Badgerkit's Apprentice Ceremony

With a soft grunt, Scorchclaw sprung unto the Willow Branch. If he had to be frank, he was exhausted. Shade was going to drive him crazy. He had sent out patrol after patrol that had already scoured the whole of RiverClan territory. Jaystar participated in the search every day, and so did he. At the end of each day, he would practically collapse into his nest, ready for sleep to claim his consciousness. Yet even at night, he wasn't allowed relief. Whenever he closed his eyes, the images of Duckpuddle's torn, bleeding body would surface in his mind. Her eyes were as always dull and glazed, like dead cats' were. They stared right through him, seemingly blaming him for being the cause of her death. The desperation to escape her gaze would fuel him to search even harder for Shade. No matter how hard they searched, however, Shade refused to be found for now. When would he attack again? Would there be another victim? Who would it be? This was why romance with a cat from another clan was against the Warrior Code. Sweet gave in to love; look where it got her. Jaystar was equally as stressed out, probably more. Like a caged animal, the RiverClan deputy paced the perch.

When enough time had passed, he drew to a stop. Shade could wait. Right now, there were more important things to attend to, like Badgerkit's ceremony. Drawing a breath, Scorchclaw decided to commence the clan meeting. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!"

Badgerkit approached the willow branch carefully, as she wondered what the brown tom might do to her. She sat by nobody, showing her isolation from the rest of her clanmates.

Scorchclaw easily spotted Badgerkit. The she-kit sat apart from the rest of the crowd, her black and white pelt in clear view. He narrowed his eyes at the sight. Wouldn't she sit with her parents at least? "Badgerkit," He called her name, "step forward." Once she had done so, he flicked his tail and continued. "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 Badgerpaw. Your mentor will be Swiftheart."

The ceremony over, he sprang off the Willow Branch, landing lightly on the sandy ground.