a tawny owl. Sunningrocks, Rocks that absorb the sunshine and are a place of relaxation. Moons ago, it used to be an island belonging only to RiverClan, but when the river changed current, ThunderClan wanted this territory, too. Snakerocks, Home to venomous adders. The caves beneath the rocks can also be homes to other dangerous creatures. The Sandy Hollow - A training hollow with soft sand so apprentices don't hurt themselves. Twolegplace - The place where Twolegs live. This place is avoided at all costs.
ThunderClan Camp: Their camp is in a sandy ravine that used to be a riverbed long time ago, surrounded by brambles. The camp entrance is well hidden by brambles, which protect the camp from predators, but doesn't stop sunshine from coming in. A ravine leads through it. This ravine was once a river, but it is now dried up. The way into the camp is through the gorse tunnel. The nursery has thick bramble walls and is the most guarded part of the camp. Behind a tree stump, there is a clump of ferns where the apprentices sleep. Warriors sleep under a bush in another tunnel. Inside the camp, there is a fallen tree where the elders sleep, and the senior warriors sleep in the center of the camp. Across the clearing, a smooth tall rock resides. This is called the Highrock, and the leader stands there to make important speeches. The leader's den is in a cave in the rock which was carved out by an ancient stream. Lichen covers the entrance. The last notable feature in the camp is a fern tunnel that leads to a crack in a rock. This is the medicine cat's den.
RiverClan Territory: RiverClan claims the southwestern part of the region. Their territory consists of open plains. There is a very wide river surrounding their territory, the water is much more shallow and steady on one side of the bridge, there the waterfall surpasses and the residue of a gentle stream rips through the territory. On the higher ground - on the other side of the bridge, there is a gorge with very rapid water. Whiteclaw and Bluestar died by plummeting into this gorge. The upper gorge will be impossible for RiverClan cats to hunt in - meaning no cat can reach in, make sure it's very steep and high. Make sure that below the waterfall, the land is much shallower and the water is very even with the bank - the water closer to the bank is shallow enough to stand up in, but crossing must require swimming - make sure a default-sized feline cannot just walk over through the river. (Landmarks: The river itself, a source of prey for the cats. It follows a gorge that comes to a waterfall, then continues through the plains. RiverClan cats can swim through it, but there is also a Twoleg bridge that makes crossing safe when the water is high. South of the camp is a Twolegplace with a campsite next to it, bordered by a hill, sheltered off by Twoleg hedges. Southwest of the camp is Sunningrocks, a large, smooth stone formation by the river where cats love to sun themselves. RiverClan and ThunderClan often fights over the lovely strip of territory, Beech copse, A training area for apprentices and warriors.)
RiverClan Camp: Their camp is on a large, well-drained island, surrounded by reeds, that can be reached only by swimming. The whole camp is surrounded by reeds. In the central area, the cats lie and share tongues in the sun. In the tangle of one of the reeds, there is the warrior's den. It is also right next to the nursery. On the roof of the den, cats have woven in sparkling rocks and shells from the river. The light dances on these, making beautiful reflections. The river comes up very close to the nursery. That's why the walls are built very thickly to prevent the nursery from floating away in a flood. The nursery is also close to the river so the kits can practice getting wet and sometimes swimming. This helps them when they become apprentices. Across the central clearing, the elder's den, leader's den, apprentice's den, and the medicine's den dwell. They are all in a tangle of reeds covered by a hard reedy roof.
WindClan Territory: WindClan claims the western part of the territory, wedged between the Thunderpath and the river, consisting of rolling moorland. (Landmarks: East of the camp is the Outlook Rock, a large rock from where the moorland can be overseen. South of the camp is an abandoned badger set, a source of prey. The moors are almost hollow with tunnels, some made by animals, others by underground streams. WindClan cats use them to move through their territory without being seen; those skilled in doing so were trained as tunnelers.
WindClan Camp: Their camp is in a sandy hollow, surrounded by gorse. The camp is very well hidden, surrounded by a tangle of gorse. An old legend says that Windstar, the founder, scooped out a pawful of sand to make the hollow for the camp. There are no proper dens. The leader, apprentices, and warriors prefer to sleep under the open sky, although in bad weather, they retreat in burrows made by rabbits, foxes or badgers. The leader has a den behind the Tallrock, but he never sleeps there. The Tallrock is a large boulder used by the leader for special ceremonies. The elder's den and nursery are dens along the gorse wall surrounding the camp.
Highstones: Highstones is an abandoned quarry in the northwestern part of the territory. It is an easily visible landmark. A tunnel in the ground contains the Moonstone, where leaders and medicine cats go to share tongues with StarClan. It is a neutral territory, unclaimed by any Clan.
Moonstone: Please don't make this a big blue gem, it's unrealistic. I'm hoping it could be a magnificent moonstone - like the actual material. Big, silvery and sticking out of the ground.
The Farm: West of the camp is the farm, where cows, sheep, and dogs live. Nearby there is a broken Twoleg Nest. There is a barn on the farm. Inside, there is a warm smell of hay and the place is crawling with mice and rats. Barley and Ravenpaw sleep on top of a large haystack, and to get water, they climb up onto the roof and drink from the gutter. Two elderly Twolegs live nearby, occasionally leaving food such as tuna or milk out for the two loners, although the cats claim to like the mice better. Open to loners.
ShadowClan Territory: ShadowClan claims the northeastern part of the region, their territory consisting of marshy and damp ground with few trees. It is bordered by a Thunderpath to the south that has a tunnel underneath that permits crossing into ThunderClan grounds. Their camp is in a hollow with muddy ground, surrounded by brambles. (Landmarks: South of the camp is the Burnt Sycamore, an ancient tree that was burnt by lightning long ago. ShadowClan apprentices learn their night hunting and quiet stalking at this tree. West of the camp is Carrionplace, a Twoleg dump, home to disease and rats. It provides ShadowClan with food during leaf-bare. Southwest of the camp are two Twoleg tunnels that cross under the Thunderpath. One leads to Fourtrees; farther to the west, the second leads into WindClan territory.)
ShadowClan Camp: The forest is quite different on ShadowClan's side of the Thunderpath. Instead of thick trees, there're more pine needles. The camp is protected by brambles, and the entrance is through a tiny path. There is hardly any grass, but the ground is muddy and cool. The leader's den is beneath the roots of a big oak tree. The warriors' den is under a bramble bush. The den looks prickly on the outside, but on the inside, it's lined with pine needles and moss. There is a smooth boulder at the edge of the clearing, which serves as a higher place for the leader to address the camp. Propped up next to this large rock is another rock, and it creates a sheltered cave underneath. It is the medicine cat's den. Sick cats can rest in the ferns surrounding the boulder. There is another hollow shielded by a thorn bush. This is the nursery, and the thorn bush is protection.
