Poplarkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Crowstar jumped up to the Tallbranch and called out to his clan. "Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather here for a clan meeting!" The black leader waited on his clan to gather.

Poplarkit emerged from the nursery with his brown-and-white fur neatly groomed. So... apprenticehood, huh? Of course, he was ready to be apprenticed, it was a huge step in the life of a Clan cat. He could finally learn how to hunt for his Clan and fight to protect it. It wasn't about being the greatest apprentice, it was about being a loyal, mature, orderly one. He sat down near the front of the crowd and looked up at Crowstar with an air of expectancy.

"Poplarkit you have reached the age of six moons." The kit was well groomed, ready for today. He needed to make sure to give the young tom to someone good. "Poplarkit from this moment on, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Poplarpaw. Your mentor will be Echoflame. I hope she passes all that she knows on to you." The leader said. Echoflame was as ready as any to take on an apprentice.

The tom listened intently as Crowstar recited the ceremonial words that Poplarpaw had heard many times while he was still a kit. Now, the words were being used for him. He turned back and looked around until he spotted Echoflame, his new mentor. He lifted his muzzle up so that he could touch noses with Echoflame. He was ready for whatever his apprenticehood had in store for him.

Dandeliondapple watched, heart swelling with pride for her kit, now named Poplarpaw. He was going to serve his Clan well, she knew it.

Echoflame raised her head. An apprentice within days! Echoflame touched noses with Poplarpaw, her half-nephew. The dappled black and white cat was pleased with herself.