Pinekit's Apprentice Ceremony

Fishstar hopped up to her perch. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the willow branch for a Clan meeting!"

The small kitten scrambled over toward the willow branch, her eyes glimmering with anticipation. She settled down, unable to sit still as she was squirming underneath the large RiverClan leader. Finally~

Tawnystorm took her place beneath the willow branch at Fishstar's call. Another kit being made into an apprentice. Even though she was only a young warrior, it felt like so long ago, when she had confidently and solemnly taken on her apprentice's name. She had learned so much since then, and she hoped Pinekit would too - RiverClan needed strong warriors.

Smokepaw poked his head out of the apprentices' den at Fishstar's call, and he went to join his mentor and the other gathering cats. His eyes passed over the exited Pinekit and he snorted with pleasure at the sigh of her, reminding him so much of his kit days and his own ceremony. He gave Tawnystorm and amused look and returned his attention back at the ceremony. He was wondering if this kit would have such a destiny as him.

His first mentor had been Nightsong, but he had died just a few days before, the fact startling Smokepaw badly. But he had gotten a new mentor, Tawnystorm, and that genuinely made him happy. Even if Crowpaw was always on his mind, grinning evily each time he was with his mentor out training or simply saw her. He just wished that'd stop.

"Pinekit, please step forward," the leader commanded.

The RiverClan kit hardly heard the leader's voice over her own excitement. Her gaze swapped from Tawnystorm to Smokepaw, paws itching with enthusiasm. She noticed the silence that had swept over the Clan. Oh! She snapped to attention, ears facing ahead as she obediently took a pace forward.

Willowbreeze having totally been there the whole time say in the gathered crowd next to her sister and watched with pride as her daughter went through her apprentice ceremony.

Fishstar's whiskers twitched at Pinekit's excitement. The energy of a kit in their day of apprenticeship never ceased to amuse her. "You have reached the age of six moons, and are now ready to be apprenticed. From this day forth, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Pinepaw. Your mentor shall be Ivyfall. May she pass all of her wisdom and abilities onto you."

Ivyfall was quick to take her place beside her newly named apprentice, she dipped her head respectfully to Fishstar before leaning down to touch noses with her apprentice. "I won't go easy on you Pinepaw. Be prepared to work hard." Her warning was stern but there was mirth and joy in her eyes. It had been too long since she'd trained an apprentice, under the Dark Forest rule, she couldn't bring herself to train an apprentice in their ways. Ivyfall swore to train Pinepaw faithfully in the ways of StarClan, for the clan and to repent for her daughter.