Brightkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Ravenmist leapt to the top of the rock, before sitting and curling her tail around her paws. Today was another apprentice ceremony, another young cat on their way to warriorhood. The deputy had never really interacted with Brightkit, but she seemed inquisitive and eager enough. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Jaggedrock for a Clan meeting!"

Brightkit padded out of the nursery entrance into the clearing of the camp. She knew she wasn't strictly supposed to be at the clan meeting, but, as usual, the nursery was full of rough-and-tumble kits, and she often found the meetings interesting to listen to through the walls of the den. I wonder what's happening. She thought, Isn't that our deputy? She usually does apprentice ceremonies doesn't she? Wondering who was being apprenticed today, she sat down near the camp walls, still in the shadows but close enough to clearly hear what was being said.

At Ravenmist’s call, Emberspark bounded towards the Jaggedrock, taking a spot up in the middle of the growing crowd. If Ravenmist was conducting the ceremony, it would be an apprentice ceremony. Admittedly, he didn’t know many... or, any, really, of the current kits. But there weren’t many, he knew that. Maybe he’d be a mentor. It had been fun to teach Willowpaw when he’d been out that one time with her. Sweeping his tail over his paws, the dark tabby waited for his former mentor to continue.

Ravenmist waited for everyone she needed to gather, before speaking. "Brightkit, come forward." When the kit did as she was told, the blind deputy continued. "You have reached the age of six moons, and the time has come for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Brightpaw. Your mentor will be Emberspark. I trained him myself, and there is not a doubt in my mind that he will be an excellent mentor." She smiled, flicking her tail. Emberspark was ready, she was certain. He was a little impulsive, but he was also young, and an apprentice would help settle him down.

Brightpaw dipped her head to the deputy, and quietly walked over to her new mentor. Gently, she touched noses with him in the way she had seen other newly-named apprentices do. She caught a glimpse of her grandfather in the elders den, who was sitting staring at her, but when she looked back at him he gave a curt nod of approval. "When do we start?" she mumbled quietly to Emberspark.

The dark tom gave an excited grin as he was appointed Brightkit's mentor. Maybe it would be difficult, but his mind naturally skipped to the positive. He touched noses with Brightpaw as she came up, listening to her question. "Probably sometime very early tomorrow morning when it's still dark, and we'll be back in camp before the day warms up. Greenleaf is really hot and ShadowClan cats naturally aren't up during the day." He gave an excited flick of his tail and added, "For now, just get used to your new den."