Beekit's Apprentice Ceremony

OOC: Due to out-of-character reasons, Ferretnose is stepping in for a couple of apprentice ceremonies over the next few days. In character, Houndheart is under the weather.

Finally, she had reached the last of the to-be-apprentices... for the time being. A testament to her lack of practice, climbing the Highrock periodically throughout the day made her winded and tired. She prayed to StarClan her little tidbits would be ready for their ceremonies soon so she could finally rejoin the rest of ThunderClan as a warrior. Though she had been nervous about her affinity as a mother, she couldn't say she hated it at all. There was a special closeness in the bond between queen and kit that could never be replicated by anything. She often thought of Beartooth, who was surely pleased at how far she and Harefoot had come. His offspring's legacy was a strong and proud one after all.

Ferretnose took solace in the fact that, with Dovekit gone, he would have a chance to be a father after all. With these weepy thoughts and warm emotions in mind, she rose to Highrock and mewed loudly for all to hear. "Cats of ThunderClan!" she squeaked. "Sorry, sorry, I know you're sick of me. But please, join me for a clan meeting!"

Beekit tried in vain to hide the way his paws bounced with excitement as he approached the Highrock. Poor Houndheart was laid up in the medicine den, so Mama was doing the ceremonies. Apparently, the deputy had selected the mentors ahead of time for the various incoming apprentices. He spent all day trying to pry an answer out of Ferretnose, to no avail. She said he was foolish to even try and bowled him over as she had when he was only a few moons old. Beekit tried to enjoy the last of his kittish roughhousing, since he was scared he'd never get to feel it again. Ferretnose was still stronger than him, still bigger than him, and still more skilled than him... maybe that would change one day!

He prayed Papa wouldn't be his mentor. Beekit had something to prove... he wanted to do it all by himself, and he couldn't dream of it if Harefoot was following him around and coddling him every few pawsteps. He knew that both he and Mama would do it if they got the chances! He sat down in the very front. "Hi!" he whispered to the queen on the Highrock.

Ferretnose laughed heartily at Beekit's sweet greeting and winked at him. He was more outgoing already than she had been at that age. She worried, though, that her only son was too bashful and awkward in some cases. Maybe all he needed was some time in the apprentice den to warm up to his denmates.

"Beekit, please step forward!" she announced proudly. "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Beepaw." Houndheart seemed very firm in his choice of mentor for Beepaw. Ferretnose had been a little nervous at first that Beepaw would be put off by her curious nature, but the queen was open to the idea that, perhaps, she was exactly what he needed. After all, she knew his father. She was his apprentice. "Beepaw, your mentor will be Duskrain. She's practical and fair, and in all of my life I have never met a cat with her curiosity and open-mindedness. I do think that you will learn more from her than just how to hunt and how to fight."

Ferretnose leaped down and watched Duskrain approach her son with detached inquisitiveness. Their first interaction would surely show her if Houndheart was right about this matchup. Beepaw seemed nervous, but not scared.

---

Beepaw's ears perked up with surprise when Ferretnose announced his mentor. Duskrain? He had expected Dawngaze... maybe even Harefoot... but not Duskrain. Of all of his clanmates, she was the most mysterious. But Beepaw knew one thing about her that he did not let on to many cats. His mentor held the memories that his living parents kept locked up. It wasn't like they didn't want to talk about him. It was like they were scared of what would come rushing out with it.

But Duskrain was fearless. Duskrain was an enigma. And Duskrain was Beartooth's apprentice. He tapped their noses together in an awkward, rushed manner. Her eyes had a stange, otherworldly depth. He wanted it. "Is it 'cause my father taught you?" he asked, his head cocked to the left. "Is that why Houndheart gave me to you?"

Duskrain blinked in the chilly wind, whiskers caught up with every gust and billow. Her fur was messy as it usually was, but her impossibly deep green eyes remained sharp. Houndheart was sick. He had been given some herbs, but he was too warm. A fever. Duskrain had opted to give him some space from their usual shared nest. Last night she had found herself alone, with her two partners gone. Dacedream in the nursery and Houndheart breathing raspy breaths. Duskrain cared about Houndheart even though he acted strange. He did not love her like Dacedream did. He did not have fuzzy fur or kind eyes. But maybe he was sad. The warrior sighed as she thought of her friend, and wished to comfort him by pressing her head into his. But they were far away now. Duskrain sat in the clearing amongst ThunderClan as Ferretnose sat atop the Highrock in Houndheart's place. Beekit had become Beepaw. And Beepaw had been given to Duskrain.

The small she-cat let her maw slide into a strange toothy grin. She didn't even have to lower her head as Beepaw touched her nose. The tom was her height, if not larger. Ferretnose's kind words did not go unnoticed. She had called Duskrain curious and open-minded. The small warrior smiled, watching the older she-cat with attentive eyes. She wondered if Ferretnose was sad Beartooth was gone. Duskrain was sad.

Her thoughts were pulled back to the present as Beepaw asked a question, his head cocking to the left like the branches did in the wind. Duskrain did not often let her thoughts wander. She was confident and didn't enjoy dwelling on the past. There wasn't time. The world was too full of adventure and squirrels. But Beepaw looked like the past. Beepaw looked like Beartooth. "I don't know." Duskrain answered her new apprentice, eyes wide. "You look like Beartooth." She said strangely, tone never varying for more than a second. "Beast claws..." She whispered, staring at Beepaw's many toes. The very same words had been blurted to Beartooth many moons ago. She would take care of his son in Beartooth's stead. She would protect him from beasts and teach him to survive. A wide unnatural smile grew on the she-cat's maw, and she touched Beepaw's ear with a tentative paw. A new adventure.

Harefoot watched on as his son received his apprentice name. He was immeasurably proud, gleeful even as he remembered his sweet kit, Dovekit, who would not have this opportunity, and Beartooth, who could only watch on from above. The dusty tom smiled softly, looking up at his beautiful mate as she announced Duskrain as Beepaw's mentor. She was an energetic young thing, and although he had been partial to the idea of training Beepaw himself, he was glad one of Beartooth's former apprentices had received him instead. It was wonderful. Dawngaze had been trained by the former deputy as well, but she was... a little off. Not so friendly despite the glowing praise Dacedream would heap upon her. He considered Duskrain a good choice, even if he didn't know much about her. Harefoot cheered for his son and then slipped through the crowd to reach Ferretnose's side. "You've gotten quite good at this, my dear. Makes me wonder if perhaps you should be the deputy?" He teased, purring as he nuzzled her cheek softly. Soon more of their kits would have their ceremonies, like Cedarpaw and Beepaw, and Ferretnose could return to his side in the warriors' den. His nest had become unbearably cold.