Finchpaw's Warrior Ceremony and Tigerstorm's Name Change Ceremony

Leopardfang silently looked down on the camp from the Jaggedrock. Was life just going to continue on like nothing happened? Was everything really going to be normal again? Of course, he still had certain maters to attend to, but those could wait. He raised his voice and called, "Let all cats old enough to capture their own prey gather here beneath the Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!" He would have to get used to shouting.

Finchpaw shuffled in his nest, furiously licking down his fur. It wouldn't stay down, and his nervousness only made it worse.

Over the course of six moons, his fur had started to grow white. No cat knew why, and some even teased that he was turning into an old tom. It even concerned Magpiewing, as he watched his grandson's once sleek black pelt grow patches of fluffy but coarse white fur. But he didn't seem to grow ill or sick from this strange colour change. So for the meantime, everyone ignored it. Except Finchpaw.

He thought he was odd. How strange was it that a cat who barely turned 12 moons was already growing white hairs? The blotchiness against his naturally dark pelt made him feel insecure. Would she-cats like him? Would he be mistaken for an elder and treated differently? He couldn't help but think about all of the possibilities as he padded out into the moonlight. There was no way in StarClan that his fur would stay down. Silently accepting this fact, he took a seat near the Jaggedrock and looked around until he spotted Magpiewing.

After receiving a reassuring nod, the soon-to-be warrior looked up at Leopardfang.

OOC: Warrior name?

IC: Tigerstorm left the nursery and joined the clan in the clearing. She was still emotionally exhausted, but she would never be better unless this mess was finally sorted out. It was getting the best of her and distracting from her duties. She chose a seat near Magpiewing and smiled weakly at Finchpaw when the young tom looked around. Had anyone done this before? She didn't know, but her father was willing to do it.

Leopardfang's musing was cut short when he noticed that the crowd had gathered and that the cats in question had made their appearance. Finchpaw looked nervous and Tigerstorm looked tired, but he was sure that they were both ready for the following events. "Finchpaw and Tigerstorm, please step forward."

Tigerstorm? Glancing up and looking back, he saw the she-cat step forward with him. Why was she being called up? She couldn't be becoming an elder already, could she?

Swallowing loudly, he shook the though from his head and stepped forward. Whatever it was, it couldn't be bad, right?

The deputy first started the warrior ceremony. "I, Leopardfang, deputy of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Finchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" He looked deep into Finchpaw's eyes with his own piercing green ones. Leopardfang would not tolerate any more betrayals from this clan.

Tigerstorm listened quietly to her father. Her eyes, though trained on the figure on the rock, were vacant.

Finchpaw couldn't help but hold his breath. The deputy's gaze was deep, demanding, and void of any mercy. As much as his nervousness told him to shy away, he knew he couldn't. Not now.

Holding the older tom's gaze, he gave a swift nod. His loyalties lied only in ShadowClan. Even if his life was in danger, he knew, deep down, that he could would gladly give it in service of his clan. "I do," the black and white tom meowed with a little more confidence in his voice than he had imagined.

He could see the sincerity in the young tom's face, and Leopardfang sighed inwardly with relief. There were always the good ones, the ones that carried the future of the clan. This was one of them. Of course. A member of Magpiewing's line probably couldn't murder even if they tried. He continued speaking, a kinder light in his eyes. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Finchpaw, from this moment you will be known as Finchpelt. StarClan honors your determination and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

The deputy allowed the cheers (lol no one's even here) to die down before continuing with the next matter of business. His youngest daughter had requested an unusual ceremony, and he had decided to grant it to her. She had not been the same since the father of her kits left, and he hoped that this would restore her. Clearing his voice, Leopardfang hoped he was reciting the words he had learned from the elders correctly. "Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what she is. By my authority as clan deputy, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on she will be known as Tigerflower, for her dedication not to her mate but to her kits and clan."

He jumped from Jaggedrock and landed forcefully on the ground. Leopardfang padded to Finchpelt first and rested his muzzle on the new warrior's head, as was customary. Vague memories of himself and Thrushstar repeating the same motions flitted around his mind. After a moment, he moved on to Tigerflower, and the queen dipped her head to him. "Thank you." She meowed quietly.