Blackkit's Apprentice Ceremony

"All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, please gather around for a Clan meeting!"

It was only her second time uttering these words, but it still felt as strange as the first. She sat in the shadow of the Jaggedrock - a little off to the side to where her mother normally did the ceremonies from. As temporary as this was, she felt not even fit to take the standard deputy spot...But the work of apprentice ceremonies still fell onto her nonetheless. There were numerous kits in the nursery, all rapidly reaching their six moon...She expected this was just the first of a few she would be expected to do in a short amount of time.

Tawnyshadow joined the crowd of cats, ears twitching at the sound of Badgermask's voice. Even after so long, she still wasn't used to the sound of the acting deputy. So this must be an Apprentice Ceremony, right? Surely Leopardsun wouldn't entrust anything more to only an acting deputy?

Blackkit was prepared.

The mottled kit stepped out smartly from the nursery, pelt properly groomed back and eyes shining. Today was the day she would finally be apprenticed; the very day, if she’d counted properly. Sitting down near the front of the crowd, she puffed out her chest slightly and met their acting deputy, Badgermask’s, gaze. See? She knew that, just off the top of her head. She’d paid attention, after all, and really, she would be the best possible apprentice a cat could ask for.

"Blackkit, please step forward."

Badgermask wasted no time in starting the ceremony proper the moment she saw the kit take her spot. There was little reason to delay after all - she had long decided who would mentor the young kit. "You have reached the age of six moons and are ready to become an apprentice. From this day until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Blackpaw. Echomist will be your mentor," she meowed, turning her attention towards her father with a nod. It had been a while since he had been granted an apprentice as far as she knew - but her mother had been a excellent teacher when it came to her...She had no doubts that her father could prove skilled as well. "May he teach you everything he knows."

Blackkit stepped confidently forwards, head held high. Of course. It was high time for her ceremony. She listened intently to Badgermask’s words, committing them to careful memory and glancing around for the cat who would be her mentor. Echomist? She thought she’d recognize him when she saw him. Probably.

He was the last cat expecting to be named a mentor, so his surprise was a little apparent on the Tom's face. Of course he wasn't going to shrink his responsibilities so he walked up to great his new apprentice. "We will be starting tomorrow."