Hawkkit, Sunkit, and Leafkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Darkstar scrambled up onto the Highrock, glad to feel some warmth from the sun again. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather under the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Sunkit and Leafkit tumbled out of the nursery, Leafkit strutted boldly, head up, ears perked. Sunkit trailed behind nervously, her head down and her ears flat.

Hawkkit trotted our the nursery with a triumphant look in his eyes and his pelt spiked up. His pale yellow eyes looked up at the leader who lacked a leg.

Leafkit shifted his paws impatiently as Hawkkit approached. He glanced back up at his leader nervously, waiting for her to start.

Sunkit looked down, scuffling her paws in the dirt with her eyes fixed on the ground. She looked up anxiously as Hawkkit padded up and her pelt ruffled- she was too excited to be nervous any longer. The small golden kit turned and met her brother's identical green eyes proudly before the two turned back to their leader expectantly.

Hawkkit kept a level look on his face, the disappointment that his leader was not doing this hidden well under a closed muzzle. Bear would have been proud of him for getting this far. But, he is dead. Not in 'StarClan', like all cats, he was just gone. Lowering his gaze from Darkstar, he sunk his claws deep into the sediment and gave it a good drag before quickly sheathing them.

Darkstar took a glance at each of the kits, taking in each of their personalities. It threw her off slightly that Hawkkit was so somber, perhaps she could find a mentor better suited to that. "Hawkkit, Sunkit, and Leafkit, you have each reached the age of six moons and it is time that you became apprenticed. From this moment on, until you receive your warrior names, you shall be known as Hawkpaw, Sunpaw, and Leafpaw. Your mentors will be Leopardclaw, Lichenfang, and Maplecloud, respectively. Each have the skill and knowledge to teach you well." The leader hopped off the rock to join in the chanting of the new apprentice's names.

Leopardclaw's ears perked up from where he sat at the edge of the crowd, surprised to hear his name called.  Stepping forward, he approached Hawkpaw and bent his head to touch noses with the young tom.  Of course, Leopardclaw had heard about Hawkpaw; he was another rogue kit adopted by the clan, like he, his mate Lichenfang, and Falconpaw.  This kit however, had spend his early moons in the barn with that tyrant Bear, and still seemed to show signs of the rogue's brainwashing.  Eyes narrowing, the large spotted warrior met Hawkpaw's gaze and meowed seriously; "Training begins tomorrow, I expect you to be ready."

Lichenfang blinked slightly nervous. She hadn't expected to get an apprentice. The she cat got to her paws slowly and padded over to the golden she cat a nervous but kindly smile on her face as she came over. She bent down and touched noses with her first apprentice."well start training bright and early tomorrow"she mewed gently.