Harrierkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Though the dark, heavy clouds hanging above ThunderClan’s camp had yet to make good on their threats of rain, a suffocating weight had crept into the air. Thrushnose, padding across camp to the Highrock, shook out her pelt every few steps. At least a dip in the river could help with greenleaf’s warmth; humidity had no quick fix.

At the top of the Highrock, something hit her squarely in the eye. In a matter of heartbeats, a sea of blotches had bloomed across the stone. Too late. Thrushnose brushed at her muzzle with a paw, thinking as she looked over the camp. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!” However her Clanmates felt about attending a meeting during a rainstorm, it didn’t seem fair to make Harrierkit spend another night in the nursery for something as minor as the weather.

Finally! It had felt like he'd been waiting forever for his ceremony to begin, even though not much time had passed from his twin's ceremony to now. He strode over to the front of the crowd with his head held high and seated himself. He'd groomed himself well a bit before Starling's ceremony but he was still looking rather fine, if he'd say so himself. It was a bit of a bummer that it was starting to rain but that didn't stop him from feeling excitement and eagerness to finally be apprenticed. He eyed the deputy expectantly as he waited.

Though his approach was much more sedate than his brother’s, Harrierkit gave himself away through his suspiciously smooth pelt and the place he chose within the crowd: as close to the Highrock as a cat could get without their name being called. Even so, he held himself with dignity. “One of our kits has reached the age of six moons,” Thrushnose began, as the last few ThunderClanners scrambled to find their seats. “Today, he will become an apprentice. Harrierkit, step forward.” Not that he had far to walk.

“From this moment on, until the day you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Harrierpaw. Quaildock will be your mentor. I trust him to pass everything he knows on to you.” Most of the stories Thrushnose had heard about the twins featured Starlingpaw at the center. She hoped that meant Harrierpaw wasn’t as demanding as his brother, but, really, she couldn’t be sure. That was part of why she’d picked Quail; she could count on one paw the number of times he’d met a cat he didn’t like. By now, the rain was coming down in earnest. Thrushnose gave a flick of her tail, then turned to pick her way down the back of the Highrock, one step at a time.

Quaildock was watching in the audience, tail flicking in minor surprise as his sister anounnced his name. He hadn't had any apprentices since his last two, which both sadly passed. Hopefully Harrierpaw wouldn't meet the same fate. Quaildock padded towards the newly named apprentice, briefly touching noses with him, before pulling away. "Training begins tomorrow at dawn. Hope your up for the challenge Harrier." The dark grey tabby teasingly mewed.

Harrierpaw. Now that's more like it! Finally an apprentice. Thank the stars. The young tom turned to look at his mentor and touched noses with him. He wasn't too familiar with Quaildock, only knowing that he was Thrushnose and Kestrelswoop's brother. Also, Quaildock...he wasn't too sure what a dock was but he wasn't too curious to ask. It wasn't any of his business anyway.

"Oi! I'm always ready for a challenge. Don't ever think I'm not." he grunted, tone of voice lacking any real heat. He shot a lazy smirk and a wink at the warrior before allowing himself to bask in the spotlight that was placed upon him. Starling already had his time to shine and now, it was his turn!