Bonepaw's Warrior Ceremony

Leaping up in a single bound to land upon the frost-tinged Highrock, Leopardstar's golden pelt gleamed in the faint leaf-bare sunlight as he called out to the clan, voice dulled a bit against the tall piles of power that lay around the edges of the clearing. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!" The tom smiled; it seemed that every coming day came with the joyous news of another new warrior, and he could feel his chest swell with pride as he waited for the clan to emerge from their white-encased dens.

Bonepaw’s eyes opened with the calling, looking at the entrance of the den where he had been napping. He knew exactly why the Clan meeting was being held, and unlike most apprentices in his position he was all but thrilled about it. The life he had avoided from kithood, the path he had stalled so much to reach….it was right there, before him, one single step away. It was time, he couldn’t stall it anymore, he couldn’t hide, he couldn’t flee, no amount of excuses nor jokes would help him now…

He knew it, and he hated it.

If he got on his paws instead of closing his eyes and fake ignorance, sleeping through the ceremony he knew was meant for him, was because of the thoughts of his siblings. He had stalled his warrior ceremony a lot by now, and if war broke out he wouldn’t be strong enough to protect them…if any of them died because of that he would never forgive himself for that.

Dragging his paws, he walked out of the apprentice’s den. Wincing lightly as the sun fell on his cyan eyes. It was clear that he was not a kit anymore, not even an apprentice. Well-formed muscles showed under his coat, yet not big enough to make him look bulky. Athletic, would be the best way to describe him, a warrior aged cat that showed the traits of his clan on his figure just as much as those of the ancient tribe his mother was part of, with the subtle hints of the high endurance his father had for being a rogue.

With a deep sigh he finally made his way to the Highrock, waiting. While a smile was clear as the sky in that moment on his muzzle, his eyes reflected everything but joy.

Unaware of the tom's hesitance, and unable to glimpse the shadows behind his calm smile, Leopardstar began the ceremony with a quick flick of his ringed tail.  "Once again, it has come to my attention that one of our clanmates had deemed himself fit to receive a warrior's name.  I, Leopardstar, leader of ThunderClan, 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.  Bonepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”  He glanced down, scanning the pitch-marked silver tom with a questioning gaze as his oath hung in the chilled air, awaiting an answer.

Honestly, most of the words that came from Leopardsar’s mouth went in through one ear and out the other for the tom. He had heard those same words being told over and over…they had lost meaning to him so long ago. However, even for the surprise of the tom himself, the last words rang across his head incessantly, like an echo that would never leave his head.

‘…do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?’

Was he willing to put his life on the line for his clan? To fight wars brought upon them by petty wishes and old grudges that weren’t even shared by most of them? To maybe even be forced to spill blood of another cat, an innocent, just because leaders and clanmates couldn’t get over their swollen pride and old rivalries, causing fight that weren’t even needed?

Was he?


He opened his mouth, about to be the first cat to refuse publicly to make the oath, when a soft well-known scent blew past his nose with a gentle breeze, causing his eyes to leave the golden tom standing on top of the Highrock and turn towards the nursery. It might had been a second, maybe two, for those around him, but for Bonepaw…several moons passed by, memories of his kithood, of his siblings’ kithood, of his mother….all of them so clear, like if he had just seen them before him in flesh and bone instead of through his gifted memory….his cursed memory.

And then, the words that Featherheart shared with him during his trip to the moonstone…

'You may choose not to see it that way. StarClan will not... nor can we, force you to follow a singular path. The rewards of being a warrior, are what you make of them. Cherish them, Bonepaw. Make every choice count... but most importantly, no matter what you choose, love your family. Fight for them, not because it will bring you honor, but to protect them, defend them against the dangers that loom from leafbare or other cats.'

He looked down, at his paws, before swallowing down a lump in his throat and sigh, ears going flat against his skull and eyes closing for a second or two. He looked up at Leopardstar once again.

“I-I…..I do”

Not for the clan. Not for Lepardstar. Not for StarClan even. But for his family…what was left of it.

