Willowpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Ivystar grimaced as she padded out of the warrior's den, her fur fluffed up despite the warmth cast by the sun. Ever since the gathering, she'd been wary, of everything from the whereabouts of her mates to how far her Clanmates strayed from camp. She had no reason to- StarClan, er, the Righteous Few had been defeated. But nonetheless, she'd tightened up, and she hoped that her Clanmates would comply. With a wince, she leaped up to the Willow Branch, taking a moment to catch her breath before summoning her Clanmates.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Willow Branch for a Clan meeting!"

Willowpaw walked into the clearing after hearing Ivystar's Clan summons.  She wondered what the meeting was about.  She hoped that there wasn't any bad news.  She sat in the sunlight, enjoying the warmth that it brought as she waited for the rest of the Clan to gather.

Fernpaw bounded out after her friend. She wanted to know what was going on!

Watching as two energetic apprentices's filed out from their den, Ivystar couldn't bring herself to smile. Warrior ceremonies were usually happy occasions, but she kept thinking about what she was asking them to promise her- to give their own lives if it came down to it. She might as well be sealing their deaths, yet the Clan wanted to celebrate. Nonetheless, she knew it had to be done- Willowpaw had definitely earned it. "Willowpaw, I have learned through your brave actions that you are ready to receive your warrior name. If you believe this to be true, please step forward now and your ceremony will commence."

Willowpaw stepped forward, realizing that this was her warrior ceremony.  Her fur pricked with excitement.  What name would Ivystar give her?  She knew that this ceremony sealed Willowpaw as a RiverClan warrior, and Willowpaw couldn't be more ready for it.

When Willowpaw stepped forward, Ivystar nodded and continued. "In that case, I call upon our true warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Willowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code as you have been taught, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" She looked down on the young she-cat, her eyes blank as she waited for an answer.

"I do," she responded, ready to become a warrior.

With nothing more than a nod, Ivystar concluded the ceremony. "Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this day forth, you will be known to all as Willowbreeze. Riverclan honors your bravery and loyalty. Tonight, as tradition demands, you will hold a silent vigil while the rest of the clan sleep. Until then, however, we celebrate the rise of a new Riverclan warrior." Leaping off of the branch, Ivystar curtly rested her head on the newly-named-warrior's head, ducking into the warrior's den shortly after.

As the RiverClan leader rested her head on Willowpaw's, now Willowbreeze's head, Willowbreeze licked Ivystar's shoulder respectfully.  She now had a larger role to play in the Clan.  She would defend RiverClan with her life, as she had stated in the ceremony.

"Willowbreeze! Willowbreeze!" The apprentice chanted.

"Willowbreeze!" Addershade called, smiling as he approached his daughter-- and now his second apprentice to reach warriorhood. He was more than happy to finally feel like his string of bad luck with apprentices was only a thing of the past. "Congratulations! I was so happy I got the chance to be your mentor and train with you. You and your siblings all make me and your mother so proud,"

"Willowbreeze Willowbreeze!" Nightwolf joined in the cheering. He ran up to his little sister. "I saved a nest for you!"

So soon after Streamtail, his other new friend was receiving her warrior name! Ashpaw watched the ceremony excitedly until the end, and called out with the rest of the crowd; "Willowbreeze, Willowbreeze, Willowbreeze!" It was a beautiful name, peaceful and relaxing, and it definitely fit her. He greeted the new warrior with a laughing purr; "Aww, now I'm the only one who's still a 'paw! It's okay, I'll catch up with you and Streamtail soon!"