The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Activity checks take place on the 1st of the month. PM a staff member with the completed form if you missed it.
Newleaf is finally here, and the Clans hope to find reprieve from the tough Leaf-bare.
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It was finally time for a select few kits to be apprenticed. They had spent longer than most in the nursery, for a variety of reasons. They had spent longer still because Poppyshine had to scramble to organize mentors for three cats at once. Finally, though, it was time. They were ready, she was ready, and it was time to begin.
She rose to the Willow Branch and announced to the camp, ”Let all cats old enough to catch their own fish gather for a Clan meeting!”
Rookkit was sitting silently outside the nursery, waiting, when Poppyshine mounted the Willow Branch. The queens had heard rumor she was holding his and Larkkit’s apprentice ceremonies today. It was hardly unexpected: it’d been enough time since Perchstar’s return for the Clan to feel settled again, and Rookkit knew the deputy had been looking for mentors… but expecting it did not make it easier. He’d been quietly bracing for it since Perchstar’s return, but his ears still flattened as the gathering Clan started to settle.
Sighing quietly, they leaned into Larkkit beside them, staring ahead at Poppyshine. Rookkit wished his ceremony would be first– he was far more excited than they were, and then they could watch Larkkit go through the routine before standing in front of the Clan themselves. They had seen enough ceremonies now– walk to the front of the crowd, wait for the announcement of their name, and greet their new mentor –but it was not the same. It would not be long before they found out.
When the clan was called and the cats were settled, Poppyshine gestured for Rookkit to step forward. When they did, she began: “Rookkit, you have reached the age of six moons.” Reached more than it, really. It was more than time. “It is now time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Rookpaw.” She knew who his apprentice would be, but she was not too happy about it. “Your mentor will be Perchstar. Her guidance will be invaluable on your path to warriorhood.”
Poppyshine stepped down from the branch so their leader may come and greet her new apprentice. Poppyshine had wanted Perchstar to wait until her kits were apprenticed before granting one to her, but Perchstar was eager to get back to her responsibilities…so Poppyshine decided to grant her one after all. She hoped that it would not serve to cause more stress to the leader than she already dealt with.
Larkkit watched eagerly as his sibling received his apprentice name. He leaned forward, hoping that Rookpaw earned a fantastic mentor; one who was worthy of his sibling. Indeed, they did. His sibling got the leader of the clan as their mentor! It was to be expected. It was perfect for them. He cheered, “ROOKPAW! ROOKPAW! ROOKPAW!” as loud as he could. He wanted his voice to be the loudest for his sibling.
The kits who had been in the nursery since the quaking of the earth were finally getting their ceremonies. It seemed like the world was beginning to turn again after its moons-long halt. Perchstar watched with mild interest from just outside of the nursery, knowing that her kits might beckon her back if she strayed too far. She trusted Poppyshine's choice of mentors. Though she'd said that she would be glad to receive one or two new apprentices--despite the way her gut twisted when she thought of Hickorypaw and Rushingpaw--she was unsure whether or not her deputy would grant her one, since she'd been very insistent on rest and motherly duties. So it was a slight surprise after all when Poppyshine spoke her name as the mentor of Rookpaw, whom she'd really spoken with only once before.
The leader stepped forward out of the crowd to touch noses with Rookpaw in the ceremonial fashion. She was selfishly glad that it was not Larkkit. Hopefully, they would finally be ready to learn, and they would get along decently well. "I look forward to training you," Perchstar said simply.
Rookkit’s ears turned slightly lower when Poppyshine beckoned to them, but they lifted their head and got to their paws quickly. They did not like the feeling of so many eyes on them as they padded to take their place. Shifting slowly between paws, they nodded along while Poppyshine went through the words until she finally declared their name– and their mentor.
Blinking, Rookpaw turned away from the deputy, even though she was still speaking. He stared at Perchstar where she sat near the nursery, unsure of how to feel about this assignment. He still had not managed to decide an opinion on her. It would at least be interesting, to be the leader’s apprentice. Rookpaw’s head angled back to watch her as she approached, ducking just before she pressed her nose to his. Standing straight again, he responded curtly, “Yes. I look forward to training.” He stood still for a moment, holding her gaze, then hurried back through the crowd to Larkkit.
“Thank you,” Rookpaw murmured into Larkkit’s cheering, pushing their head against his. A faint smile found its way to their expression; his excitement for them was a bit infectious. They were still a bit dazed over really being an apprentice, but everything had been over with quickly, and… it was not as terrible as they’d thought, now that it was done. They had not abandoned anything by taking a new name. A half-truth, but for the first time with some sincerity, “I am excited.”
