Primrosepaw's Warrior Ceremony

"Let all cats... old enough to climb a tree gather... by the Willowbanch for a Clan meeting!" Spottedstar made the summons as he did the day before. It had been brought to his attention that another apprentice was ready for warriorship, and he was grateful that the young cats had continued to work hard under the circumstances. It was another day to celebrate despite the bleak recent events.

Primrosepaw, her meal just finished, rose to her feet and padded closer to the Willow Branch. Another clan meeting! she thought excitedly. Her brother, Dawnpaw's (well Dawnhawk now) ceremony had been the day before, and it was a surprise that another meeting was being called. It took her longer than normal to get to a good place, as in the packed Riverclan camp it was so easy to trip over another cat. She had taken to walking a lot more cautiously around the clearing. Is it another ceremony? She wondered who it would be as she sat down beside Smokefeather.

Smokefeather had been in camp when Spottedstar called the clan together, this time. Part of her was furious that she'd only caught the tail end of Dawnhawk's warrior ceremony the night before, but she was so proud of her kits. The clan needed some good news after so many moons, and the apprentices had been training hard. Dawnhawk's warrior name was well-deserved, and Smokefeather was hoping that more ceremonies would follow.

The pale tortoiseshell sat next to her own apprentice, fluffy tail wrapping neatly around white paws as she awaited Spottedstar's words.

---

Nighthawk lifted her head at Spottedstar's call, then gingerly stepped closer so that she was on the edge of the gathering crowd. Would it be another ceremony, or would they finally be going home? Either would be good news, the dark she-cat thought, piercing amber eyes watching the proceedings in silence.

Having gathered at Spottedstar's summons, Wolfcall was one of the first there. He knew that today was to be Primrosepaw's warrior ceremony - his grandchildren were growing quickly, and it was only a matter of time before they all earned their warrior names. What he hadn't expected though was for Spottedstar to go into a coughing fit just as he summoned the clan, and with a look of concern, Wolfcall moved to his father's side. "I'll handle it," he told him. "You, go rest."

Waving Sagelight and Beechpaw over to see to the leader, Wolfcall looked out at the cats before him. SkyClan. His clan. His family. He raised his voice. "The fire has taken many things from us, but progress is not one of them. Throughout this ordeal, one of our apprentices has given a masterful display of bravery, skill, and courage... and we gather here today to reward that apprentice with a name fitting of a warrior. Primrosepaw, please, step forward."

Ambergold eyes bright in the sun, the deputy watched the she-cat step forward. "I, Wolfcall, deputy of SkyClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. Primrosepaw has trained hard under the tutelage of Smokefeather, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Primrosepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

At first Primrosepaw was confused at Wolfcall's sudden murmuring from the Willow Branch, but when the deputy (and her grandfather) began the words of the ceremony, everything fell into place in her mind. This was her ceremony. This was it. Spottedstar's lungs couldn't handle the loud announcement required to perform the ceremony, and so Wolfcall was taking it. Hearing his words come to an end, she stepped forward a little timidly. She could feel not only her own clan's eyes on her, but the Riverclan cats in the camp as well.

The words that needed to leave her mouth were simple, but filled with too much meaning to rush. No longer would she nervously await her warrior ceremony, reminded of her worries from moons ago that it would never actually happen. But she had trained hard. Every day, trying to overcome every struggle. There was no doubt that she had earned it. If WindClan and Shadowclan had blind deputies, why couldn't she become a warrior? So here it was.

"I do!" her voice called out, eager as ever and as clear as day.

Despite her mind whizzing, there had been no hesitation in her words. I hope Smokefeather's proud of me, she though, I know she will be. And Silentwhisper, her head lifted to the sky slightly as she thought of the starry tom, I hope you can see me now. I followed all your advice and kept all my promises, and I succeeded! Not for the first time, she thanked the warrior's wise words.

She seemed hesitant, and Wolfcall tried to smile reassuringly. Primrosepaw had no reason to be unsure, she was one of the finer apprentices he'd had the pleasure of watching.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this day forward, you will be known as Primroselight. SkyClan honors your optimism and determination in these trying times. Congratulations." Padding forward, the deputy leaned in to touch noses with his granddaughter.

Primroselight. That was her name now. She was no longer a struggling but determined apprentice, rather less-struggling and still just as determined warrior.

She thought -light was a strange suffix for her though. Light? Light was useless to her - she didn't need the sun or moon to help her hunt. But maybe, just maybe, she was wrong. The way the light reflected off the Moonstone. It had given her much more that a brief memory of what sight felt like. It had given her hope. Same as when she saw the glittering of the river the day before. Her brain had done the same thing: leapt at the idea of visual stimulation. But it wasn't the literal light that her name really referred to. It was more how, even in the hardest of times, her cheerfulness and optimism shone through, helping light the way.

Leaning up slightly to touch noses with her grandfather, Primroselight smiled. The newly-named she-cat turned around and sought out her mother. After all, it was Smokefeather's endless willingness to train that had brought her this far. She needed to thank her for everything.