Sagepaw's Warrior Ceremony

Tinystar made his way onto the Tallbranch and called out to the clan, his voice a little more raspy than usual from his wound, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Tallbranch for a clan meeting!"

Sagepaw trudged over to the Tallbranch with the rest of his Clan, his usual bright demeanor dampened by all the news he had received lately. First some worrying words from his starry grandfather Rippedstar about "being on the wrong path", then the trial which revealed Tinystar's and Mintwhisker's crimes, and now...something else?

Rippedstar's words had kept him awake at night every night since his Moonstone journey. What did it mean? How was he on the wrong path, what other path could he take? Was he not supposed to be a warrior even after he had worked so hard for his name?

Amberdawn had left the day of the trial and hadn't returned. If she were here, he would be asking her for advice right now.

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

"Sagepaw, please step forward."

Once the apprentice stepped forward, the short tom continued, his voice coarse and raspy. "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. Sagepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Did he hear that correctly? It was his warrior ceremony? He instantly felt a knot of anxiety settle in his stomach and he froze in shock for a moment before slowly stepping forward. The tabby's usual happy smile had been replaced with a more serious expression for more reasons than one.

"I do." Was this the right choice? It was what he wanted, right?

Once the apprentice replied, he went on with the ceremony. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Sagepaw, from this day forward you shall be known as Sagelight. SkyClan honors your loyalty. Congratulations," he finished.

It had been a while since he'd offered his newly named warriors his won congratulations, but having been working on being a better leader, he knew it was the right thing to do, instead of staying up on the branch like a hawk stalking its' prey. So, leaping down from Tallbranch and making his way over to Sagelight, the short leader offered a soft bump of his muzzle to the newly named warrior in a quiet form of congratulations as the rest of the clan flocked forwards as well, before slipping away to the back of the crowd.

The newly-named Sagelight forced his usual bright smile as he was given his new name, stiffening slightly under Tinystar's touch. Flicking his tail, he nodded in respect towards the small leader and raised his head to search the crowd for his mother Firflower and his brother Spottedleap. Were they proud of him? He hoped so.

Spottedleap had gathered with the rest of the clan, only mildly interested until Sagepaw was called forward. He straightened up where he was sitting, craning his neck to look over the gathered crowd, and listened intently as his brother took the vow. He cheered with the gathered cats, approving silently of Sagelight's new name, and met his brother's glance with a firm nod and a wide grin.