Palepaws warrior ceremony

Spottedstar jumped atop the Highrock and yowled for her clan. A new warrior to come soon.

Palepaw heard a call some from outside, but he didn't immediately react. He was expecting a deeper, more jaded voice–that of Dewstar, ThunderClan's recently late leader. He had been up all night thinking about how she died.. What had she felt when she was passing? Did she die quickly? Slowly? The tom sighed heavily and heaved himself to his paws, feeling a crack in his back as he stood. Poking his head out of the apprentices' den, he squinted at the sunlight, and looked up to the Highrock.

Something stirred inside of him when he looked at Spottedstar. She stood tall on top of the stone, fur shining in the light of the afternoon. She wasn't hunched, didn't look tired.. There was rigidity in her posture, yes, but a good leader would be expected to be like that. She looked a little hesitant, but over all, confidence radiated from her. Something about this scene washed Palepaw's sore heart over with a much more positive feeling: hope. ThunderClan would continue to thrive, even though it had lost someone so dear to it. What had happened in the past had happened, and Palepaw needed to focus on what was, and what was to be. He strut out of the den with a newfound energy, and even though he hadn't slept a wink last night, he felt a little refreshed to be out in the open air again. The tom sat down in front of the Highrock and curled his tail around his paws.

Spottedstar took note of Palepaw, and continued with the ceremony. "Palepaw, please step forward" she waited until the apprentice did so, and continued. "I, Spottedstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Palepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Palepaw had not been expecting this at all.. Well, not today of all days, at least. Spottedstar had just been to Highstones the night before, and the silver apprentice had thought he would have to wait a little longer for his warrior ceremony. A flurry of thoughts buzzed through his head as he rose to his paws and stepped towards his new leader, and when he looked up, he felt sudden excitement course through his veins like a river. Palepaw listened intently as Spottedstar said the ceremonial words, and with an embarrassing squeak in his voice, he said, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I grant you your warrior name. From this day on, you shall be called Palegaze. StarClan honors your courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." She jumped down and rested her muzzle on his head.