Kitekit's Apprentice Ceremony

Minkstream padded up to the rock, the cool of the morning winding through the ravine and sending a shiver through his pelt, the hairs fluffing up slightly. Leaf-fall's on its way, alright. I'd better get in a dawn hunting session with Kerath before it gets colder, He mused to himself as he glanced up at the rock, its surface lightly beaded with cold tendrils of delicate frost already melting. It definitely felt cold underneath his paws - a grainy wet like the gritty sand along some parts of the river's shore. It would be beautiful this time of year, the willow leaves turning yellow, the cold sky and fog glinting in the waters - well, what water it had recovered. A slight feeling of unease ran down his spine as he looked over the camp. Hope they'll have enough prey for leaf-bare.

But he wasn't here to worry over RiverClan, or think about Kestrelpaw's training. Instead, it was a different apprentice that he was here for. Another one of Cedarheart's kits. At least there wasn't one every other day, now that most of them were out of the nursery - and this time he hadn't even had to think about a mentor. He opened his mouth and let the summons ring through camp, echoing off the craggy walls.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the High Rock for a Clan meeting!"

The she-cat's head had been facing the back of the nursery, making their deputy's call faint and muffled. But she immediately swiveled her head and was on her paws to sort out the source of the sound. As Kitekit glanced from the nursery, it had appeared that the clan had already started to gather. There was a clan meeting! She was determined to join them, to see who would gain their name next. It had become rather sparse in the nursery as her littermates had gained their names and begun their training.

Maybe she was the only one left because of her small statures; perhaps she had to grow up a bit more before beginning training. It had never occurred to her that the idea of having to train a half-deaf kit could be a factor, not that she ever thought about the lack of that sense. Her deafness merely was a part of her, all it took was a tilt of the head to direct the sound to a proper channel, which she had done since birth; all of it was simply a natural part of life. In fact, no one ever talked about the fact that her constantly tilted head was a quirk, at least not yet.

Her tiny paws hardly scuffed the camp floor as she darted to join her clanmates. Skinny tail wrapped over her tiny toes as she glanced up at Minkstream with curious eyes. It never once occurred to the she-kit that this could be her moment for a new name.

The little kit came out of the nursery, her head tilted in that odd but strangely endearing way she had. Her mentor should be used to dealing with the challenges the problems with her senses posed, at least. He had no doubt she'd do it well.

"Kitekit, step forward," He called, waiting until her young kit eyes focused on him. "You have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to learn the ways of the Clan as an apprentice. From this moment until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Kitepaw. Robinloft will be your mentor."

Hopefully she was sure she could handle the two apprentices. He leapt back down to the ground, watching her approach her new, second, apprentice.

Cedarheart watched from her back of the crowd as Kitekit stepped forward. The half-deaf kit had adapted so well to her circumstances already, and as a mother, she was proud. As Robinloft, one of Cedarheart’s friends was named the mentor, the brown tabby grinned.

Giving her daughter a moment to greet her mentor, she waited until the small she-cat turned. ”Congrats, Kitepaw! Robinloft will be a great mentor.”

Her head had instinctively angled towards their deputy, who addressed the clan above on the highrock. Kitekit blinked when he called her name but easily found her paws. It was surreal to be addressed, only previously seeing other cats called for various reasons or announcements being made. All eyes were on her in this moment. There was a mild prickling down her spine at the thought of every warrior peering after her but she dismissed it easily. She was far from the first cat to be named an apprentice and wouldn't be the last; her clan would cheer for her and want her success, knowing the few she had met so far. A contented smile crossed her features as she stood before Minkstream, and before the clan, prepared to take up a new name.

The russet-pelted apprentice turned with wide eyes to seek out her mentor. There was a moment before she recognized the warrior and bounded over to greet her, "What are we going to do first? Can we see all the clan territories? I've heard they look so different." A quiet enthusiasm lined the purr that rumbled in her chest. Being in the nursery hadn't been bad, in fact, she'd never rushed to find apprenticehood. But, as she considered it now, there was nearly untamable zeal at thoughts of the many new things to see and explore. Cederheart joined them before she could press with more questions and her little head tilted as she caught her mother's gaze, "Kitepaw, mama! That's me. I'm going to train to be a great warrior, just like you." And daddy. She thought to herself as she straightened up. Their mother seldom talked of their father but every kit had a father, right? No doubt he was the best as well too.

Feeling her pelt shiver with the cold morning breeze, Robinloft fluffed out her fur against it the best she could. In her opinion, it was far from a good day, weather-wise, but she couldn't say that she wasn't content. Letting out a bored sigh, she looked toward Minkstream, wondering when the next wave of patrols were going to be sent out. To her surprise, she found the tom on top of the Tallrock. It seemed as though he were about to call a clan meeting. It wasn't unusual, but she felt like it had been quite some time since she had been in camp for one- not counting Buzzardpaw's ceremony, of course.

After quickly stretching out her legs, she padded over to the center of camp and took a seat, her emerald gaze fixed on Minkstream. She wondered what today's ceremony would be, it was likely an apprentice ceremony- one from Cedarheart's litter. As far as she knew there were only one or two left who had yet to receive a mentor. She herself was training one, Buzzardpaw, and she had to say that he was one of the most precious cats she had met, despite how weird of a feeling you could get from him. She felt kind of bad for them at the same time though. She knew that she would be lost if she didn't know who her father was. For all anyone knew he could be dead- besides Cedarheart, of course.

Listening to the announcements, Robinloft let out a gasp of surprise when she found out she would be mentoring not only one, but two of Cedarheart's kits. How exciting! Running up to meet Kitekit- now Kitepaw, she touched noses with the young she-cat before answering her questions. "I think it would be a good idea to explore our own territory first." She let out a chuckle. "I can't take you to the other clans, but i can take you to the borders." Her expression shone with joy as Kitepaw bounded over to her mother. It made her happy to know that Kitepaw was already so eager for apprenticehood, she could see that the she-cat would make a fine warrior.