Lightpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Tinystar made his way onto the Tallbranch and called out to the clan, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Tallbranch for a clan meeting!" Today, SkyClan would gain another warrior for their ranks, and while the small leader found it difficult to enjoy much these days, he was proud of his clan for continuing to grow.

Of their family, only Swallowpaw and himself remained in the apprentice den. Lightpaw was certain Swallowpaw, being older (albeit by a minute or so) and unscarred, would be named first; honestly, he'd come to terms with that faster than he'd come to terms with the fresh marks on his throat. Whatever Tinystar chose to call him, whenever that name would become his to take, he would accept it. Today, however, his mind was on someone else.

If he’d been bolder, he would have asked Tinystar to give Maplepaw her full name. Her body hadn't been found, but StarClan knew where she was, knew she deserved warriorhood as much as the rest of them. Speaking to Mumblefoot had strengthened his faith in them. Unfortunately, that faith wasn't enough to help him overcome his fear of a one-on-one conversation with Tinystar; he had no right to ask anything of a leader, and so his request remained unknown, even as he sat beneath the Tallbranch with his tail over his paws.

"We gather here today to give one of our apprentices their Warrior name and rank," he began, looking out upon the gathering clan bellow. "Lightpaw has proven himelf worthy to climb the ranks of SkyClan and receive his Warrior name," Tinystar spoke and then paused for another brief moment before continuing.

"Lightpaw, please step forward."

Once the apprentice stepped forward, the short tom continued. "I, Tinystar, leader of SkyClan, 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. Lightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

To his surprise, it was his name Tinystar spoke—one of the last times he would hear it. Lightpaw’s ears stood up straight, but he hid his confusion quickly as he stepped forward. His paws were much bigger than they’d been the first time he’d stood in this spot; he remembered how eager he had been to start his apprenticeship, certain its trials would make him strong. Would make him better. That certainty was long gone. Though he could hunt and fight well enough to match his Clanmates, Lightpaw was the same cat he’d always been. He had made a mistake grave enough to earn StarClan’s wrath; because of it, he had lost his sister.

In the nights since his Moonstone, Lightpaw had tried to wrap his head around Mumblefoot’s words. SkyClan was his home, his purpose, the blood in his veins, yet Mumblefoot had told him it was less. He wasn’t sure what to think about it, especially since the message came from a StarClan cat—one who had been a SkyClan warrior, at that. But this…he'd been ready to make this oath since the day he'd learned what it meant. Lightpaw’s quiet voice cut through the silence: ”I do.”

Once the apprentice replied, he went on with the ceremony. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lightpaw, from this day forward you shall be known as Lightfang. SkyClan honors your loyalty and valor. Congratulations," he finished. With that, Tinystar leaped down from Tallbranch and stood near the edge of the crowd, as the rest of the young warrior's clanmates flocked towards him.

On the rare occasions when he allowed himself to wonder what his name might be, Lightpaw had thought -fur or -pelt would suit him best. He was too quiet to be a -heart, too steady to be a -storm; -tail was a laughable idea, considering he still hadn’t gone beyond the middling height he’d reached beside (or rather, above) Burningpaw. But Lightfang was as much an honor as it was a challenge.

Loyalty and valor. One trait he took pride in; one trait he could aspire to. He would prove himself worthy of them and his name, no matter what it took. ”Thank you,” the pale tabby said as he stepped back to join his Clan, inaudible through the roar of SkyClan chanting Lightfang, Lightfang, Lightfang. A night-long vigil awaited him; he needed to prepare.