Ratpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Murkystar limped out of her den, taking her time climbing Jaggedrock to avoid aggravating her wounds too much. She hid her discomfort carefully, not allowing a single trace of the pain she was feeling reveal itself on her expression. Today was a joyous one, one that the clan would celebrate. A recent discussion with Webshadow had assured her in what she had already known - Ratpaw was ready. Striding the couple of pawsteps forward to stand on the edge of Jaggedrock, Musrkystar lifted her chin to send her voice out over the clan. "ShadowClan! Gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock."

Ratpaw had returned to his den after a long hunt, exhaustion pulling at his bones. A nap had helped, but ever since Nightstalker and Swiftheart had been injured by foxes, he hadn’t felt… exactly like himself. But it hadn’t made sense for him to stay in camp, either.

And Ratpaw wanted to hunt, too, as it distracted him from the growing feeling in his chest. (It rose and fell and flickered, and Ratpaw thought it might be anger.) Everyone was fine, the foxes were dead; it should be over. And the tom in question, who sparked the feeling, had leapt in his defense. (That wasn’t unreasonable.)

But I didn’t ask him to do that, did I? came that biting voice in his head, and Ratpaw furiously shook it away. It’s fine, he reminded himself, and with a deep breath, released it. Be like Webshadow.

His mentor hardly seemed fazed by anything, even when difficult, and there was a surety to that. It did seem to dispel some of the edges; and so when Ratpaw stepped out from the apprentice’s den to look up at Murkystar, he tried to smile. Ears forward and relaxed, he sat near the front, tail curling around his paws.

The sound of Murkystar's voice made Webshadow's ears prick to attention, and with an unusual sense of energy the tabby rose to his paws, slipping out of the den. He had an idea what this was for, if recent conversations were anything to go off of, and he dearly hoped he was right. Pride starting to warm his fur, he joined the gathering crowd, settling close to Ratpaw. He said nothing, only offered a quiet nod in greeting, before turning his attention towards Murkystar's form above them.

As the crowd gathered beneath her, Murkystar searched for the familiar form of Ratpaw emerging from the apprentice den, looking exhausted. Concern for the young tom flickered in her chest as her gaze quickly moved on, trying not to reveal the purpose of her summons quite yet. Webshadow also appeared from the warrior den, and she grinned slightly. When the clan had gathered, she continued. "ShadowClan, I've gathered you all here today to act as witnesses to an apprentice rising to the rank of a warrior. Ratpaw, please step forward." She requested, waiting patiently for the apprentice to do so before continuing. "I, Murkystar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Ratpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Swiftheart was asleep in the warrior den, resting after the long fight with the two foxes she had.

Her ears twitched and her head poked up when she heard it was time for a clan meeting.

She slowly got up and headed out into the clan clearing where everyone was gathering. She sat down wondering what this was all about.

*******

When Murkystar announced it was Ratpaw's warrior ceremony she purred so happily. Her friend had been training so hard and well. She secretly really liked Ratpaw but she didn't tell that to anyone. Nightstalker had figured it out but that was not intended. (hopefully he had not told anyone else)
She thought back to their fight with the foxes, she felt so certain that Night, Rat and herself would all die in that fight before Mistyfalcon, Batglow and Frosty had saved them.
It made her realize how short life was and that at any moment things could end.... Maybe she should tell Ratpaw? She didn't want to die with regrets of what could have been.
But her self doubt was also telling her not to.

She pushed these thoughts aside and instead focused on just being in the present and cheering for Ratpaws promotion.

Nightstalker did not move too far from the medicine cat den when he laid back down. His teeth gritted a bit at the ache in his own leg as he adjusted himself. He was not lizard-brained enough to move around enough, he'd certainly been given an earful the first time. But nonetheless, Nightstalker was mostly present for Ratpaw's warrior ceremony, though he felt a bit too far away to really feel all that involved in it.

Ratpaw returned his mentor’s greeting as Webshadow took a seat beside him, quiet as always. He did not say a word, but still, Ratpaw felt steadier for his presence. There was an unusual warmth in his gaze, and the tom seemed pleased. Only Murkystar’s impending announcement stopped him from asking. I wonder why he’s in such a good mood.

Ratpaw’s yellow eyes scanned subtly over the cats around them, wondering if he would see a glimpse of white fur, or a torn ear. (At ceremonies, one usually did.) Sometimes, Ratpaw noticed, the cat in question’s presence seemed to stir something in his quiet mentor.

But no. The tabby tom did see another white pelt, though, in the shape of Swiftheart. His tail curled, and it felt good to see her up. The absence of her brother, however… No. I won’t focus on that.

And then Murkystar spoke, and Ratpaw’s heart stilled. She... was speaking about him. Yellow eyes snapped accusingly to his mentor — because Webshadow knew, and didn’t say! — but it didn’t stop the warm, bubbling feeling blossoming in his chest. It was today! He was going to be a warrior.

Tingling in his limbs, feeling his clanmate’s eyes through his fur and in his heart, Ratpaw stepped forward. Nerves bubbled up within him but he kept looking forward, especially as his eyes met Murkystar’s.

And as Murkystar asked for his word. For his vow.

”I do,” he said with a quiet, steady surety — that is, inside. Excitement and emotion roiled beneath the surface, making him tremble, but in his heart, he’d said these words long ago.