Leopardstar's black-tipped ears pricked, straining to hear through the strange silence that followed his words.  The unfiltered hesitation on the tom's face had now become excruciatingly obvious, and with every second that slipped by a thousand questions raced through the leader's mind.  Why was he doubting this decision?  Was this simply nerves, or a true struggle of belief?  Would this cat, the son of a she-cat he had greatly respected, become a warrior after all?  He didn't speak, simply waited, watching.  Watched as Bonepaw's icy eyes drifted across the clearing, down to his paws, and finally back to him.

Then, the words came, and it was time for Leopardstar to hesitate.  His narrow hazel eyes flashed, unwilling to reveal their secrets, until a few moments later his face relaxed back into a smile.  “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name.  Bonepaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Bonewatcher.  StarClan honors your composure and observant nature, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”  Leaping down from the stone, Leopardstar rested his chin gently atop the newly-named warrior's head in a customary way, before backing away a few pawsteps without a word.  Had he done the right thing?  In the last many moons, disloyalty had begun to gnaw away at him like a mouse's sharp teeth...would this cat stand by his clan till the very end as he had just promised?  Or was this another future Gathering announcement waiting to happen?

The hesitation of the leader after he finally sealed his path as a warrior didn’t went unnoticed by Bonepaw, and like many things he had seen before, that action would be forever in his mind. One more piece to the mixed blessing and curse that was his memory. Yet, his reaction towards such thing was minimal, with only a small flick of his ear.

Leopardstar was his leader and he respected the older tom for that, but even if he wouldn’t do anything to purposely get on his bad side he would neither go out of his way to stay on his good side. The golden tom’s opinion of him was not something of his concern, and if he distrusted him after today that was not a thing for him to care much about. As long as he could stay around and protect his family at all costs, there was nothing else that truly mattered for him.

He felt like if he had taken a dip on the frozen waters of the river when his new name…his warrior name, reached his ears. He was walking this path now, it was only matter of time before he would be forced to walk with stained paws and unsheathed claws like many of those that surrounded him.

With a deep breath he licked the shoulder of Leopardstar, as the tradition dictated. Yet another thing to add to the ever growing pile he had to do because that was what those around expected him to, not because he wished to.

When Leopardstar backed away from him, it didn’t took long for the newly named Bonewatcher to pick up on the subtle clues the leader gave to him. If anything, the new name was fitting…way too fitting. He could see through masks like a cat can see a fish swimming under the clear waters of a stream. For the first time, his eyes were truly cold, void of emotion, focused on Leopardstar’s Hazel ones as if he was looking for his very soul deep within him.

As the cats started to leave he took one step closer to the leader, the smile that was so common in him gone for his features before the words left his mouth, just as cold as his eyes “A leader who can’t trust those under him will spread that distrust like a disease, Leopardstar. And that’s fertile soil for the seed of hatred, the seed of doubt, the seed of detachment, the seed of envy…let them grow, and the fear that causes you to hesitate right now will bloom, becoming reality” With those words, the black and white tom turned around after offering Leopardstar one last smile, heading towards the warriors den to get himself a new nest.

Why did he even told that to Leopardstar instead of leaving without a word like he originally intended, he was not sure...

He really could use a nap.

Just about to turn away and continue on with the daily tasks laid upon him, trying to push those shadows of doubt out of his mind, Bonewatcher's words echoed in his ears like a ghostly whisper, sending ripples of ice flowing down his faintly prickling spine.  Leopardstar met the new warrior's gaze as firmly as he could, brow scrunching to shade slitted hazel eyes.  “A leader who can’t trust those under him will spread that distrust like a disease...let them grow...and the fear that causes you to hesitate right now will bloom...becoming reality..."  StarClan...'observant nature' is an understatement.

"Distrust does not spring forth from nothingness, Bonewatcher.  Given recent events, forgive me for being wary."  The tom had already turned away, and he almost had half a mind to call him back to finish the frankly out of line interaction.  His newest warrior's words though had done their job; against his will, the leader's paws shook slightly as he walked away, back towards his den.  It's true...showing doubt in my clanmates can only lead to ill tidings within...but what else am I suppose to do?  I need to address these issues, not just sweep them under my nest and try to ignore them...our lives could be on the line!  Respect and dedication to the Warrior Code must be renewed...there are many burdens to come with that a young cat just cannot see.