acornpaw's warrior ceremony

Newleaf's warmth more than excited Mottlestar as she left her den. A brief meeting with Fawnshine had told her of a certain apprentice's recent return from her moonstone journey, and with that concluded, the leader felt it was time. The she-cat had been on her radar ever since Sunstrike's disappearance, and no doubt had it taken a toll on the clan. Every life was important to them. That apprentice had been no different, and the tortoiseshell couldn't have been more proud of the molly that she had became. Now, it was time for her to earn her full name.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Acornpaw padded from the apprentice's den as Mottlestar's call rang out across the camp. She wasn't sure what it was about but she couldn't help but be curious - after all, she knew it was likely her warrior ceremony would finally be happening soon... It had been hard watching her fellow apprentices rush past her - but it had been partly her fault for putting off her training in the hope Sunstrike would return...

A sigh escaped her, but she shook her head as she settled down, eyes locking onto the leader as she waited to see what this was all about.

As Mottlestar's gaze would lock with the molly in question, a warm smile would spread across her maw. Even a dip of her head, a quiet sign of I see you. I am proud of you. It was important for all cats to hear sometimes. Their work not going unnoticed was important for anyone, and especially an apprentice who had been discouraged by life. As more and more cats gathered, Mottlestar would sit at the edge of the Highrock, making herself somewhat comfortable. "Thunderclan, we gather today to recognize an apprentice who has more than earned her name. Acornpaw, will you please step forward?" She called, slowing her speech to allow the rest of her clanmates to gather, while not delaying too long on the start of the ceremony.

Once the white-legged molly had made her way to the front of the crowd, another warm purr would escape her chest. "Acornpaw, your patience, dedication, and resilience has not gone unnoticed, and it is time for you to earn your place and name as a full warrior of Thunderclan. However, before I bestow your name upon you, I must ask. Do you promise to protect your Clan, promising to uphold the warrior code and serve Thunderclan, even at the cost of your life?" Her words had strayed slightly from tradition, but still held them at their core. This was a big day, a bigger one than for most apprentices that seemed to breeze through their training.

Acornpaw's ears perked as her name was called, eyes going wide. It...It was her warrior ceremony! She was on her paws within an instance, stepping forward as she barely kept her tail from lashing back and forth in absolute excitement. She held her breath as Mottlestar went on - only remembering that she had to take a breath when she went to give her answer and found no air in her lungs. An awkward clear of her throat followed as she gulped down the required air, before she lifted her head as proudly as she could - wishing Sunstrike was here to see her now.

All she had wanted to do was make him proud...

"I do."

Mottlestar couldn't help but afford a small chuckle as the apprentice seemed so excited she forgot to breathe. For just a moment, she saw herself, a much younger, and still somehow smaller tortoiseshell, right where she was now. Earning her name from Stoatstar, a tom who was similarly small like herself. Here Acornpaw was, already taller, filled with just as much joy. A wide smile seemed permanently branded upon the leader's maw as she looked upon her, one more giggle rising into the molly's throat before she had to continue speaking on her own accord.

"Then from this day on, thanks to the powers that StarClan has granted me, we welcome you, Acornstem, as a full warrior of Thunderclan. We all give our thanks for your kindness and patience, and we all can learn from your resilience you've shown from a young age. Tonight, you shall sit in silent vigil and keep watch while your clan sleeps. But for now..." As she had come to bring into tradition with each warrior ceremony she had conducted, Mottlestar lept down from the rock. "Thunderclan, let us congratulate and welcome our newest warrior, Acornstem!"

She would be the first to make her way to the molly, pressing her nose gently atop her head. "Sunstrike, wherever he is, is certainly proud of you, Acornstem."

Firefly knew that excitement, as she had felt it once before and now again as she watched her previous denmate- now denmate once again- hold her breath in wait for those sweet, sweet vows. ThunderClan meant everything to the russet warrior, and Acornstem would provide a great deal more support as she grew stronger.

She joined in on the boisterous calls of her gathered clanmates. "Acornstem! Acornstem!" Firefly would be sure to visit Acornstem for a spar or hunt soon.

Acornstem. The new name sent a shiver of excitement down her spine, mouth parted slightly as she silently rolled the name on her tongue as her own Clanmates chanted it around her. Acornstem... A content purr escaped her as Mottlestar leapt down - happily dipping her head to the leader as she spoke. "I know he is," she responded softly, a wistful sigh escaping her before she turned to look at her Clanmates gathered around her. Her eyes fell onto Firefly, giving the she-cat a bright smile and a wave of her tail in acknowledgement - the two weren't close, but Acornstem was eager to refer to just about anybody as a friend and now, they would be getting a chance to grow even closer now that they were both warriors!