Blackkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Blackkit. The name left a bitter taste on Scorchclaw's tongue. Another Blackkit, with another black-and-white pelt. The fluffy deputy couldn't help but be reminded of Blackpaw--his very first apprentice, who had drowned a while ago. Some time had already passed since his death. How much time? Not enough for Scorchclaw. The deceased tom remained fresh in his mind. Blackpaw was lazy and sometimes disrespectful. It was no wonder he hadn't really gotten along with his mentor, who was strict and overly serious. However, when his limp waterlogged body had been dragged back to camp, Scorchclaw suddenly felt overwhelmed by regret. Regret that he hadn't gotten to know the apprentice when he had the chance to. Now it was too late.

Of course, he knew that this Blackkit had had nothing to do with the former Blackpaw's death. Blackkit hadn't even been born then. He was one of Tinytip and Batfang's many kits. Still, he couldn't help but feel as if Blackpaw was being replaced. The thought caused a pang in his heart. Digging his claws deep into the Willow Branch's bark, Scorchclaw grit his teeth once before calling out the traditional summons that he had already repeated so many times. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!"

Blackkit was dozing outside the nursery when the clan meeting was called, and although usually he would just watch from the safety of the den, he was growing tired of the same old routine. With a small spark of curiosity about what this particular meeting was about, the young tom quickly padded over to peer up at deputy. Maybe someone was getting their warrior name? Or maybe a kit was becoming an apprentice? Oh... he supposed it could be his own ceremony... a shiver of excitement shot up his spine, glancing around at the gathering cats. Huh. Guess he'd just have to wait and see.

Scorchclaw spotted Blackkit among the rapidly gathering crowd. Usually, kits would not attend these clan meetings. They weren't exactly "old enough to catch their own prey," after all. When that happened, the deputy would have to send a cat to the nursery to fetch the kit. Blackkit already being there would save him the trouble. Flicking his tail to quiet the crowd, he looked straight at the young tom. "Blackkit, step forward." Once this ceremony was over, Blackkit's life would never be the same again. He was about to truly start the life of a warrior. "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 Blackpaw. Your mentor will be Cinderfall."

He was well-aware of the injuries Cinderfall had suffered not too long ago at Shade's claws. However, time had passed, and those wounds had healed, leaving behind scars. Despite his lack of vision, Scorchclaw was still confident that the young warrior would be able to teach Blackpaw well.

Cinderfall stepped up to touch noses with his new apprentice. "I'll train you well, Blackpaw." Although, he couldn't really say why Scorchclaw had chosen him. After all, he was half blind and hard of hearing in his left ear, and his balance had been off for quite a while, but all the same he now had two apprentices, both children of Tinytip and Batfang and he was going to marry another one later on.

Though waiting in anticipation of what the meaning of this meeting was, he still had not expected his own name to be the one called forward. The young tom blinked in surprise, focused on the deputy's words, and with a flash of wonder in his eyes, Blackkit took one step onward. He memorised every detail of the speech that Scorchclaw gave, quickly accepting his new name. Blackpaw. Not Blackkit! He glanced around to see his mentor - Cinderfall - and moved over to touch noses with him, grinning.