Apprentice Ceremony

[Ravenstar]

Sitting outside her den, her small white paws tucked neatly beneath her, Ravenstar watched two of her warriors, Foxheart and Racoonmask, sharing tongues and a rabbit across the camp. She felt a pang, hint of sorrow go through her that she never really developed a close bond with any of her brothers, but maybe it was for the best. Afterall, the life of a leader is a very solitary one, especially a she-cat.

As she watched the two siblings, she remembered what they had been like as apprentices. Not much had changed, though Foxheart had stopped pranking any cat she laid eyes on. Ravenstar had only been a warrior back then, and a fairly new one. She was pretty sure she got her own apprentice, Rabbitpaw, only a couple moons after Foxheart and Racoonmask became apprentices themselves.

Twitching her tail thoughtfully, she began to think that it was about time the two had apprentices of their own, and it was also about time that three kits in the nursery became apprentices. Well, don't things just work out so well? She purred, amused, but then though about who would mentor the third kit. She thought for a long time, and the two siblings had padded into the warriors den for a quick snatch of rest by the time she had decided upon everything.

Standing slowly and arching her back in a wonderful stretch, Ravenstar looked up at the HighStump for a moment before leaping up. She remembered how it felt the first time she had stood here, she had felt so unnerved and vulnerable, one wrong move and the whole Clan would see it. She was quite used to it by now, however, and it didn't phase her in the least to stand before her entire Clan. Afterall, she had stood before all four Clans at Gatherings, why should she be scared of her own?

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the HighStump for a Clan meeting!" Ravenstar yowled loud enough for any cat within the camp to hear. It is time for three young cats to begin their journey to warriorhood. She sat patiently atop the stump and waited for her Clan to gather, but most especially those cats she had chosen to mentor the three young cats. She had already spoken to their mother earlier that day about having their ceremony today, she had just needed time to think about their mentors, and now that the thinking was over, it was time.

[sea]

Emberflicker pranced over excitedly, she loved clan meetings, and she was sure this one was going to be an apprenticship. She remembered the three rambunctious kits in the nurery. They were definetly ready. She only hoped they would become good warriors, which she had no doubt.

[Larien Melwasúl]

A pale kit dashed out of the nursery, only to quickly skid to a stop. He spun around, stumbling over his own paws. "Gingerkit!", he yowled, while bouncing on his paws.

A darker ginger she-cat padded quickly out of the hollow. She mewed, "Calm down, Palekit!" But any cat could see that she herself wasn't exactly calm. She was quite beside herself with excitement. But she tried very much to be serious, and not look like cat about to wet herself. Ironically, her biggest fear was just that.

Gingerkit caught up with Palekit, and then they both hurried to where the clan was gathering. A smaller, dark ginger kit followed them, steping soundlessly with his small paws. Copperkit's excitement did not show as near as much as his siblings. Of course, you knew that he wasn't dreading the ceremony or anything. He just wasn't bouncing off the ground, fur-on-end, tail-twitching and stuff like that. His ears were perked, his eyes alit. He walked a touch faster than he normally did, which showed for a bit of nervousness.

The three soon-to-be apprentices sat down near each other. Each having their own reasons for being nervous and excited. Each wanting to be surrounded by the warmth of the clan, yet not wanting to look like a fool of excitement.

[Ravenstar]

Foxheart was the first from the warrior's den, looking around the camp, wondering what was going on. Racoonmask was a little slower behind her, "Hurry up, Racoonmask, the meeting'll start without us!" she hissed back over his shoulder, though waited for her brother anyway. As he came to stand beside her, she murmured, "I wonder what's going on-" but cut herself off as three kits emerged from the nursery and made themselves comfortable, or as comfortable as a kit could be with all the excitment they must be feeling. Foxheart purred, amused and excited for them.

Racoonmask's eyes softened as he too spotted the kits, "It appears to be an apprentice ceremony," he stated obviously, though Foxheart didn't mind, "I wonder who their mentors will be." He surveyed the kits as he and his sister padded over to get a good spot for the ceremony. He didn't know their names, not being enormously interested with the kits in the Clan, but from his observations just now, it seemed the dark ginger tom would be a great cat to mentor. He had wonderful self control, considering he was so young, and looked as though he might be the quickest learner of the three, though he could be wrong.

Ravenstar waited as the Clan gathered and she spotted those three cats that she had chosen to mentor the new apprentices. Her three brothers, Blackbird, Hawkeye, and Falconwing each settled themselves near the others, the three had always been a close trio. Waiting another moment for the Clan to settle, she stood and let her voice be heard, "Today, three kits are ready to begin their training toward becoming warriors." She nodded at the three, a sign for them to step forward and be acknowledged by the Clan, "I have thought long about who is best suited to mentor each of them, and I'm sure I have chosen well."

