Mottledpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Starclan was back and so the Moonstone Journeys. And now that apprentices had the chance to go and talk to their ancestors, they can finish their training and finally join the Warriors' Den. The leader climbed the willow branch gracefully and looked around his recovering camp. Life was slowly returning to Riverclan and with the new sunrise, Mottledpaw will soon become a warrior. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!" He mewed, ready for at last, a happy announcement.

Mottledpaw and his good friend, Lightstep, sat in a corner of the camp's clearing sharing tongues, though Mottledpaw's grooming was half-hearted as his heart pounded anxiously. Today was his warrior ceremony, and it was about time; Lightstep was young by nearly a moon but had been made a warrior first. He had really earned it, Mottledpaw admitted, but it didn't help to ease the twinge of envy. Jaystar's voice called and Mottledpaw immediately broke away from Lightstep, who stood up and gave him an encouraging nod.

Mottledpaw took a deep breath and padded towards the willow branch and Jaystar's summon, his thick, dark tortoiseshell fur sleek against his muscular body.

The tom soon fixed his eyes on the approaching apprentice. He was well aware that he should have been a warrior a time ago but with the eclipse in the sky and Starclan gone, it couldn't be possible until now. "Mottledpaw. Your mentor, Blizzardshell has confirmed that you are ready to undertake your warrior ceremony. If you believe this to be true, step forward now for it to begin." Jaystar mewed, confirming that the reason for his announcement was Mottledpaw's ceremony. Even though he wasn't feeling like himself after the battle against Lichenmask, the large cat could still find some happiness at the thought of another clanmate rising to be part of Riverclan's history as a warrior. Not all apprentices could do that...

Mottledpaw listened to Jaystar's words attentively, each one making his heart beat a little harder and bringing him just that little bit closer to his warrior name. His leader beckoned him forward and he did so proudly, his chin lifted. Mottledpaw remembered again the Exile she-cat who showed him mercy during the battle; he almost hadn't made it to his warrior ceremony. He wouldn't have shown her the same mercy, and so it perplexed and shamed him since the battle. He waited patiently for Jaystar to speak again.

With his gaze fixed on the young tom, the leader took another step over the branch where all the leaders had laid down their claws before him. "I, Jaystar, leader of Riverclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn, Mottledpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" The tom inquired, his eyes looking at Mottledpaw serious while he lifted his tail in a solemn way. This was an important moment in every clan cat's life and with such importance, it should be treated with respect and formality.

Mottledpaw listened to the words he'd heard many times before during other ceremonies, but they felt strange and foreign when they were addressed to him. As Jaystar said his name, Mottledpaw felt his heart skip a beat. "Of course," he swore fervently, "I do." He had already received a face full of scars in defense of his Clan; he would gladly die for them.

Leaving the serious mask, the leader smiled a little, proud. With a flick of his tail, he did not longer only at the apprentice but to the whole clan that was seeing this moment. "Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this day forth, you will be known to all as Mottledspark. Riverclan honours your courage in battle and strength. As per tradition demands, you will hold a silent vigil during the night to protect the rest of the clan while we sleep. However, for now, we celebrate. I pray Starclan always light your path, young warrior." Jaystar purred sincerely. It was a blessing to the clan that an apprentice could survive to become an active member of Riverclan. With all the death and loss... Riverclan deserved young, strong lives like Mottledspark and all the warriors that were about to come.

Mottledspark felt the world sway slightly around him as Jaystar gave him his new name. For a moment he could barely hear the words that his leader was saying. He had received his warrior name, at last! He had finally shown the discipline and skill necessary to be a good warrior for his Clan. A purr burst from his throat and he could only nod eagerly as the Clan began to chant his new name. From nearby, Lightstep joined in encouragingly.