Ashpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Copperfox's warrior ceremony had, to his relief, gone without a hitch. The Asylum cats didn't intervene, and he didn't have to claw anyone's ears off. He hoped that the same would be the case for Ashpaw's. Perched atop the rock that had for now replaced the Tallbranch, Wolfstar called out, "Let all SkyClan cats old enough to climb a tree gather before me for a clan meeting!"

Ashpaw gathered in the small crowd beginning to form.  She looked to the sides, trying to spot if there were any of the Asylum cats lurking in the shadows around them.  Her eyes were still untrained in picking out where these cats were, but she was trying to get better at it.  She still did not trust them and wanted to make sure that none of them were harming the cats in her clan.  Again she looked up at her grandfather and put all her focus of him, as she wondered who this ceremony was for.

When most of the clan was before him, Wolfstar continued. "We gather here today to give one of our clanmates their warrior name and rank. Ashpaw, please step forward." When she did so, Wolfstar dipped his head, smiling gently. "I, Wolfstar, leader of SkyClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon 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. Ashpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Dawnhawk heard Ashpaw being called up from the crowd. He walked over to the gathering, took a higher place on top of the medicine den's rocky structure to look down on it. His typical guards had accompanied him, but he ordered them to remain silent as the ceremony progressed. He noted that Wolfstar still called upon Starclan, in some form. He pondered whether or not he would allow this to slide, but it didn't take long for him to come to his decision. He would not give the words that Wolfstar spoke any weight or credit. They may be words to Starclan now, but without gatherings or moonstone journeys, eventually they would just be words. There was no reason to soil his claws over this, potentially losing the little bit of trust and respect he had gained from a few of the other cats so far. He would be present for his apprentice's transition from apprentice to warrior, and then he would be on his way.

Ashpaw stood still for a moment, speechless.  This was the day she had been waiting for.  This was her dream.  She excitedly walked up towards Wolfstar.  As she walked, she searched the crowd, seeing that her friends and family were there.  Even Dawnhawk was watching.  Well, most of her family.  For a second she thought about Bloodstrike and how much she wanted her father to see her become a warrior.  These thoughts quickly dissolved, as her mind began to fill with the excitement of being a warrior.  She hopped on the rock and stood next to her grandfather.

When Wolfstar mentioned the Warrior Code, Ashpaw glanced at Dawnhawk momentarily.  Dawnhawk made her question it, but if she had a choice between following the code and being a warrior or not following it and becoming a trader, she would choose following the code.  "I do," she said, responding to Wolfstar.

Wolfstar's long tail flicked out to brush his granddaughter's shoulder as she climbed up beside him. Unorthadox, perhaps, but he wasn't one to complain about something so trivial, especially in times of need. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name: Ashstorm, SkyClan honors your gentleness and curiosity." He lowered his head to congratulate her, his voice much lower so only she could hear. "I'm proud of you. And I know your father is, too. Don't worry... we'll find him."

Ashstorm smiled when given her name.  She quickly, but deeply inhaled and exhaled.  She was happier then she had ever been in her life.  When Wolfstar mentioned that her father a momentary ripple of sadness flowed through her, but she was quickly comforted by the thought of the leader of her clan trying to find Bloodstrike.  "Thank you," she said quietly, only so her grandfather could hear.  She turned her head to look at her clan and thought about all the new adventures she was going to have.

Dawnhawk knew he was far from wanted here, but he stayed anyway. When she was given her name, he smiled. Part of the reason he smiled was because he was genuinely proud of Ashstorm for receiving her warrior name. Another reason was because he had nothing to beat his head against repeatedly from all of Wolfstar's horrible names. Bloodstrike may have named her Ash of all things... but to throw storm on the end? What was next? Blazingspruce? Dawnhawk wouldn't put it passed the leader at this point. Once the crowd had cleared a bit and Dawnhawk could get at least a bit more alone time with his sister without the hissing and snide comments around them, he jumped down from the medicine den's roof.

He padded up to Ashstorm and a part of him wanted to gently butt heads with her... but given circumstances now, it might not be appreciated. So for now, he merely nodded and gave her one of his rare approving smiles. "Congratulations, Ashstorm. You have more than earned this." His eyes were the warmest they'd been in moons. Still, he braced for harsh words that had become so commonplace nowadays. He knew better than to let his heart be open for attack.

When Dawnhawk said her name, it took her a moment for her to realize that he was talking to her.  She was not used to her new name yet.  She turned around and her eyes met her brothers.  His eyes seemed to be different than before.  The name that she got would not be her first choice for names, especially because the first part of her name was not the best away, adding storm to it probably was not the best choice.  The one thing that made her warrior ceremony even better was she finally got what she wanted from her brother, approval.  The timing as well as the circumstances were not the best, but it was all she wanted from him.  This was what she wanted ever since she became an apprentice.

"Thank you," she responded.  She took a step closer to him.  "And thank you so much for coming."

Dawnhawk smiled a small smile. He wanted to give her a gentle bump on the noggin with his own head, he did. He even leaned in at first to do it but stopped himself short just as quickly. He hesitated, then decided against it. His reputation had been worse than soured within the Skyclan ranks. Ashstorm being friendly with him would only hurt her own reputation in the clan. As much as he wanted to be friendly with his former apprentice and regardless of how truly proud of her that he was, Dawnhawk simply nodded. "Of course." And he ended it there. He turned away without another word of look to anyone. His chest hurt... he wasn't bleeding. He hadn't injured himself... why did he hurt?