Turning her gaze to look at the kits, she spoke to them now, "Copperkit, until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be known as Copperpaw. Emberflicker, I trust you will pass on all you know as mentor to this young cat." She paused briefly, letting her pale amber eyes glow warmly at both cats she had spoken the names of, before continuing, "Gingerkit, until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be known as Gingerpaw. Foxheart, I believe you are quite ready for an apprentice of your own; you shall mentor Gingerpaw." She paused yet again, her eyes yet again glowing warmly for the named cats, "Last but not least," she looked down at Palekit, "Palekit, until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be known as Palepaw. Racoonmask, you are also ready for your first apprentice, and I believe you are the best cat in the whole Clan suited to mentor young Palepaw. I'm sure you will train him well." Her gaze rested for a long moment upon Racoonmask, knowing he would need to be patient with his new apprentice, more so than he would have with the other two, but then, that was exactly why he had been chosen as Palepaw's mentor.

Foxheart's eyes widened and she stood suddenly, excited at getting her first apprentice, Gingerpaw.... She padded forward, "Thank you, Ravenstar... I will teach her all I know," her head was held high and proud as she made her way to her new apprentice, "You'll be a great warrior when I'm done with you, Gingerpaw," she murmured, her eyes glinting with amusement, as she lightly touched her apprentice's nose with her own.

Racoonmask was surprised when Ravenstar called his name, and stood slowly as if unsure he had heard her correctly. Slowly, he made his way to his new apprentice, "I will show you that you chose well, Ravenstar," he meowed solidly as he reached Palepaw. Reaching down, he touched the small tom's nose with his own, "I'll teach you all I can, Palepaw." His shocking blue eyes met his apprentice's and within them was the soft and subtle warmth of affection for the young cat, even though he knew little to nothing about him but his name.

[Larien Melwasúl]

Gingerpaw quickly scanned the crowd of cats, looking for her mentor. Foxheart, she whispered inside her head. She saw a ginger she-cat like herself but more red. Gingerpaw's eyes widdened. Foxhear. she said again. "You'll be a great warrior when I'm done with you, Gingerpaw." Gingerpaw heard her new mentor say to her. A great warrior. Those words seem to stick to Gingerpaw as she stretched up to touch noses with Foxheart. Energy and courage flowed through her body. She stood up proud and strong, but gently touched noses with Foxheart. Her tail curled with delight as she sat by her mentor.


Palepaw jumped up a little too quickly and felt the blood pound in his ears. But no matter. He quickly spotted his new mentor. Palepaw felt like shouting his own new name and his mentor's name at the same time. But he restrained himself, for he knew Gingerpaw might get mad at him if he started yowling like so. But he started lightly bouncing on his paws and murmering his and his mentor's name, "Racoonmask....Racoonmask.....Palepaw.....Racoonmask....Palepaw.....". And, thankfully, no one could hear him. But nearby cats could could all too easily see that he was very excited.

Palepaw touched Racoonmask's nose. And even though the touch was soft, Palepaw started shaking with excitment and from the affection that he saw in his mentor's eyes. He felt accepted at once.


Emberflicker...! Copperpaw's brow went up in surprise. Emberflicker was the clan's deputy. To have her as his mentor...well, it was a great honor. He slowly moved to rise, flicking his tail in curiousity and amazement at his luck. Around him, he saw Palepaw lightly bouncing up and down and Gingerpaw gazing at her mentor. Where are you Emberflicker? he asked silently.

[sea]

Emberflickers' eyes amazingly seemed to lighten in excitment. She padded up quickly to Copperpaw, and automaticly knew he would be an amazing apprentice. She had a feeling they would get along well. She padded up to him, paws tingling, and touched his cold nose. "It is an honor to be teaching such an apprentice. I can't wait to get to know you, Copperpaw."

And she meant it. Copperpaw was unlike any onther kit-nor just cat-she had ever meant. He seemed willing to learn, and his attitude was actually similar to her own. Calm and controled. She already really liked her new apprentice.

Then she looked up at her leader, and said the words she was had to fulfill,"I will teach him to be the best warrior he could possibly be, and I, with my life, will fulfill it." It was all she could possibly put into words at what she was feeling.
(YEAH!! Thank you Ravenstar!)

[Ravenstar]

Ravenstar listened to each mentor's response to her, and was pleased with her choices for mentors. She was sure the three new apprentices could not find a better mentor anywhere, "Teach them well, I look forward to the day I make them warriors." Ravenstar responded in turn before leaping down from the HighStump, dismissing those that had gathered and were now calling out the apprentice's names, though she knew they would stay a while longer to welcome them into the new part of their lives.