As more and more cats arrive, the chatter from the announcements outside has finally made its way through the warriors' den. Nightstalker and Swiftheard have also gone out, and so Duskflight rose, quickly padding outside to see who's ceremony it would be today. As he approached closer, a familiar face stood out amongst the crowd, and he immediately recognized it as no one else than Ratpaw— soon to turn into a warrior. Like a kit, he felt excited like he never has before, like how Ratpaw has been there for his ceremonies.. and so will he also be there for Ratpaw's. The warrior led himself to the crowd, sitting somewhere not so far away, but also not too close so that he'd get squished then.

"I do,"

The quiet, yet steady tone of his friend's voice was all too familiar to him. Ears perked, he grinned, waiting for just the moment for his friend's new name to be called out. Then, he'll call out with the crowd, gathering in the cheers for Ratpaw's warrior name. He just couldn't be any more excited than he already has— the tension of the brief moment of silence before the announcement finally came was always dramatic, and no less exhilarating as when the name would finally be announced as official. His paws shifted, tail flicking excitedly in wait for that moment to come.

Murkystar dipped her head, acknowledging the tom's response before she continued. "Then by the powers granted to me, I give you your warrior name. Ratpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Ratrunner. ShadowClan honors your tenacity and steadfast spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." She mewed, leaping from Jaggedrock to rest her head briefly on the newly named warrior's. "Don't forget, you will hold a silent vigil today to mark the beginning of your warriorhood. Congratulations, Ratrunner." She mewed, backing away after a heartbeat to allow the rest of the clan to step forward to congratulate the new warrior.

"Ratrunner! Ratrunner! Ratrunner!" Duskflight cheered, beaming with a wide grin as his friend's new name was announced. Rising from his seat, the tom approached the newly-named warrior, tail brushing against his back in joy. Ears perked and tail held high, overflowing joy rushed through the tom. "I'm so happy for you, Ratrunner! Congratulations on your new name, you've worked hard!" He purred, unable to stop the grin from spreading even further onto his maw. His friend was now finally a warrior, and they could go freely through their territory together! He'd noticed how much more grown the tom have gotten, too. He's trained hard, and he deserved it.

Murkystar's clear voice called out Ratpaw's name, and Webshadow snorted a laugh when golden eyes shot him a sharp look. His tail whisked gently through the snow, and pale eyes glittered as Ratpaw agreed to uphold that eternal vow. And finally, finally his new name was called, and a chorus of cheers went up through the crowd. Webshadow almost felt more excited than his apprentice was sure to be.

The tabby didn't join in the cheering; instead, he waited for Murkystar to step away, bowing his head in an appreciative nod as she passed, watched as Duskflight approached to congratulate their newest warrior. "You have worked hard," Webshadow agreed, blinking slowly at Duskflight before his attention settled firmly on his now-former apprentice. "Ratrunner." He only said it once– there was no chanting from him –but the single word was warm with absolute pride and thrill. Touching his nose to Ratrunner's shoulder, he hummed, "It is a good name. You earned this."

Swiftheart purred very happily as she watched Ratpaw say his vow and waited for her mother to decide on Ratpaws new name.

*********

Ratrunner! Ratrunner! she cheered joining in with the rest of her clanmates to congratulate the newest warrior of the clan. She ran over to him, there were already alot of friends and clanmates swarming him congratulating him. She joined in. Congratulations Ratrunner! You have worked so hard and deserve this indeed she agreed with Duskflight. You are gonna be a great warrior! she meowed in her usual excited bubbly friendly tone.

Ratrunner.

“Ratrunner,” he whispered.

A sudden shyness hit him at the sound of his new name. But Murkystar’s head rested atop his, and Ratrunner felt her warmth and her pride as if they were his own. It was brief, congratulatory. And then she stepped back to allow the gathering of cats closer, and there was little room for shyness when he heard the sounds of his Clan calling his name.

He felt a warm glow surrounding him, and flushed. I don’t know if I deserve that kind of praise, he wondered... But the thought felt easily consumed by the love and excitement around him; and of his friends coming to acknowledge what had just happened.

“Thanks guys,” he said, eyes shining. Duskflight and Swiftheart purred, and he joined in. Now I can go where they do! And Ratrunner knew who he would ask first, once his vigil was over! They had been really good to him. It had been a busy, bitterly-cold season, but... We need to spend more time together.

And then he looked to his mentor, who had hung a step back. Graciously, he gave each of his friends an appreciative head bump, and a happy twitch of his whiskers. But to Webshadow’s gesture, he gave a real, quiet smile.

“It is a good name,” he agreed, looking up at him. And then Ratrunner paused — only a moment — before darting in to press his head under his mentor’s, and then mewed, earnestly. “It’s thanks to your hard work, too. Thank you.”

For teaching him, for guiding him. And for answering all of his questions, with all the seriousness and deep thought that Ratrunner had always admired. (And, with a fond thought, for keeping little Ratpaw from poisoning himself. And drowning in the marsh, back before the frost and frozen ground.)

He purred, long and low, and then stepped back, tail curling. Many seasons would pass, he was sure, but Ratrunner would never forget what it felt like — for him to feel so welcomed, and surprised, and honored. And to know I’m... worthy of it. And then he caught glimpse of his mom, parting through the dispersing cats with glassy, joyful eyes, and Ratrunner thought he might cry.

He had such a great family.