Pigeonpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Simply perform your duties. That is all you need to do. Among the many daily responsibilities she had, warrior ceremonies were the most uncommon. They were a time for celebration, a time for the Clan to come together and congratulate an apprentice who had completed their training. The more ceremonies Perchstar performed, however, the more difficult it was to fight through the haze of cynicism that threatened to envelop her. Past all the emotions that battered her daily, this one seemed to break through more often than not. How long had she been leader now? How many warrior ceremonies had she performed? How many apprentices had she seen make that vow with hope and fire in their eyes? And of those, how many had died? How many disappeared? How many now looked at her with a disgust that she could not bear to see? Would Pigeonpaw be among them, soon?

But as she ascended the branch, she did her best to push back the numbing chill of apathy. Dovetail, Swandive, Ravenfall, and now Pigeonpaw. The siblings she'd found motherless and helpless in the territory. Though she'd worried quietly in the back of her mind whether they would feel at home here, she knew now that those worries had been unnecessary. The three who had become warriors thus far were just as strongly RiverClan, in word and in deed, as their Clanmates were. Pigeonpaw was no exception. Through the many trials she'd faced, she had never been anything but loyal to her Clan. And now that Poppyshine had confirmed--in one of their quiet, responsibility-cloaked conversations--that the apprentice had learned everything she could teach, it was time to reward that knowledge. Perchstar made her way to the top of the Willow Branch and called out the calm, emotionless summons. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own fish gather for a Clan meeting."

It didn't take long for most cats to gather at the call, including the apprentice for whom the ceremony was being held. Perchstar's eyes caught easily on the soft cream point she-cat. Pigeonpaw had always been boisterous and full of life, and she'd been glad when their absence in the snowstorm had not beaten it out of her. She had grown into her own, perhaps, and learned when to dial back the energy at least somewhat, but it was good to have cats with different strengths. It was almost funny to her, how different the she-cat was from her brothers and sister, but in a good way. That energy would serve RiverClan well. There was very little question of whether it would; all of Owlcall's adopted siblings had taken easily to their new home. Their blood notwithstanding, they were just as RiverClan as anyone else.

"We gather here today to celebrate the advancement of an apprentice to a warrior," the leader said, her characteristically neutral voice ringing through the clearing. "Pigeonpaw, please step forward." Some cats came expecting their ceremony; some were caught off-guard. Whichever Pigeonpaw was, she ended up making her way to the center of the clearing all the same. Perchstar looked at her closely, remembering what Poppyshine had said about her training. It had taken her a little bit longer than her siblings due to her absence, but she'd made it nonetheless. She deserved this recognition. “I, Perchstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my Clanmates to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of the warrior code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." Though she had been looking at the apprentice already, now her ice-blue eyes made direct contact with a similarly pale blue pair. This was an important question for any apprentice. Perchstar harbored no additional doubts due to their lack of RiverClan blood, but the question was not just about loyalty. It was about willpower. It was about being willing to do difficult things even when they were unpleasant, if it was for the good of the Clan. She tried not to think about Cindersky so that the words would not taste sour. "Pigeonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

Some apprentices made the vow right away; some took a few moments to really understand what it was they were saying. Perchstar did not move a muscle. She waited patiently, watching the conflicting emotions develop on Pigeonpaw's face. Perhaps she was thinking of her unknown heritage. Perhaps she was thinking of her siblings, or of the lost Crowpaw, or of the previous journey into the mountains. It did not matter. What mattered would be the conclusion that she eventually came to. And with a decisive nod, she appeared to have arrived at her answer. Perchstar answered with her own nod of respect and acknowledgement. It was not an easy vow to make. The life of a warrior was difficult, and required many difficult things. Some of the younger warriors were just now realizing this with the recent war. Don't think of Cindersky. However, Pigeonpaw fought her way through all of the doubts and gave her answer. Now, she would receive the reward: the double-edged blessing that came with responsibility.

“Then I give you your warrior name," she said. "Pigeonpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Pigeonpounce. Your Clanmates honor your loyalty and your enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan.” Perchstar leapt down gracefully from the Willow Branch and concluded the ceremony with the traditional gesture, briefly resting her muzzle on the top of Pigeonpounce's head. Then she inclined her head to the newly named warrior, before backing away so that her excited family and friends could flood forward with their congratulations.

--

Dovetail pushed his way as close to the front of the crowd as he could the moment he heard whose ceremony it would be. Pidge, having lagged behind, would now finally get her turn. They could all be warriors together. He didn't miss the way she kept scanning the group of cats, and he did his best to make himself present. I'm here, don't worry. I wouldn't miss this for the world. Were the same thoughts going through her head that had gone through his? The disregard for their former heritage, for their ThunderClan blood, now that they knew it for sure? He wasn't worried, though, not about that. He'd talked with his siblings and they'd all agreed: this was their home. There was no question about it. And sure enough, she eventually made the same decision he had. He could see it in her eyes--the same determination. With that, Perchstar saw fit to finally reunite their entire family in the same den once again.

His chest puffed out with pride for his little sister. "Pigeonpounce! Pigeonpounce!" he yowled as loud as he could, making sure his voice rose highest above the rest of his Clanmates. Then once the leader moved away, Dovetail ran forward. It was time for Pidge to get a taste of her own medicine. In a single fluid movement, he launched himself forward out of the crowd, paws outstretched, and bowled her over completely. They rolled for a moment or two before they stopped, with Pidge pinned squarely beneath his dark brown paws. Laughing jubilantly, he stepped off of her and shook out his fur. "How's it feel, huh, Pidge? It was so very much your turn this time." His grin was genuine, though, and it nearly hurt his face with how seldom he'd been smiling these days. But he enjoyed the feeling. "Congratulations, seriously, Pigeonpounce. I wonder whyever Perchstar would give you a name like that." Dovetail smirked slightly at his own joke. But then he sat back, knowing that Swandive, Ravenfall, and Owlcall wouldn't be far behind him.

Perchstar's call was quick to draw the warrior's attention, paws moving quietly to sit near her siblings in the crowd. Another meeting... Hopefully good news or a ceremony.

Swandive watched, a huge smile on her expression that she stood no chance of hiding as her sister's name was called. Finally! They would all be warriors - Riverclan warriors - together.

"Pigeonpounce! Pigeonpounce!" Swandive's voice rose with those of her clanmates as the ceremony concluded, and she was quick to bound forward on Dovetail's heels, a loud purr rumbling in her chest. "About time you made it!" She grinned, bumping her head affectionately against her sister's shoulder, "We'll get a nest set up for you in the warrior's den!"