Her brothers padded over to congratulate them and their mentors as she herself was heading toward them, "Work hard, you three, and it won't be too long before you earn your warrior names," she assured them, letting her gaze rest on each for a moment before going to their mentors, Emberflicker in particular, "I'm assuming you have nothing planned for training at the moment, so perhaps you three could take them out on a patrol as a way of introducing them to the territory, and mark the borders while your at it."

Foxheart nodded at her leader's words, a patrol with her new apprentice was just fine with her. It would be a good chance to show her the territory, and at the same time get a job done that needed doing, "Perfectly fine with me," she stated, looking at her brother and then Emberflicker.

Racoonmask also agreed, "It would be good for them to see what a patrol is like, and they will see much of the territory. What we don't see today we can show them tomorrow," he was speaking mostly to Foxheart, though his words were for every cat. He planned on doing much of Palepaw's training with Foxheart and Palepaw's sister... Gingerpaw, he recalled now. Whether Emberflicker decided to join them or not was her decision, but Racoonmask and Foxheart rarely did anything without the other close behind.

[sea]

Emberflicker nodded. She had been wanting to do the same thing. So she looked at the kits, and asked, "What do you say, guys? A walk along the territory?" She liked asking others what they were going to do too, but her only concern was Racconmask and Foxheart. They seemed a little iffy about her presence. They did everything together, and she knew the entire time she would feel like she was in the way.

But at that moment she just wanted to be the best mentor she could ever be. She would be closer to fulfilling her promise.

[Larien Melwasúl]

Palepaw squirmed with excitement. After moons of watching warrirors doing warrior things...now he was apart of it! Not only was he in the discussion of what to do, his opinion was asked. Of course, it he disagreed with the warriors, it wouldn't be the best thing in the world...so Palepaw just bobbed his head in agreement to see the territory as well as doing a border patrol.

Seeing the territory....sweet! Gingerpaw wondered if this is what most apprentices did first. It seemed easy, but nessicary. But I bet they didn't do a border patrol, and a real real one at that! Gingerpaw narrowed her eyes with that idea. "Sounds great!"

Copperpaw mewed "Okay." quite simply. Sure, they were seeing the territory for the first time...and that was exciting. Plus, it was a border patrol. But...battle training or something would really be great! "When are we going to learn how to fight and stuff?", he said to Emberflicker.

[sea]

Emberflicker chuckled happily at her apprentice. "In time, young one. Don't worry, you will have plenty of time to learn to fight. We can do that soon, but I think you should learn the territory before defending it." she laughed. She smiled at the dark tom, and at that moment knew he would help her with her promise.

With her heart large and happy, she looked at Racoonmask and Foxheart with her eyes twinkling like bright blue stars, "Should we go now?" and she felt like an apprentice again. It made her feel alive and free like she once did when she was a new apprentice.

[Ravenstar]

As her warriors agreed, Ravenstar wondered if it waas such a good idea, the apprentices hadn't even had their first lesson in fighting yet and if it came to that, they'd be in big trouble out there. Though, she let it go. She didn't expect any trouble from their neighboring Clans at the moment and was pretty sure they'd be fine. Nodding, she spoke, "I'll leave it to you then, Emberflicker," her gaze met that of her deputy's momentarily before she turned and padded away to her den, trusting her deputy to take care of things.

"Alright, let's get going then," Foxheart nodded quickly, ready to be off and showing her new apprentice around their territory, teaching her about the Clans that bordered them. As soon as showing her around the territory was done, then the real training could begin, and she was looking forward to that even more.

Racoonmask looked to Emberflicker as she spoke, "Yes, now would be as good a time as ever to leave. The more time we have, the more we can accomplish." His tail flicked once, as if to emphasize his point somehow. Looking down at Palepaw, he spoke to his apprentice and the other two as well, "Are you ready? Do your best to keep up and don't be afraid to ask us to slow down a little. It's only your first day and I'm sure we won't want to push you too hard."

[sea]

Emberflicker smiled. "Alrighty, then. Let's get a move on." she said, her eyes gleaming. Her eagerness startled herself, and somehow it worried her. She needed to be cafeful, too. Things in the clans could become bad in a heartbeat when it came to borders.

As she padded toward the entrance, she looked at her apprentice. He was young, and she saw a lot of potential beyond his time. He seemed very willing to learn, as she had seen before, but she couldn't help but worry why he wanted to fight so much. He's a kit, Emberflicker, of course he wants to fight. It is way more fun than hunting or just patroling.

Nodding her head, she decided not to worry. She worried too much as it was. She just needed to be encouraging, and teach him all she could. Hopefully she could become his friend as well. She didn't enjoy being alone and busy all the time. She loved her work, she really did, but when it came to the fact she was always busy it made it hard to get to know her clanmates. Maybe this would be a good time to do that.