Mallowpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Thick rivulets of silky snow curled downwards from the bleak late evening sky, rich ribbons of irrefutable cleanliness that bleached the sad and somber winter riverlands; sprawling blankets of alabaster heaped on further by the perpetually lingering dusting of snow, disrupted only by the occasional tracking of muddied ice and churned sands. The stifling stillness of the dwindling grey light was interrupted only by the insistent, yet terribly faint, collision of snow landing upon starkly frigid ice, a backdrop of virtually unknowable hissing lost to the chatter of a burdened river. Tender ears and nose aflame with the scorching brush of lingering frigid dampness, Jaystar's sharp features creased softly as he peered down from his creaking seat atop the ceremonial willow tree, heralded only by generations of kin and forbearers.

"All cats old enough to catch their own fish, gather beneath the Willow Branch for a Clan meeting!"

Mallowpaw had groomed herself to the best she could. She had heard from other cats that an apprentice would be made into a warrior, and hope rippled within her frame that it would be hers. She had been working tirelessly to do her absolute best, and she hoped that it would be enough. Sitting in front of the Willow Branch, her gaze turned to Jaystar with hope.

Tinypool was aware of whose ceremony Jaystar would be holding this evening. After all, she was the one who told him her apprentice was ready. However, the young warrior didn't want to ruin the surprise. Instead, she approached the young apprentice and settled down next to her. Mallowpaw was already bigger than her. On other occasions, Tinypool would dwell on her short height but right... she felt proud and happy for her. It showed how much she had grown. The tip of her tail touched Mallowpaw's back and the dark-furred she-cat smiled at her. From this day on, she would no longer be her apprentice but instead a fellow warrior from Riverclan.

Smooth jut of the shoulder roiling sharply under the wild mane of his unkempt coat and idly brushing off a faint dusting of snow, Jaystar's slow movements atop the weight perch of the forked tree-limb were liquid and silky, fluent with the seemingly innate grace of a shadow, gentle movements twisting and writhing against the cold backdrop of the evening. Pointed chin lifting a casual, calloused invitation to all of the gradually collecting onlookers currently peering on with mirrored expressions of apt interest, the young molly standing before him had an expression of resolute interest, an outcry of carefully concealed emotion seething low in her collected and casual movements.

"Today, we have gathered here to witness the naming of yet another Warrior. Tinypool has spoken nothing but highly of her apprentice Mallowpaw, and has assured me that she is ready for such a transition. Mallowpaw, if you believe this to be true, step forward now and your ceremony will commence."

Mallowpaw had glanced beside her as she felt the gentle touch of a tail, a smile of her own creeping upon her maw as she saw her mentor beside her. It only further pushed the excitement within her body, the itch of hope growing more and more. It was the call of Jaystar's voice that finally brought her out of her daydreaming mind, the hope of the future culminating as her hopes were confirmed. Taking a deep breath, the snow-kissed apprentice stepped forwards, just beyond the crowd of her Clanmates. Her oceanic gaze raised to meet with that of the toms, feeling both closer and further from him than she ever had before.

Softly ghosted with the silky remnants of a faint crusting of ice and frost, gossamer and web-like against the unkempt mane of his dark coat, Jaystar swallowed down the fiery pinprick of familiarity and remembrance blossoming low and deep at the ceremonial summons- forever a permanent reminder of those once spoken to him, though the ghosts were long gone. Asylum, Ivystar, Kitefire. Dark eyes observing the nonverbal display of obvious excitement trilling through the young Mallowpaw, the dark-furred tom was nothing but a passive observer to the pride and affection that hung heavily in the bleary afternoon sun. Countless eyes, shaded unfamiliar and harsh under the reflective gleam hanging heavily in the absence of proper light, quickly drifted into the general direction of which Mallowpaw stood, curiosity and faint touches of amusement blatant in the cool stares of the uninvolved. Hard lines awash with the delicate similarities to his disreputable kin, the young dark-furred tom remained motionless for several long heartbeats- carefully assessing the unfolding situation before him, keen gaze fixed upon the younger cat below.

"I call to our ancestors to look down upon this Apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your code, and I commend her to you as a Warrior in return. Mallowpaw, do you promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Finally, after what felt like ages, she heard Jaystar speak again. All of the eyes creeping upon her pelt as she stood before him both made her want to shrink but at the same time only stand with more pride. The question was one that she knew would eventually be asked of her, and her paws itched in anticipation.

"I do."

Silky dark edges of wispy fur catching sharply against the wan light of the terse evening, gentle ripples of pale light heavily framed the occasional movements of Jaystar; a familiar mimicry to the dark riverwater flashing under the bright illumination of the pallid moonlight. Hard cut lines of the cheekbone ridging sharply against the delicate curve of his face, the gaunt tom continuously fronted a calloused expression, unwilling to divulge a fractional emotion while in the presence of the young cat before him- nerves shifting into something more methodical, a prickling undercurrent of visible acceptance evident in the sharp jut of Mallowpaw's little shoulders. Certainly, the little molly was responsible for just as many of his blinding headaches when compared to her former denmate Darkglow, but he couldn't resist the tempting warmth of soft-simmering pride welling low in his chest.

"In that case, I shall grant you your new name. From this day forth, you will be known as Mallowmist. RiverClan honors your curiosity and determination. Tonight, you will hold a silent vigil while the rest of the Clan sleeps. Until then, we celebrate the naming of a new RiverClan Warrior." Sending forth a chilly flurry of crystalline ice and downy snows, Jaystar was quick and fluid in his movements to abandon his high-above perch and instead join the blossoming congregation thronging about the newly-named young Warrior.

Mallowmist dipped her head with respect as her new name was called out. It rolled off her mind's tongue beautifully, and a purr of excitement rumbled through her chest. "I will do my best." She promised, to no one in particular.