Thornkit's Apprentice Ceremony

The afternoon light of a gentle newleaf day filtered through the canopy above the ThunderClan camp. The fresh-kill pile was well stocked, and most of the cats in the clan were in various states of content. Well, most of them. The business of foxes lurking in the territory made his tail lash warily, but no foxes had been seen in a moon. That relief was small, but one just the same. He was loathe to send a small apprentice into any kind of danger like that.

Especially since a new cat was to be apprenticed this day. Marshstorm climbed High-rock with an easy leap. His amber gaze picked out the soft orange pelt of Thornkit near the nursery. It was time for the little kit to get her own chance to shine, with her own mentor, who could hopefully tame the brash apprentice somewhat.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!" His call was clear as he moved his gaze to the spot in front of High-rock while he waited for the clan to assemble with patience. There was no sense in rushing things.

Thornkit hummed under her breath, resting her head on her paws, laying in a shaded spot near the nursery. Those past months she ended up growing and growing, and now she, and most of her old playmates, were too large to spend all of their time inside, tripping over the smaller, younger folk. The ginger tabby's eyes were close to rolling shut, lulled to sleep by the peaceful quiet and a full belly. Midway through a yawn, a voice boomed on the other side of camp, Marshstorm's. The deputy had climbed on top of the Highrock to make an announcement.

Even though she knew kits were not welcome to participate, the she-kit kept laying there, interest piqued.

As the other cats gathered, he noticed that little Thornkit seemed content to hang back. He chuckled softly under his breath as the last in-camp warrior reached the base of high-rock and called out patiently.

" Thornkit! Come, step forward." He called, gentling his voice a little so the kit hopefully wouldn't think she was in trouble as he waited. A smile still on his muzzle as he realised the little she-kit might not have realised the ceremony was hers.

The ginger tabby's eyes grew wide when she was called forward. She looked up to Marshstorm, a moment's hesitation before she saw the gentle look in his eyes and got up from her shade, padding forward, through the thick crowd of ThunderClanners. The grown kit emerged at the front, right bellow where the deputy was sat, her heart pounding.

Marshstorm's gentle gaze rested on the young kit for a moment. Within a few short words, she would be a kit no longer. She would be the capable paws of a young mentor, whom he trusted would care for her well.
"Thornkit you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Thornpaw. Your mentor will be Scarletsong." He mewed, his attention turned to the mentioned ginger she-cat with a smile. "Scarletsong, I trust you to pass on your kindness and bravery to your apprentice. Train her well." He leapt off the High-rock to end the ceremony.