Swankit's Apprentice Ceremony

Loonwhisper scurried up the Willow Branch with a little more enthusiasm than he had in the months prior. This was a ceremony to be excited for. He had been watching Swankit's progress for a few moons now. He found her the most fascinating character; and he took great care in assigning her mentor. Some cats thrived regardless of their teacher, no matter how different or conflicting they may seem, but some cats needed a more perfect match. Swankit, it seemed, would be one such cat.

"May all cats who can fish in the river gather under the Willow Branch," he crooned. "Please."

Swankit found herself excited for this day to come. Her mother had made sure she looked best. Yet again, she had attempted to make the white she-kit speak, but Swankit didn't want to, she wanted her mother to know it was a choice. Either way, this ceremony will mean the world to her. She ran over to the cats that were gathered and sat down, staying next to her mother for a bit of comfort as she gazed at Loonwhisper who sat on the Willow Branch. He was one of the only cats who had respected her decision to not speak. Her wide orange eyes watched as the bigger tom stood there, he looked excited so she smiled happily at him.

Loonwhisper waited for the whole of the clan to gather. When all of their interested chatter ceased, he began the ceremony. His tail swept back and forth in a long, feathery wisp below the branch, and when he shuffled his paws, the branch bowed and swayed underfoot. "Swankit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to become an apprentice," he crooned. "From this day forward, until you have become a warrior, you will be known as Swanpaw."

The tom's backside wiggled as he prepared to leap off the branch. As his white mittened paws hit the sandy ground below him, he took a moment to shake, his fur fluffing out in tufts around him. Loonwhisper approached Swankit, with every step feeling more and more hesitant, until he came to a stop and sat down in front of her. It was quite unconventional, and he heard around him curious whispers as he continued the ceremony from the ground.

"I will mentor Swanpaw," he said firmly. "As a pair of birds ought to be. Hoooo."

He touched his nose to Swanpaw's and spoke simply: "Tomorrow morning, on the river's edge."

Swankit, now known as Swanpaw stared in confusion as Loonwhisper jumped down. This hadn't happened for other cats, did he forget to give her a mentor? She stayed silent as the tom approached her and sat. She blinked curiously at him as he continued the ceremony, the deputy announced that he would be the she-cat's mentor, this surprised Swanpaw, just a little, you don't find cats who wish for a cat who doesn't speak to train everyday, do you? She blinked as the tom touched noses with her and mentioned where she was training. Swanpaw simply nodded and stood up, shaking her white fur before giving it a few licks. Out the corner of Swanpaw's eye, she saw the surprised but proud look on her mother's face, she smiled a little and kept cleaning herself.