Aspenpaw's Warrior Ceremony

It was a big day. The leader knew that since Fallowpaw entered his den saying that Aspenpaw completed his Moonstone Journey. The tom was happy. He left his den under the tree and greeted some clanmates that passe by with that usual smile he forgot in these past days due to the tensions and hardships his clan was facing.

The sun just appeared in the blue sky when Jaystar climbed the meeting branch, already catching the attention of those cats who saw him stepping up. He glanced at his camp briefly before landing his eyes on the apprentice den. With a purr, he decided to not wait any longer. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!" He called with all the strength of his lungs. Today, his grandkit, Stormstrike's son, was going to be named a warrior and join his father in the warrior's den. Scorchclaw did a good job training him and now he was qualified to earn his new name and place in the clan.

Aspenpaw waited. He had been waiting a long time for this, but simply just sitting in the Apprentice's Den was tough. Especially on a day like today. He had gone over it many times in his head, the ceremony, but he just felt like something would go wrong somehow and deprive him of his warrior name. He had groomed and re-groomed his fur to perfection while he was waiting, the nervous energy just kept building. Suddenly he breathed a sigh of relief. Jaystar's call to the branch. He padded out, while some of the nervous energy had been released, not all of it had. He suddenly was saddened by the fact that he was getting his warrior name first, before his brother. He had hoped they would get it together, but he supposed not yet. Soon though.

Aspenpaw had padded nervously out of the den where he had slept for so long. He took a look back behind him, for it would be one of his last experiences as an apprentice. He soon had sat down, fluffing up his long fur against the breeze of Leaf-Fall. The trees were changing, as though it was telling him that change was upon him. Looking up with Jaystar with a determination he rarely felt, Aspenpaw was ready to become a warrior and serve his clan. The apprentice knew he had to get this whole warrior thing right. For Lightpaw, for Stormstrike, for Jaystar, and for his mother, Sunfish, for all of the rest of his kin. He refused to let them down. He was ready.

The green eyes of the tom shone when the apprentice appeared. He smirked for a second and then took a serious stance as he looked at his whole clan. "Cats of Riverclan. I'm happy to say that today I have good news. One of our apprentices has trained hard and showed an amazing performance during his training. Today, the warrior den will have another member." He purred.

Jaystar then fixed his gaze on the young tom, who had his father's eyes... his mate's eyes... Cinderpaw must be happy. It was always her dream to have a big family and even if she wasn't alive to see it, she could see them all from Starclan. "Aspenpaw... your mentor, Scorchclaw and Falllowpaw have confirmed that you are ready to undertake your warrior ceremony. If you believe this to be true, step forward now for it to begin."

Aspenpaw sat, feeling eyes on him from warriors and apprentices alike that surrounded him beneath Jaystar. He smiled though, his grandfather sounded happy. Despite all that had happened to Riverclan a warrior ceremony made him happy. Perhaps it was hope, he almost laughed at the thought that he could evoke any emotion by simply becoming a warrior. Despite that, Jaystar was kin, it was normal that he would be happy. He heard to step forward. It was a simple enough task. He placed his paws in front of him, taking the step. He knew he was ready, but he felt sick with the thought. What if he wasn't ready. He couldn't be! He forced his paws in front of himself, he could. He could do this. He had stepped forward, the internal struggle wasn't evident, and he stepped forward. He did it smoothly, it was not like it was in his mind where he felt himself struggling to do the simple task. He took a deep breath and puffed out his chest. He was ready, he just had to believe in himself. He may never be the best, but he would strive for it.

He could see some nervousness in Aspenpaw but the leader feared nothing. His grandkit had proven to be a noble, nice and obedient warrior. Jaystar didn't doubt he was a good cat. The young cat was probably only nervous due to this big step in his life. He remembered how he was when he left his former name, Jaypaw, to become Jaystream under Fishstar's leadership. Before speaking again, the leader gave him a short, reassuring nod, as a way to show that he trusted him.

"I, Jaystar, leader of Riverclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Aspenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" He asked.

The tom stared up at Jaystar, his gaze unwavering now. He had decided what he was to do and that was that. He flicked his tail as he stood in front of Jaystar, soon he would be asked to say the words that every other apprentice before him had said. “I do”. The words came out of his mouth and he was suddenly relieved as if he had lifted the large weight of decision off his shoulders. Soon he felt the weight building again, he was to be a warrior. A defender of his clan, a hunter and a fighter. He would uphold the code to his last breath though, and that’s how it would be. Aspenpaw wouldn't have it any other way.

OOC: ;D

IC: He raised his tail with a happy flick and smiled. "Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this day forth, you will be known to all as Aspenstrike. Riverclan's honours your bravery and loyalty. Congratulations, young one." He purred loudly so all in the clan would hear the new name of the new warrior. He was proud of him... of his grandkit. Even if he had to grow without a mother, he showed an exceptional development as an apprentice and here was his reward. His name and place in the clan were well-deserved and no one could doubt it. "As per traditions says, you will hold a silent vigil when the moon rises but for now, we celebrate the rise of a new Riverclan warrior."

He dismissed the meeting with a lash of his tail and then climbed off fastly to meet his grandkit. With a purr, the big leader pressed gently his muzzle on his forehead, as he whispered some words to him."Sunfish must be proud... I'm proud of you, Aspenstrike."

Aspenstrike. His name, warrior name. Just like his father's. He smiled as he listened to warriors, apprentices, and Jaystar alike chant out his name. He was no longer in training. He was now a full fledged warrior. He would make everyone proud. He nodded to Jaystar as he spoke of the silent vigil he would do as the moon rose and all others went to sleep. He would defend the clan with his life tonight. Today he must celebrate. Even if his brother hadn't become a warrior yet, he would be one soon. He watched as the group dispersed around him and Jaystar approached him. He faintly smiled at the pride Jaystar showed, hearing his mother’s name made his heart swell. He whispered back “Thank you for being there for Lightpaw and I, you’re a good leader and I’ll follow you to my last breath. I promise I’ll defend this clan, and my family, with my life.” Happiness was shining in the now fully-grown cat's eyes. He was a warrior.
OOC: aspenbab is all grown up I’m crying lol

Scorchclaw was right behind Jaystar. "Congratulations, Aspenstrike." Unveiled pride glinted in his pale green eyes as he offered the newly named warrior a small smile. It was an expression that he seldom showed. "You'll make a fine warrior. Serve RiverClan well." As the tom's former mentor, he knew just how deserving Aspenstrike was of his new name. He had been determined to learn, and learn he did. He had worked hard the past few moons. It seemed as if time had passed almost too quickly. In a flash, the earnest apprentice that had stood before him had grown up.

The RiverClan deputy had almost breathed a sigh of relief when the ceremony began. While Aspenstrike wasn't his first apprentice, he was the first apprentice he'd had to become a warrior. Had he done a better job as a mentor this time? He couldn't really tell. He could only hope that he had.

OOC: aHHHH I'm so proud of Aspen