The Ancients were groups of cats living in the Lake Territories, long before the Clansmoved to the lake. One of these groups would eventually leave the lake to form theTribe of Rushing Water.

The Ancients lived in three Tribes, and they had scattered well before the Clans came tothe lake. It is stated in Long Shadows that one of the Ancient Tribes are the ancestors of the Tribe of Rushing Water. They share several similarities, such as both calling themselves "Tribes".

The names of the Ancients are all two word constructions, relating to nature and often describing the cat's appearance as well (such as Fallen Leaves or Dove's Wing).

The names of Ancients do not change throughout time, unlike that of Clan cats. Except for Jayfeather, who has dreams about them and travels back in time to interact with them, it is not known if the Clans know of the existence of the Ancients.

The Ancients have further ties to the Clans, as a group of cats left the Tribe that the Ancients became and went on to form the Clans.

The Ancients had a leader, but they could step down from their position whenever they wanted, and name their successor. Knowledge of herbs was shared between a few cats, and each cat hunted for themselves, unlike the Clans.

However, at some point before the cats had scattered and they had still been Tribes, they had been lead by an appointed Healer, that both lead the Tribe and held knowledge of herbs.

Only if prey was left over would it be given to a different cat.

Rock was an ancient Healer who was cursed with knowledge and living forever, and lived solely in the tunnels, part of the Ancient Tribe, and still lives today.

The majority of the Ancient Tribes were made up by sharpclaws; the equivalent of Clan warriors.

Young cats training to be sharpclaws were called softpaws, similar to apprentices), and were also given a tutor.

When a softpaw was ready to become a sharpclaw, they had to undergo a rite of passage: to go down in a network of deeptunnels and find their way out.

Those who found their way out passed the test and were promoted to sharpclaws; while those who got lost eventually perished.

Younger cats are considered softpaws until they have more experience. No medicine cat or healer was appointed among The Ancients, but every cat learned about healing herbs in order to assist each other when needed.

Like the Clans, young cats are called kits, she-cats expecting or nursing kits are called queens, and retired sharpclaws are called elders.

| The Casting of Stones |

The Casting of Stones was a process unique the Ancients and the Ancient Tribe.

The Casting of Stones was a process where all the cats would gather to make a decision. The Tribe leader would draw a circle on a patch of earth, and divide it into two segments.

Then, all the cats would choose a smooth, round stone, and push it into the segment which represented their choice.

For example, in Long Shadows, the Casting of Stones was to decide whether to go to the mountains or not. One side represented "go" and one represented "stay".

Each cat pushed a stone what they wanted to do: go or stay. Eventually, "go" won out with Jayfeather casting the deciding vote and the cats became the Tribe of Rushing Water.