Crowpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Fishstar leaped up onto the leader's perch and yowled, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the willow branch for a Clan meeting!"

Crowpaw padded out of the apprentice's den, his large paws carrying his muscular body proudly to the gathering cats.

Tawnystorm padded out of the warrior's den, sitting down near the front, next to Crowpaw. The tom had grown taller than her, but she still had the same muscular body as he did. She suspected he was due to become a warrior now, and she nudged him slightly, sending him a knowing glance.

She knew Crowpaw would probably be her last apprentice. Fogheart was a traitor to Starclan and she knew it. Still, she had to hear this apprentice until he was out from under her teachings, so she waited below the branch to listen to what she had been told was his ceremony. It came to her notice time and time again how her apprentices that became warriors always seemed to have a little taste for killing. Crowpaw not so much, but her recently late apprentice Lionsong went over the top with it. She felt guilty thinking that it was because of her that her violent streak won through, but it was a relief that the forest was rid of such a powerful cat.

ooc: rip lionsong your murders will be missed.

Porcupinekit wanted to see the ceremony. He wanted to see it now. Subtly, the fluffy grey kit hid behind his mother.

"Crowpaw, please step forward." There was some tension surrounding this ceremony. Crowpaw had proclaimed his former allegiance to the entire Clan not two sunrises ago. Nonetheless, Fishstar had pardoned him, though under the threat of exile if he was ever caught disobeying the warrior code again. The RiverClan leader hoped she wouldn't have to resort to it, but she would if she had to.

The black apprentice looked up at his leader, making his fiery amber eyes lock onto her's. He held her gaze as he stood up and padded forward. Was it a look of anger expressed on his face, or was it just Crowpaw's usual expression? Since he had been a kit, the tom dreamed of being made into a warrior under the Dark Forest, since they were the only thing he knew. Now, however, Fishstar would be making him a warrior in the name of Starclan. To be honest, even Crowpaw didn't know where his loyalties lied; to the ones who raised him, or to the ones who were supposed to raise him.

"I, Fishstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice," she went on, watching Crowpaw carefully. He hadn't been training under StarClan's influence, so she would have to quietly change the wording of her usual speech. "He has trained hard to earn his warrior name, and I commend him to you as a warrior in turn. Crowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Crowpaw nodded quietly before he spoke. "I do." Was it a lie, or was it the truth?

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this day forth, you shall be known as Crowclaw. I hope you will earn the trust of your Clan back as you serve as a warrior." Fishstar gave him one last, hard stare and then hopped off of the branch.