If a tribe member dies they will be brought to the center of the camp. The herbalists will prepare sweet smelling incense and potpourri to be burned around the body. It's custom for one of the herbalists to move around the barrier of the camp too with burning incense. It's said to help warn off dark spirits from interrupting and harassing the deceased. The cats will sit vigil around the deceased throughout the night. It's here they'll mourn, share stories and remember their fallen comrade.
When the sun is just about to rise the family will gather all of the feathers belonging to the deceased. If no family is present a mate, friend or high rank may do so. They'll then carry the body outside of camp to the burial spot. Once the sun begins to rise they'll release the deceased's feathers into the wind, using their element to cause a light breeze if need be. As soon as the feathers are released they work quickly to lay them to rest. Depending on the cat's life they may be buried with gifts like pelts, incense and other things.
Sky Charms
It's no secret the cats of Breeze Tribe like feathers. The meaning behind these symbols is a lot deeper than most realize. They're called Sky Charms and hold a significant importance for the clan. It's said that when the cats first obtained wind elemental powers they looked to the sky. They watched the birds and learned from them. So any type of avian is considered sacred to the Tribe of Breeze. This does not stop them from eating them, however. They do hold birds in higher regard. They give thanks, respecting the sacrifice to help the tribe survive. It's not uncommon when a bird is killed for the cats to pause and say a prayer in thanks for it's sacrifice.
The first prey a cat should ever kill should be a bird. When an trainee successfully hunts their first bird it is seen as a great honor. They'll wear one of it's feather's, earning their first Sky Charm. It's seen as 'getting their wings', almost as a rite of passage into their first steps of growing up. Further Sky Charms are earned such as getting their rank, fighting in a battle and so on. Certain bird feathers are reserved for high ranks, however. Due to their vibrant red color, cardinal feathers are the chosen sign for those in high ranks. They may given given as a sign of a great feet, but very rarely. A Shaman will have one cardinal feather, a Regent two and then finally an Overseer three.
If a grown cat within the tribe does not have any Sky Charms they are looked down upon. It's seen as a taboo to never have any Sky Charms and paints the cat in bad luck. They say if a cat dies without their Sky Charms being able to be released, they may not find their way to the Celestials.
Tribal Crafts
Wood Carving & Whittling
Since early apprenticeship, Breeze Tribe cats are taught to become adept at climbing trees. They take to sharpening their claws so that it would be easier to sink them in the bark of trees. Overtime, their pads become calloused and their paws become stronger. This development makes them perfectly adept for carving wood. Using their claws the cats will skillfully carve away at sections of wood to form various shapes. Especially skilled cats can even hone this craft so well they can make wooden flutes for music. If a cat isn't capable of using their claws they may also use sharpened shards of stone, like flint to do the carving instead.
The wood used to carve can be from any tree within their territory. Sometimes they'll use branches and twigs for smaller pieces. Most often when a large branches or entire trees fall during a storm they'll use these. For larger pieces of wood such as the trunk of a fallen tree they'll use a combination of their wind powers to gradually slice it away into more manageable pieces. It's believed to a be a gift to the clan from the Celestials if a tree falls for the clan to use for carving.
Incense
Incense are used by all of the tribes in the Land of Echoes. They're often used for various ceremonies and praying. There have been different methods in the past for all of the tribes, but the Tribe of Breeze has made this their specialty. They've found just the right combinations to create beautiful scents with varying properties. The cats will gather herbs, flowers and other plants. A day is usually set aside solely for this. The gathered plants will be left out in the sun to try. Using a mortar and pestle the cats will grind them down. The finished ground herbs and flowers will be stored away for further use. There is a few ways they go about preparing the incense for use. Some cats prefer to do it the most simple way. They'll take a piece of charcoal, let it burn slowly and sprinkle the incense combinations on top of it. Another method is preparing it on reed. Reeds will be gathered and left to dry. They will then be lightly coated in a layer of honey and rolled into the incense mixtures. They will further be left out to dry and then stored.
Fur & Pelts
All cats within the tribes love to wear jewelry and other adornments. The cats of the Tribe of Breeze take his a little step over just simple decorations. They like some of their decorations to serve a purpose. As such they've mastered the skill of creating bits of apparel from the furs of their prey. The accessories are usually fairly simple, bound together by twine. The most common accessory is shawls, bits of fur draped over the shoulders and tied around the necks. It helps keep the cats warm when the seasons get colder. The young of the tribe are often seen in these made from rabbit fur. When outgrown they will then pass it down to other kits in the tribe. Many pieces of fur decoration are passed around like this, to ensure nothing goes to waste.
Raising and Keeping Quail
The Tribe of Breeze is the first tribe to utilize their skills to keeping a steady supply of food. Over many seasons they've mastered the techniques for keeping and raising quail. A corner of the camp is dedicated to these birds. They're kept in pens made from reeds and branches. Using their wood carving techniques the tribe has been able to fasten together quite sturdy cages for the quail to be kept in. They are tended to daily, fed and frequently given new nests. The tribe harvests their eggs for a steady source of food. Their feathers when they fall are gathered for bedding or decoration. When times are hard they may even take and eat some of the quail. However, the tribe's stock of quail is seen has sacred and eating the birds is only reserved for the most dire cases.
Of course the birds are fearful of the cats, being natural enemies. Even through some were raised and cared for from chicks to adulthood. That instinct is still present. As such when tending to them one must be careful to avoid letting them loose. They will surely run and fly off it set free. They are fed an assortment of seeds and berries the tribe cat's will gather for them.
Paint Symbols
The tribes of the Land of Echoes have used paints to mark their fur for many generations. Each tribe has their own colors and symbols that represent certain virtues and ranks. It's said to be good fortune to be painted with symbols before battles or summonings and each symbol will bring the cat it's intended virtue. The paints are made from various things on the clan's territories and over time has changed over the years. During battles cats are decorated with many symbols, but at summonings the paints are less detailed aside from those of higher ranking.
Breeze Tribe's get their pigments for paints from the Tribe of Heather. It's made from cinnamon fern pollen and ashes.