Mintkit and Fernkit's Apprentice Ceremony

"Let all cats of Skyclan old enough to climb a tree gather beneath the tallbranch for a clan meeting!" Rippedsky's yowl rang through the clearing. His claws scored the tallbranch once more. There had not been a lot of ceremonies lately. He hoped they would pick up before leafbare truly hit. The deputy's blue eyes scanned the clearing as he waited for the clan to assemble. His gaze landed on the pair of young kits he was looking for. In his chest there was a strange mixture of emotion as he looked down at them. Pansyface's kits. He remembered curling around them when they were first born, and even for sometime after. There was something about these particular kits that had captivated him. He loved them as much as any of his other kits. Both reminded him of the long lost she-cat he had so loved. It was tough to swallow back the returning feelings of loss, but he had managed a surprisingly confident call. If only he could make it through the ceremony in a similar manner. Oh how he wish Crowstar was doing this one... But I have to. For Pansy. The black and white tom took a slow, deep breath as he waited. He knew she would be watching from the stars.

Fernkit bounced out of the nursery entrance into the sunlight, looking up excitedly at Rippedsky from where he stood on the Tall Branch; even though she knew that he wasn't really her family, she still looked up to him as a daughter would to her father, and wanted to follow proudly in his footsteps.  Grinning, the brown tabby and white molly gave her freshly-groomed pelt a shake, purposely displacing the wild fly-away furs that had been slicked down, before glancing back into the nursery.  "Come on Mintkit, hurry up or you're going to miss it, and then you'd be stuck in the nursery for another six moons!"  With a teasing giggle, she shuffled her paws restlessly as she waited for her sister.

Mintkit huffed and raced after her sister. "How d'you know it's gonna be our
ceremonies?" She squeaked, hurriedly trying to put her messy fur in order and then drippy ran out of steam

"Mintkit, Fernkit, please step forwards." Rippedsky called as soon as the crowd had gathered around. It was finally time to have them officially join the rank of apprentice. A soft smile wormed its way onto his maw. As soon as the pair padded forwards, the deputy continued, "We gather once more to name more young cats as clan apprentices. Mintkit and Fernkit are old enough to begin training. From this day forwards, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mintpaw and Fernpaw. Dandeliondapple will mentor Mintpaw, and I will mentor Fernpaw. I will watch your apprenticeship eagerly." Rippedsky had no doubt his daughter could handle it. This would not be her first apprentice and he knew the young she-cat would be a great mentor to Mintpaw. As for Fernpaw... he saw so much of her mother their. He could not let just anyone mentor the pair and so he had put it upon himself. True to his word, the deputy intended on continuing to watch over them both.

Mintpaw craned her neck, looking for her new mentor. Dandeliondapple? What a cool name! The warrior she had must be amazing- he probably had lots of scars or something.
Her murky green eyes widened as the she-cat stepped forward.
Oh.

Fernkit - now Fernpaw's - great day only seemed to be getting better!  Rippedsky was going to be her mentor!  The deputy of the clan...and the cat she looked up to more than any other!  With a quick excitedly happy grin thrown her sister's way, she trotted up to the black and white patched tom-cat to touch noses with him.  This is going to be awesome!