Hillkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Hillkit, one of Swanpetal's kits, was ready to take his place in the Apprentice Den. As Scorchclaw stood at the base of the willow tree, he took a moment to survey the bustling, lively camp that was his home. He could still remember the day when he had met Swanpetal for the first time. Now she was a mother, and her kits were old enough to be made apprentices. Sometimes time really did pass quickly.Giving his pelt a light shake, the fluffy tabby tom then pulled himself up unto the Willow Branch.

Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!"

Hillkit had decided upon his place in the world. Now he was old enough to make decisions, and have a personalized role in their clan society. Sure, he was still a kit, but now he had a developed personality, not like a helpless newborn. Now he knew that there were other clans, and that they were a threat. And that traitors existed. But none of his opinions would matter until he was an apprentice. So hopefully that was the purpose for the ceremony Scorchclaw was calling. Though he was not old enough to catch his own prey, he sat down directly in front of the Willow Branch, looking intently up at the deputy.

Scorchclaw's dark, fluffy tail swept slowly from side to side as he waited for his clanmates to gather. Once the last cat had sat down, he spoke again. "Hillkit, step forward."

His jade-green gaze lighted on the kit whose name he had mentioned. What kind of cat would he grow up into? What lay ahead of him on the path of life? "Hillkit, 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 Hillpaw and your mentor will be Sootwhisper. I trust that he will do well in training you to be a RiverClan warrior."

The ceremony over, Scorchclaw stepped backwards to watch silently as mentor and apprentice touched noses together.

Hillpaw smiled, glad that he was finally an apprentice. How long had he waited in the nursery before this happened? Sootwhisper was a good deal. Not the fierce warrior he had hoped for, but at least someone loyal. Though he was a bit quiet for the new apprentice's taste, he decided not to complain. At least he didn't get a disloyal codebreaker. Padding up towards the black and white warrior, he first touched noses before staring at him with skeptical eyes. "Are you going to teach me well?"

Sootwhisper’s ears raised as his name was called. Since the fox had left him in such a bad state, reflected by his missing tail tip, notable limp and many scars, he never thought he would be able to train another apprentice again. And on top of that his grief towards Ivystar’s death had caused him to become even more reclusive, losing a mother was never something you could just shake off like the warm water droplets of the river in Newleaf. However, the deputy apparently thought differently.

He knew he only had a shadow of the strength he once possessed, but his knowledge had only grown and he had been forced to develop new hunting and battling strategies to make up for his new disability…maybe they would come in handy for the younger tom, learning both the regular techniques of the clan as well as the new tricks he had developed on his own. StarClan knew how useful Halfmoon’s teaching were to him, knowing how to fight and hunt even when most cats couldn’t even see in the darkest nights thanks to the many techniques the almost completely blind she-cat taught him so many moons ago.

He got on his paws and walked towards Hillpaw, proud and serious even with his limp “I’ll do my best” His voice was deep and low as he touched his nose, just like always “We’ll start tomorrow after sunrise, be ready”.