Aspenkit's Apprentice Ceremony

The ceremony for the first of Sunfish and Stormstrike's kits was over. Lightkit had received his apprentice name and was now known as Lightpaw. It was his younger brother Aspenkit's turn next. Scorchclaw waited patiently for his clanmates' cheers of congratulations to die down before he spoke up again. "Lightpaw is not the only one whose apprentice ceremony we have gathered to witness." His gaze fell upon the brown-pelted young tom in the crowd. The markings that patterned his fur were without a doubt Stormstrike's. "Aspenkit, step forward." He ordered.

Aspenkit had just been cheering his brother's name as loud as he could. He was proud of his brother, but now it was his turn. His fur had been groomed but was already slightly messed up by the chanting he did. Aspenkit stepped forward calmly. He had been waiting for this moment and didn't want to seem like a complete kit. His eyes sparkled with anticipation. Aspenkit hoped his mother would've been proud of him if she had survived. He had no time to dwell on the past right now though, today was a day for excitement!

Scorchclaw wore an unreadable expression as he regarded the young tom who had come before him. "Aspenkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this today onward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Aspenpaw. I will be your mentor." Leaping off the Willow Branch, the fluffy deputy touched his nose to the newly-named apprentice. In a low voice that only Aspenpaw could hear, he said, "Training starts tomorrow at dawn. Until then, go get settled."

He left Aspenpaw to get acquainted with the other apprentices and vanished back into his own den. Even now, the thought of Blackpaw caused his belly to clench. He would not make the same mistakes he had made. This time, he would ensure his apprentice lived to become a warrior.

Aspenkit padded forward to touch noses with his new mentor, eyes glimmering with happiness. He was happy to be an apprentice finally. He could make his father proud. He hoped that his mother was seeing this from Starclan. Once he heard his mentor say training started at dawn tomorrow he looked at the sun. He thought in his head how much time Lightpaw and him would have to talk about their new apprentice status. He then quickly bounded to the Apprentice's Den to find an empty nest.