Cloudykit's Apprentice Ceremony

Thrushstar leaped onto the rock and looked down over the hustle and bustle of his clan. He didn't really want to interrupt the order, but there was another ceremony that needed to be done. "Let all cats old enough to capture their own prey gather underneath Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!"

Badgerpaw yawned as he padded out of the apprentice den. He looked around and noticed that there was going to be a clan meeting. He knew that it had to be Cloudykit's apprentice ceremony, so he scanned the growing crowd of cats for her.

Cloudykit bounded out and approached Badgerpaw. "What's going on? Can I come this time?"

Badgerpaw nodded. "Yes...I think you should clean your fur also." He started to clean his friend. "I think you might be becoming an apprentice tody!"

Cloudykit hurriedly tried to help him groom her fur. She was nervous, but excited. With luck, she felt, she'd be a great Warrior (if the help from Badgerpaw and Bearmask didn't turn out).

Bearmask came patting from the Warrior den, her eyes shining. She made her way over to where Cloudlykit was sitting with Badgerpaw, and sat down next to her adopted kit. She giggle softly when she saw Badgerpaw was helping Cloudlykit clean her fur. However, she kept her mouth shut as she turned to look at her father, waiting for him to start the ceremony. She was so proud of little Cloudlykit; although she felt that it was only a few mornings ago she had found the poor kit stuck in the mud all alone...And now, she was going to become a ShadowClan apprentice.

Scratchpaw purred as he saw Badgerpaw and Cloudykit together. "I can see that these two are going to be a good couple!" he accidentally meowed out loud.

Badgerpaw shot his head over to Scratchpaw, his eyes narrowed to slits. His claws came out. "I'm not in love with Cloudykit," He hissed furiously. "Say that I am, and I will tear you to shreds." Badgerpaw slowly calmed down and turned away from Scratchpaw.

Scratchpaw backed away, startled and kind of hurt. "Who put dirt in your fresh kill?" he muttered quietly, glaring at the apprentice with cold eyes. Images flashed through his head. He smirked, flexing his claws. If he makes another remark... The grin got wider, and his claws stretched far. He couldn't take it anymore. Before the ceremony started, he turned around and ripped shreds of bark out of the tree.

Looking around, he continued with the ceremony. "Tonight, we gather to make Cloudykit an apprentice." He looked at Cloudykit before continuing. "Cloudykit, from this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Cloudypaw. Your mentor will be Bearmask," he said. "I hope that she teaches you everything that she knows."

Scratchpaw padded up and grinned. "Congrats, Cloudypaw!"

Shadowpaw arrived next to Cloudypaw. "Congrats, Cloudypaw! I'm glad you're now an apprentice. One day you will be a great warrior." She said to her with a slow nod. She glanced at Bearmask and blinked her eyes. She dipped her head at her before she looked back at Cloudypaw.

"Hey, Cloudypaw! We are roommates again!" Badgerpaw said as he rubbed his paw on Cloudykit's head, making her fur a bit messy. "You can sleep next to me if you want!"

Cloudykit- no, Cloudypaw she reminded herself- giggled. "Thanks, everyone!" Then she looked to Badgerpaw and smiled. "I'd love to sleep by you." She laughed with her friends a little more before rushing to her mother. "Momma, you're my mentor!"

Shadowpaw smiled as she watched the apprentice rush to her mother and mentor. I'm so happy for my dear friend! She sat down from a distance and continued watching her.