Snowpaw's Warrior Ceremony

The Gathering seemed like just a day before, but also so many moons away. The terrible dead roamed the marshes, living nightmares that haunted the waking moments. Each night she hoped to wake and not smell that horrid stench of death, but with each breath she took it caught in her nostrils, coating the territory like a fog. There was little to do other than bear it and try not to gag, lest you wind up with your eyes clawed out. She felt helpless, scared, and... Weak. What could you do against an undead army? The Asylum had been real cats, including some of their own flesh and blood - these creatures were horrors from yesterday, and generations of yesterdays. As she approached the rock that she had stood atop for some moons, Murkystar felt very small. With a hard swallow, she gathered what remained of her pride and took the final jump, landing neatly on the stone to do the one thing that hadn't seemed to change.

Even with the unspeakable ghouls that hovered over their shoulders, time still went on. An apprentice had completed their training, and was ready to be named a warrior. It was both a relief, and a nagging concern - would the stars ever return? Or would they fade to a memory of long ago, a story passed on to kits and forgotten as easily as a passing.... Her jaw clenched, and she took a step forward. "ShadowClan! Gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock." The familiar words echoed over the camp, and Murkystar patiently awaited for her beloved clan to gather.

Snowpaw caught her breath hearing the call. Was it finally time? Just her luck, though, for it to happen in the middle of this disaster and with her injured leg to boot. Snowpaw limped over to the Jaggedrock, keeping her weight off her injured right ankle where possible, and sat down. She shuffled her paws nervously in the snow as she looked up at Murkystar.

As the crowd gathered beneath her, Murkystar searched for the familiar form of Snowpaw, spotting her limping to join the crowd and turning her face up to look at her from below. Smiling to the apprentice, when the clan had fully gathered, she lifted her head to continue. "ShadowClan, I've gathered you all here today to act as witnesses to an apprentice rising to the rank of a warrior. Snowpaw, please step forward." She requested, waiting patiently for the apprentice to do so before continuing. "I, Murkystar, leader of ShadowClan, call-." She paused briefly, swallowing hard as the usual words threatened to escape her throat. She would have to choose her next words carefully. "I call upon all those present and watching to gaze 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. Snowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Deerleap pricked up her ears. Snowpaw was becoming a warrior? she had been through so much, she deserved her name. watching Snowpaw limp up to the jaggedrock, Deerleap was sure that she was ready. and new warriors were always better during this harsh time.

“I do,” Snowpaw mewed. So many emotions flooded through her, but mostly she was proud to finally be a warrior of ShadowClan!

Murkystar nodded, acknowledging the apprentices acceptance. "Then it is my honor to present you with your warrior name. Snowpaw, from this day forward you will be known as Smowfoot. ShadowClan honors your resilience and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." She mewed, letting the altered ceremonial words echo over camp as she jumped to the ground, approaching the new warrior and placing her chin stop their head. "You will hold a silent vigil tonight to signify the beginning of your days as a warrior. Keep watch over the clan and camp, and call if anything is needed." She mewed softly before stepping away to let the rest of the clan gather around the new warrior.

"Snowfoot! Snowfoot!" Deerleap cheered out her best friend's new name.