Goosekit's Apprentice Ceremony

The large warrior walked slowly to the willow branch and he looked at it for a second, with a lost look in his green eyes. He remembered Fishstar standing up there proudly and strong when he was a kit. Those days were far gone and he was not that small tomkit afraid of the world and the other cats. Of course, he still had social anxiety but he had become stronger and braver since that. However, he had to start with something and his apprentice ceremony was his point of start. Jaystream jumped over just like the former leader did that time and he looked at his clan, ready to be the one to start the path of growth of a new, young cat. Fishstar was now walking among the stars, Ivystar was the leader and he the deputy in charge of the apprentice ceremonies. Who would think that a small, scaredy cat like him would be the second cat in power of Riverclan? Who knew if maybe one of the kits he named as apprentices, like Goosekit, would be in the future? "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!" He mewed loudly and more confident than usual.

At the call of the deputy, a roly-poly Goosekit bounded out of the nursery. She was definitely the largest out of her litter, although her size was currently manifesting itself in the form of kitten fat. She would grow into her large paws and clumsy legs soon enough.

Goosekit was six moons old, and according to her mother, was due for her apprentice ceremony. She talked to all the cats in the Clan that would talk back to her on a regular basis, so there didn't seem to be any other problems that Jaystream would call a meeting about. So today must be her apprentice ceremony! She wormed her way into the growing crowd of cats and situated herself right down in front, gazing up at the deputy with round, eager eyes.

The warrior saw the excitement in Goosekit's eyes so he decided he shouldn't waste any other second to start her ceremony. He lifted his feathery tail and fixed his spring green eyes on the she-cat. "Goosekit, please step forward."

"Goosekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Goosepaw and your mentor will be Hailsong." The deputy changed his sight from the apprentice to the warrior who was his daughter. He smiled at her and nodded silently. "She's a young and a wise warrior for her age. I hope she passes every bit of her knowledge to you, Goosepaw."


The small dilute calico she-cat was sitting between her clanmates as another apprentice ceremony occurred. Her tufted ears perked when she heard her name being called and he looked at the young she-cat, with wide eyes. An apprentice... She turned her head to Jaystream. Was her father putting in her his trust to raise an apprentice by herself? Her brother, Cinderfall, recently was given an apprentice too but she knew there were more capable warriors in the clan that could be Goosepaw's mentor. But she was.

Hailsong stood up and walked to the young she-cat. She touched her nose with hers and then stepped back. "Ehm... Well, I guess we can start tomorrow at dawn. You can go and... rest, for now, it's that okay with you?"

Lilytail had been watching. Her daughter was going to be sleeping in the apprentice's den tonight and the white-furred mother couldn't be prouder. She began to chant her daughter's name, excited for her. She smiled lovingly at her as her daughter met her mentor.

The newly-named Goosepaw flashed a grin at Jaystream, Hailsong, and Lilytail, stretching her nose forward to touch it with her new mentor's. "Tomorrow at dawn? That sounds great! I'll be there!"