Kestrelkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Nettlefire stretched out, feeling the sun as it warmed her back, before taking her place up on the Highrock, ready to conduct another apprentice ceremony.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!" she called, her voice hanging over the camp. She waited for the usual crowd to gathering, the warm sunlight still dancing across her fur.

The quiet tom-kit padded out of the nursery, intelligent green eyes never ceasing their observing. He was one of the last kits of his litter to be apprenticed. He had watched as one by one his siblings gained their apprentice name with a swell of pride and eagerness. He knew his time had to be soon. Despite his love for being on his own, the nursery was getting too quiet, even for him.

As the young tom sat down, he quickly groomed a bit of fur on his chest just in case it was his ceremony today. He had a hunch that it was but he could be wrong. He was curious and eager to find out either way. He secretly hoped it was his turn though. He didn't know how much more waiting he could take. Once he becomes an apprentice, he'd be able to contribute to the clan how he'd always want to.

Nettlefire's emerald gaze scanned the crowd for the soon-to-be apprentice, continuing on with the ceremony once she found him.

"Kestrelkit. Take a step forward, please," she called, giving the young tom a nod of acknowledgement. "Kestrelkit, having reached the age of six moons, you are now ready to become an apprentice. From this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Kestrelpaw. Minkstream will be your mentor,"

Minkstream sat under the Highrock, his sparkling green gaze glowing with pride as his son stepped forward to become an apprentice, a flicker of nervous excitement tingling at his paws. Not only his son....

Nettlefire finished her part of the ceremony, and he stepped forward, offering a lop-sided smile to Kerath that quickly turned into a grin as he touched noses with the new apprentice. "Hey, looks like you're stuck with me," He said lightly.