Asterkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Asterkit- ShadowClan kit

Asterkit had been keeping careful track of the days. She was six moons of age now, old enough to be apprenticed; as long as ShadowClan’s circumstances did not delay her ceremony. Were they still holding apprentice ceremonies at Highstones? Asterkit did not bother to ask. If they were, all the better. If they were not, asking would not hurry the day along.

Yet for all her carefully assumed impassiveness, the moment Asterkit heard her mother call a meeting, her head shot up, eyes wide with excitement. The young kit scurried over, heart pounding. They were having apprentice ceremonies. This would be hers, or one of her siblings: and in the case of the latter, hers would surely soon follow. Today she would learn the direction her life would now take: who was to be her mentor? Asterkit secretly entertained the idea of having Nightstar as a mentor- what kit did not? Yet if, as seemed likely, Nightstar did not wish to have an apprentice (yet if he did, surely it would be a kit of his deputy’s), then perhaps Mother? Yet Mother was busy as well… perhaps another experienced warrior. Asterkit did not wish to be apprenticed to a cat who was fresh out of apprenticeship himself.

Asterkit took a deep breath, seeking to still her racing heart and calm her fidgeting paws. This was hardly the display of careful seriousness she had hoped to display. How else could she show how seriously she took this next step?

The black kitten sat up straight, seeking to catch her mother’s gaze, eyes questioning. She was still slightly on the small side for a kit her age, yet with big paws and a long tail that promised further height. That long tail twitched frantically as Asterkit sought to stay calm, like the perfect ShadowClan apprentice she hoped to be.

Asterkit- ShadowClan kit

Asterkit could not contain the spark of absolute excitement that flared within her at the sound of her name being called. At least she managed to withhold any unwarriorlike squeals. The small black kit stepped forwards, eyes shining and tail-tip twitching fiercely. She was being made an apprentice, first of all her siblings. Surely that meant Mother (or even Nightstar!) had noticed her hard work- learning the Code, practicing her hunting and fighting skills, trying to help her siblings do so as well. Her heart pounded in her ears. Who would be her mentor? Asterkit- Asterkit hardly dared to hope-

Stars.

Asterkit’s jaw dropped at her mother’s next words. Nightstar. An irrepressible grin spread across her face as she bounced in place, feeling as though she could fly to the stars, fueled only by the excitement within her. Asterkit- no, Asterpaw, and it was a sign of overwhelming emotion that she’d forgotten this important change- sunk her claws into the ground beneath her, taking a deep breath. Right. The fact that she had obtained the leader as her mentor did not mean that she could immediately slack off. After all, being an apprentice was only a means to an end. She would have to keep this fact in mind.

The newly-named apprentice shot a glance full of thanks and gratitude towards her mother. Her biggest dream so far in her short life- granted.