Ospreypaw's Warrior Ceremony

Another warrior ceremony... As Murkystar emerged from her den to climb Jaggedrock, she couldn't help but shudder at the sight of the horrid cats that sat among her clan. They didn't belong, it was wrong... Biting her tongue, she strode to the front of the rock and called out to her clan, attempting to ignore them. "ShadowClan, gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock."

Emberleap’s ears twitched as the call to gather rang out. He had a feeling he knew what this ceremony was about; he’d discussed it with Murkystar only a sundown prior. Between the difference in their personalities and his landing himself in the medicine den for a moon when he should have been training her, he hadn’t been much of a mentor to Ospreypaw. Still, he’d tried to teach her what he could. Hunting, fighting, holding her wounds together until she could reach Basilbloom. Enough for her to build on in her own way. Since then, she’d proven herself more than ready for warriorhood—and he would watch her take her first steps into it. As a crowd materialized beneath the Jaggedrock, something not entirely unlike the nerves he’d felt during Duskflight’s ceremony rose within him. Emberleap sat near the back and pulled his tail close, watching for Ospreypaw’s two-toned pelt.

Grunting softly as she stretched his limbs, a certain black and white apprentice waltzed back into camp after some time just roaming about and getting some much wanted peace. With all those dark forest cats now living with them, there wasn't much actual peace anymore. Ah well. That's why she went out in the first place.

Realizing she had come back just when Murkystar had called a clan meeting, she padded over to sit with the rest of her clan but not before shooting her mentor a firm nod. She hadn't seen much of him lately but she didn't mind. Anyway, she wasn't sure what this was going to be about but hopefully it wasn't anymore...unfortunate news. The clan was already straining with all the other recent happenings. No matter how much something can bend, there was bound to be a time where it will break.

Snowfoot limped over to Jaggedrock when she heard the call. She hadn’t been leaving camp all that much lately, on account of her injured leg. She sat down and kind of got comfortable (hard to do with a broken ankle), and looked around wondering what this meeting was about. Then she saw Ospreypaw. She’d been an apprentice for a really long time, maybe this was her ceremony. She deserved it. Snowfoot had never really had the chance to interact with Ospreypaw, but now she got a good look at her and something felt… she didn’t know. The way she walked, her black-and-white pelt so much like Snowfoot’s own, but infinitely more beautiful. Snowfoot shuffled her paws a bit. Why did she notice this she-cat’s attractiveness so much? She had friends who were nice-looking. Deerleap was pretty, but she’d never noticed her like this!

Ospreypaw arrived just in time, and Murkystar was relieved. More of the clan joined around, Emberleap and Snowfoot included, and Murkystar smiled to herself at home well the clan banded together and relied on each other. It was nice to see that some things didn't change. As the final cats settled in, Murkystar continued. "ShadowClan! I've summoned you here today to witness the naming of a new warrior. Ospreypaw, please step forward." She mewed, pausing while the apprentice did so. "I call upon all those present and watching to gaze upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of our noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Ospreypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Deerleap smiled at the words Murkystar had said. the warrior's den really needed to be extended, but new warriors were always good news, especially now. she gave Ospreypaw a friendly smile.

Hearing Murkystar reveal the announcement to be her long-awaited warrior ceremony shook up her usual poker face- for only a moment, though. The dark-furred apprentice rose up onto her paws then stepped forward as instructed. She was as composed as ever and the only sign of her anxiety and excitement was the occasional twitch of her tail.

Dark ears perked forward as she waited for the leader to continue speaking, greenish-blue gaze trained solely on the she-cat above. She felt herself hold her breath as the timer began to countdown to the moment she had to say her line. It was the two little words that held so much power over her future despite how normally insignificant they seemed.

It...was time. She stood up straighter, a slight expectant look crossed her face before she schooled it back. Couldn't have her breaking form, after all.

"I do." she said, as clearly as she could make her voice sound. Her tail twitched a tad as she began to wait for the ceremony to finish. All the while her mind began to wander, thinking about what her warrior name would be.

Murkystar lowered her head in acknowledgement, offering the soon to be warrior a small smile as she straightened. "Then it is my honor to name you a warrior before all witnesses present. Ospreypaw, from this day forward you will be known as Ospreyquill. ShadowClan honors your clear-head and resourcefulness, and we are proud to welcome you as a warrior in our ranks." She purred, leaping down from Jaggedrock and striding forward to rest her chin on the new warrior's head. She mewed a soft reminder about the silent vigil before stepping back to allow the rest of the clan to come forward to congratulate the newly named Ospreyquill.

Snowfoot stood up on three legs, instinct telling her to run, but knowing she should congratulate the new warrior. She limped towards the other she-cat, whiskers twitching like crazy. “Um, congratulations, Ospreypaw-no. Quill. Quillpaw. Forget it.” Internally screaming, Snowfoot limped away. How could she be so stupid?

"Osperyquill! Ospreyquill!" Deerleap cheered along her clanmates. giving the she-cat a quick encouraging glance, she turned and padded after Snowfoot.