Welcome to The Alley Cats, A Warrior
Cats Short Story Collection.

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✎ Hi! Willow here! As you can probably tell, I'm trying (and failing) to be aesthetic 😂. Sorry about that... anyways, let's get on with it!

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✎ ... ALL ABOUT THE ALLEY CATS ...

Notes
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✎ She-cats are only allowed to become mothers, but may also be born as peasants. When a she-cat finishes her trainee training, she is assigned to a tom. This cat will be their mate and the father of their kits. All she-cats must have at least one litter of kits every four seasons, or else they will be exiled or killed.

Ranks
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King ✎ The highest rank in the Alley Cats. Only available for toms. Live in the most sheltered den, which is under the roots of a large tree. Lives here with his Queen, sons and daughters, and the royals' bodyguards and servants. Are addressed by family as their name, and are addressed by others as "King [Name]."

Queen ✎ Another of the highest ranks in the Alley Cats, about even with the princes and princesses. Only available for she-cats. Live with the king. They are the King's mate, and must obey his every command. They are off limits for all other toms, and are forbidden to speak to other toms. Addressed by family as their name, and are addressed by others as "Queen [Name]." On the VERY rare occasion, a queen may take over if the King is ill or injured. Queens are often only mates with the King for a few seasons, usually until they can no longer have kits. Then, they are replaced.

Princes/Princesses ✎ The sons and daughters of the King and Queen. The oldest prince will secede his father when he dies to become King. The oldest prince may also challenge the King to a competition once a year, and if the prince wins, he becomes King. Princesses are assigned to toms of the higher ranks and are only allowed to become mothers. Both princes and princesses stay in the King and Queen's den for their entire lives. Addressed by family and others as "Prince [Name]" or "Princess [Name]."

Warriors ✎ A high rank in the Alley Cats. Available for toms. They fight, make up the army, and are at the King's command. They are often chosen as mates for princesses. They sleep in a large and relatively well-sheltered den. Addressed by their names.

Assassins ✎ Another relatively high rank. Trained killers. Do the King's dirty work for him. Are usually not given mates from the royal family. Sleep in a small den. Addressed by their names.

Messengers/Spies ✎ An average rank. Work for the warriors and the King. Their job is pretty self-explanatory. Sleep in a small den. Addressed by their names.

Trainees ✎ Apprentices. Begin at four moons of age and end anywhere from one year to eighteen months of age. Cats training to become warriors, assassins, messengers, or spies. Are trained by every cat in the specific rank. Addressed by their names.

Mothers + Kits ✎ Nursing she-cats and kits younger than four moons. In each litter that has three or more kits, the runt is slain as a sacrifice to their ancestors. Mothers are not allowed to name their kits, only their mates can. Mothers are addressed as "Miss" or "Ma'am." Kits are addressed as their names.

Royal Servants/Guards ✎ Cats who protect or serve the royals. If they do well, the King may reward them by letting them eat sooner.

Peasants ✎ The lowest rank. Unofficial slaves of the higher ranks. Perform tasks that the higher ranks don't want to do, like burying the dead and changing bedding. Sleep out on the open, on piles of whatever they can find. Often have their food and bedding stolen from them. Are addressed by their names infrequently; they are often called insulting names such as "dung" or "crow-food."

Rules
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✎ The King, his family, and any cats he wishes to honor that day eat first. Warriors, successful assassins, and messengers eat second. Healers, trainees, mothers, and kits eat third. Royal guards, servants, and peasants eat last.

✎ Any act of treason to the royal family or the kingdom is punishable by death

✎ She-cats may not speak bad of their mates or the royal family. She-cats must not start fights. She-cats may not leave camp unless they are accompanied by a tom. She-cats must have at least one litter of kits every four seasons, or else they will be exiled or killed.

✎ If a king with no sons is injured, sick, or missing, the Queen may fill his position until he is fit to return.