First Day [OPEN]

A day had passed since her vigil, and Graywind stepped through the camp entrance with a pair of birds hanging from her jaw. She dropped her catch onto the fresh-kill pile, then glanced around camp. It was sunhigh, so several of the earlier patrols were starting to return just as hers did, and others were being sent out to replace them. The day was warm, though the shade from the trees above meant the camp remained cool. Sitting near the edge of camp not far from the warrior's den, the newly named warrior lifted a paw, swiftly grooming her face before stretching out with a sigh. It felt strange to be sitting around with nothing to do, but there was no training to be done with Thornstalker, and she wasn't scheduled for any more patrols until later in the day.

It was through unfortunate circumstances that the pale molly had been unavailable for the ceremony of one of Skyclan's most recent warriors. Because of that, she had made it her mission to be sure to run into the she-cat at the first possible chance to give her congratulations. Naturally, that had excluded the day after her vigil. Even with how long ago it was, the molly firmly remembered just what it had been like to try and survive the following day after having pulled an honest attempt at a Shadowclan cat impression. The nighttime simply wasn't for her. So as she spotted the molly, who no doubt looked like she was a little bit lost, Marigoldmask quickly made her way over. "Graywind~!" Her voice called in cheerful warmth, the feathered tail rippling in greeting.

Once she was close enough to not have to shout to be heard, a grin appeared on her maw as she regarded the new warrior with enthusiasm. "Congratulations on becoming a warrior! I'm happy to have another den-mate. You certainly deserve it!" She beamed, almost as if she were a mother praising her kit. "I'm sure Thornstalker is proud. How does it feel? Probably a bit awkward, right?" The orange-kissed warrior chuckled, sitting to let her tail simply dance across the ground in animated glee.

Juniperheart had missed Graywind’s ceremony, and all the molly could think about was how terrible of a big sister/friend she was. It felt just like yesterday that the other she-cat had been a little kit, along with Falconmoon and Sunfire… they were all grown up now. It made her feel old, in a way, even though she was barely older than Graywind herself.

Juniperheart had been absolutely mortified when she learned she had missed the molly’s ceremony, and even more so when she realized she would have to wait to congratulate her— she had her vigil, as every warrior did. Juniperheart knew she would have to wait until the sunrise to properly congratulate her, and while it was excruciating with Graywind just sitting there in front of her, she managed to keep herself at bay. Finally it was sunrise, and the ragdoll molly nearly jumped out of her skin to meet Graywind at the camp entrance. 

Juniperheart didn’t realize Graywind already had company until she had gotten halfway through ”Congratulations, Graywind!” It was Marigoldmask, who was also congratulating the grey molly, and Juniperheart slid up next to her with a warm smile. ”Good morning, Marigoldmask, Graywind! I love your new warrior name— it sounds really pretty! You deserved it, really, you’re such a great warrior! I can’t wait until we get to go on patrols together as equals!”

It seemed she wouldn't be sitting alone for long, as Marigoldmask and Juniperheart were quick to join her, excitedly congratulating her on her warrior name. "Thanks, you two." Graywind mewed. It had taken her longer than some of her denmates, but she'd finally done it. "Thornstalker was a great mentor but I'm glad to be out of the apprentice den finally. It's... strange. I don't know what to do with myself. I'm not on more patrols until later." Graywind admitted to Marigoldmask with a sheepish smile, and nodded at Juniperheart. "We'll have to patrol sometime."