Lionkit's Apprentice Ceremony

As the day drew to a close, and dusk began to creep across the forest, Scorchclaw stood in the willow tree once more. Sweeping his gaze briefly over the clearing, the fluffy deputy called out in a powerful voice, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Willow Branch for a clan meeting!" How long ago had it been that he had gained enough authority to summon the clan as he was doing now? Too much had happened since his days as an ordinary warrior of RiverClan had ended. The meeting this evening was for Lionkit's apprentice ceremony. Starlord's--yes, Starlord's daughter was finally old enough to become an apprentice. "Lion" was a bit of a weighty prefix for the young she-kit. He could only wonder if she would live up to the connotations it bore. He would find out soon enough, as long as he continued to watch her.

Littlestream ushered her daughter out quietly the queen's eyes shining with pride as she gave her daughter one last lick on her head to smooth out any stray fur. Thought the mane like fur around her beck was untamable.

Lionkit let her mother finish grooming her before she with nervous energuly moved forward and sat down quietly her gaze looking up at the deputy

Before long, the cats of RiverClan had gathered before the willow tree. Among the crowd was Littlestream and her daughter Lionkit. When he had taken note of them, Scorchclaw commenced the ceremony. "Lionkit, step forward." There was a slight pause as the crowd parted for the young she-cat. The fluffy deputy waited silently, only the tip of his fluffy tail flicking sporadically. Once Lionkit stood before him, he continued. "Lionkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day onward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Lionpaw. Your mentor will be Duspanther." As he announced Lionpaw's mentor, his green gaze alighted on the named warrior. "You have proven yourself a loyal, courageous warrior of RiverClan in the recent war. While you have just recovered from your injuries, I believe that Lionpaw will be in good care."

His part in the ceremony over, Scorchclaw leaped off the Willow Branch. Duskpanther, huh? Seemingly a good friend of Lichenmask, she had fought against him at Fourtrees and had even been severely injured as a result. If she wasn't ready for an apprentice now, he didn't know when she would be.

With a surprised face, Duskpanther got up from where she sat and approached her apprentice. Her first apprentice. She looked down at Lionpaw and pressed her nose against hers. "Hope your ready for our training tomorrow! You'll have to get some sleep because we'll be heading out at dawn." The warrior then smiled before walking away. She had been looking forward to this moment!